The Samsung Gear 2 is a companion device that pairs with your phone or computer to stream music, view and make calls, and send messages. The device also allows you to download apps and use them as fronts for your phone or computer.
App functionality varies based on the app, making it a fun way to explore your device. Some of the best apps include the ability to make and receive calls, view photos, and access other features.
The biggest difficulty in installing apps is that there is no app market place like there is on the Samsung Galaxy S8. You must either purchase applications directly from the app market or download free ones from Google Play.
Contents:
Connect Gear to phone
After installing the app on your Samsung Gear 2, you will need to connect it to your phone via a Bluetooth link.
This is done by holding down the power button for several seconds and then pulling off. You will then be greeted with a series of messages, all of which must be answered before the app can operate.
After answering these messages, you will be taken to the app’s interface where you can create an account or download and install applications. Applications can be uploaded directly from your phone into the Gear 2, making it function as a smartwatch.
Find the folder for Gear apps
Once your phone is connected to your Samsung account, you can go to the app store and search for new apps and devices.
Many of the popular app stores have tutorial videos or places to learn how to install new apps. The most popular app stores are App Store, Google Play, and Amazon App Store.
App Store is the one most people use as it has good applications as well as devices. Google Play has devices as well as apps, and amAZon App Store has only apps.
In any of these stores, look for those that allow you to download from multiple accounts simultaneously.
Copy and paste app file
When you download an app for your Samsung Gear 2, it’s usually stored in the /data/app directory. You can either copy the app file to your phone or tablet, or you can navigate to the App Store and search for your Samsung Gear 2 app.
Once you install an app on your Samsung Gear 2, you can either drag and drop it into a new application group in Your Gear 2, or you can add it to a new category within an existing application group.
Both of these methods work well and take less than a minute to set up. Once you do this, all of your apps will automatically pull from the same location so that they are available when You Go Outdoors.
You can also add new categories so that those apps are available when You Go Outdoors.
Install selected apps
When you want to try out an app, you can’t just download it and use. You must install it first on your Samsung Gear 2. There are a few ways to do this.
You can go to the Google Play Store on your phone and look for the Gear 2 app. If you see it, you can now download and install it on your Samsung Gear 2!
Another way to get apps onto your Samsung Gear 2 is through the Samsung App Store.
Select “Settings” > “Gear” > “Application manager”
After the device is unlocked, select the “Gear” app to enter the application manager. This will allow you to install new apps and update existing ones.
Many new apps are now available as cataloged applications, making it an easy way to find new apps and updates. Most popular apps such as Netflix, Pandora, and Hulu have their own cataloged app built into the Gear.
If you want to install a custom app, you can do so as well.
Find and tap app you want to install
After you connect your Samsung Gear 2 to your computer via USB, go to the Google Play Store and locate and then tap and install the app.
This process may take a few minutes to complete, do not be concerned if it does not appear at first. This is due to it being updated as part of the download.
Once it is installed, you can start using it! Now that you have installed an app on your Samsung Gear 2, you need to determine which app type you want to use on your device. There are two main types of apps: baseapps and featuresapps.
A baseapp is an empty box that your user can fill with any content. A featuresapp contains only features such as a profile picture or message input fields. Both types of apps allow you to upload or transfer data between your device and computer.
Choose “Install” > “OK”
After you enter your device password, the installation process will start.
Once it’s finished, you can go to any app-enabled website or service and try it out!
Hopefully you were able to install some new apps on your Gear 2!
If you want to upgrade your Gear 2’s operating system, there are a few ways to do so. You can buy a new Kries Smart Battery Case or Smart Cover for $25, which includes the update and will keep your Gear 2 powered down when not in use. You can also buy a retail Samsung Galaxy S5 unit for $500+, which is quite the investment if you plan to have it for a few years.
But if you plan on using it only occasionally, buying a new battery case or cover is better alternatives.
Wait for app to download
When you click on the app to download, the Gear 2 must be connected to a Wi-Fi network for the app to download. This is normal!
Once the app has downloaded, you can use it as soon as they are connected to the same network.
Some apps will not work on your Gear 2 due to this. If it is one of these, try waiting until it connects to a network before using the app. Many are dependent on a connection speed and processor power to work!
Alternatively, you can try using an offline copy of the app if that works. It seems Samsung is not currently releasing an online version of the app which may be another reason why some do not work on some phones today.