Galaxy Watch 6 Feeling Slow After The One UI 8 Watch Update? Here’s How To Fix It

Samsung’s One UI 8 Watch update has started rolling out globally for the Galaxy Watch 6 series, bringing new features and deeper AI integration. But many users are noticing something else too — lag. The quick settings panel feels heavier, animations take longer, and some menus don’t move with the usual snap. Threads on Reddit demonstrate this isn't an isolated incident either; multiple Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic owners are reporting slow performance of their devices.

Your good news is that there's no need for another patch – some simple adjustments should restore normal functioning of the watch.

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Reboot and reset the UI load

Many users have indicated they were able to eliminate lag on their watches by power cycling them. While it may seem odd to think of a reboot as a fix, many users found it works. To restart a Samsung Smartwatch, users have two options: go to Settings → System → Restart, or press and hold both physical buttons at the same time until the Samsung logo appears.

Turn down the transparency effects

One UI 8 Watch adds extra visual polish, but those effects can be taxing on the Watch 6’s hardware. Reducing them gives the interface some breathing room and immediately makes swipes feel smoother. Go to:

Settings → Accessibility → Vision enhancements → Reduce transparency and blur.

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Clear the system cache

If an update still feels slow after clearing the cache, clearing can often help improve performance. Though more involved than simply updating, clearing takes only minutes.

1. Hold Home + Back to force the watch off.

2. Keep holding the Home button until the bootloader menu appears.

3. Scroll with the Home button and select Recovery mode.

4. Inside recovery, use the Back button to highlight Wipe cache partition, then confirm.

5. Once done, choose Reboot system now.

Most people reporting issues say the watch feels noticeably smoother after this step.

If your Galaxy Watch 6 or Watch 6 Classic has been dragging since the update, try these fixes and see how it responds. The update itself isn’t broken — it just seems to need a little housekeeping to settle in.