On October 20, 2021, Samsung announced a software update for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic that added watch-face customization, hand-motion shortcuts and more control over Fall Detection. Bluetooth models were reported to receive it first, with LTE versions following later; it was a staged rollout, not a simultaneous release for every watch. Phandroid’s October 20, 2021 report does not give a firmware build number, and this is historical update coverage—not a report of a new 2026 release.
Four watch faces broadened the customization options
The update added four watch-face styles. The reported lineup included Info Brick for health and fitness information, a face with more detailed weather, a dashboard-style face, and live-wallpaper options intended to coordinate with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. The announcement did not establish that every face was available in every country or language.
Info Brick and glanceable metrics
Info Brick let users choose information such as stress, daily activity or heart rate to display. These were examples of its selectable metrics, not a claim that every health measurement could be placed on every watch face.
Complications and animated MyPhoto+ backgrounds
A complication is a small piece of information shown directly on a watch face—for example, a step count or battery level—rather than a reference to a hardware fault. The update expanded complication support on selected faces: the Animals face could show up to four, including battery level and step count, so owners could see more without opening separate apps.
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- Rotating Bezel Navigation: Physical rotating bezel allows precise and intuitive control of apps and menus.
Samsung also announced GIF support for MyPhoto+, allowing a moving image instead of only a static photo as the face background. The report does not specify file-size or frame-rate limits, battery effects, or whether every GIF would work reliably, so those details should not be assumed.
Customizable gestures offered shortcuts, not full watch control
The update revamped gesture controls on both Watch 4 models. Its highlighted “knock, knock” hand motion could be assigned to a shortcut such as opening a chosen app or controlling a compatible smart-home light. That is a quick-action feature, not a replacement for navigating the entire watch without touching its screen. Smart-light control also depends on a compatible device and integration; the announcement does not promise support for every light.
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- Rotating Bezel Navigation: Physical rotating bezel allows precise and intuitive control of apps and menus.
Gesture shortcuts are useful only when the watch recognizes the intended movement. Wrist position, movement speed, clothing or incidental motion could affect recognition in practice; these are considerations, not reported test results. The announcement did not specify the exact settings path, full action list or sensitivity controls, so a precise menu-by-menu setup guide cannot be established from it. Test a shortcut before relying on it, particularly for anything important.
Fall Detection gained sensitivity and contact options
The announced changes let users adjust Fall Detection sensitivity and configure an SOS notification to as many as four contacts after a detected fall. Sensitivity involves a practical trade-off: a more responsive setting may produce more unwanted alerts, while a less responsive one may miss some events. The report does not establish detection accuracy or a guaranteed response.
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- Display: 1.2" (30.44mm) Circular Super AMOLED (396x396 pixels). Full Color Always On Display. Corning Gorilla Glass DX.
- Exynos W920 Dual Core 1.18GHz
- Sensor: Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, Optical Heart Rate Sensor, Electrical heart sensor, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Sensor, Hall sensor
- Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz
- Wear OS Powered by Samsung. Compatible with Android 6.0 or higher
Fall Detection is not medical-grade monitoring or assured emergency protection. A fall may be missed, or an alert may fail to reach contacts if the watch has no power, usable connectivity or the necessary phone or cellular connection and permissions. Configure contacts and test notification behavior rather than assuming an alert will be delivered; the announcement does not establish regional emergency-contact rules or guarantee that emergency services will be contacted.
The Strava offer was a 2021 promotion
Samsung also announced a free 60-day Strava subscription for owners of the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active, Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Galaxy Watch 3. This was a promotion reported in 2021, not an offer established as claimable now. The announcement did not specify redemption deadlines, country restrictions, eligibility conditions or renewal pricing.
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- BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS: Galaxy Watch4 is the first smartwatch to off body composition data right on your wrist, On your own schedule, now you can get readings on body fat, skeletal muscle, body water, basal metabolic rate, and Body Mass Index.Supported Application:Heart Rate Monitor,Sleep Monitor,Fitness Tracker. Connectivity technology:LTE,Bluetooth,GPS. Wireless comm standard:Bluetooth
- BETTER SLEEP STARTS HERE: Wake up feeling refreshed and recharged with advanced sleep tracking; When you go to bed, your Galaxy Watch4 sleep tracker starts monitoring your sleep and SpO2 levels continuously
- BE SMART ABOUT YOUR HEART: Take care of your heart with accurate ECG monitoring and keep an eye on possible atrial fibrillation, a common form of irregular heart rhythm; Share personalized readings with your doctor using the Samsung Health Monitor app on your compatible Galaxy phone
- MAKE EVERY WORKOUT COUNT: Get the most out of every exercise session with advanced workout tracking that recognizes 6 popular activities, from running to rowing to swimming, automatically in just 3 minutes; Stay motivated by connecting to live coaching sessions via your smartphone or to dynamic Group Challenges with your friends
- GO THE EXTRA MILE: Improve your runs with advanced running coaching technology; VO2 Max readings assess your oxygen levels to manage and track your heart and lung endurance
Bluetooth models were first in the reported rollout
The reported rollout began with Bluetooth versions of the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic, with LTE versions expected later. That delay did not mean LTE models were incompatible. Availability could vary by carrier, region, model identifier and staged distribution; the report does not provide a build number or a complete country-by-country schedule.
Who was most likely to value the update?
The additions were most relevant to owners who wanted more information on the watch face, liked visual personalization, used gesture shortcuts or wanted more control over Fall Detection settings. The smart-home example was most useful to people with a compatible light setup. Owners who preferred a simple face, rarely used complications or did not want motion-triggered shortcuts had less reason to care about those additions.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe reported feature list concerned customization, shortcuts and safety controls; it did not establish a battery-life, general performance or major health-sensor upgrade. Nor did it measure the battery impact of animated backgrounds, extra complications or gesture sensing.
What a Galaxy Watch 4 owner should know in 2026
This article describes what Samsung announced in October 2021, not the latest software available in 2026. Current firmware, watch-face catalogs and menu labels may differ, and the old Strava promotion should not be treated as active. To check what your watch can install now, use the Galaxy Wearable app and consult Samsung’s current support information for your specific model and region rather than relying on the historical rollout details here.
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