JAMES Emergency Watch B8 Manual
Manual JAMES emergency watch B8
The emergency watch B8 offers, in addition to alert functions, several other everyday features.
Hardware specification: Spec.: Model B8
How does the initial setup of the watch work?
Charging
Please fully charge your watch before first use. Connect the charging cable to the power adapter and plug the power adapter into a wall socket. Attach the magnetic contacts of the charging cable to the charging contacts on the back of the watch so that the charging process begins.
Switching on
Press the control button of the watch until the screen turns on. After a short startup process, the time will appear.
Waking up
If the watch is not used for ten seconds, it switches to sleep mode and the screen turns black. You can wake the watch again by briefly pressing the control button.
Battery
The battery indicator is located on the right side of the display. At 15% battery level, a battery warning appears on the watch as well as in the app/web portal.
The battery life is up to 4 days. However, we recommend charging the watch daily. A fast charging process takes approx. 1 hour.
How is the watch activated?
When purchasing the watch in the JAMES online shop (james.care) with a basic plan, the watch is already ready for use and does not need to be activated.
Your JAMES emergency watch is not activated if:
- it was purchased at a retail partner,
- a partner online shop (e.g., Amazon),
- or without the JAMES basic tarif.
For activation, you need the 15-digit IMEI number of the watch.
You can find it on the white outer box. It is located on the larger barcode label and marked “IMEI”. It is also shown on the screen when the watch is switched off and charging.
You can activate your watch on the homepage at james.care/start. Enter the 15‑digit IMEI number in the designated field and confirm by clicking “Activate watch”. If this is not successful, please contact our support.
If you did not purchase your watch in the JAMES online shop or without a basic tarif, it must be activated first. To use the watch, the JAMES basic plan is required.
JAMES login data
After activation, the login data for the JAMES App / JAMES Web Portal will be sent to you automatically by email. Please also check your spam folder.
There you can easily configure your watch.
JAMES App
You can download the JAMES App in the Google Play Store or the App Store under “JAMES APP” by ilogs.
Username and password
Your username is usually your email address.
You can reset your password at any time using the “Forgot password” function.
JAMES Web Portal
To access the JAMES Web Portal, click here or go directly via the homepage.
You will find the “Webportal” option in the upper right corner of the page.
You receive a separate login for the online shop. Here you can conveniently manage your subscription, view invoices and tariffs, or place repeat orders.
How do I set up an alerting chain?
Open the JAMES App or the web portal and log in with your user data. In the JAMES Web Portal, you will see the tile “Contacts & Alerting Chain” on the start page.
Click “Edit” to make your adjustments.
In the JAMES App, you will find the settings icon (gear) in the red area at the top right. Tap it and select “Contacts & Alerting Chain” in the settings menu.** **
Here you can add new contacts, edit existing contacts, or adjust their order. You can store up to 10 contacts in the alerting chain. These contacts can also use the JAMES App to perform location checks or view information.
Note: The manual for the JAMES App can be found here or directly in the app under the settings (bottom of the menu).
How does the alarm work?
Triggering the alarm
Press the control button for several seconds until you hear an acoustic signal and see the red SOS symbol on the screen. If you do not cancel the alarm, the emergency contacts will be called.
Cancelling the alarm
By pressing the control button again within the first few seconds, you can cancel the alarm if it was triggered unintentionally. After an alarm, the watch remains in alarm mode for 1 hour and automatically answers incoming calls. During this time, the SOS symbol is displayed on the time screen.
If the alarm is closed in the JAMES App / Web Portal, the alarm mode ends earlier.
Answering the alarm
During an alarm, JAMES calls your emergency contacts one after another. A recorded voice message informs the contact about the emergency; they can accept the call by pressing key 2 on their phone. After accepting the alarm, a phone connection to the watch is established. It works like a mobile phone: the emergency contact can speak directly with the wearer.
Additionally, an SMS with the wearer’s location is sent. The position is continuously refined. If the call is not answered, the alarm is forwarded to the next contact. **The alerting chain is run through 3 times. **While being forwarded, the watch’s sound briefly pauses, and the SOS symbol is shown small. When a contact accepts the alarm, the tone resumes. The watch automatically answers the call after a few seconds.
How does fall detection work?
The fall detection of your emergency watch provides additional safety.
However, it is important to understand that a 100% reliable detection of all types of falls is currently not technically possible.
At the same time, the watch should not trigger an alert for every movement or shock.
Therefore, the system distinguishes as accurately as possible between real falls and everyday movements.
Examples of different fall types and detection:
Dizziness episode:
The wearer slowly sinks to the ground and may support themselves briefly (e.g., on a chair).
These slow, cushioned movements often do not generate strong impact and may not be detected, even though injury risk exists.
Tripping and hard impact:
The person trips (e.g., over a carpet edge) and falls without support.
Such falls typically cause clear movement and impact patterns and are usually detected reliably.
Unintentional movements / false alarms:
Strong gestures such as hitting a table may create similar motion patterns.
In such cases, JAMES usually recognizes the atypical sequence and filters false alarms intelligently without triggering the alert chain.
Fall alert & cancelling false alarms
If a possible fall is detected, a fall symbol or a figure with circular lines appears on the display.
The watch vibrates and emits a sound.
The fall alert can be cancelled within the first 10 seconds by briefly pressing the control button.
If the alert is not cancelled, the standard emergency call procedure begins.
NOTE: If further movement is detected after a fall, no alarm is triggered.
Activating the fall sensor
Fall detection can be activated via the JAMES App or the JAMES Web Portal.
Activation via the JAMES App:
- In the settings, select Device configuration.
- Under Watch functions, find Fall detection.
- Activate the function by setting the red checkmark.
Activation via the JAMES Web Portal:
- In the Devices section, click Device configuration.
- Under Functions, find Fall detection.
- Activate by setting the checkbox.
Setting sensitivity
You can additionally set the detection sensitivity:
- Low (less sensitive, fewer false alarms)
- Medium (standard)
- High (more sensitive, detects lighter falls)
Choose the appropriate level according to the wearer’s needs and activity level.
Calls & phone number of the emergency watch
Your watch also allows you to answer normal phone calls. You do not need a separate JAMES tariff for this.
When a call comes in, it is displayed on the watch screen. Press the control button to answer. You can now speak directly through the watch.
JAMES emergency watches typically use roaming SIM cards with the country code +41 (Switzerland – Swisscom).
Phone number of the emergency watch
You can find the phone number of your emergency watch in the JAMES App or the JAMES Web Portal.
The phone number also appears in the alert SMS sent to emergency contacts.
How do I switch off the watch?
Press the control button briefly to activate the screen if it is black. Then navigate through the menu by repeatedly pressing the button.
At the end of the menu loop, the power-off symbol and the IMEI number appear. Hold the control button until the watch turns off.
What additional functions does the emergency watch have?
Wake the watch by pressing the control button. By pressing the button briefly, you can navigate through the functions. In the JAMES App / Web Portal under Settings → Device configuration, you can show or hide functions.
Step counter
Navigate to the Step counter function. Here you can view your current daily steps.
The step count resets automatically to 0 each night. Steps can also be viewed anytime in the JAMES App / Web Portal.
Health values
Your JAMES emergency watch can measure:
- Heart rate & blood pressure
- Blood oxygen
- Temperature
During measurement, rest your arm on a surface and keep it still. The tighter the watch fits, the more accurate the measurement. You can slide the watch slightly further up your arm for better accuracy.
Tip: You can also start heart rate measurement directly via the JAMES App / Web Portal. The result appears in the vital data after approx. 2 minutes
.
Proceed as follows:
- Navigate to the desired health value.
- The measurement starts automatically. A symbol indicates that measurement is in progress.
- After a few seconds, the measured value appears.
Note: The measured values are guideline values and serve for orientation. This is not a medically certified device.
Text messages to the watch
Contacts can send text messages to the watch via the JAMES App / Web Portal. When a text message arrives, the watch vibrates briefly and then shows the message on the screen. You can always reply to text messages with a voice message, as previously described.
Voice messages
Navigate to the Messages function. To start recording, press and hold the control button. Now speak your message. Press the control button again to end the recording.
The message is sent to the JAMES App / Web Portal. All emergency contacts with the JAMES App receive a push notification.
Reminders
Using the app / web portal, you can enter appointments and reminders under Appointments. At the selected time, the reminder appears on the screen; the watch vibrates and emits a sound.
Network reception
Your JAMES emergency watch has a built-in SIM card and automatically connects to the best mobile network. You can see the network reception in the top-left corner.
The signal bars indicate reception strength — the more bars, the better.
Warning:
If an X symbol appears instead of the bars, you have no reception (e.g., due to a signal dead zone).
Without reception, no emergency call is possible!
Solution: Restart the watch.
If the problem continues, contact our support.
B8_netzempfang_de-20250807-104926.png
Is the watch waterproof?
Protection class IP67
IP stands for Ingress Protection. It describes how resistant electronic devices are to dust and water. Protection class IP67 is water-resistant, not waterproof. Operating temperature range: –10°C to +40°C.
rning:**
The watch must NOT be exposed to:
- saltwater (e.g., sea)
- chlorinated water (e.g., swimming pool)
- hot soapy water (e.g., bathtub, dishwashing)
- hot steam (e.g., sauna, hot shower)
Such water damage is not covered by warranty.
How does indoor location work?
JAMES Locator
Indoor location is difficult. The JAMES Locator supports your emergency watch in accurate indoor positioning.
It is easily registered in the web portal:
- Switch on the watch and plug the locator into a socket.
- In the web portal, open “Edit Assisted Person Data” and click “Search Beacons” in the “Indoor Location” section.
- Select the MAC address of your locator, starting with 90:91:64. The nearby locators and Wi-Fi networks along with their signal strength will be displayed.
- Assign a name to the locator and save the settings.
Note: Place the locator centrally for optimal coverage.
One locator covers a 2-room apartment.
For single-family homes or larger living areas, additional locators are required.
These can be purchased cost-effectively through JAMES Support or directly in the online shop.
Optional emergency call center tariff
This optional add-on tariff supplements the alerting chain with a continuously available emergency call center, which reliably receives and processes alarms 24/7.
If your stored contacts cannot be reached in an emergency, the call center ensures that the necessary help is organized immediately.
Book this tariff now in the online shop: james.care
JAMES currently offers an emergency call center for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Additional countries will follow.
How do I clean the watch properly?
With extended wear, the watch is exposed to sweat and dust and should be cleaned at least once per month. For basic cleaning, we recommend using a glasses-cleaning cloth slightly moistened with water. Dirt in the gaps of the housing should be removed with a dry, soft toothbrush.
Warning:
Do not use soapy solutions or disinfectants to clean the watch.
JAMES Support
If you have questions or issues, please visit our help page at james.care/hilfe.
For inquiries related to the watch, we need the 15‑digit IMEI number found on the packaging.
Austria:
Germany:
Switzerland:
Updated on: 04/02/2026
Thank you!