FAQ

Questions, answered

Getting started

Which watches and phones work with Tandem?

Android watches on Wear OS 3 or newer (Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and later, Google Pixel Watch, OnePlus, Xiaomi, TicWatch and others) with an iPhone on iOS 17.2 or newer. Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, SE or Ultra on watchOS 10 or newer, with an Android phone on Android 10 or newer. See the Supported watches page for the full list.

Do I need the other kind of phone?

Once. Google requires every Wear OS watch to be set up with an Android phone first, and Apple requires every Apple Watch to be activated with an iPhone first. A borrowed phone is fine. After that you use Tandem with your own phone. Apple Watch software updates and Apple Pay cards still need that iPhone later.

How long does setup take?

About 3 minutes after the one-time activation: install Tandem on both, scan the code on your watch, confirm the numbers match, and choose permissions.

Features

Can I reply to messages from my watch?

Apple Watch with Android: yes, for apps that offer a reply button in their Android notifications, including WhatsApp, Messages, Telegram and Teams. Android watch with iPhone: replies need iOS Notification Forwarding, available in the EU on iOS 26.5 or newer; elsewhere you can read and dismiss.

Can I take phone calls on my watch?

Android watch with iPhone: yes, you can answer and talk on most watches. Apple Watch with Android: you can see who's calling and answer, decline, end or text back, but you talk on your phone or earbuds — Android doesn't let any app send call audio to an Apple Watch.

Does my health data sync?

Yes. Android watch data goes into Apple Health; Apple Watch data goes into Health Connect (and from there to apps like Google Fit). ECG recordings from Apple Watch are shown in Tandem. Tandem is not a medical device.

Does it work when my phone is far away?

Yes, with Plus. When your watch and phone are apart, Tandem sends alerts over the internet, encrypted so only your devices can read them.

Can I use one watch with two phones?

Yes, with Plus. For example a work iPhone and a personal Android phone. You choose which phone rings and which controls music.

Pricing

How much does it cost?

Tandem Free covers notifications nearby, music control, Find My and phone battery. Tandem Plus unlocks everything for $20 a year or $2 a month, with your first month free. Local prices may differ.

How do I cancel?

In two taps from Settings › Subscription › Manage, or in your App Store or Google Play subscriptions. Cancel at least 24 hours before your free month ends to avoid being charged. We remind you 2 days before.

Can I get a refund?

Refunds are handled by Apple or Google under their policies.

Privacy and battery

Can you read my messages or health data?

No. They travel only between your own devices, end-to-end encrypted. Our servers relay scrambled data they cannot read.

Will it drain my battery?

Tandem aims to use under 5% a day on each device. You can see the exact figure in Settings › Diagnostics. On some Android phones you need to allow Tandem to run in the background; the app shows you how.

Troubleshooting

My watch stopped getting notifications.

Open Tandem › Help › "Alerts aren't reaching my watch" and tap Run checks. The most common causes are battery saver closing the app (Android) or notification sharing being turned off for the watch (iPhone Settings › Bluetooth).

Something else?