Here is how to get Pebble smartwatch notifications to work on Windows Phone

Pebble, Cortana and Windows Phone

Pebble is arguably one of the most important smartwatch brands bachelor to consumers these days. Indeed, the individual company has been very successful in raising money for its new Pebble Time device, suggesting that the company has some legs.

All the same, Pebble and Windows Phones are two things that do not friction match. Nosotros detailed the story of the failed attempt at bringing the Pebble app to Windows Phone earlier and so today we want to talk near that 'demo' app for notifications.

We will as well tell you where you lot tin can get information technology and how it works in our hands-on video.

Hands on video of Pebble Connect

Commencement discovered a few weeks ago, the app is an internal beta used for testing Windows Phone notifications with a Pebble smartwatch. It does non take more advanced features like access to the Pebble Store (for installing apps), music controls and more.

Still, information technology can hook into your Windows Phone notification system to alert you to telephone calls, email, full general notifications, fifty-fifty when music stops/start playing (the 'Media' option).

And yes, it runs in the groundwork.

Can I download information technology from the Shop?

Unfortunately, since it is a private beta, none of u.s.a. accept permission to download information technology to our phones. Many people accept noticed the 'Download and install manually' option, but this too will not work for sideloading due to restrictions placed on the APPX.

But, there is a way. Here's how.

Sideloading the modified Pebble Connect app

Luckily, through various friends, we have found a way to remove those restrictions. As a result, we have a modified version of the Pebble Connect APPX.

This version tin be sideloaded to whatever Windows Phone eight.one device using the Windows Phone SDK. Through the SDK, you can developer unlock your telephone and manually install ('sideload') the APPX to your phone.

To learn how to programmer unlock your Windows Phone, please read our tutorial.

Read: How to Developer Unlock your Windows Telephone

Download the modified Pebble Connect APPX file

To catch the modified APPX file for Pebble Connect, only hitting the link up below. Note: this file will merely be bachelor for 48 hours, after that, information technology is up to you lot what happens to it!

Yous will need to download this to a PC with the Windows Phone viii.one SDK and Developers tool installed. Copying directly to your Windows Phone and using local apps will not work.

Download Pebble Connect APPX (modified)

Using Pebble Connect

Once installed, you lot want to launch the Pebble Connect app. You should run across a warning about it not being able to run in the groundwork due to its task being disabled. To solve this, follow these steps:

Settings
Battery Saver
Usage
Cull 'Pebble Connect Beta'
Enable 'Let app to run in the background'

Now, you demand to pair the Pebble with your Windows Phone (you could also do this pace earlier, the ordering does not matter)

Paring your Pebble to Windows Phone

Put Pebble into pairing fashion (middle button, settings, Bluetooth)
On Windows Phone: Settings, Bluetooth
Your Pebble should eventually show up in the list of devices (it tin can accept some time)
Tap to pair, follow the instructions

Once completed, close out the Pebble Connect Beta app and re-launch it. You lot should no longer see the error message nigh it running in the background. Instead, you should have an 'allow access to notifications' dialog. Hit 'Concord' and you should at present meet the Log screen and the Pebble Connect app finding your Pebble.

Pebble Media Alert

A few more things

Merely to be clear, this app is only for notifications on your Windows Phone.

Cannot install Pebble apps
Cannot install new watch faces
Cannot command music (although there are some media notifications)

In that sense, Pebble Connect is merely partially useful to Windows Telephone users. Notwithstanding, if y'all already have a Pebble that is sitting effectually, information technology merely became much more helpful to you. At the very least, you can take this app until hopefully anytime, Pebble comes effectually over again to Windows Telephone.