Samsung SmartThings App: What It Is and How to Use It

The SmartThings app is Samsung's attempt to become the central app for controlling all smart home devices you have installed in your home. It also isn't limited to Samsung device users since anyone with an Android device or an iOS device can install it.

What Is the SmartThings App

SmartThings lets you control a large family of devices from an ever-growing library. Regardless of your smart device brand, you can add it to the app and control everything in your home with it.

SmartThings is handy since almost every smart device has an app, making it frustrating and annoying to find the right one to control each device individually.

How to Set Up SmartThings App

You'll get the most use out of the SmartThings app if you've purchased and installed the SmartThings Hub. You need the hub to connect non-Samsung smart home devices. Samsung also sells a combination SmartThings Wi-Fi mesh router and smart hub, which accomplishes the same job.

Once you've set up your SmartThings hub, you can install the app and start controlling your smart home devices. You can get the SmartThings App for Android from Google Play or get SmartThings for iOS on the App Store. Once installed, you can start adding the devices you own to the app.

How to Use the SmartThings App

With your SmartThings Hub configured and your SmartThings app installed, you're ready to start controlling everything in your home. Once you launch the app, you can add a new device by tapping the + symbol at the upper right. You'll see the following categories:

• Devices: Add Samsung or third-party smart devices.
• Rooms: Configure rooms in the app to organize your devices.
• Voice assistant: Connect your app to Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Bixby voice assistant.
• Scene: Set up multiple automated actions with your smart devices whenever you select a scene.
• Automation: Connect smart home devices by trigging actions on one device whenever triggers occur on another device.
• SmartApp: Install pre-configured Smart Home automation offered by Samsung.
• Member: Add new members by Samsung account, email, or QR code so others in your home can also control your smart devices.

When you choose Devices, you need to select the Brand and then select your device.

Once you add new devices, you see them on your home screen. When you tap each device, you see all of the ways you can control or get information from that device. These controls depend on the type and brand of the device.

What Devices Work with SmartThings App?

If you're using the SmartThings hub, you won't need to purchase hubs for other devices like Philips Hue bulbs. Instead, you can buy individual bulbs. So long as your smart home devices work with Zigbee, Z-Wave, Cloud-to-Cloud, LAN, and Zigbee3 protocols, they should work with the SmartThings hub (and the app). You can also connect many major smart home hubs to your SmartThings hub.

If you want to be sure you can use the SmartThings app to control a new smart home device, make sure the packaging reads "Works with SmartThings." Samsung offers a complete list of compatible brands.

Some of the most popular brands that work with SmartThings, and you can control from the app, include:

• Ecobee
• Google Nest
• Honeywell
• Philips Hue, Belkin, Ecosmart, Sylvania, and LIFX smart lights
• Alexa, Google Assistant, and Bixby
• Arlo, Google Nest, and Ring cameras
• Belkin, Ecolink, and Leviton smart switches
• Honeywell, Leviton, and Miro fans or vents
• Eaton, Honeywell, iHome, Leviton, and Kasa outlets
• Many other sensors, smart locks, smoke and fire alarms, speakers, thermostats, and much more

If you're starting your smart home from scratch, then you're best situated to craft your smart home purchases around the SmartThings hub. Focus on purchasing only compatible brands and products, and you can control every device in your home using the SmartThings app.