Samsung has rolled out a redesigned SmartThings app for Android and iPhone that introduces a new SmartThings Now section, a refreshed user interface, faster local controls with offline diagnostics, and support for the Matter 1.6 standard. The update is available to all Android and iPhone users. Samsung also says SmartThings now has over 470 million registered users and supports more than 430 Works with SmartThings (WWST)-certified brands.
SmartThings Now: smart suggestions and insights
SmartThings Now appears at the top of the app as a strip of large cards that surface immediate actions and reminders — for example, prompts to turn on an air purifier and lights when you arrive home or check-in reminders for elderly family members. The section can display smart home insights such as alerts when an appliance is consuming more power than usual, and it can suggest new automations based on weekly usage patterns.
Redesigned interface and resizable device cards
The app’s interface has a fresh color scheme, streamlined dashboards and resizable device cards that users can set to be more compact or more detailed. Tapping a card’s icon triggers the device’s primary action, while tapping the remainder of the card reveals additional device or automation information. The update also adds dynamic Live Wallpapers that shift colors throughout the day and a compact floating bar at the bottom for quick access to Home, Devices, Life, Routines and Menu, aligning the app more closely with One UI 9.0 design language.
Faster local control and Offline Device Diagnostics
Enhanced location controls let smart home devices bypass the cloud when the phone and a SmartThings Hub are on the same Wi‑Fi network, making actions up to 30% faster and enabling device control during an internet outage. The app switches between cloud and local processing depending on whether the user is at home or away. Samsung has also added an Offline Device Diagnostics page that lets users restore devices that have dropped off the network by updating Wi‑Fi credentials across all registered products simultaneously, intended to simplify recovery when switching routers or changing a network password.
Matter 1.6 support arrives first on SmartThings
The updated SmartThings app includes support for the Matter 1.6 standard, and Samsung says SmartThings is the first smart home platform to adopt the new protocol.
