Buggy Samsung Smart Home Update Breaks Galaxy S10 Phones, But There’s a Fix

Samsung’s latest SmartThings app update has left users of older Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 series, facing an unexpected issue: an infinite boot loop. This glitch has rendered many phones temporarily unusable, but there’s now a solution.

Affected Devices Caught in Boot Loop

This week, several users reported that their Galaxy S10, S10e, Note 10, and even other older models like the Galaxy A90 and M51 were stuck in an endless reboot cycle after a SmartThings framework update. These issues were reported across various Reddit threads, with users confirming that the root cause was tied to Samsung’s SmartThings app, which manages their smart home ecosystem.

The problem primarily affected five-year-old Galaxy devices (the S10 series debuted in 2019), creating major disruptions for users who suddenly found their phones unusable. Not only did it cause frustration, but the fear of data loss became a real concern.

Samsung's Quick Fix: New Update Released

Samsung acted fast, replacing the buggy update with a newer version of the SmartThings app that resolves the boot loop issue. While the new version is reported to work correctly, some users have advised turning off automatic updates for the app until Samsung provides more information or assurances.

For those whose phones are already affected, reports suggest that Samsung’s service centers in South Korea have devised a solution that doesn’t involve a factory reset, thereby preserving all user data. Users who cannot visit a service center, however, may need to perform a factory reset, which unfortunately wipes all data that hasn’t been backed up.

Factory Reset: A Last Resort

If you’re unable to access a Samsung service center and your phone is still caught in the loop, the only remaining solution may be a factory reset. While this should get the phone running again, it will delete all data on the device that wasn’t previously backed up. This underscores the importance of having your files, photos, and settings backed up regularly, especially when dealing with older devices.

Auto-Update Precautions

Given the disruption, users of older Galaxy devices may want to temporarily disable auto-updates on their SmartThings app. By doing so, you can avoid potential issues caused by future software updates, at least until Samsung confirms stability.

More Update Woes from Samsung

This isn't the first time a recent Samsung update has caused problems. A camera-related bug affected some Galaxy S23 Ultra users after a previous update, which Samsung quickly addressed by pulling the problematic version.

Interestingly, this incident comes right after Samsung's major SDC24 developer event, where the company unveiled new smart home features like a smart door key integration for Galaxy devices. While exciting new features are on the horizon, it seems Samsung still has some challenges in ensuring compatibility and stability across its devices, particularly older models.

Key Takeaways for Galaxy Users

• Backup Important Data: To avoid any loss of data in cases like this, regularly back up your phone to cloud services or external devices.

• Turn Off Auto Updates: Consider disabling auto-updates for the SmartThings app until a stable version is confirmed.

• Visit Service Centers: If your device is stuck in a boot loop, check with your nearest Samsung service center for non-factory reset fixes.

In the meantime, Samsung has corrected the issue, but it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on updates and take precautionary measures if you’re using older devices.