What Merge delivers on iPhone
Samsung Galaxy Watch was built for Android. Merge connects it to iPhone. Install Merge on your iPhone and your Galaxy Watch, complete the pairing, and the watch links to your iPhone permanently. Notifications from every app on your iPhone arrive on the watch in real time - you choose which apps push alerts and configure notification types per app, so the watch shows exactly what matters.
Phone calls are supported on Galaxy Watch: when a call comes in on your iPhone, the watch rings and you can answer or decline from your wrist. Health data syncs to Apple Health - workouts, heart rate, steps, distance, floors climbed, and calories all transfer automatically. Music playing on your iPhone is controllable from the watch, and camera control lets you trigger your iPhone camera remotely.
The one-time Android step
Galaxy Watch requires an Android phone for its initial activation. Samsung's setup process links the watch to a Samsung account and installs the Galaxy Watch software — it's a one-time requirement that takes about 10-15 minutes. You don't need to own an Android phone; borrow one, complete the activation, and return it. The watch doesn't need it again.
- Get Merge Watch for iPhone from the App Store.
- Get Merge Watch for Galaxy Watch from Google Play.
After activation, open both apps and pair through Merge. Full walkthrough: How to connect Galaxy Watch 8 to iPhone.
Which Galaxy Watch models work
Galaxy Watch 4, 5, 5 Pro, 6, 6 Classic, 7, 8, 8 Classic, Ultra, and Galaxy Watch FE are all supported through Merge. If you already own a Galaxy Watch, you almost certainly have a supported model.
The feature set through Merge is the same across all supported Galaxy Watch models - notifications, phone calls, health sync to Apple Health, music control, contacts, and camera control.
How the connection works
Merge connects Galaxy Watch to your iPhone over Bluetooth. The watch and iPhone need to be in range for notifications and calls to reach the watch.
Open both apps and approve Bluetooth permissions. Your iPhone appears in the Merge watch app automatically — tap it to pair. Once paired, the connection runs in the background with no manual steps needed.
