Samsung’s SmartThings app is receiving a major update. Version 1.8.33.25 of the app, which has begun rolling out to some Samsung users via the Galaxy Store and the Play Store, brings not only a host of enhancements to the app’s tools, but also a new way to share your Galaxy Tag’s location, paired with the arrival of SmartThings on the Now Bar.
For reference, the last major SmartThings update came in early April, bringing support for voice message broadcasting to connected smart speakers, integration with Samsung Health for automations, support for the Matter 1.4 standard, and more.
For starters, thanks to Samsung tipster @theordysm on X (Twitter), we now know that the update finally brings Now Bar and Live notification support for SmartThings.
SmartThings now shows up as a toggle-able chip, which means live activities can now show up on the lock screen’s Now Bar, on the status bar, and at the top of the notification panel. If you’ve updated to the latest build, you can enable Live notification support by heading to Settings > Lock screen and AOD > Now bar > View more.
For what it’s worth, SmartThings’ support for the Now Bar and Live notifications wasn’t mentioned in the update’s official release notes.
Everything else that made it to the app’s release notes
As pointed out by the folks over at SamMobile, the update also brings a brand new ‘Home Life’ section. Visiting the section for the first time prompts users to fill out a quick survey with questions like:
- How many people are living in your home?
- Whether those that live with you are infants, children, adults, and/or pets?
- What personal hobbies or interests do you enjoy at this location?
- What kind of experience are you expecting through SmarThings?
The app uses your answers to give you tailored insight messages, paired with service recommendations for your pets, energy needs, family care, clothing care, and more. These recommendations would reportedly align with your personal smart home life needs.
Users can now also set pre-execution confirmations for routines, which essentially means that the app will send you a notification before a set routine begins, requiring user confirmation before it runs. “If no confirmation is received within the specified time, the routine will be canceled,” reads the update’s release notes.
Before update 1.8.33.25, sharing your Galaxy Tag’s location was more of a permanent arrangement. Now, the app gives you the option to temporarily share the tracker’s location via a link. The link stays active for 12 hours, 24 hours, or one week, depending on your needs. The link can be visited by up to 5 people, though to “access the shared link, the recipient must sign in with a Samsung account.”
Elsewhere, the app now remembers the view you were on when you closed it, essentially letting you hop back to exactly where you left off. If you close the app while being on the Map View, the app will highlight the Map View the next time you launch it. The same goes for the Home tab.
