Repurpose legacy Galaxy Smartphones into Smart Home Devices
Want to give new life to legacy Galaxy smartphones? Leveraging the power of SmartThings and repurposing built-in sensors within Galaxy devices, you can now turn old Galaxy phones into sound and light sensors. Here is how to start:
Onboard legacy phone
- Download the SmartThings app on your current phone.
- Tap the Menu (☰) and select “SmartApps”
- Select More Options (⋮) and choose SmartThings Labs* followed by Galaxy Upcycle
- Click on “Next” to generate a QR code.
- Scan the QR code with your legacy phone.
- Install the “Galaxy Upcycle” app on your legacy phone.
- Select either “Light sensor” or “Sound sensor” feature.
Set up a “Light sensor”
- Tap “Light sensor” to add your legacy phone as a light sensor.
- Go back to your current phone and open the SmartThings app. The new light sensor will now be available on your device list.
- Tap the light sensor device card to see the current brightness level, scored out of 7 levels of brightness.
- Using Automations, you can now adjust your lighting based on the brightness level detected by the sensor.
Set up a “Sound sensor”
- Tap “Sound sensor” to add your legacy phone as a sound sensor.
- Go back to your current phone and open the SmartThings app. The new sound sensor will now be available on your device list. The sensor detects 5 types of sounds including baby crying, dog barking, cat meowing, glass breaking, and knock on door.
- Using Automations, you can now control your devices using the sounds detected by the sensor.
*SmartThings Lab uses experimental features. Some features may only be available for certain devices, models, or countries. Some features may be removed or changed without notice.
Easily Switch Between SmartThings and Google Home From The Quick Settings Menu of Your Phone
SmartThings continues to fuel infinite possibilities and its commitment to working with partners to create a seamless connected living experience. With Samsung One UI 3.1 and Android 11 update, accessing all connected devices just became more convenient, further enhancing the connected home experience with SmartThings.
With this addition, users can find and manage multiple apps and devices, through a single-entry point. Tap on Device in the Control Panels on the phone, users can easily select SmartThings or Google Home app and quickly switch between each service so users can see all connected devices within the app on one screen. For example, users can set the temperature to chill, then dim the lights.
Currently, in Android 11 or later and Samsung Galaxy devices with One UI 3.1 and above, the Controls feature allows users to quickly manage their smart home devices such as lights, thermostats, and cameras from one convenient place. This feature will also be available in Galaxy S21 series and all upcoming One UI 3.1+ devices this year.
The rollout of Google’s Device Control Panel working with SmartThings technology follows SmartThings recent partnership with Google, bringing the company’s portfolio of Nest products into SmartThings IoT ecosystem. With this integration, Google Nest devices, including thermostats, cameras and doorbells, are now “Works With SmartThings” certified, allowing users to seamlessly control their connected home through SmartThings.
Control your connected devices from one place. Set the temperature to chill, then dim your lights. All from a single spot on your phone. Simply tap on the Device Panel to see and manage your connected devices. Making life at home that much easier.
Try This: Control your Samsung TV with Hey Google
No remote? No problem! For those times when you can’t find the remote, SmartThings lets you control your Samsung TV with your voice using a smart speaker or smartphone. Just start with “Hey Google”.
Turn the TV on or off
Have you ever fallen asleep whilst watching TV and woken up with no clue where the remote is? With SmartThings, you can turn the TV off by simply saying “Hey Google, turn off the TV”*.
Pause and Play video or music from your favourite TV apps
Perfect for when the doorbell goes or your phone rings. Just say “Hey Google, pause on TV”* and when you’re ready to resume, just say “Hey Google, play on TV”*.
Other things to try
∙ “Hey Google, mute the TV”*
∙ “Hey Google, is the TV on?”*
∙ “Hey Google, run Movie Mode”* (or any other scenes you have created within the SmartThings app)
To get started, add your TV to SmartThings by following these steps in the SmartThings app on your Android or iOS phone or tablet:
1) Hit the ‘+’ icon
2) Highlight ‘By device type’
3) Select ‘TV’
4) Select ‘Samsung’
5) Select ‘TV’ again and follow the on-screen instructions
Then, link your Google Account to SmartThings by following these steps in the Home app
1) Hit the ‘+’ icon
2) Select ‘Set up new device’
3) Select ‘Works with Google’
4) Scroll down to “SmartThings” and select it (or use the search bar to type “SmartThings”)
5) Sign in to SmartThings using your Samsung account (this will auto-complete if you’re already signing in to SmartThings on your device)
6) Authorise Google accessing locations, devices, and scenes from SmartThings
7) Your accounts will link
8) Your devices, locations, and scenes from SmartThings will now show in the Google Home app
9) Say “Hey Google, turn on the TV”*
Haven’t got a SmartThings account yet?
Download the SmartThings app on your Android or iOS devices now.
*Requires Samsung Smart TV, SmartThings app and compatible voice assistant. Voice assistant must be set up on SmartThings account.
*Use the name of the TV as it appears in your SmartThings app – you can rename it to make things easier! For example, if your TV is named ‘Living Room TV’ then say “Hey Google, turn off the Living Room TV”.
*Google and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC.