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[Bug Report to Samsung] Always On Mode Not Working

As many of you guys knows, the Gear S2 - Sport, Classic, and 3G - have a software bug whereby the Always On setting doesn't work/stick.
Even when one sets the Always On to "On," the watchface will turn off (go blank) after a while instead of always showing the Ambient Watchface. The only way to keep the watch display always on is by also keeping on the Wakeup Gesture setting. Doing so, unfortunately, leads to a massive battery drain.
I've contacted Samsung twice about this issue and each time they reply saying I'm the ONLY person to report this issue and for me to perform a Factory Reset. I did do a factory reset with and without restoring my backup data and the Always On bug is still there.
So let us collectively work together and each of us submit a bug report to Samsung. Here is the link to their online submission form.
https://contactus.samsung.com/customer/contactus/formmail/mail/MailQuestionProduct.jsp?SITE_ID=1
The more people submit, the better our chances of getting a fix, sooner rather than later.
======
Edit, 12-30-15, with workaround to always-on issue:
Here is my tested workaround that is working for me right now on my AT&T Gear S2 3G (R730A) on the OL3 firmware.
I have tested this for 2 days and my watch display is always on and showing the dimmed, ambient watchface and NOT blacking out. For today, my Gear S2 3G was taken off the charger at 6:50AM and it's currently at 62% battery level at 5:36PM. And now at 12:24am, I'm at 35% battery left.
My Gear S2 settings:
-Display: Watch Always On = On
-Display: Brightness = 5
-Device: Wake-up Gesture = Off
-Connections: Bluetooth = On
-Connections: Mobile networks = Always off (I'm on Sprint)
-Connections: WiFi = Off
-Connections: NFC = Off
-Connections: Location = On, GPS​
I have not tested out this method on that many watchfaces but the ones I'll be mentioning shortly always stay turned on in the Ambient Mode without blacking out.
** Apps from the Gear store I'm using:
1. Tested watchfaces:
-[Clay] Futuristic
-Gear O'Clock: Digital Sense
-Gear O'Clock December
-Calendar Digital Watch.
2. HR Monitor by appyhapps.nl
** Steps I have taken **
1. Go into your Settings and set "Watch always on" to On and "Wakeup Gestures" to Off.
2. Open the HR Monitor app and click on the Settings icon (the Gear icon). And set it up like this:
-Exercise mode = off
-Internal = 15 minutes
-Show date = Off
-Turn screen on with each heart rate reading = On
-Keep screen on during run in exercise mode = Off
-Dim screen brightness in exercise mode = Off
-All the options under Alarm = Off
3. Press the U-turn arrow icon to go back to the Main Screen of the app.
4. Press the Start arrow icon to begin the heart rate monitoring app.
5. Go back to the watchface screen homepage by pressing the Home button on the Gear S2. Long-press on your current watchface and select the watchface of your choice.
6. Finished!
By using this method, my Gear S2 correctly shows the ambient watchface and DOES NOT turn off the screen after a while.
The impact to my battery life is minimal and I can easily last all day until when I charge my watch at night, which is around 11:30PM.
What is interesting is that even though it was set within HR Monitor to turn on the screen when a reading is taken, most of the time the screen is not turned on to show the HR Monitor monitoring screen. Instead, the ambient watchface is maintained and the heart rate is measured in the background. This is probably why there is minimal, if any, impact to my battery life.
I don't know why this method works but no complaints here. Now my Gear S2 is behaving as it did when I first purchased it on November 20th on launch day (on AT&T) and when I was on the original firmware. My Gear S2 has gone through 2 firmware updates since then and one of those newer firmware updates changed the behavior of the always-on mode. FU Samsung!! ​
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

Ive just done that, it does get quite irritating going to look at the watch and its gone off completely. Hopefully enough people who also have this and find it annoying will do the same

Anyone else submit a request to Samsung yet?
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

optimummind said:
Anyone else submit a request to Samsung yet?
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, and here's there response:
"Thank you for taking the time to contact us at Samsung Technical Support. We always appreciate hearing from our customers.
It must be disappointing that the device screen is turning blank when the “Watch always on” feature is enabled on the Gera S2 watch. I will help you with the possible steps in this regard.
We have no such reported issues with the Gear S2 watch and Heart rate monitor is designed on the watch to monitor only the heart rate and it does not relate to the device screen turning ON. I request you to try following troubleshooting steps on the device and check if that helps.
1. Try restarting the watch and check if that works fine.
2. Un-pair the watch from the device to which it is connected and pair the device again and check if that works fine.
3. Verify if the device has any noticeable physical or liquid damages.
4. Try un-installing and re-installing the Gear manager application on the phone and pair the watch back and check if that helps.
5. If the issue persists, try disabling the “Always on” mode and enable it again after performing the above steps.
6. If the issue persists, I request you to try resetting the watch. On the idle screen select settings > About Gear > Reset Gear.
I hope the above provided steps will help you in resolving the issue. "

ColMustard said:
Yup, and here's there response:
"Thank you for taking the time to contact us at Samsung Technical Support. We always appreciate hearing from our customers.
It must be disappointing that the device screen is turning blank when the “Watch always on” feature is enabled on the Gera S2 watch. I will help you with the possible steps in this regard.
We have no such reported issues with the Gear S2 watch and Heart rate monitor is designed on the watch to monitor only the heart rate and it does not relate to the device screen turning ON. I request you to try following troubleshooting steps on the device and check if that helps.
1. Try restarting the watch and check if that works fine.
2. Un-pair the watch from the device to which it is connected and pair the device again and check if that works fine.
3. Verify if the device has any noticeable physical or liquid damages.
4. Try un-installing and re-installing the Gear manager application on the phone and pair the watch back and check if that helps.
5. If the issue persists, try disabling the “Always on” mode and enable it again after performing the above steps.
6. If the issue persists, I request you to try resetting the watch. On the idle screen select settings > About Gear > Reset Gear.
I hope the above provided steps will help you in resolving the issue. "
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried anything new that fixes the always on issue?
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

optimummind said:
Have you tried anything new that fixes the always on issue?
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, just living with it for now.

I think I know why the always on mode sometimes doesn't work. It is b/c of samsung's retarded battery-saving mechanism.
You probably noticed already that even with the always on mode set to On, the display will turn off moments after you take off the watch or charge it in the cradle. Well, while wearing the watch, if the watch moves around your wrist and the little sensor window loses contact with your skin, it thinks you took off the watch and turns the display off.
Samsung can fix this easily by just getting rid of that stupid battery-saving feature so the watch will then have true always on mode and be more useful as a watch (night clock by your bed, see time while being charged).
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

I'm currently using this workaround to have an always-on watchface without excessively draining the battery.
First, I have these apps installed: Photo Watch Pro & I am Alive.
I like to use my own pictures as a background and prefer a digital watch. So I send my pics plus an image of a black background to the watch.
Using Photo Watch Pro, I select all my pics + the black background as my watchface wallpapers.
I then launch I am Alive & set the display to be always on. When I'm not actively using the watch & want to save battery & prevent OLED burn-in, I tap on the screen (possible via Photo Watch Pro) to set my wallpaper as the black image file.
This way, now I truly have an always on display that works regardless of whether I'm wearing the watch or have it on the cradle.
I feel like I shouldn't have to do this in the first place but this will do until Samsung gets their software correct.
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

i have submited email to samsung and they told me that this case beyond technical support so they need me to send the device to the them

Flight313 said:
i have submited email to samsung and they told me that this case beyond technical support so they need me to send the device to the them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They told me the same thing, those tards.
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

Interesting note, after changing the watch face to "Calendar Analog" the problem went away. Not sure what different about this face, but always on works now.

ColMustard said:
Interesting note, after changing the watch face to "Calendar Analog" the problem went away. Not sure what different about this face, but always on works now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trying it out now. Will report back later.
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

ColMustard said:
Interesting note, after changing the watch face to "Calendar Analog" the problem went away. Not sure what different about this face, but always on works now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It lasted for a while but the display still turned off on me.
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

optimummind said:
It lasted for a while but the display still turned off on me.
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odd, it hasn't gone blank on me yet. Have you restarted the watch after changing the face?

ColMustard said:
Odd, it hasn't gone blank on me yet. Have you restarted the watch after changing the face?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Should I?
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

ColMustard said:
Odd, it hasn't gone blank on me yet. Have you restarted the watch after changing the face?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried rebooting but no difference. Still turns off after a while. What are the rest of your watch settings?
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

optimummind said:
Tried rebooting but no difference. Still turns off after a while. What are the rest of your watch settings?
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Display is always on
2. wake-up gesture off
3. Bluetooth on
4. wifi on
5. Vibration intensity strong
6. Long buzz on
7. Screen lock none
8. Software version R720XXU2AOJ3
Edit: It just dawned on me that you have the 3G watch, I have the sport watch. That could make a difference.

ColMustard said:
1. Display is always on
2. wake-up gesture off
3. Bluetooth on
4. wifi on
5. Vibration intensity strong
6. Long buzz on
7. Screen lock none
8. Software version R720XXU2AOJ3
Edit: It just dawned on me that you have the 3G watch, I have the sport watch. That could make a difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Settings-wise, the only difference is that I have WiFi off. And yes, I have the 3G version. There was another firmware update last night for my AT&T 3G. It seems to address some NumberSync issues. I'll report if I see any improvements for the always-on mode, though I'm sceptical.
In Korea, all variants seem to be on firmware version OKK. I was on OL1 prior to the small update.
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

Looks like I opened my mouth to soon, watch went blank twice within 6 hours. It's certainly better than before where it would go blank every hour though.

ColMustard said:
Looks like I opened my mouth to soon, watch went blank twice within 6 hours. It's certainly better than before where it would go blank every hour though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on OL3 now & still no fix for always-on. Samsung fail.
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

[HELP] Galaxy S7 don't go into deep sleep, unknown wakelock!

Hi guys,
after several days of research on google and in this forum I still couldn't find out what's the issue with my new Galaxy S7 device so I'm posting it here and hope for you to help me out.
I also had the same issue on my Galaxy S6 before but it was way worse because of the smaller battery.
The phone is not even a week old and I have issues with it to go into deep sleep mode since day one. I even installed BBS and Wakelock Detector with granted rights for the battery stats but I wasn't able to find out what causes the problem (it's the exynos model by the way).
The Kernel Wakelock stats in the Wakelock Detector App don't show unusual usage anyway, those who are always on top (also with my Galaxy S6) are the "PowerManagerService.Display", "13960000.decon_f" and "PowerManagerService.WakeLocks" followed by "mmc0_detect" and "bbd_wake_lock" (I will post a photo later, I am currently at work in my break) which hold the phone awake around 20-25% so it isn't always in deep sleep or doze mode.
All the google research said that the decon_f thing is connected to the DOT/SOT which I cannot confirm in my case. I still don't understand what the problem could cause because I didn't even use it for a week. When I set up the phone I did it clean without copying apps or using the backup from my Google account so I don't think that could be a reason for it.
I appreciate your help guys, thanks!

I don't really now much about your problem (sorry for that), but if you're rooted i can really recommend you the app ForceDoze. It activates the Doze Mode right after you turn off your screen and lets you black-/whitelist apps, which are/aren't allowed to make wakelocks. It also gives you the ability to control other doze related settings.

It's not rooted and I don't want to trigger the Knox counter so I think I will stay with the stock configuration. I'm really wondering what could cause it, never had those issues on my Redmi Note 4

Using the Urbane 2 solely as a sleep tracker

Hello everyone,
I recently upgraded to a Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch, but I would still like to use my old Urbane 2 just for sleep tracking (with Sleep as Android).
What I'm interested in is doing everything I can to minimize battery usage, being that old it's battery has already diminished significantly. I'm not going to use it as daily driver but I would like it's battery to last for an ~8 hour sleep session. Apart from disabling known battery hogs like networks and tilt to wake, Is there any guide I can use to disable apps and services I won't use through ADB? I'm not rooted.
Also, after the reset my system version shows as Android Wear 2.0.0.169881869 (Android 7.1.1). Should I go ahead and upgrade or will the newest version drain more battery
Thank you

Question Frequent Syncing Battery Drain

I'm just wondering what everybody thinks of the "Frequent Syncing" setting in Samsung Health. For anybody that doesn't know what that is, basically it uses more battery to ensure your step count is always up to date and matching accurately between your watch and phone. The description specifically tells you that it uses more battery which is important to note because that means it's significant enough to notice.
Frequent Syncing is on by default. To Toggle it on/off, Launch the Samsung Health app on your PHONE (Cannot be edited on watch). Tap on your steps to bring up the Steps breakdown menu. Tap the 3 vertical dots in the top right corner, and then tap the Frequent Syncing option. There you'll be able to change it and see a description of it.
Back to my original question, is that battery drain negligible and does anybody have an estimate as to how much drain the Frequent Syncing actually is responsible for?

dont even have this option there maybe becouse iam blocking sensor acces for samsung health couse this stupid app count steps even when iam watching some memes : p.
my battery last +/- 3 days gesture to wake on and no aod and 2 days aod on gesture off
44mm standard watch

I also don't have that option on my Health App - and my sensor is not blocked. Strange !

lexorius said:
I also don't have that option on my Health App - and my sensor is not blocked. Strange !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm do you have samsung phone i mean they cut out "contact us" for non samsung phone user in wear app so maybe they cut out some other options?
I have Poco.

berni502 said:
hmm do you have samsung phone i mean they cut out "contact us" for non samsung phone user in wear app so maybe they cut out some other options?
I have Poco.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got a Samsung S20+

lexorius said:
I've got a Samsung S20+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well thats quack up :/

berni502 said:
well thats quack up :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it's because I had to use the procedure in one of Dante's videos in order to get BP and ECG working on my watch.
These functions is disabled by default in my country - South Africa.

lexorius said:
Maybe it's because I had to use the procedure in one of Dante's videos in order to get BP and ECG working on my watch.
These functions is disabled by default in my country - South Africa.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm idk but iam using it too becouse you know ekm poco : p

Same here, option is not available on a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Also, option is not there on my OnePlus 9 Pro!

I've had this turned off for a couple of days, haven't noticed any major difference other than maybe 1-2 hours of extra usage at max.

berni502 said:
dont even have this option there maybe becouse iam blocking sensor acces for samsung health couse this stupid app count steps even when iam watching some memes : p.
my battery last +/- 3 days gesture to wake on and no aod and 2 days aod on gesture off
44mm standard watch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+/- 3 days is quite a lot I can say. What about other settings? I am with 46 mm lte (not using lte, I do not have eSim) and I can't reach full 48 hours, even with some battery management - Power saver, Airplane mode during I sleep, health measurements turned off.
I bought the watch 4 days ago and I am the second charge cycle yet.

evgeni.lalov said:
+/- 3 days is quite a lot I can say. What about other settings? I am with 46 mm lte (not using lte, I do not have eSim) and I can't reach full 48 hours, even with some battery management - Power saver, Airplane mode during I sleep, health measurements turned off.
I bought the watch 4 days ago and I am the second charge cycle yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
depends on usage i guess in my case without aod on but gesture to wake on, heart rate(10 min) notification on with screen turning on it can last about 3 days with aod set on brightness that i can see indoors not necessery in sunlight it last about 2 full days ;P
i have auto training detection off same for wifi and localization ;P and oxygen in sleep off too plus watch in that sleep mode over night

berni502 said:
depends on usage i guess in my case witchout aod on but gesture to wake on, heart rate(10 min) notification on with screen turning on it can last about 3 days with aod set on brightness that i can see indoors not necessery in sunlight it last about 2 full days ;P
i have auto training detection off same for wifi and localization ;P and oxygen in sleep off too plus watch in that sleep mode over night
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it depends on usage.
Some questions:
1. Have you turned on gestures for answering/dismissing calls and alerts, because I have?
2. Power save mode - do you use it?
3. Regarding the notifications, you men you set it up to turn your screen when you receive notifications?
4. What about calls - do you have any calls on the watch in these 3 days?
5. What do you mean with "plus watch in that sleep mode over night"?
Thanks a lot!

evgeni.lalov said:
Of course it depends on usage.
Some questions:
1. Have you turned on gestures for answering/dismissing calls and alerts, because I have?
2. Power save mode - do you use it?
3. Regarding the notifications, you men you set it up to turn your screen when you receive notifications?
4. What about calls - do you have any calls on the watch in these 3 days?
5. What do you mean with "plus watch in that sleep mode over night"?
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope
nope
yes
no, i mean maybe 3 or 4 but short ones
that bed icon in quick setting iam forgeting the neme of it i set it up on 23-7

berni502 said:
nope
nope
yes
no, i mean maybe 3 or 4 but short ones
that bed icon in quick setting iam forgeting the neme of it i set it up on 23-7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ooookkay. That explains more or less these 3 days

evgeni.lalov said:
Ooookkay. That explains more or less these 3 days
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ussually 2 becouse i like to use it with aod but now they quack it up :/

Recently I have heard some feedback from people who update with the latest major update that there have been improvements in battery life. Any observations from anyone who has updated?

evgeni.lalov said:
Recently I have heard some feedback from people who update with the latest major update that there have been improvements in battery life. Any observations from anyone who has updated?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think it is worse or same ;P

berni502 said:
i think it is worse or same ;P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought it's a bit worse as well. Also, some watchfaces (Skagen) I used started glitching.

Question Scheduled tasks - e.g. power down watch at a certain time.

Although, after lots of debloating I can now get 3 days between charges, I know if I power the watch down each night I can gain an extra two days. Is it possible to have an automatic scheduled task that would power down the watch at bedtime and ideally power it back up in the morning?

mrg2003 said:
Although, after lots of debloating I can now get 3 days between charges, I know if I power the watch down each night I can gain an extra two days. Is it possible to have an automatic scheduled task that would power down the watch at bedtime and ideally power it back up in the morning?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use Tasker + AutoWear to do that. Can you share what apps you debloated to get to the 3 days of battery?

wyt18 said:
You can use Tasker + AutoWear to do that. Can you share what apps you debloated to get to the 3 days of battery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used this guide as a starting point
debloat galaxy watch 4
Hello everyone, Hope you all good, First of all, I want to clarify that this is a list with everything that people can remove, it is up to you to choose what to remove from the watch 4, you don't need to remove all apps... Debloat Galaxy Watch...
forum.xda-developers.com
Made a list of apps from my own watch with
pm list apps
1. Make backup
2. disable / remove some apps
3. Test Battery life for a few days
4. backup and repeat.
Sometimes I would have to reset and restore.
Whole process took about 2 months.
Memory hog apps were
Assistant
Phone calling app
Samsung Pay
Spotify
Weather
My colleague has same watch / similar apps but can only get 2.5 days life. I suspect different types / grades of battery.