Unable to switch to Google Messages on Samsung Watch 3

[swebb]

Well, it keeps saying (at/on the Watch) that Google Messages needs to be installed and set as default. There isn't anyway that I am aware of for how to set that other than setting it at/on the Phone.

Am I missing something?

IDK. Like I said, I have not had this issue so I'm not much help. I'm pretty sure I did not do anything special to set up google messages as a default. Have you tried to uninstall then reinstall Messages? Maybe there was something in the install procedure that made it work. Or can Samsung messages be uninstalled on the watch and phone?

 

[spARTacus]

IDK. Like I said, I have not had this issue so I'm not much help. I'm pretty sure I did not do anything special to set up google messages as a default. Have you tried to uninstall then reinstall Messages? Maybe there was something in the install procedure that made it work. Or can Samsung messages be uninstalled on the watch and phone?

That was something I thought of doing, trying to uninstall Samsung Messenger. Unfortunately, I don't see Samsung Messenger anywhere in Google Play or Galaxy Stores. So, I was hesitant to uninstall it without a backup plan. Maybe sooner or later I'll have to risk it.

Yes, I did basically do a Google Messenger re-install (via an update), bit maybe I should try a full Google Messenger uninstall then re-install.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

Well, it keeps saying (at/on the Watch) that Google Messages needs to be installed and set as default. There isn't anyway that I am aware of for how to set that other than setting it at/on the Phone.

Am I missing something?

There should be a button on the watch app to open the setting on the phone, and it should just work after that...

I just tested by opening Samsung messages on my watch which promted me to change the default on my phone, which I did. And then I opened Google messages on my watch, which prompted me to change it on my phone again, which I did and it (thankfully) works fine again.

If you haven't already I'd suggest opening Google messages on the watch and let it prompt your phone to change the default... If that's what you're already doing...I don't know... try uninstalling updates maybe?

 

[spARTacus]

The prompt to switch default doesn't happen for me at/on the watch when I try to open Google Messages at/on the Watch. The Watch will only just tell me to install/update Messages (Google Messages) on the phone (which doesn't make sense because I have already done that).

If I have Google Messages set as default at/on the phone, then if I try to open Samsung Messages at/on the Watch, I will then get a prompt (on/at the Watch) to switch the default. However, the switch default prompt trigger never happens for the other way around.

I'll get around to completely uninstalling Google Messages and then re-install, to see if that helps. I don't want to (yet) try to uninstall Samsung Messages, but will eventually do that also if it comes to it.

I'll report back. Thanks thus far.

 

[spARTacus]

Nope, still doesn't work after fully uninstalling Google Messages, and then re-installing.

I'll kept tinkering.

 

[copasetic]

Just a guess, but could this be a problem when using the watch with a Samsung phone? Maybe Sammy only wants you to use their messaging app with the watch.

I'm guessing that they had to give up more than just this when migrating back to WearOS. Tizen future support is supposedly ending in 2023, (though it's still a great watch AND cheap, AND Tizen still pairs with iPhone). Google Messages is now the default on the newest Sammy phones too. The writing is on the wall.

 

[copasetic]

I just found this after moving from Samsung Messages to Google Messages (RCS) I honestly have no need whatsoever to initiate a message from my watch, so this for me at least) is a decent fix. I wish there was a complication for this, since I generally have my watch in DnD mode all the time (only let's favourites through). THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I do wish the Sammy Custom Google Messsages version was available for older phones (I can't even find it on the Galaxy Store).