Galaxy Watch LTE duplicate messages

After 3 days between TMobile and Samsung, i have some concrete info finally. It's NOT a resolution, but it is an explanation. The initial duplicate messages issue, where i was also registering answered calls as missed calls even when connected to Bluetooth, was resolved following a full reset on the watch and, i suspect, completely setting up my Samsung account on both devices. It also stopped putting all my group messages into separate threads once reconnecting to LTE. Even on LTE, the phone and watch syncs remotely as long as both have signal. But thru LTE, ONLY the notification panel is synced.

That brings up a separate issue. Phone calls and text messages received while the watch is on LTE are treated as independent from the main phone line. That's why connecting to LTE floods the watch with a backlog of text messages. If the watch software is working correctly it will put them into their respective threads and not show as unread on the watch face or notification panel, but does show as unread within the messaging app itself. Why? Because it received them as messages to the independent watch line itself, not as a mirror (like thru Bluetooth). This is the same reason why, when connected to LTE, calls answered on the phone show as missed on the watch - it's registered as a missed call to the WATCH line. As an example, if (while on LTE) you don't answer a call on either the watch or the phone, then your watch registers 2 missed calls at exactly the same time. 1 missed on your watch line and 1 missed on your phone line. If you clear the missed call notification on your phone, then you'll automatically clear one of the notifications on your watch, the one reflected from your phone. Vice versa works also, if you clear the correct missed call on your watch relating to the missed call on your phone it will clear the notification on your phone. But you cannot clear notifications to your independent watch line from your phone. The same thing is happening with text messages.

Basically, phone calls and text messages are not data features, they're line level features and are forwarded to the watch thru DIGITS. There is currently no ability to sync remotely the messages or phone calls thru DIGITS. In fact, AT&T is currently the ONLY carrier capable of this with Android thru it's NumberSync service. Apple watches don't have this issue because everything is proprietary and they manage their devices directly (in essence). For Android, it's dependant on the service providers sharing service.

Again, currently AT&T is the only one able to sync calls and messages remotely, as well as have your message replies delivered as if from the main phone's number. I asked TMobile Advanced Troubleshooting about it and they said they've requested information on that specifically but have not gotten a response. It could be that it's in the pipeline but they haven't been told anything about it at all, so it could just be the way it is.

And that kind of stinks. I'm usually connected via Bluetooth and on the occasion I'm out of range, my watch starts buzzing for 10 minutes straight with all my spooled messages. And even though it doesn't use the notification panel, it still shows them as unread in the watch messaging app. Plus, if i reply from my watch, it comes from a different number and doesn't post to my phone. Additionally, ten minutes of constant buzzing kills your battery before you're even out the gate! Switching LTE on & off manually, only when you know you'll need it, could prevent unnecessary LTE switching (because you walked across your apartment or something and out of Bluetooth range), but for that i start to wonder the value of the more expensive LTE watch plus a monthly service cost. If you have to actively avoid the LTE, then it's kinda self-defeating.

I'll be asking TMobile if they'll honor the BOGO special if i suspend DIGITS until there's a fix, but i have a feeling they'll say no   . This was VERY long, sorry but hope it helped.

I will try this and give them a call.  When I first noticed this issue that was my first response and the DIGITS team told me that it was set up correctly and was Samsung's fault.  I will hold out hope that their outlook has changed and that they can follow your steps.

I will give them a call tonight and let you all know if it works or not. 

@dupsla​, I'm so incredibly happy to read your update! Thank you for encouraging others to call in to get this resolved as we have zero account access on our end to make any changes. I'm very curious what they changed to cause it to work when we've had multiple teams working on this.

Hello, if there was an option to mark all missed incoming messages as read when the watch connects to LTE, that would be a great (but probably not final) step towards a solution. It seems like something that could be implemented in DIGITS or the watch messages app.

This problem has become more annoying as we enter the holiday season, as folks are comparing functionality between watches and carriers in their gift decisions. I'd love to be able to tell others that this increasingly-heard-about problem is solved for the LTE Galaxy watch on T-mobile.

It's either a defect with the watch software or defect with T Mobile digits.  Either way we should be credited since it is not working as designed.  It's been two months. 

I'll echo this. I have the watch and I have the same problem. Past the 14 days, what options are we given?

Is it possible to pursue a solution with the DIGITS team as well? While connected to LTE, I'm getting messages on both my phone and watch (a good thing, as they are not being delayed in delivery) but messages don't synchronize as being read across devices. I'm thinking this involves DIGITS as the DIGITS app on an iPad and Win10 computer shows the same behavior.

We look forward to a solution to this problem!

You're right, @magenta6596678​, this isn't a permanent solution. That's what I'm working on with the internal Samsung partners. Trust me....I'm being a squeaky wheel and doing my best to get everyone answers ASAP.

Sorry I didnt mean to come off rude to you I just wanted to make sure they didnt take this as a solution 😊

Mine does the same thing. Hopefully there will be an update soon.

Just want to be clear that an it's not an acceptable fix for this issue to simply turn on mobile networks always on.  I think that suggestion came from a user not an admin but want to make sure this thread doesnt derail bc of it.  That setting kills battery life from 3 days 2 nights down to less than 24 hours and doesnt actually fix the issue.  We need to be able to use "automatic" mobile settings, connect via bluetooth when in range, and not get duplicate messages when out of range. 

It's been weeks since this thread was made and it's a fairly well known issue that has existed since release, surely theres an update to be had?

Thank you for your time,

I switched my settings to match yours right now Dupsla..hopefully that works better. about 1 hr has passed since I tried the previous settings and my watch is down to 77%. Almost 10% batter drained in a little over 1 hr.. that's crazy!!

I have a post above how the samsung rep set up my second watch and it does help with the duplicate message problem. I am getting 15-16 hours average, maybe a little more. Mine is the 42mm. I have 6 hours 37 min 27 seconds since last full charge and I'm at 78%.