Samsung SmartThings support already rolling out to Android Auto

Last week, Samsung’s Unpacked 2021 didn’t just unveil new hardware - important software integrations with other tech companies were also announced, including Google, Microsoft, and Spotify. One of the most important integrations announced last Thursday was that support was coming for Android Auto to work with Samsung’s SmartThings platform.

Unlike other projects and integrations that are announced but take a lot of time to make it into consumers' hands, Samsung has already begun rolling out SmartThings support on Android Auto, with their latest update to their Android app.

Also read: Samsung launches SmartThings Find to help you find your Galaxy devices

But what exactly does the integration with SmartThings bring to Android Auto? Well for starters, if you have a device with Android Auto and have plugged your gadgets into Samsung’s SmartThings, you can now control your kitchen lights, doorbells, and other smart home devices from your car’s dashboard - this works even if you’re sitting in your car on the driveway.

According to reports, you can enable Android Auto integration simply by installing v1.7.59.23 of the Samsung SmartThings app. Upon installing the APK manually, you should immediately see the Android Auto section pop-up inside the app, which suggests the feature is not dependent on a server-side update.

What’s far more interesting, however, is that the service supports ‘scenes’, which means you can automatically run certain tasks when you’re arriving or leaving - SmartThings will notify you when they have to run so you can easily run them while you’re driving. The panel also lets you choose up to six shortcuts for your favourite smart home devices, so you don’t have to rummage through your settings while you’re driving.