Samsung’s next Galaxy Watch update preps Now Bar, Shortcuts, battery charging limits

Ben Schoon | May 8 2025 - 1:30 pm PT

Samsung is preparing a big new update for Galaxy Watch and its features are continuing to leak, with the latest details including a version of the “Now Bar,” as well as other new features and tweaks.

Leaked APKs from a One UI 8 Watch build hit the web earlier this week, and Android Authority has been digging through those APKs. Some of the new features spotted have been revealed in part, including that Galaxy Watch is likely getting a form of the “Now Bar” that debuted in One UI 7.

Strings suggest that the Now Bar will be a part of watch faces in Samsung’s next Galaxy Watch update, presumably as a complication. That sounds rather similar to Google’s At a Glance complication for Wear OS.

<string name=”icon_only”>Icon only</string>

<string name=”icon_with_text_while_screen_is_on”>Icon with text while screen is on</string>

<string name=”double_pinch_taps_on_”>Double pinch to open the Now bar shown on your watch face.
Turn on Secondary action to move through notifications or tiles when your Now bar is empty.</string>

<string name=”nowbar_tips”>Check the information you need right now on your watch face.</string> <string name=”sports_on_google”>Sports on Google</string>

Supported features of the Now Bar on Galaxy Watch apparently include Contextual Suggestions, Maps, Media Controls, Now Brief, and sports scores powered by Google.

Advertisement - scroll for more content

Another new feature coming is a “Shortcuts” app or widget. This appears to simply allow users to create a group of app shortcuts that will seemingly appear on tiles. Images of the feature also line up with some previously leaked icons. Tiles can show in 2×1 or 2×2 sizes.

<string name=”shortcut_double_tile_default_title”>Select apps</string>

<string name=”text_app_icon”>App Icon</string>

<string name=”text_get_started”>Get started</string>

<string name=”text_select_apps”>Select apps</string>

<string name=”text_tap_to_add_apps”>Tap to add apps.</string>

A new “shuffle” option for watch faces would also keep things looking fresh each day. Strings suggest that this option would be “based on your favorites,” but picked randomly.

<string name=”wfp_show_watch_face_recommend_on_favorites”>Show watch face recommend based on your favorites</string>

<string name=”wfp_shuffle_watch_faces”>Shuffle watch face</string>

<string name=”wfp_recommend_wf”>Recommend watch face</string>

<string name=”wfp_recommended_description”>Similar style to the watch face you’re using</string>

<string name=”wfp_set_watch_face_randomly”>Set watch face randomly picked from your favourites</string>

<string name=”wfp_more_than_one_favorite_watch_faces”>To shuffle your watch faces, you need more than 1 favorite watch faces</string>

Finally, it sounds like Galaxy Watch will also be getting its own version of the Pixel’s “Adaptive Charging” feature – which has not yet rolled out to Pixel Watch, but is still rumored to be coming. A “Battery Protection” feature would stop charging when the battery level hits a certain level, then resume charging when it drops back down. These values appear to be customizable, but there are no guarantee just yet.

<string name=”battery_protection”>Battery protection</string>

<string name=”battery_protection_maximum” formatted=”false”>Stop charging when the battery level reaches %d%% and start charging again when it drops down to %d%%.</string>

Samsung’s One UI 8 Watch update is likely to debut in July alongside the Galaxy Watch 8.