Depending on what phone and smart watch you have will depend on whether you can see your glucose readings on your watch and whether they go directly to your watch or via your phone.

We have two watch modes

• Standard smartwatch mode^‡

• Direct to Watch mode^§

Standard smart watch mode

All Dexcom CGM can use standard smart watch mode. If using standard smartwatch mode, the smart watch copies the information from the phone. It does not get the information from the sensor. In this mode there is no direct communication between the sensor and the Smart watch

Setup and availability for this will depend on which phone and watch you have.

To view a list of compatible Apple Watches, click here.

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For Android compatibility please refer to watch manufacturer.

Direct to Watch Mode

Direct to Watch connects the Dexcom G7 sensor directly to your Apple Watch* using Bluetooth. When Direct to Watch is active, your sensor sends CGM data directly to your watch at the same time as it sends it to your phone, so you don’t need your phone† to see your glucose numbers. 

You will still need your Apple Phone to perform initial setup of each sensor.

Direct to watch supports both types of Apple watch (GPS and Cellular)

• GPS only - Does not upload to Dexcom Clarity

• Cellular and GPS – Supports upload to Dexcom Clarity

To view a list of compatible Apple Watches, visit this FAQ: HERE

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Direct to watch - Activation

Direct to watch sessions can only be started and stopped on the G7 mobile app, so the watch will need to connect directly to the phone in order to perform this part of the process.

To begin activation, you need to go to the Connections tab within the G7 app:

• Tap on Direct to Watch

• Compatibility check will be performed

If the device passes the requirements check, you can then tap on "Get Started" to proceed.

Direct to watch - Onboarding

Once you have tapped on "Get Started" you will be taken through several onboarding screens on your phone.

• Video of how Direct to Watch works

• Warning to keep the app running

• Warning that Share is not available on Watch

• Pairing (first the phone then watch automatically within 5 minutes)

• Feature Active - confirms that Direct to Watch is active. You can now start pairing

Direct to watch - First Pairing

Once you have gone through the onboarding screens, you will move to pairing. Your Watch will begin to search for the sensor.

• Pairing Prompt – You must confirm this, if you fail to do this a new prompt will pop up in 5mins

• Pairing Confirmation appears

• Trend Graph Guidance is given

• Main Screen becomes active

For subsequent sessions, the sensor will attempt to connect to the watch automatically. You will need to accept the pairing request on the watch each time, but you do not need to go through the whole setup process again.

Direct to watch – Replacing sensor

When current sensor session has finished, you will need to start a new one from your phone. Here are steps that you will need to perform:

• Tap start new sensor in the G7 app and start pairing

• Direct to Watch card appears on your Glucose view explaining that the Watch is waiting for the phone to pair first

• Your Phone will get an Apple Bluetooth pairing request prompt that you must acknowledge

• Once your phone is paired, your watch will try to pair with the sensor (they do not pair simultaneously)

• Your watch will get an Apple Bluetooth pairing request prompt that you must acknowledge

• Once paired, both devices will show a warmup time remaining countdown. At this stage, you can leave your phone and complete the countdown whilst using the watch only. If out of range, the phone will display "Signal Loss".

Smart devices sold separately. For a list of compatible devices, visit dexcom.com/compatibility.

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What G7 features can I view on my Apple Watch when in Direct to Watch Mode?

You’ll see your current glucose reading, trend arrow, trend graph, and alerts. Tap the trend graph to see your sensor readings over the past 1, 3, or 6 hours.

Will I get readings to my watch whilst I am swimming?

If you are in water, you may or may not get readings to your watch. Bluetooth transmission range is less. ^||

Can I use Direct to watch and still connect to my insulin pump (AID system)

Yes, Dexcom G7 can display glucose on multiple devices at the same time including watch and AID system. However, this may depend on the functionality of your insulin pump as some need the phone to be in automated mode.

Will my Apple Watch* share glucose data with Health Apps like Sugarmate or Happy Bob?

No, Direct to Watch can’t share real-time glucose data to Health App partners like Sugarmate or Happy Bob. When you are back with your phone* your glucose data will be backfilled to the partner app.

Direct to watch -Tips

• See an orange phone icon: Keep your phone nearby. When you see the orange phone icon beside your sensor reading, Direct to Watch mode is temporarily not working. Your smartwatch isn’t getting information from the sensor. Instead, it's copying from your phone, so you need to keep your phone nearby. When the phone icon disappears, Direct to Watch mode is working. Your smartwatch is getting information from your sensor, so you don't have to keep your phone nearby to receive glucose readings.

• Open watch app while changing settings: The watch app copies settings from your phone app. Whenever you change your CGM settings on your phone app, open and display the app on your smartwatch while your phone is nearby to ensure settings are copied to the smartwatch.

• Allow notifications in Focus mode: Manage your phone settings to allow Dexcom notifications while your phone is in focus mode.

• Switching smartwatches: Your CGM only lets you pair your sensor with one smartwatch.

• Mirror iPhone Alerts from the G7 phone app: Keep this feature on in the watch app on your phone. If you turn it off, you won't get alerts on your watch in either Standard Smartwatch mode or in Direct to Watch mode.