Galaxy Watch Ultra IMEI not Compatible

PhoenixHa1735, we're here to help, and we'd love the opportunity to help you with your Galaxy Watch Ultra and ensure this is compatible with our network. Let me send you a private message to gather additional information.

-Art

Thank you for reaching out for support. We'd like to verify the IMEI of the new Galaxy Watch Ultra and verify if this is compatible with the Verizon network. Please provide us with this information at your most convenient time.

-Art

Here is the info for the IMEI for the watch.

[Image removed for privacy]

IDK what it is, but if it isn't a Verizon version of the Samsung watch, then it doesn't work on Verizon. Yours is not the first thread I've seen about Samsung smartwatches being incompatible with Verizon. If it were me, I'd get a refund or exchange it for a Verizon variant.

EdGrooms

Yes! I experiences the exact issue this week trying to connect to a Samsung S25 Ultra phone. Watch previously connected with previous phone just fine.

urbancamper

I have spent 10 hours trying to get the same problem fixed. Verizon says its a Samsung issue and Samsung says it is a Verizon issue. I am extremely upset.

EdGrooms

PhoenixHa1735, was Verizon able to help you resolve your issue?

So after several hours on the phone with both Verizon and Samsung, if you want to use the watch on Verizon network then you have to purchase through them so that their network recognizes the IMEI of the watch.

Samsung states on their website that their watches are compatible with Verizon but that isn't exactly true. While the watch is compatible, if you purchase through samsung then it will not have an IMEI that is recognized by Verizon.

The Samsung website should reflect this so that people are aware before purchasing through them if using Verizon network.

urbancamper, we're here for you and we understand your time is important. Let me send you a private message to ensure we can gather additional information about your Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra activation.

-Art

You can gather all the information you want but it is not going to fix the issue. People just need to be aware that if they want to use the galaxy watch on your network then they have to buy through verizon because you install your own software on it to be compatible with your network.

ioriv

I have the same problem did it get resolved for you? The customer service team only cares to sell and keeps disconnecting my chats

No, I returned the watch I had purchased through Samsung and had to order one through Verizon so it had the required software install on it to work with their network.

If you bought your watch through Verizon then you should have no issues, but if you bought it from anywhere else then it will not work. Verizon installs their own software onto the watches they sell which make it compatible with their network. No matter what customer services tell you or the tech it doesn't matter.

I believe Verizon should place a note on their site informing people the watch will work on their network but only of purchased directly through them and Samsung should also place a note stating the watch does work on the Verizon network bit has to be purchased through the company directly due to required software needing to be installed on the watch to work properly on the network.

@vzw_customer_support
, why is it that everyone keeps asking the same questions but i have not found a single reply from customer service explaining what the issue is and how to address it? What is the point of having customer support reach out to us in theads saying they want to help just to abandon the chat later? The customers have done more research and provided more feedback and guidance to other customer than you customer support has, this is easy to see when you look up similar threads.

It has been four moths since the original post and not a single customer service response here has acknowledged the issue exist or that responses from other explaining what the issue is and how to address it?

For anyone who is having an issue with not being able to add your watch to the Verizon network read below.

1. If you bought your wach from anywhere else but Verison it will not work. Verizon installs software on the watches they sell so the IMEI # is recognized and can be added.

2. Both Verizon and Sansung refuse to acknowledge this and will run you around in circles trying to tell you its the other companies fault and you need to contact them.

3. Both companies are to blame, Verizon should make a note on their site making it clear you have to purchase the watch through them for it to work and Samsing should do the same on their site explaining that it is compatible but requires you to purchase through Verizon due to the required software needing to be present to work.

4. If you do not find an answer with customer support, start looking through the treads for similar post and responses from customers as they usually provide better information that is more reliable than Customer Service.

If you still have questions, feel free to response to the tread and I will reply as soon as I can.

I'm wondering if this is because the universal version of the watches are not in Verizon's DMD (Device Management Database) and someone with Verizon simply needs to add the IMEI to the DMD for it to work?

From Google:

As manufacturers produce certified Verizon devices, they upload identifiers, including ESNs, to the Verizon Device Management Database (DMD), where they await activation by an approved account (see M2M Service Provisioning Rules). Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID)

Im glad you said this, I have asked this same question in the past to customer support and was informed that they are unable to add any IMEI to their database if it isn't directly through Verzion.

I think the problem is CS is outsourced and so they can't access much of anything within the company. If they had escalated it to the correct department within Verizon, would have gotten fixed. Or if it is Samsung which needs to add the pertinent information to Verizon's database, then the same matter of getting the right person who can access the database.

ioriv, we're sorry about the issues you're having with your watch. We want to help figure out what's keeping your watch from being activated and we'd like to gather more details. We're sending you a Private Meassage so we can better assist.

~Jesse

Bigguy024

I am having the same issue. Bought my ultra watch today (7/17/25). I attempted to activate it through the wearable app. The app will send me to verizon and the only message I receive is "Pairing of not allowed"

Bigguy024 Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We know how important it is to get that set up and working. I will be sending you a PM as well.

-Harry

klemb

Having the same problem. Bought watch at Samsung,com. Tried to activate Watch Ultra to replace my Watch5 using the Wear app, but could not (721/25). I contacted Verizon tech support (7/22/25) to activate the Watch Ultra. After 20 minutes, my phone and Watch5 were unintentionally disconnected from the Verizon network. I had to wait 2 hours for my wife to return so I could use her phone to contact tech support. After another hour and a half, they told me my IMEI was not recognized, and I could not activate the Watch Ultra. Tech support did reconnect my phone, but the eSims are giving me problems and the Watch5 still does not have lte. Samsung provided a return authorization; so I'm returning the Watch Ultra.

TeaElle

I am having the exact same issue and no one can help. Samsung is saying the issue is on Verizon and Verizon is saying the issue is at Samsung.

TeaElle,

Sorry you're having the issue, I had the same and it was a pain to navigate.

The issue is due to software that is required on the watch to work with the network. If you purchase the watch through Samsung it will not have it and there is no way to add it. They only way to fix the issue is to return the watch to Samsung and purchase the watch directly through Verizon.

Both companies with continue to say its the others issue and ro contact them about it when in reality it's both their for not putting a note or warning that this can happen.

Both companies state they are compatible with the network which is true to a point but not exactly. If Samsung and Verizon both added a note stating the watch is compatible on the network only if bought through Verizon it would save so many people the hassle of dealing with this.

I hope this helps you and im sorry you are dealing with this. Both stung and Verizon are aware of this and refuse to address the issue and be upfront with the consumer leaving us to figure it out on our own.

TeaElle

Thank you for the reply, this is an extremely frustrating situation. I requested a return from Samsung, which is disappointing because I was looking forward to the Watch 8.

maybee0390

I bought my watch through Verizon..I've been trying for almost a year now to get it to connect to my mobile plan through the Wearable app. Verizon blamed Samsung even though I bought it through Verizon and pay on the watch monthly AND am currently paying the $15 a month for the number share option. I was on the phone with Verizon for about 4 hours when the rep finally gave up and said they were going to contact Samsung and get back to me..haven't heard from them since and this was months ago. I'm ready to drop it off at a store, tell them to drop it from my account and get something else.

We are sorry to hear that you have had problems with getting your watch set up. So we can take a closer look at this, we will be sending you a private message. -Dee

xcowboyupx

I am still having trouble with mine & the only solution so far from VZ is to allow them to sell me a new one. I got mine from Samsung for like $135 last year. I am not going to pay $650 for ANOTHER ONE. Has anyone got a fix for this yet?

VZ_jenn

Hi xcowboyupx,

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