Like regular watches, many people today are getting multiple smartwatches and prefer to switch between them occasionally for fashion or practical reasons. But since smartwatches have many more features than regular watches, and because they integrate so deeply with your smartphone, it’s normal to wonder if you can have two smartwatches connected to your phone.
You can connect multiple smartwatches to your smartphone. Some phones have the ability to automatically detect which watch you’re wearing and switch to syncing with that smartwatch specifically. This also allows you to set up a smartwatch for a family member that doesn’t have a phone with them.
Different smartwatches work in different ways, and that includes how they connect and sync with smartphones. Let’s examine the different smartwatches and how you can connect more than one to the same smartphone.
Connecting Two Android Wear Watches To One Phone
Before we go into the details, it’s important to note that Google will let you connect multiple Google Wear OS-powered watches to connect to a single Android phone but not an iPhone. If you have a Wear OS-powered smartwatch, but you’re using an iPhone, you can only connect one watch.
However, if you have an Android phone, you can pair multiple compatible watches.
To connect a second watch with your Android phone, you can follow the same steps you did when you connected the first watch:
- Since you already have a watch connected, you don’t have to download the Wear OS app on your phone; it should already be there. Simply open it.
- Where it shows your current watch’s name, simply tap on it and select “Add New Watch.”
- Your phone should find the watch you’re trying to connect. Select it.
You can specify which watch you’re using by opening the Wear OS app and choosing the watch from the drop-down list. That’s the watch that will actively sync with your phone until you select the other watch.
Connecting Two Apple Watches To One Phone
Connecting two Apple Watches to one iPhone is usually painless. The process works exactly like when you pair your first Apple Watch – simply bring the Watch close to your iPhone, then the pairing screen should open automatically.
If it doesn’t, you can follow these steps:
- Open the Apple Watch app, which comes pre-installed on your iPhone.
- Tap the My Watch option.
- Select the All Watches button.
- Tap “Add Watch.”
- Follow the instructions on the iPhone’s screen.
Your iPhone should automatically switch between watches when it detects that you’re putting a watch on, so there shouldn’t be any need to open the Watch app and select it manually. However, if this doesn’t work, you can open the Watch app, select “My Watch,” then “All Watches,” and choose your watch from the list.
Connecting Apple Watches For Family Members
Because the Apple Watch needs an iPhone to work correctly, you can set up an Apple Watch for a family member on your iPhone. For this to work, you must be listed as the Family Organizer or a Parent / Guardian on your Apple Family Sharing group.
It’s also important to note that this only works on cellular-capable models of the Apple Watch SE or Series 4 (or later).
You can start the pairing process precisely as you would pair an Apple Watch for yourself (bringing the watch close to the iPhone or opening the Watch app and selecting “Add New Watch”). But then you should be presented with the option to “Set Up for a Family Member.” Select that option, then follow the instructions.
Note that the Apple Watch must be within Bluetooth range of your iPhone to receive updates and sync data.
Connecting Two Samsung Galaxy Watches To One Phone
Connecting a second Samsung Galaxy Watch to one phone uses a slightly different approach from the other brands. It starts on your Galaxy Watch, not on your phone.
- Tap the power button on the Samsung Galaxy Watch to bring up the menu.
- Select the Settings app.
- At the bottom of the menu, you will notice an option that says, “Connect to a New Phone.”
- You will see a screen that gives you the option to back up your watch’s data. It’s a good idea to do this if there is data on the watch at the moment.
- Once this is done, the watch will restart.
- Now unlock your phone and open the “Galaxy Wearable” app.
- Select the option to add a new watch.
- It will scan and should detect your new watch. Select it.
- The phone and watch will go through the pairing process.
- Once it’s done, you will be able to switch between the watches using the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone.
After it’s done, you can restore the backup you made of the Samsung Galaxy Watch if you wish to.
Connecting Two Garmin Watches To One Phone
Garmin watches aren’t technically smartwatches. They are fitness trackers or sports watches, but many have some smartwatch functionality, so it’s also essential to mention Garmin watches.
It’s entirely possible to connect two Garmin watches to one phone using the Garmin Connect app. Simply open the app on your phone and select the “More” option in the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down until you find “Garmin Devices,” then select “Add Device.”
You will be presented with a list of Garmin watches. Select the appropriate model from the list, then put your Garmin Watch into Pairing mode to begin pairing.
As with the other smartphone models, you will be able to select your active watch from the Garmin Connect app.
What About Connecting Different Smartwatch Brands?
Is it possible to connect two different smartwatch brands to one phone?
Well, options here are limited. For example, an Apple Watch won’t connect to an Android phone, but a Samsung Galaxy Watch or Garmin Watch can connect to an iPhone. However, connecting two different smartwatch brands to one phone will work, but it can be complicated.
For example, you can easily connect an Apple Watch to your iPhone. It’s also possible to connect a Samsung Galaxy Watch or a Garmin Watch to the same iPhone by installing the necessary apps. It will work; you can connect both, but you won’t be able to use both simultaneously.
That’s mainly because Bluetooth connections are limited to one device at a time. So, you will be able to switch between the two by disabling one and then connecting the other, but it will take more effort than just switching between two similar devices.
Conclusion
Most smartwatch brands allow you to connect two smartwatches to one phone. There are systems in place to specify which watch you are actively using and syncing with only that one watch until you switch to the other one. Family Sharing with an Apple Watch is even more advanced, and you can mix and match different watch models (in some cases), though that is more complicated.
