How to connect Samsung Gear S3 to Xiaomi phone: working ways 2026

The Samsung Gear S3 remains a popular accessory even years after its release, but owners often struggle to connect the device to Xiaomi smartphones.The problem lies in proprietary Galaxy Wearable software, which does not officially support MIUI-based phones. However, there are workarounds, from manually installing APKs to using alternative communication protocols.

In this article, we’ll look at 3 working pairing methods, including Bluetooth tuning, bypassing Samsung’s restrictions with third-party apps, and even partial integration with Mi Fitness. Particular attention is paid to typical errors like “Device not supported” or “Connection interrupted” that occur in 87% of users on their first connection. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 and Android firmware 12-14.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Charge the Gear watch S3 — at least 50% (at low charge, the clock may be switched off during setup)
• 📱 Version. MIUI on a smartphone (outdated builds below) MIUI 12.5 does not support Bluetooth 5.0, which is necessary for stable operation)
• 🔄 The clock is disabled mode "Do not disturb" (Settings) → Do not disturb → Off)

Why Xiaomi doesn’t support Samsung Gear S3

The root of the problem lies in the ecosystem policies of both companies: Samsung limits the Galaxy Wearable to only its brand's devices, checking the build.prop of a smartphone when it first connects. Xiaomi, in turn, blocks the installation of uncoordinated APKs through the Mi App Store and limits the background activity of third-party apps to save battery.

Technical barriers:

• 🔒 Verification IMEI: Galaxy Wearable app scans IMEI The phone compares it to the supported Samsung device base.
• 📡 Bluetooth Protocol: Gear S3 use BLE 4.2. with proprietary extensions, which MIUI identifiable
• 🔄 Mi Bluetooth and Samsung Accessory Service compete for connection management

Interesting fact: before the exit MIUI 12 connection was possible through the ADB-But after Xiaomi's security policy was tightened, this method stopped working. APK or using an intermediate device (such as an old Samsung smartphone for initial setup).

⚠️ Attention: After the Gear Update S3 till the last firmware (R770XXU2FWA3 And newer, some features (such as Samsung Pay or Bixby) will not be available even if you successfully connect to Xiaomi, due to the hardware-based service link to the Samsung ecosystem.

Method 1: Connect via modified Galaxy Wearable app

This is a good way to work with 90% of Xiaomi’s Android 10+ models and does not require root rights.We will use a patched version of the official APK that removes compatibility checks.

Steps:

1. Download the modified APK Galaxy Wearable (version 2.2.55.23032751) from APKMirror (look for a file marked "no device check")
2. Install APK on your smartphone by pre-allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Rights → Installation of Unknown Applications)
3. Launch the app and select “Gear S3” from the list of devices
4. On the watch, go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → Visibility and activate detection mode
5. On your smartphone, click "Connect" and confirm pairing on both devices.

Shut down. VPN phone-on|Remove older versions of Galaxy Wearable|Restart the clock and phone|Check the vacant space (minimum 500 MB)-->

If the error "I was unable to connect to the device" appears at the connection stage, follow the following steps:

• 🔄 Reboot the Gear S3, Holding the Back button for 10 seconds
• 📱 On your smartphone, clear the cache of the Galaxy Wearable app (Settings) → Annexes → Galaxy Wearable → Warehouse → Clear the cache)
• 🔗 Enable the Developer Mode on the Watch (Settings) → About Gear → Software version – tap 7 times and activate ADB debugging

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If the clock is connected but not synced notifications, check Settings → Notifications → Additional → System Notifications on your smartphone and enable access for Galaxy Wearable.

Method 2: Use of an intermediate device (for full functionality)

If you need all the features of the Gear S3 (including Samsung Health and Samsung Pay), the only reliable way is to initially set up via a Samsung smartphone and then reconnect to Xiaomi.This method requires temporary access to any Samsung device on Android 8.0+.

Instructions:

1. Connect the Gear S3 to a Samsung smartphone through the official Galaxy Wearable app
2. Update your watch firmware with the latest version via Settings → Gear info → Update gear software
3. Install all the necessary applications (Samsung Health, Samsung Pay)
4. Reset your watch to factory settings (Settings → Gear info → Reset gear)
5. Connect the Gear S3 to Xiaomi via a modified app (see Method 1)

Critical: Once reconnected to Xiaomi, Samsung Pay features will not work – the service is tied to the IMEI of the phone from which the initial setup was performed.

Method 3: Alternative Connection via Notify & Fitness (for basic functionality)

If the first two methods fail, you can use an app side like Notify & Fitness for Gear (available on Google Play), which provides 80% of the original software features, including:

• 📞 Calling and SMS
• 📊 Monitoring of steps and heart rate
• 🔔 Notifications from messengers
• 🎵 Managing music

Limitations:

• ❌ No support for Samsung Health and Bixby
• ❌ It is impossible to install third-party dials
• ❌ Problems with synchronizing sleep data

How to set up:

1. Install Notify & Fitness for Gear from Google Play
2. Enable ADB debugging on the watch (see Method 1)
3. Connect the clock to the PC and execute the command: adb -s [IP_address hours install notify_fitness.apk (IP-The address can be found in Settings. → About Gear → IP address)
4. Reboot the watch and connect it to your smartphone via Bluetooth

⚠️ Note: When using Notify & Fitness, Gear battery consumption S3 increase 15-20% Because of the constant synchronization of data through non-optimized protocols, it is recommended to turn off the background activity of the application at night.

Solving Connection and Synchronization Problems

Even after successful connectivity, users are faced with typical MIUI-related bugs, and the most common ways to fix them are:

To diagnose connection problems, use the hidden Bluetooth menu on the Gear S3:

1. Go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth
2. Hold Back + Home for 5 seconds
3. Select Debug info and check the connection status (Connected: Yes/No)

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If none of the methods worked, try rolling back Gear firmware. S3 beforehand R770XXU2FWA1 — It has fewer restrictions on third-party devices. XDA Developers in the Samsung Gear theme S3.

Comparison of Connection Methods: What to Choose

Each of these methods has its pros and cons, and below is a comparison table to help you choose:

For most users, the best solution is the first method (modified by APK), which requires minimal effort and provides almost full functionality, the second method is only justified if you are critical to Samsung Pay or Bixby, and the third method is suitable for those who are willing to sacrifice some of the features for the sake of ease of customization.

If you plan to use the watch for fitness tracking, pay attention to compatibility with Mi Fitness:

• 🏃 Step data is partially synchronized (manual export via Google Fit required)
• 💓 The pulsemeter only works in real time (no history in Mi Fitness)
• 🛌 Sleep data is not automatically transmitted

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting the Gear S3 to Xiaomi