Unable to back up Galaxy watches manually on One UI 5, backs up via Smart Switch

[Robin621k]

Why in the world would you take away the ability to back up our watches manually in the Wearable app? Make it make sense, I have to wait for what is now "PERIODICALLY" to back up my watch, how often is periodically? If you switch to store backups to Samsung Cloud, how does that work, when does that happen?

If anyone knows the answer please let me know!

[userpMgFwKaOxb]

As @IRStaten says, your watch faces are linked to your Samsung Account, so when you reset and re-download, you should be OK. I'd do a manual backup prior to the reset though, just to be sure.

[IRStaten]

Correct !! Manual back up just incase.

[krbjmpr]

SOLUTION FOUND... Maybe.

Watch4 Classic 46mm, OneUI5

Could not backup, number sync just tanked (AGAIN), wanted backup as is typically onlybwaybto correct NS issue, reset, join, restore backup.

Used Activity Launcher from F-Droid (search git hub), and started backup utility part of smart switch.  Seems to be working...

Will update post when finishes.

 

 

[krbjmpr]

Looks like it worked.

 

[krbjmpr]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. I am rooted.  Another reason for being able to root, but I digress...

For those that are not rooted, try using Shizuku (fdroid, github) in conjunction with an Activity Launcher that is Shizuku aware.

Just my method of manual backup, and contribution to community. This alone should be worth account elevation to "Senior Most Helpful" status 😉

[krbjmpr]

Decided to restart watch & phone, just to make sure not a fluke.

Its not.

But, so far, can only keep last backup made.

 

 

 

[saschats]

In my case, my phone and watch are disconnected overnight as the watch is in a charging stand in my office and phone in bedroom. This was such a stupid idea to not allow manual backups.

Regarding the Activity Launcher idea... I cannot get it to recognize/connect w/ Shizuku.

[Deanos · Accepted solution]

OK!
So I may have a solution to this stupid backup issue!

I have been struggling for days now!
After reading through all the various posts about the backups not working and needing Smart Switch and bla bla bla... I did a thing!

I have a S21FE and a Watch 5.
I have always had Smart Switch installed, but when you go in it just says send or receive data... Confusing no!
I tried stopping the app, clearing the app data and cache. Still no luck!
I go into the backup on the wear app and it tells me there are no backups!
On the watch though, in settings, backups... It shows a last failed back and has red writing saying couldn't backup watch data!

So. I think I may have fixed it now!

I uninstalled the Smart Switch app. 
Then when I went back into the Wear app, it then had a thing there asking me to install Smart Switch to enable backups, which I did.

It ran through various checks for the app looking on the phone, and then looking or the app on the watch.

After all of that, took about 2 minutes or so, I went back into the backups in the wear app and it now showed me that last backup from October sometime!

I left it for a bit, went back into the Wear app and now it tells me that my watch isn't being backed up because of an existing backup for the same model!
And to fix this I must restore or replace that backup!
I hit replace backup and then it flashed a message saying backups happen during the night!

So all looks good again!

If you don't hear back from me tomorrow, then everything worked and is now fixed!

I guess this will have to be done or checked after every update and I believe the December update is due out any day...

So good luck guys and girls, I hope this helps some that have been having the same issues...



***** UPDATE! *****

Backups are now fully functional!
Tried the same on my wifes watch and phone and her backups are now also working.

So hope this helps a few!

If it does, hit the like button!

[RoryBreaker]

Switching from my S23 Ultra to S24 Ultra was fairly seamless. Switching my Galaxy Watch to a new device has always been unnecessarily difficult and terrible. 

I've been using Galaxy Watches since the Gear S3. After spending time to customize my Watches, I've never had a true restore that brings the exact customizations to a new pairing. Why is it so difficult to provide that simple functionality.?

Moving now to the S23 / S24, Galaxy Watch 6 & U.I. 6.0 and it's become a nightmare! 

There is NO way to create a backup of the Watch, The backup now happens automatically at night. 

So what if I want to create a backup in the afternoon? Foolishly, I can't do it. 

The backup is created locally with no access to it and no way to send it to a cloud service. Why would you do this to us Samsung???

Believe it or not, My S24 Ultra did recognize that there was a Watch to pair. However, I canceled it. How do I know if it would transfer my Watch faces, my settings, my tiles? 

I wouldn't know because there's nothing that tells me! This is really, really bad and a total lack of planning from Samsung. 

PLEASE FIX THIS! 

[PAHelper]

Just choose move to new phone and it does the rest.