Combining Xiaomi’s flagship smartphones with Samsung’s advanced Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a popular choice among users who appreciate the functionality of Android Wear. However, due to aggressive battery optimization and features of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, the initial setup process often causes owners difficulties, with many facing the fact that the watch does not see the phone or stops transmitting notifications after a short time.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the interface steps, focusing on the hidden system settings that must be changed to ensure stable operation. You will learn how to configure Bluetooth correctly, what permissions are required for Galaxy Wearable, and how to prevent the operating system from forcing service processes to close, which will allow you to avoid common errors and enjoy the full functionality of the gadget without constantly reconnecting.
The successful integration of the watch into Xiaomi’s ecosystem provides access to health monitoring, music management, and even wrist-to-wrist calls. It’s important to understand that standard push-and-forget procedures are not enough. Android on Chinese brands requires manual user intervention to properly operate the background services of third-party vendors like Samsung.
Preparation for interface and installation of software
Before starting the procedure, make sure that your Xiaomi smartphone has Bluetooth enabled and geolocation.These two parameters are critical for detecting wearables. GPS-The companion app module simply won’t be able to scan the ether and find your watch, even if it’s in pairing mode.
The main management tool is the Galaxy Wearable app, which can be found in the official Google Play Store. However, in some regions or on certain versions of MIUI firmware, direct installation may not be available or work incorrectly, in which case it is recommended to use an alternative Galaxy Store or download the APK installation file from a proven resource.
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Before installing apps, turn off the traffic savings in the Play Store to avoid loading heavy components of the watch interface.
Once the main app is installed, the system will automatically prompt you to download two additional plugins: Galaxy Watch Plugin and Samsung Accessory Service. Don't ignore these requests. The first is responsible for visualizing dials and widgets, and the second provides low-level data exchange between devices from different manufacturers.
Step-by-step instructions for connecting
Launch the Galaxy Wearable app on your smartphone and click Start. The system will start searching for available devices within range. At this point, a connection request message should appear on the Galaxy Watch Active 2 watch screen. If the code on the screens matches, confirm the action on both devices.
The pairing process can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, while encryption keys are exchanged and basic time-date settings are synchronized, interrupting this process can cause the clock to freeze in standby mode and have to start again, resetting the network settings on the clock.
☑️ Checklist of successful connection
Once paired successfully, the app will suggest backing up data to a Samsung Cloud or Google Drive account, an important milestone for those planning to change phones in the future, and the saved copy will allow you to quickly restore settings, health data and app icon locations on the new device without having to configure everything again.
Configure access rights to MIUI and HyperOS
The most critical step for Xiaomi owners is to adjust the permissions. MIUI shell is known for its aggressive energy saving policy, which by default “kills” background processes, including Samsung services.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Search the Galaxy Wearable, Watch Accessory Plugin, and Samsung Accessory Service. For each, do the following: Enable auto-start, remove background restrictions, and allow the background to work, which will prevent connection breaks when you lock your smartphone screen.
⚠️ Note: If you don’t set up auto-run for Samsung’s service apps, notifications from instant messengers will stop coming to the clock through the next few days. 15-20 minutes after turning off the phone screen.
Also, check the battery settings. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or “Battery” in the new versions). Find the appropriate applications and set the energy saving mode to “No Limits” position, which will give the system a signal not to limit their operation for the sake of saving charge, which is critical for constant synchronization of pulse and step data.
Why is MIUI shutting down apps?
Set up notifications and calls
In order for the watch to broadcast notifications, you need to give the Galaxy Wearable app access to them. In the app menu, go to the Notifications section and activate the “Show notifications” switch. Below you will see a list of all the programs installed on the phone. Choose the ones from which you want to receive alerts: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber and others.
If your watch model supports eSIM or you want to simply stream calls, make sure that the call settings section includes the appropriate option. Some Xiaomi models may require additional permission to access the microphone and contacts that is requested when you first log in to the call menu on the watch.
There's a nuance to the Cyrillic text display, and in rare cases, the fonts may not display correctly, so to fix this, in the language settings and the input on the phone itself, make sure that the Gboard or SwiftKey keyboard is active, and the clock settings have the correct display language, which ensures that instead of squares, you see the readable text.
| Function | Permit required | Where to set up | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Access to notifications | Galaxy Wearable | Tall. |
| Calls. | Contact, Microphone. | System settings | Medium |
| pulsemeter | Fitness tracker, Body | Samsung Health | Tall. |
| GPS-tracks | Geolocation (always) | System settings | Tall. |
Solving Samsung Health Synchronization Issues
Samsung Health serves as a central repository of health data, and on Xiaomi smartphones, it often conflicts with the pre-installed Mi Fitness or simply doesn’t want to start.
If the steps are not shared, try forcefully stopping the Samsung Health app and running it again. Also make sure that the privacy settings of Google Fit (if you use it) allow data to be imported from Samsung Health. Often the problem is solved by simply re-assigning accounts to the health app settings itself.
It is important to note that some functions, such as an ECG or pressure measurement, require periodic recalibration through an app on the phone, and ignoring this requirement can cause the watch to stop displaying this data or to show incorrect values that have nothing to do with reality.
Optimizing Bluetooth and battery performance
The constant operation of Bluetooth in the background can significantly affect the autonomy of the Xiaomi smartphone. To minimize energy consumption, but maintain communication with the clock, it is recommended to disable scanning devices for other applications.
Also worth paying attention to is the Bluetooth version. Galaxy Watch Active 2 uses the 4.0/5.0 standard. Make sure that the developer settings (if you use them) do not limit the Bluetooth version or A2DP profile, which can conflict with the audio transfer to the watch when listening to music.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to "break" communication through the standard Bluetooth menu in your Android settings. Always use the Galaxy Wearable app to turn off, or there will be a pairing error that requires a complete clock reset.
To extend the life of the watch battery, it is recommended to turn off the Always On Display function, if it is not critical to you. On Super AMOLED screens, which are installed in Active 2, this feature consumes a significant amount of energy, especially when bright lights.
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The stability of the Xiaomi + Samsung Watch bundle depends 90% on the correct power saving settings in MIUI, not the quality of the Bluetooth connection.