Samsung Galaxy Watch3 will soon no longer be able to download apps or watch faces

Samsung announced a year ago that it would completely end software support for Tizen-based smartwatches on September 30, 2025. Purchasing watch faces has no longer been possible since September 30, 2024, and free watch faces have no longer been available since May 31, 2025. It will also no longer be possible to re-download apps and watch faces that were previously purchased.

In practice, this means that an app cannot ever be reinstalled once deleted from the smartwatch, and no new apps or watch faces can be downloaded. While Tizen-based smartwatches can still be used after this date, it will no longer be possible to reset a watch to factory settings or pair it with a new smartphone without losing access to all subsequently installed content. The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 is the latest smartwatch to be affected by the end of software support.

The Galaxy Watch3 was launched in August 2020, meaning that the smartwatch could only be used for around five years before Samsung significantly limited its functionality. This makes the support period comparatively short. The Apple Watch Series 6, which was released just one month after the Galaxy Watch3, will still receive the major update to watchOS 26. The current Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is expected to receive updates for at least four years.