Running & Debugging HarmonyOS Apps on Huawei Watches: A Complete Setup Guide for Developers

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Smartwatch connected to DevEco Studio for debugging, showcasing a real-time development workflow over Wi-Fi.

This document covers a step-by-step guide to enable developer mode, set up signing, and debug HarmonyOS apps on Huawei Watch using DevEco Studio.

Introduction

In this article, you’ll learn how to enable developer mode on the Watch, connect it via IP, retrieve its UDID, generate and configure debug certificates, and finally run and debug your app using DevEco Studio.

This end-to-end tutorial is especially useful in 2025, when wearable app development continues to expand across Huawei’s ecosystem.

Let’s dive into it.

Step 1: Enabling Developer Mode on Huawei Watch

To prepare your Huawei Watch device for development and debugging via IP, follow these steps carefully:

1. On your Watch, go to: Settings > Huawei Watch Rates > Software Version
2. Tap “Software Version”5–6 times continuously until “Developer Options are enabled” message appears.

3. Once Developer Options are activated:

   • Go to Settings > System > Developer Options
   • Enable both of the following:
   • HDC debugging
   • Debug via Wi-Fi

4. On the Debug via Wi-Fi section, you will see an IP address with a port number (e.g.192.x.x.x:5555) You will use this IP in DevEco Studio to connect the device.

Wi-Fi Debugging IP address shown on Huawei Watch

Step 2: Connecting Huawei Watch via IP (Using the Same Network)

Once Developer Mode and Wi-Fi Debugging are enabled on the Watch, you can establish a direct connection to DevEco Studio via IP. This step is crucial to deploy and debug your application on the real device.

• Ensure Same Network Connection:

• Either enable Hotspot from your PC and connect the Watch to it,

OR make sure both your PC and Watch are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

• Open DevEco Studio > Tools > IP Connection

This section allows you to manually connect a device using its IP address.

Connecting a Huawei Watch via IP in DevEco Studio

• On your Watch, go to: Settings > System > Developer Options > Debug via Wi-Fi
• Copy the IP address shown there (e.g., 192.x.x.x:5555).

In DevEco Studio:

• Open Tools > IP Connection
• Enter the IP address from your watch into the input field.
• Click the green arrow (connect button).

If successful, your device will show as “Online” under the IP Connected Devices list.

Huawei Watch successfully connected via IP in DevEco Studio

Step 3: Retrieving Device UDID and Registering it on AppGallery Connect

To complete the certificate configuration and run/debug apps on your Huawei Watch, you need to register the device’s UDID (Unique Device Identifier) on AppGallery Connect.

1. Open Command Prompt (CMD) on your PC.

2. Navigate to your HDC tool directory.
   (Typically under your SDK path, for example:
   C:\Users<username>\AppData\Local\OpenHarmony\Sdk\sdk_version\toolchains)

3. Run the following command to get the UDID of the connected Watch device:
   hdc shell bm get -u
   You will get an output like:
   udid of current device is :123123123123123123123123123175D96C9AEFC672F11FBD3E0F8FC507F1A34
   
   Retrieving the device UDID using command

4. Copy this UDID, you will need it to register the Watch on AppGallery Connect.

Step 4: Generating Signature Files: Certificates, App IDs, Devices, Profiles

To sign and run your HarmonyOS apps on a physical device like a Watch, you need to create and configure the following four components on AppGallery Connect

Generating a key and CSR file in DevEco Studio under the Build menu

DevEco Studio interface for generating .p12 and .csr files

A. Certificate Generation

1. Go to: AppGallery Connect > Certificates, App IDs and Profiles > Certificates

2. Click New Certificate

3. Choose:

   • Certificate type: Debug certificate (for testing) or Release (for production)
   • Upload CSR file (.csr) → You’ll generate this in DevEco Studio Filling out the new certificate form on AppGallery Connect

4. Once created, download the generated .cer file
   
   Generated certificate listed on AppGallery Connect

B. App ID Creation

1. Navigate to App IDs section > Click New
   
   Creating a new App ID in AppGallery Connect

2. Fill out:

• App Type: HarmonyOS App
• App Name
• App Package Name (e.g., com.example.myapp)
• App Category

Filling out the App ID form with app type, name, and package name

Assign it to a project (e.g., WearEngine)

Assigning the newly created App ID to a project

C. Device Registration

Navigate to:

Certificates, App IDs, and Profiles > Devices > Add Device

Registering a new smartwatch device in AppGallery Connect

In the pop-up window:

• Device name: (e.g., Watch5TestDevice)
• Device type: Smart watch
• UDID: Paste the UDID you retrieved earlier from CMD

· Click Submit

Entering device details for registration in AppGallery Connect

D. Profile Creation

1. Go to the Profiles section > Click Add

2. Select:
   · App Name (select from previously created App IDs)
   · Profile Type: Debug
   · Select Certificate: from A
   · Select Device: from the registered device list

3. Click Submit

4. After creation, download the Profile file (.p7b)

Creating a new debug profile in AppGallery Connect

Step 5: Including Signature Files in the Project (DevEco Studio Signing Config Setup)

After generating your .p12, .csr, .cer, and .p7b files, you must configure Signing Configs in your project to be able to run the application on the real device.

1. Open DevEco Studio > File > Project Structure > Signing Configs tab
   
   Configuring signature files in DevEco Studio

2. Fill in the required fields:
   
   Required signature fields for HarmonyOS project setup

3. Click Apply and OK

Step 6: Running and Debugging the Application on Watch (Run & Debug)

After successfully completing all signing and connection configurations, you are now ready to deploy and run your HarmonyOS application on the Watch.

1. Make sure your device is shown as connected

   • In the top-right device selector of DevEco Studio, your Watch (e.g., HUAWEI WATCH [192.168.xxx.xxx:5555]) should be listed.

2. Select the correct entry module (e.g., entry) if you have a multi-entry project.

3. Click Run ▶️ or Debug to deploy the app to the Watch.

4. The app will be installed and automatically launched on the Watch.
   

Watch device selected and ready for deployment in DevEco Studio

Tips

If your IP connection fails frequently, try setting a static IP for the Watch via the router’s DHCP settings or use USB debug if possible.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you’ve now learned how to:

· Enable Developer Mode on Huawei Watch

· Connect via Wi-Fi and retrieve the UDID

· Generate and integrate signing certificates

· Deploy and debug directly from DevEco Studio

Testing on real devices not only increases stability but also gives you access to performance metrics and real-world behaviors that emulators can’t simulate.

References

Document

The OpenCms demo, brought to you by Alkacon Software.developer.huawei.com

Document

The OpenCms demo, brought to you by Alkacon Software.developer.huawei.com

Document

The OpenCms demo, brought to you by Alkacon Software.developer.huawei.com

Written by Ahmet Faruk Karakus