What is the Samsung SmartThings app and how it works

SmartThings is an application from Samsung created especially for the management and control of various household devices that have smart technology - which can include everything from televisions to air conditioners.

The application is already installed on Android devices at the factory and can be accessed from the main menu - in the folder entitled “Samsung”. Next, see how to use it to make your routine easier.

SmartThings: how to use

Setting up a device

• Step 1: After opening the application and having authorized your access to the smartphone, the main screen will be displayed with the warning “No device”, indicating that no device has yet been connected by SmartThings.

• Step 2: To add a device, touch the “+” icon in the upper right corner. The “Add” option will appear, followed by options for configuring the device.

• Step 3: Under “Device”, touch the type of device you want to add to your smartphone via SmartThings. There are several options.

• Step 4: select one of the device options and then the brands available for pairing with SmartThings. The example below shows the brands of air conditioners that allow control by cell phone.

• Step 5: After choosing the brand, select the available device. Touch “Compatible devices” to see more options.

• Step 6: Select the code that corresponds to the device purchased and proceed with the configuration.

SmartThings: configuring a room

• Step 1: again back to the SmartThings home page, tap the “+” icon, and select the “Roomy” option.

• Step 2: touch the room you want to add and finish with “Next”.

• Step 3: Select the wallpaper that best suits the chosen room.

• Step 4: tap “Save” to finish. From now on, you can separate the devices according to the rooms configured in SmartThings.

SmartThings: adding a voice assistant

You can also use SmartThings to set up voice assistants like Google Assistant or the AmazonAlexa. For this:

• Step 1: on the SmartThings home screen, tap the “+” icon again, and select “Voice Assistant”. Then, select the option that matches your device.

• Step 2: Download the Google Assistant application and follow the instructions in the image below to allow pairing between the assistant and your smartphone.

• Step 3: After your Samsung account has been linked to the Google Assistant, go back to SmartThings and check if the “Connected” warning appears below the device.

SmartThings: adding a scenario

To add a scenario to SmartThings:

• Step 1: in the options on the home screen (“+” icon), tap “Scenario”. Then, add a name for it. Then, touch “+” to define the actions to be performed on the stage.

• Step 2: Select “Change the mode of this location” to proceed. Choose "Away", "At home" or "Night" so that the settings remain saved and are enabled when the scenario is activated.

• Step 3: Tap on “Test” to verify that the scenario is working correctly and save when the test is complete.

• Step 4: On the home screen you will be able to see all the saved scenarios.

SmartThings: adding automation

Automations allow certain functions of smart devices to be activated depending on certain factors - which are set by you. To add automation to SmartThings:

• Step 1: again on the screen of the first previous steps (“+”), select “Automation”.

• Step 2: Touch the “+” icon to configure an automation operating condition.

• Step 3: Select the option that best suits your need. The "Hour" option allows a setting to be activated at a certain time of the day, while the "location" option causes it to be activated when the GPS informs you of a particular location where you are. The “Device status” option is available for some devices and the “Location mode” causes the commands to be activated due to their absence in the environment, for example.

• Step 4: if you have chosen “Time”, set the time for the command to be activated.

• Step 5: To activate a setting based on your location, turn on GPS.

• Step 6: After that, you must define a geographic location for your home. This will cause the device to detect your absence or presence.

• Step 7: the location mode is also necessary to detect the absence or presence. Remember to activate it.

• Step 8: Finally, choose “Device status” to activate a configuration based on the device itself (for example: when a smart refrigerator is opened).

SmartThings: adding a SmartApp

SmartThings also allows you to access applications that help you control devices. For this:

• Step 1: Go to “+” and tap on “SmartApp”.

• Step 2: Select the options available for your device. In the case of the example, it is possible to use SmartThings Home Monitor to monitor your home against possible invasions or accidents.

• Step 3: Select the type of detection you want to do with the help of the device you have, be it a camera, a smoke detector, or even a leak detector.

• Step 4: tap "Next" to continue the settings after selecting which sensors you want to use. Then, select what actions the device should take when some type of movement is detected and end in “Done”.

SmartThings: adding members of the house

Finally, another very interesting feature that can be easily configured in SmartThings is the possibility to add members of the house to your records, which will allow him to control the devices of the house in SmartThings by his cell phone. For this:

• Step 1: on the SmartThings home page, select the “+” option. Then choose "Member".

• Step 2: in “Invite member”, select whether you want to send an invitation or a QR code to who will have access to the devices.

• Step 3: if you have chosen the invitation option, enter the member's email. For the QR code, the guest simply places the camera of his smartphone in front of the code to scan it (the phone must be Samsung).

These are the main features of SmartThings. Did you know them all? Which ones do you use the most? Share with us in the comments.