Firmware update is bricking Samsung Galaxy Watch4 models

Vorastra

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Software updates can introduce new features and help improve the performance of devices. While they can also come with a bug or two, they're typically not as bad as the one that recently landed on Galaxy Watch4 Series devices.
According to a recent report by Sammobile, the new firmware update R8xxXXU1GVI3 is bricking Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic devices. Affected users are saying that once they have applied the update and turned off their device, they cannot get their watch to turn back on again.
 
Happened to my wife's watch 4 last week cause her battery died....
Just happened to mine now also.

So annoying and yet the local Samsung repair centres have no use about this issue!
 
Happened to my wife's watch 4 last week cause her battery died....
Just happened to mine now also.

So annoying and yet the local Samsung repair centres have no use about this issue!
That sucks! Didn't they pull the update? Please keep us posted...
 
Update was done before they pulled it.
If I remember that update was done a week or more ago so ya...
Let's see what happens.
By now, I'm sure that the guys should know about it.
Will see what they say when I take my watch in tomorrow...
 
Hasn't happened to me yet :)
Side note, I'm a little underwhelmed by the apps available on WearOS - What apps do you find useful if you have a WearOs smartwatch?
One app I do like is - GPS Navigation - Its offline maps without a phone.
 

Galaxy Watch 4’s new update solves bricking issue for some, makes it worse for others - SAMMOBILE

A few days ago, we highlighted an issue reported by multiple Galaxy Watch 4 users where a firmware update carrying version number R8xxXXU1GVI3 messed up the smartwatch. Apparently, once the update was installed, if you turn off the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic or if their battery ran out, it couldn’t be turned on again.

Samsung was quick to acknowledge this issue and is currently pushing a new Galaxy Watch 4 update to fix the problem. While this is good news for some, for others, the matter is still not cured.

The fresh update is rolling out to the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5 users in the US and other regions, and it carries a firmware version ending with GVK4.

As per the official changelog, the update neatly says that it improves system stability and reliability and also carries the latest November 2022 security patch.

However, the most important bit of the changelog also reads, “A power operation-related stabilization code has been applied,” which is the fix for the bricking issue caused by the previous GVI3 update.

Well, the update should have fixed the problem for users, but looking at a handful of reports on Reddit from the owners of the Galaxy Watch 4, that isn’t the case in reality.

According to one user report, after installing the new update GVK4, their devices restarted a few times, going into a boot loop for some time, ultimately booting into the OS.

So, considering all of the reports, the experience seems to be 50/50. For some users, the update fixed the problem, but for others, their smartwatch is still inoperable.

Some users believe that this comes down to when the watch was built. With models built sometime around August 2021 are affected more that the recent ones.

 
Received the November patch earlier, and everything is fine, except my back button stopped working properly. Long-pressing worked, as well as using it to open recent apps, but using it as the back button didn't.

Rebooting didn't help, but turning Water Lock on and off fixed it
 
Received the November patch earlier, and everything is fine, except my back button stopped working properly. Long-pressing worked, as well as using it to open recent apps, but using it as the back button didn't.

Rebooting didn't help, but turning Water Lock on and off fixed it
What version have you got now?
Is it the one above or newer?
Also, how old is your watch?
 
Lol... hopefully the owners did not pay more than R20 for those worthless s**t!

Nonetheless, nothing beat the old-fashioned watch, as created by our forefathers. They are beautiful stuff and working better than any modern nonsense - no risk of bricking, hacking, intercepting, charging, going flat, monitoring - just timeless elegance!
 
Lol... hopefully the owners did not pay more than R20 for those worthless s**t!

Nonetheless, nothing beat the old-fashioned watch, as created by our forefathers. They are beautiful stuff and working better than any modern nonsense - no risk of bricking, hacking, intercepting, charging, going flat, monitoring - just timeless elegance!
Ok, boomer
 
What version have you got now?
Is it the one above or newer?
Also, how old is your watch?
I updated to GV4K yesterday. I have the watch for a month or two now, but was manufactured in April 2022, if I'm not mistaken.
 
Lol... hopefully the owners did not pay more than R20 for those worthless s**t!

Nonetheless, nothing beat the old-fashioned watch, as created by our forefathers. They are beautiful stuff and working better than any modern nonsense - no risk of bricking, hacking, intercepting, charging, going flat, monitoring - just timeless elegance!
Agreed,
I already have a device in my pocket that can land a space ship, now to have one on my arm??!! I think men these days forget the whole point of wearing a watch, or even collecting/investing in them.
 
I updated to GV4K yesterday. I have the watch for a month or two now, but was manufactured in April 2022, if I'm not mistaken.
OK, looks like you are lucky then.
I got mine when they were first released and those are the ones still having issues.
Apparently made September 2021 or so.

But we see.

They repaired/swopped out the 1 watch now say the other is out of warranty and they want me to pay, so bit of a fight going on at the moment.

Hoping the new PCB's they swop them with will be good to go.
 
Agreed,
I already have a device in my pocket that can land a space ship, now to have one on my arm??!! I think men these days forget the whole point of wearing a watch, or even collecting/investing in them.

Precisely. The new generation knows nothing or don't want to know about watches, money and investing. They are fighting a struggle to make everyone equally poor.
 
Oh, and while at it, while you young folk run around today stressing about bricked watches after an update, this Boomer will be enjoying this this morning. Don't worry, while polishing the bottle, I will even have one on you.... you are even free to let me know if you need help with the time...

View attachment 1421881

Drinking mediocre whisky at 8 in the morning? At least that explains some of your posts.
 
I love the way you say "you young folk".....
Mate, I'm 50 in Jan! And I love my smart watch and wonder why I never had one before!

I was the same as you and loved my analog watches, I have kinetic watches, solar watches, the works!
Was so nice to not have to worry about batteries and charging and such.

Till the Watch 4 was released and I promised me and the wife I would get us each one!

BEST THING EVER!

I have a fairly big watch collection over the years and recently tried to sell them to various watch collectors and was offered less for all of them that what I can sell my Samsung watch for.
So unless you are carrying around R100000+ watches, then those old school watches are not really worth my time anymore.

Smart things are unfortunately the way the world is going and unless us "old folk" keep up, then we have no room to speak...
 
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