The SmartThings app is Samsung’s central app for controlling all smart home devices installed in your home. It isn’t limited to Samsung device users since anyone with an Android device or an iOS device can install it.
What to Know
- Set up your SmartThings Hub and install the SmartThings app on your mobile device to control your smart home devices.
- To add a new device, tap the Plus (+) sign and choose Devices. Select the brand, then select your device.
- Samsung has a complete list of brands that support SmartThings. Look for “Works with SmartThings” on the packaging.
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.
You do need to have a SmartThings Wi-Fi hub to connect with many SmartThings devices.
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 add 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:
When you choose Devices, you need to select the Brand and select your device.
Once you add new devices, you see them on your home screen. When you tap each device, you see all of how 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 use 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 brands that support SmartThings.
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.
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