[Wear OS General] bernarbernuli:
TRICKS​

Hi, a few days ago I changed my watch to a TicWatch Pro 5, I have been testing it. I share some tricks I know to get the most out of the watch.

1. Default functionality of the physical buttons:

Crown button:

If you press once, it opens the application drawer.

If you press 2 times, it opens the last open app.

If you press and hold it, it opens the digital assistant you have installed or the app you have configured.

Auxiliary button:

If you press once, it opens the list of recently opened apps.

If you press 2 times, it opens Google Wallet.

If you hold it down for about 5", it opens the menu for shutdown or reboot.

f you hold it down for about 15", the watch reboot.

If you press both buttons simultaneously, it takes a screenshot.

If you press both buttons simultaneously (+ 8 seconds), it restarts the watch in bootloader mode.

2. How to reassign physical button functions?

With the help of Button Launcher, you can make the functionality of the watch buttons increase, and you could program them to activate the apps or functions you want depending on the combinations of short presses and long presses you make, you are allowed to program up to eight actions however in TicWatch Pro 5 you can program only 2 combinations, for example, I have programmed:​

Long press on crown button: Google Assistant Go

2 long presses on crown button: Google Maps

There are other apps that also allow you to customize the buttons, such as JSyntax Button Remap and SPayRemap, but I find Button Launcher more flexible and it doesn't override the original functions.​

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3. How to access the most frequently used apps?

To avoid searching for an app in the endless app drawer of the watch, install Wear Favorite Apps Launcher, and select 9 apps that you want to have quick access to and set the app to a Watchface complication or run with a combination of buttons with Button Launcher app.​

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4. How to make certain apps more accessible in the app drawer?

Press and hold an app and it will scroll to the top of the list for quick access in the app drawer.​

5. How to uninstall/Disable Bloatware applications from the watch?

If there are preinstalled apps that you don't use you can uninstall or disable them on the watch, I recommend disabling because it doesn't take up space in RAM or in the app drawer, and it's not as aggressive as uninstalling. In my case I have disabled Mobvoi Treadmill (since I don't use Treadmill treadmills) and TimeShow (I don't need paid watchfaces).​

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There are several ways to disable a system app, go to "Settings > Apps & Notifications > Apps info". Drag to the bottom of the list, tap on System apps, select the app you don't want and finally tap on "disable" (if it had updates you have to uninstall them first). You can re-enable whenever you want by going back to the same place.​

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Another method, from a PC download Wear OS Tools, run the tool, link to the watch and select option 1.4. The packages mentioned above are com.mobvoi.ticwear.treadmill and com.mobvoi.mwf.magicfaces.​

6. How to change the backlight color of secondary display?

There are 18 colors available. Go to "Settings > Display > Always-on Screen > Backlight color". From here you can also activate to change the color of the backlit display according to the heart rate.​

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7. How to activate customized wrist gestures?

Install Bubble Cloud Wear OS Launcher.​

8. How to install an alternative to Google Assistant?

Until Google Assistant is officially launched you can download from APKMirror, Google Assistant Go and install APK file by sideload (Wear Installer 2, Bugjaeger or Wear OS Tools). Also select the default assistant in "Settings > Apps & Notifications > Default apps".​

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A trick to prevent the screen from turning off after a few seconds when you are interacting with the assistant is to use Digital Clock Delay.​

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It is almost fully functional, and you can ask for directions, make phone calls, play music in the same way as the full Google Assistant. To activate it I recommend that you configure it in Button Launcher to open with a combination of buttons, as its voice activation (ok Google) with this version is not available.​

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Another alternative is to install the Amazon assistant, Amazon Alexa. You must also install the app on the phone, and once configured on both sides set up a tile or a combination of buttons with the Button Launcher app to easily open this assistant. Also select the default assistant in "Settings > Apps & Notifications > Default apps".​

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9. How to recover strength training from Google Fit?

Older users will remember this function that Google Fit had, in which it detected repetitions very precisely and automatically recognized the exercise you were performing according to the repetitive movement you were making. In addition, you could time the rest times between sets. Google removed this functionality in May 2021 without knowing the reason. To recover it download from here and install by sideload a version of Google Fit prior to that date and Fit Strength Training also by sideload to have direct access to strength training as weight machines or dumbbell exercises. You should also disable automatic updates to prevent Google Fit from updating to the latest version. More info about this here.​

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10. Alternative to Mobvoi Voice Memos:

Mobvoi included preinstalled in its previous models an app to record voice notes, in this watch has not included nor I could extract it from my TWP3, there is an alternative by installing Google Keep and activating the tile of the app you will have a very quick access to take voice notes.​

11. How to install Google Translate?

I don't know the reason, but Google translate was removed from the Play Store years ago, it is not available neither for Wear OS 2 nor Wear OS 3, however, I had it preinstalled on TicWatch Pro 3 and the APK file works on TicWatch Pro 5. Here where to download it and install by sideload (Wear Installer 2, Bugjaeger or Wear OS Tools).​

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The app supports more than 40 languages and allows you to translate phrases into different languages by voice. Once translated into text, turn your wrist slightly to enlarge the translation for your contact to see it.​

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12. How to use the Google camera app remotely?

If you have a Google Pixel phone or any of the latest Samsung phones you can control the camera from the watch using Google's app, Google Camera (v6.1 or higher). The moment you open Google Camera on the phone, the watch will show a new card called "Remote". If you touch it, the screen of your watch will become a viewfinder of what you see through the phone's camera, from the watch you can also set a timer (self-timer) so that, for example, you have time to position yourself since you press the shutter release on the watch, it also allows you to switch from the front camera to the rear, or vice versa.​

13. How to link a pectoral heart rate strap?

The watch measures heart rate from the wrist quite accurately, but if you still want more accuracy, you can use chest bands, the Mobvoi app, TicExercise does not support pairing with chest bands, but Google Fit does. Install the app, and go to "Settings > Bluetooth sensors".​

14. Application Recommendation

By Play Store

Google Home​

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Google Keep Notes​

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Google Camera (*)​

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Amazon Alexa: (*)​

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Spotify ​

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Wear Casts: (*) Podcast player​

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Shazam: Identify music​

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Peek News: (*) RSS feed reader.​

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Seven: (*) Sports training app​

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Wear Favorite apps Launcher: Select favorite apps and access them as quickly as possible.​

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Wear GPS Fix: Forces to get the GPS location of the watch.​

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Wear Notification Helper: Another app to improve notification vibrations and more customizations.​

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Bubble Cloud Wear OS Launcher​

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Leftly: left-handed mode​

By Sideload:

Install Wear Installer 2 and follow the steps in this video, basically it is to enable "developer options" and "debugging over Wi-Fi", pair the watch to Wear Installer 2, download the APk file of the app you want to install on the watch and install it with Wear Installer 2. Other methods are also available (Bugjaeger or Wear OS Tools).​

Google Translate​

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Google Assistant Go​

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Button Launcher: Customize physical buttons​

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JSyntax Button Remap: Customize physical buttons​

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SPayRemap: Customize physical buttons​

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Digital Clock Delay: Prevent it from entering essential mode in the apps you want.​

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Fit Strength Training: restores strength training functionality that was removed from Google Fit​

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Music Center for Wear: (*) Improve music controls of the watch You must install the version for both the phone and the watch.​

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Vibration Center for Wear (*) Application for managing notification vibrations.​

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WhatsApp: (*) For now, it is only functional Beta version on phone and watch.​

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Note: (*) Also requires phone version.​

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15. How to change the ringtone to a custom ringtone?

Place an MP3 or OGG sound file in the "Ringtones" folder in the internal memory of the watch, and finally select that sound in the watch settings. You can make it easier with Wear OS Tools.​

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As for the notification and alarm sounds, I have not found a way to change them, I guess it is blocked by Google, I hope that in future updates they will unlock the limitation.​

16. How can it be configured so that only certain apps send notifications to the watch?

In the Mobvoi Health app on your phone, click on the "device" tab, then select "Settings" > "Apps and Notifications" and finally disable the apps that you do not want to receive notifications on the watch.​

17. How to customize vibration patterns of notifications arriving on the watch?

Most notifications only vibrate for a short period of time so it is difficult to notice them. Install Wear Notification Helper or Vibration Center for Wear. Apps provide different vibration patterns to make the arrival of a notification noticeable​

18. How to drain water from the speaker?

After swimming or showering, water may enter the speaker (this is the hole on the right side of the watch), and may change the sound quality. Select the water drop icon from the quick settings curtain (from the dial by dragging up and down). It will play a kind of audio trill that will expel the water that has accumulated in the speaker.​

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19. The hidden easter egg in the flashlight app does not work:

Not that it's a trick, but a curiosity, Google has eliminated in Wear OS 3 (in Wear OS 2 it still works) the easter egg of the Wear OS drum machine that appeared when pressing several times in the center of the screen with the flashlight app open.​

20. How to use the watch's own GPS?

Disable GPS or Bluetooth on your phone. The watch by default first acquires GPS positioning via the phone, and if it does not detect it (e.g., because it is not connected via Bluetooth) it will activate its own GPS module.​

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Another method is through the Wear GPS Fix app that forces the GPS location using the GPS module of the watch.​

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In addition, to improve the location when you are training, activate the "High Performance Mode" option in TicExercises, this way it will update the GPS location more frequently.​

21. How to adapt the watch to left-handers, i.e., to put it on the right wrist?

With the help of the Leftly app, the app inverts the interface 180 degrees so that the watch can be worn on the right wrist, ideal if you are left-handed and usually wear your watch on your right wrist. With this app you avoid the buttons facing your body, when they should be facing outwards.​

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Once you open the app for the first time, enable the permissions for "Show on other apps" and "Modify system settings", and then enable accessibility for "Lefty". Finally, tapping the purple "Rotate" button in the app will invert the entire watch interface 180°. This will affect the apps, the watchface, the settings, basically everything on the watch, however, it is not reversed in essential mode.​

22. How to automatically unlock the phone with the help of the watch and Smart Lock?

To avoid entering the PIN on the phone every time the (phone) screen turns off when you are near it, go (on the phone) to Settings > security > smart Lock, and add the watch as a trusted device.​

23. What information is displayed on the secondary display?

The LCD screen provides a very important battery saving. It is intended for more basic use, however from the main screen of the LCD layer (showing date, time, steps taken and heart rate in the last minute) if you turn the digital crown you will scroll through 4 more tiles that provide real-time information.​

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Note: You must turn one more turn to avoid accidentally activating these modes.​

Real-time heart rate

Calories consumed

Blood oxygen saturation level

Compasst

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24. How to force the screen to stay on permanently when you are using Google Maps or your sports app?

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Install "Digital Clock Delay" by sideload (Wear Installer 2, Bugjaeger or Wear OS Tools), you must give accessibility permissions and activate "Modify system settings" in "Settings > Apps & Notifications > App Info".​

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This app allows you to keep always on screen (without going into essential mode) when navigating with Google Maps or using Google Assistant Go, to give 2 examples, as the screen turns off automatically after a few seconds, which means touching the screen every time it turns off, it is very annoying to follow a route on Google Maps and you have to touch the screen to see the itinerary. You can select which apps you want to keep the screen on or on with the brightness turned down.​

25. How do the TicExercise heart rate training zones work?

During a sports training or when it detects that a sports activity is in progress, the backlight on the LCD display lights up in different colors to show at a glance which training zone you are in according to your heart rate, very useful to avoid looking at the display to see a particular metric. In total, there are 5 different colors to indicate different training zones.​

Blue-green light indicates a light workout or warm-up (50%-60% of maximum heart rate).

Yellow light indicates that you are in the fat burning zone (60%-70% of HRmax).

Orange light indicates that you are in the endurance or cardiovascular zone (70%-80% of HRmax).

Purple light indicates that you are in the anaerobic zone (80%-90% of HRmax).

Red light, you are in the dangerous heart rate zone (90%-100% of HRmax).

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26. How to activate developer mode in TicHealth and in TicExercises?

For now, I don't see any practical use for it other than to activate it and that's it.​

In TicHealth, go to Settings and tap several times on "Version", and the option "TicFit Developer" will be activated underneath.

In TicExercises, go to settings, drag to the bottom and tap several on the app version number.

27. How to scroll through the tiles with the digital crown?

Go to "Settings > General", and enable "Horizontal scrolling between cards". If this feature is disabled you will scroll through the notification curtain and Quick settings.​

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28. How to expand your training information?

From h.mobvoi.com you can access the platform where your workouts and other health data are recorded. It allows you to analyze your progress over the last 7 days showing metrics such as blood oxygen, heart rate and stress. It allows you to download reports in TCX format and is compatible with other services such as Strava and Garmin Connect.​

29. How to 3D print a charging base for the watch?

There are downloadable templates on the Internet to print charging bases for the watch that in my opinion are even more attractive than the ones for sale, in my case I use the one I ordered with TWP3 some time ago, which works perfectly on TicWatch Pro 5.​

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These 3D prints are housings just the right size to fit the watch's serial cable (TWP3 and TWP5 share the same cable). Basically, you would download the template file and go to a 3D printing store (if you don't have a printer, of course). I printed one and it cost me 10€, I was surprised by the finish, better than I expected. As a reference, I ordered the base in the first link with the following characteristics:​

Material: PLA 3D850

Quality: Medium

Filling: 20%.

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Here are links to some templates for the TicWatch Pro 3 (which I reiterate work on TWP5):​

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https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4747297​

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https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4618850​

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https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4781821​

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30. Recommendation of 24mm Straps at Amazon & AliExpress

Replacing the strap is to give a complete facelift to the watch, a good combination can give an extra touch of style to your watch. Among the types of straps, by the material with which they have been manufactured you can find leather straps, imitation leather, stainless steel, titanium, platinum, silicone, resin, rubber, textile, nylon and ceramic.​

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Note: Suunto straps are compatible with the watch, as they also use 24mm straps.​

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The Asian market such as AliExpress is the one where you can find the widest variety of accessories with the best price, on Amazon you will also find accessories but as a general rule although you will receive the product before they are more expensive.​

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To search for a particular accessory and narrow the search to the maximum, just type in the search box of AliExpress, Amazon or even Google accessory name + watch model. In the case of straps you only have to write the width of the strap, you can even include the type of strap material to narrow down much more what you are looking for.​

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Amazon​

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AliExpress​

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