This guide shows you how to get your smart watch out of metric and switch to imperial units like miles, feet, and pounds. Whether you use Apple Watch, Samsung, Garmin, or Fitbit, we’ll walk you through the exact steps to change your settings quickly and easily.
Key Takeaways
- Most smart watches default to metric units based on your region, but you can easily switch to imperial in the settings.
- Changing units affects distance, weight, height, and temperature across your watch and connected apps.
- Apple Watch users must change units in the iPhone Watch app, not directly on the watch.
- Android-based watches like Samsung and Wear OS devices allow unit changes directly in the watch settings or companion app.
- Garmin and Fitbit users can switch units in their mobile apps, which sync automatically to the watch.
- Always restart your watch after changing units to ensure all data displays correctly.
- Double-check workout and health data after switching to confirm accuracy in your preferred system.
How to Get Your Smart Watch Out of Metric: A Complete Guide
If you’ve ever looked at your smart watch and seen distances in kilometers, weight in kilograms, or temperature in Celsius, you’re not alone. Most smart watches around the world default to the metric system—especially if you live in a country that uses metric measurements. But if you’re more comfortable with miles, feet, pounds, and Fahrenheit, you’ll want to know how to get your smart watch out of metric and switch to imperial units.
The good news? It’s easier than you think. Whether you’re using an Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, or another popular brand, this guide will walk you through the exact steps to change your measurement system. We’ll cover everything from basic settings to troubleshooting common issues, so you can confidently switch your smart watch to imperial units and enjoy a more personalized experience.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know:
– Why your smart watch is showing metric units
– How to change the measurement system on all major smart watch brands
– Tips to ensure your health and fitness data stays accurate
– What to do if the change doesn’t stick
Let’s get started!
Why Is Your Smart Watch Using Metric Units?
Before we dive into the steps, it’s helpful to understand why your smart watch is showing metric measurements in the first place. Most smart watches automatically set their units based on your phone’s region or location settings. For example, if your phone is set to a country like Canada, Germany, or Australia—where metric is standard—your watch will follow suit.
Even if you live in the United States, the UK, or another country that primarily uses imperial units, your watch might still default to metric if:
– Your phone’s region is set incorrectly
– You’ve traveled recently and your device picked up a new location
– You bought your watch from an international seller
– The watch was previously used in a metric country
Additionally, some fitness apps and health platforms (like Google Fit or Apple Health) may influence the units displayed on your watch. So, changing the setting in one place might not be enough—you may need to update multiple devices and apps.
The good news is that nearly all smart watches allow you to manually switch between metric and imperial systems. The process varies slightly by brand, but the core idea is the same: find the measurement or unit settings and toggle to imperial.
How to Change Units on Apple Watch
Apple Watch is one of the most popular smart watches, but it doesn’t let you change units directly on the watch itself. Instead, you must use the Watch app on your iPhone. Here’s how to do it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Watch App on Your iPhone
Unlock your iPhone and find the Watch app—it looks like a white watch face on a black background. Tap to open it.
Visual guide about How to Get Your Smart Watch at of Metric
Image source: images.squarespace-cdn.com
Step 2: Go to the My Watch Tab
At the bottom of the screen, tap the My Watch tab (it looks like a person icon). This is where all your watch settings are managed.
Step 3: Tap on General
Scroll down and tap General. This section contains system-wide settings for your Apple Watch.
Step 4: Select Language & Region
Tap Language & Region. This controls not only the language but also the measurement system used by your watch.
Step 5: Change the Region
Tap Region and select a country that uses imperial units, such as the United States or Liberia. Avoid countries like the UK, which use a mix of metric and imperial (e.g., miles for distance but Celsius for temperature).
Pro Tip: If you’re in the UK and want full imperial units, you may need to temporarily set your region to the U.S. to get miles, feet, and Fahrenheit. Just remember this might affect other region-specific features like Siri voice or app availability.
Step 6: Confirm the Change
Your iPhone will ask if you want to change the region. Tap Change to confirm. Your Apple Watch will automatically sync the new settings within a few minutes.
Step 7: Restart Your Apple Watch
To ensure the change takes full effect, restart your Apple Watch. Press and hold the side button and Digital Crown until the power-off slider appears. Slide to turn it off, then press and hold the side button again to turn it back on.
After restarting, check your Activity app, Workout app, or Weather app to confirm that distances are now in miles, weight in pounds, and temperature in Fahrenheit.
How to Change Units on Samsung Galaxy Watch
Samsung Galaxy Watches run on Wear OS (formerly Tizen), and the process for changing units is straightforward. You can do it directly on the watch or through the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone.
Option 1: Change Units Directly on the Watch
Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings panel. Tap the Settings icon (gear symbol).
Scroll down and tap General, then select Language and input.
Tap Region and choose a country that uses imperial units, such as the United States.
Your watch will prompt you to confirm the change. Tap OK, and the system will update within a minute.
Option 2: Use the Galaxy Wearable App
Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your Android phone.
Tap your watch name at the top, then go to Watch settings.
Tap General > Language and input > Region.
Select United States or another imperial-based country and confirm.
Your watch will sync the new settings automatically.
Restart Your Watch
After changing the region, restart your Galaxy Watch by holding the power button and selecting Restart. This ensures all apps and sensors use the correct units.
Now, when you track a run or check your weight in Samsung Health, you’ll see miles and pounds instead of kilometers and kilograms.
How to Change Units on Garmin Watches
Garmin watches are popular among runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts. They use the Garmin Connect app to manage settings, including units.
Step 1: Open the Garmin Connect App
Launch the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone (available for iOS and Android).
Step 2: Tap the Menu Icon
Tap the three-line menu icon (☰) in the top-left corner.
Step 3: Select Your Watch
Tap on your watch name under Devices.
Step 4: Go to System Settings
Scroll down and tap System, then select Units.
Step 5: Choose Imperial
You’ll see options for Metric, Imperial, and sometimes Statute (which is similar to imperial). Tap Imperial.
This will change distance to miles, weight to pounds, height to feet and inches, and temperature to Fahrenheit.
Step 6: Sync Your Watch
Make sure your watch is connected to the app via Bluetooth. The new units will sync automatically within a few seconds.
Step 7: Restart Your Garmin Watch
Press and hold the power button (usually the top-left button) until the restart option appears. Select it to reboot your device.
After restarting, open the activity tracker or check your daily stats to confirm the units have changed. For example, your 5K run should now show as approximately 3.1 miles.
How to Change Units on Fitbit Watches
Fitbit devices, including the Fitbit Sense, Versa, and Charge series, allow you to change units through the Fitbit mobile app.
Step 1: Open the Fitbit App
Launch the Fitbit app on your phone.
Step 2: Tap Your Profile Icon
Tap the profile icon (usually in the top-left corner).
Step 3: Select Settings
Tap Settings, then choose Personal Info.
Step 4: Change Units
Tap Units and select Imperial from the list.
This will change distance to miles, weight to pounds, and height to feet and inches.
Step 5: Sync Your Fitbit
Make sure your Fitbit is nearby and connected. The app will prompt you to sync. Tap Sync Now to apply the changes.
Step 6: Restart Your Fitbit (Optional)
While not always necessary, restarting your Fitbit can help ensure the change takes effect. Hold the side button for 10 seconds until you see the Fitbit logo.
Now, when you check your step count or log a workout, your data will display in imperial units.
How to Change Units on Other Smart Watches (Wear OS, Amazfit, etc.)
Many other smart watches, such as those running Wear OS (like Fossil, TicWatch, or Mobvoi) or Amazfit models, follow similar patterns. Here’s a general guide:
For Wear OS Watches
Swipe down from the top of the screen to open quick settings. Tap the Settings icon.
Scroll to System > Language & input > Region.
Select a country that uses imperial units, like the United States.
Restart your watch to apply the changes.
For Amazfit Watches (e.g., GTR, GTS)
Open the Zepp app on your phone.
Tap your watch, then go to Settings > Units.
Switch from Metric to Imperial.
Sync your watch to apply the change.
For Other Brands
Check the companion app (if available) or look for a “Units” or “Measurement” option in the watch’s settings menu. Most brands allow you to switch systems this way.
Troubleshooting: What If the Units Won’t Change?
Sometimes, despite following the steps correctly, your smart watch might still show metric units. Here are common issues and how to fix them.
Issue 1: Region Change Doesn’t Stick
If changing the region doesn’t work, your phone’s system settings might be overriding the watch. Go to your phone’s Settings > General > Language & Region (iOS) or System > Language & input (Android) and ensure the region is set to an imperial country like the U.S.
Issue 2: App-Specific Units
Some apps, like Strava or Google Fit, have their own unit settings. Open the app, go to settings, and change the units there. This ensures consistency across all platforms.
Issue 3: Sync Problems
If your watch isn’t syncing with the app, turn Bluetooth off and on, or restart both your phone and watch. Make sure both devices are connected to the internet.
Issue 4: Software Glitch
Outdated software can cause settings to not apply. Check for updates in your watch’s settings or companion app. Install any available updates and try again.
Issue 5: Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If nothing works, consider a factory reset. This will erase all data, so back up your health and fitness info first. After resetting, set up your watch again and choose imperial units during setup.
Tips for a Smooth Transition
Switching from metric to imperial is simple, but a few tips can make the process even smoother:
- Change units before starting a new workout routine to avoid confusion in your logs.
- Update all connected apps (like MyFitnessPal, Strava, or Apple Health) to use the same units.
- Double-check your height and weight entries after switching, as they may need to be re-entered in the new system.
- Use a conversion app temporarily if you’re tracking progress and need to compare old metric data to new imperial data.
- Teach family members how to change the setting if multiple people use the same watch.
Conclusion
Getting your smart watch out of metric mode doesn’t have to be confusing. With the right steps, you can easily switch to imperial units and enjoy a more personalized experience. Whether you’re using an Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, or another brand, the process is straightforward once you know where to look.
Remember: the key is to change the region or units in the correct app or settings menu, sync your devices, and restart your watch to ensure the change takes effect. And don’t forget to check your companion apps—consistency across all platforms makes tracking your health and fitness much easier.
Now that you know how to get your smart watch out of metric, you can focus on what really matters: staying active, reaching your goals, and enjoying your smart watch to the fullest.