Galaxy Watch Studio (GWS) is currently in beta. As it continues to develop, the availability of some features may change and some features may not be fully functional. Learn about the supported Tizen OS, watches, features, and Java versions for Galaxy Watch Studio.
GWS (.gwd) files created in the latest version of GWS cannot be opened by older versions of GWS. GWS files created in older versions of GWS can be opened by newer versions of GWS. For example, GWS 1.7.1 files cannot be opened in GWS 1.6.2. However, GWS 1.6.2 files can be opened in GWS 1.7.1.
The following table shows the GWS version with the Tizen OS and the watch types that it supports. The table also shows the factory-installed Tizen OS on the watch (on some watches, the Tizen OS may be upgraded).
1Upgradable to Tizen 5.5.
2Upgradable to Tizen 4.0.0.2.
3Upgradable to Tizen 3.0 and 4.0.0.2.
4When watch is upgraded to Tizen 3.0 or higher.
When you upgrade or downgrade the OS on your watch, you may need to regenerate your distributor certificate in order to test your watch faces on the updated watch.
For devices using Tizen 4.0 or later, by law, you must notify the user about personal information used in the watch face. When the app is launched, you must allow the user an option to allow or not allow access to personal information. Therefore, a separate TPK file must be generated for Tizen 4.0 and later and for Tizen 3 and earlier.
Galaxy Watch Studio provides an option to generate separate TPK files for these versions. Samsung suggests appending "_TW4" to the TPK file name for devices using Tizen 4.0 and later and appending "_TW3" to the TPK file name for devices using Tizen 3 or earlier. Upload one or both files to support the appropriate devices.
For more information, see Build & Uploading and FAQ: How to upload watch faces for Galaxy Watch and older Gear devices?
The following table lists features of GWS and which versions support those features. The table also lists the watches that do not support those features.
1Supported if the firmware has been updated to version *********PFB or later.
2These watches will display the basic always-on watch face if a high color AOD is configured.
With the introduction of the Galaxy Watch Active, the user interface for a Galaxy Watch must be designed to support both a device with a bezel and a device without a bezel. See User Interface Design Guidelines for Galaxy Wearables for more information.
For more information, see What's New and the Release Note .
The version of Java required by Galaxy Watch Studio (GWS) depends on the version of GWS you are installing and your operating system. GWS 1.6.2 or earlier for Windows supports only 32-bit versions of Java (version 8). GWS 1.7.x and later for Windows and GWS 1.6.x and later for macOS supports 64-bit Java.
1Download Java SE from Oracle Software Downloads.
2GWS 1.7.x and later do not support a 32-bit OS.
3For Windows systems using Java 8, download the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
4For macOS using Java 8, download the Java Development Kit (JDK).