Samsung’s journey with Tizen OS for smartwatches has come to an end. While the operating system powered the Galaxy Watch lineup for several years, the company has officially begun the phase-out process, with full support ending by December 2025.
A Controversial Start, but Market Success
Tizen OS debuted on the Samsung Galaxy Watch lineup and additional models like the Active 1 and 2. Despite controversy surrounding its arrival, Samsung managed to carve out a successful niche in the burgeoning smartwatch market. Even as Wear OS, the dominant smartwatch platform at the time, faced challenges on other Android devices, Tizen-powered Galaxy Watches found a loyal customer base.
Shifting Gears: The Rise of One UI Watch 
The tides turned with the release of the Galaxy Watch 4 in 2021. Samsung made a strategic move, partnering with Google to develop a hybrid operating system for its flagship smartwatch. Officially called Wear OS, Samsung customized it with its own One UI Watch interface. This collaboration yielded significant advancements in overall smartwatch performance.
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The Phase-Out Begins
News of the Tizen OS phase-out first surfaced on Reddit and was later confirmed by Android Authority. Samsung has begun informing users about the planned obsolescence, with changes already implemented. Notably, the Galaxy Store no longer offers new content for Tizen-powered watches.
However, it’s important to clarify that core services related to Tizen OS watches will continue to function (except within the Galaxy Store). This is a welcome piece of news for existing Tizen smartwatch users.
Limited Access to Purchased Content
A potential drawback for Tizen users concerns purchased content. According to the reports, users will no longer be able to download new watch faces from the Galaxy Store starting September 30, 2025. This means watch faces specifically purchased for Galaxy Watch 3 and earlier models will become unavailable for download after this date. However, any watch faces already downloaded on these devices will remain accessible.
The Inevitable End
The phase-out of Tizen OS comes as no surprise. Samsung hasn’t offered new Tizen-powered smartwatches in recent years, and existing models were nearing the end of their typical support schedule (around 2023). With the company firmly committed to Wear OS and One UI Watch for its future smartwatch endeavors, the sunsetting of Tizen OS marks a natural progression in Samsung’s wearable strategy.
