How to back up Galaxy Watch data on PC without Samsung Cloud

There are four real ways to back up Galaxy Watch data to PC, and choosing the right one depends on a single factor: do you need a complete historical archive or a continuous automated flow? For a historical archive, Samsung Health's internal export generates a complete CSV package in a few steps. For a continuous flow, Health Connect linked to a third-party app is the only path that doesn't require manual repetition.

Option 1: Samsung Health's internal export

Samsung Health (Android) has a built-in export function generating a package of files with all your raw data. It's not promoted in tutorials, but it's been there for years.

1. Open Samsung Health on the phone.
2. Tap ☰ menu top-left → Settings.
3. Scroll to 'Download personal data'.
4. Confirm with Samsung Account password.
5. Wait (can take 1–24 hours if you have years of data). You'll receive a ZIP via email.

The package contains CSV files for each data type (steps_*.csv, heart_rate_*.csv, sleep_*.csv, exercise_*.csv, etc.) plus binary files for high-frequency data like continuous HR during workouts. It's complete but verbose. To analyze in Excel/Numbers just import the CSVs; for more sophisticated visualizations use Python pandas or R.

Option 2: GDPR right-of-access request

If you're in the EU, you can formally write to Samsung asking for all data collected about you (GDPR art. 15 and 20). For health data the contact is privacy.eu@samsung.com (or the dedicated form at privacy.samsung.com/en/privacy-rights). They have 30 days to respond, free of charge. The dataset you receive is typically broader than the internal export (includes metadata, access logs, account info).

Option 3: read via Health Connect on a third-party app

Since 2024 Samsung Health writes to Health Connect, Android's official API. You can install a third-party app reading via Health Connect and exposing data in the format you want: web dashboard, JSON files, sync with other ecosystems. It's the most automated way.

• •For web dashboard: FitMesh Sync reads from Health Connect and shows everything on a PC-accessible web app.
• •For technical export: apps like Health Connect Toolbox (open source) produce manual JSON dumps.
• •For advanced analytics: apps like Welltory or Bearable read HC and provide coaching/journaling.

Caveat: this path works for data Samsung Health writes to Health Connect (so steps, HR, sleep, calories, distance, workouts). For Samsung-proprietary data like Body Composition or continuous Stress Score you'll always need Samsung Health's internal export.

Option 4: ADB backup (advanced)

For the more technical: Samsung Health data lives on the phone in a SQLite database. With a USB cable, ADB enabled in developer options, and a tool like adb backup or root you can extract the file and read it directly. Not recommended if you don't know what 'developer options' means: easy to break things and risks violating ToS.

Summary table

In summary

• •Samsung Health's internal export (Settings → Download personal data) is the most complete and free method: generates a CSV package with your entire history.
• •Health Connect linked to a third-party app is the only option with real automation: data flows without manual intervention, but covers only data types Samsung Health writes to HC.
• •The GDPR request is broader than the internal export (includes metadata and access logs), but takes up to 30 days: use it only for archive before closing an account.
• •ADB is for technical users: direct access to the SQLite database, maximum completeness, high risk if you don't know what you're doing.
• •Samsung-proprietary data (Body Composition, continuous Stress Score) doesn't pass through Health Connect: manual export is always needed for those.