New Galaxy Watch update to keep apps visible all the time
Google has begun rolling out Wear OS 5.1, built on Android 15, for Pixel devices. Meanwhile, Samsung’s upcoming One UI 6.5 Watch update might bring an exciting change to Galaxy Watches. This update could let all apps stay visible on the screen with AOD (Always On Display), even if they weren’t made to do so.
Right now, only certain apps like Google Maps and Spotify can remain on your watch screen when you’re not using them. When you stop interacting, these apps dim and lose some color but stay visible on AOD. Most other apps, though, vanish from the screen when you lower your wrist or stop using them.
With One UI 6.5 Watch, you might be able to make any app stick around on the screen, even if it doesn’t normally support AOD. So, instead of the watch face popping up when you lower your wrist, the app you were using stays put. This makes it simpler to pick up where you left off with apps during the day on your Galaxy Watch.
How It Works on Wear OS 5.1
This handy feature comes from a setting called “Force Global AOD Experience,” found in the Developer Options on Wear OS 5.1 watches. It’s expected to land on Galaxy Watches with the One UI 6.5 Watch update. To turn it on with Wear OS 5.1, go to Settings >> System >> About >> Versions, then tap the Build number several times to unlock Developer Options.
After that, head to Settings, find Developer Options, and switch on the Force Global AOD Experience setting. We don’t know the exact release date yet, but this feature should arrive soon with One UI 6.5 Watch. It’s a small tweak that could make using your Galaxy Watch a lot smoother!
