Unlocking Hidden Features of Your Samsung Galaxy Watch
Most people buy a Samsung Galaxy Watch for the basics – fitness tracking, notifications, and the convenience of having a small slice of their phone on their wrist at all times.
However, Samsung’s wearables have steadily gained a variety of advanced features that can genuinely enhance the user experience. Unfortunately, many owners miss out on these capabilities, often because they are buried in menus or require extra toggling during initial setup.
If you’re using a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or newer, several tools can support you in tracking your health, daily habits, and improving overall ease of use.
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In this guide, we’re highlighting three features that deserve far more attention, with each one working across the latest Galaxy Watch line-up, provided you have the most recent Wear OS updates. The best part? Each feature can be activated in just a couple of minutes.
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1. Body Composition Analysis
Samsung’s Body Composition Analysis feature is one of the most powerful tools on the Galaxy Watch, yet many users only try it once during setup and rarely return. This feature employs a built-in sensor, introduced with the Galaxy Watch 4, to estimate key metrics such as body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass, body water, and BMI.
While it’s designed more for personal insights than medical purposes, consistent use can provide you with a better understanding of how your training, diet, and sleep habits affect your body over time. To start using it, simply open Samsung Health on your watch, scroll to Body composition, and follow the on-screen positioning guide.
Keep the watch snug on your wrist, lightly touch two fingers to the side buttons, and remain still during the reading, which takes around fifteen seconds. Where this feature truly shines is in trend tracking; single readings aren’t as significant as how your metrics change over weeks or months. Samsung Health presents this long-term view clearly for easy monitoring.
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It is important to note that there are a few caveats. Anyone with implanted medical devices should avoid Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) measurements (Samsung includes clear warnings in the app). Additionally, results should be interpreted as estimates rather than absolutes, focusing on trends rather than precision.
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2. Gestures for Calls and Apps
Gesture controls might be one of the most overlooked conveniences on the Galaxy Watch, primarily because they aren’t all enabled by default. Once these controls are activated, they significantly enhance usability, especially when your hands are full, during workouts, or when you need quicker access to various actions.
The standout gesture is the double-pinch: a quick pinch of your thumb and index finger twice will allow you to answer calls, dismiss alarms, pause media, or trigger various supported apps. This gesture is subtle, fast, and works seamlessly even if the screen is wet or if your other hand is occupied. Additionally, the shake-to-dismiss gesture allows you to decline calls or silence alerts with a simple flick of your wrist.
Samsung has also introduced a more flexible “knock-knock” gesture, which uses a light knocking motion of the wrist to launch a pre-selected shortcut. You can assign this gesture to numerous functions, including the Torch, Stopwatch, recent apps, a favorite workout, or a specific tool within Samsung Health. To find these options, navigate to Settings > Advanced features (or Gestures, depending on your model), where each option can be toggled independently.
If you find the gestures too sensitive or triggered by mistake, you can retrain or disable them individually. However, most users find that a little practice improves reliability. When combined with “Hey Google” or Samsung’s own assistant, these gesture shortcuts can transform the watch into a genuinely hands-free tool, perhaps even making your Apple Watch-owning friends a tad envious.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
3. Sleep Apnoea Detection
Samsung’s Sleep Apnoea detection tool is one of the most meaningful health features available in the Galaxy Watch lineup, yet it’s often overlooked unless users delve into the Samsung Health Monitor in detail. After receiving FDA authorization in the US and regulatory clearance in many parts of Europe, this feature is now available on Galaxy Watch 4 and newer models, provided they are paired with a compatible Galaxy phone.
The watch analyzes overnight blood oxygen patterns to assess potential signs of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea by estimating an Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index. To activate the feature, simply open Samsung Health Monitor on your paired phone, navigate to the Sleep apnoea section, and follow the setup instructions. Note that Samsung requires a minimum of two nights of sleep within a ten-day window, with the watch worn securely for at least four hours each night.
While a Galaxy Watch cannot confirm the condition on its own, it can highlight concerning patterns and encourage consultation with a healthcare provider for further testing if necessary. However, the tool is intended for adults over the age of 22 and should not be used by anyone with a confirmed diagnosis, nor should it substitute for clinical evaluation.
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For more insights into these hidden features and how to maximize your Samsung Galaxy Watch experience, check out the full guide Here.
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