How to Pair Gear Fit with Non-Samsung Devices Such as Nexus 5, Moto X and HTC One M8
Last month Samsung announced a list of 20 Galaxy smartphones and tablets compatible with the new wearable devices such as Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit, which is the company's first to feature curved Super AMOLED display.
There is a workaround available using which the Gear Fit can be paired with non-Samsung devices running Android. The unofficial compatibility method has been shared by CNET which claims to have tested this on a wide range of devices including smartphones and tablets powered by Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean or higher. Besides, this workaround supports a number of latest smartphones such as Nexus 5, HTC One M8, Moto X and HTC One.
Those who wish to pair their non-Samsung devices with Gear Fit may follow our step-by-step guide.
Note:
1) Gear Fit requires a firmware before being paired with other devices.
2) The Gear Fit must be synced with a supported Samsung smartphone or, tablet to receive the update. Then you can download and install the Gear Fit manager app on the Android devices you want to pair with.
How to make non-Samsung devices work with Gear Fit
Step-1: Download Gear Fit Manager app on the Android device
You may get the app by copying it from an existing Samsung device. This can be done using a file manager from Google Play store, such as ES File Explorer app
Step-2: Open ES File Explorer app on your Samsung device, click on App Manager under Tools menu. Now long press Gear Manager app and tap on Backup
The Android package file can be saved in Google Drive or Dropbox account for easy access
Step-3: The app can be found on the Web, but downloading apps from third-part and online forums might make the device more vulnerable to malware.
Enable Unknown Sources on your phone before installing Gear Fit Manager. Navigate to Settings menu and click Security option and click Unknown Sources.
Step-4: Click on Gear Fit Manager app file and wait for it to install. When the installation is completed, open the Gear Fit Manager app and sync your phone with the Gear Fit
As this is a workaround, some features would be missing in the method. Users cannot create or sign into their Samsung account or use the location services. Also, weather features and the world clock will be unavailable. But the syncing can still help users receive notifications, track their steps, measure heart rate and get nifty find your phone feature.
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