We at SamMobile want to be thorough in our tips & tricks articles and offer detailed steps for users to follow and change settings on their Galaxy devices. Even so, I must admit that I often use the search function inside the Settings app whenever I want to change a setting on my phone or tablet and don't usually go through each menu and sub-menu one at a time.
Searching for whatever setting I want to change is more convenient and often faster. It's become a part of how I use my Galaxy mobile devices. I got so used to the search function to such an extent that I feel like I'm missing it whenever I want to change settings on my Galaxy Watch.
With that in mind, I think it's time for Samsung to bring One UI Watch up to speed.
Digging through One UI Watch settings can get annoying
One of the things that make me feel like One UI Watch for smartwatches is still a few good years behind Samsung's proprietary One UI interface for Galaxy phones and tablets is that it is missing a search functionality.
The search engine for the Settings app was added to Galaxy phones almost a decade ago with the release of Android 7.0, and it's become a key component I almost can't live without.
For this reason, One UI Watch feels stuck in the past. Whenever I want to find a setting on my Galaxy Watch, I have to open the Settings app and dig through menus and sub-menus, reminding me just how much more optimized the phone experience has become in contrast.
Thankfully, the Galaxy Watch Settings app isn't that complicated, but even so, you can still feel like you're wondering almost aimlessly when you sometimes try to find specific settings.
On the brighter side, Galaxy Watch users have a search bar for smartwatch settings inside the Galaxy Wearable app on their phones. But unfortunately, not every smartwatch setting is available in the app. Not every setting will show up when you search for it. Missing menus include:
- Connections
- Security and privacy
- Location
- Tips and tutorials
The way I see it, either Samsung has to bring every smartwatch setting to the Galaxy Wearable app or add a search bar to its smartwatch Settings app, which would, in my opinion, help One UI Watch keep up with the times.
And even though I know typing on a smartwatch screen isn't ideal, I feel like, in this case, typing on a Watch display is a better alternative to browsing Settings app menus and sub-menus for the options we want to find.
It's been eight years since we got the search bar for the mobile Settings app. And I don't know if I'm the only one, but without it, One UI Watch feels just a little bit too outdated.
Samsung released One UI Watch 6 with its latest Galaxy Watch Ultra and Watch 7 smartwatches. The new update is getting beta-tested for older Wear OS Samsung smartwatches ahead of an eventual widespread release this year. One UI Watch 6 doesn't offer a search bar for settings, but I'm hoping future versions will.
