Using the SmartThings app on your phone, you can control your SmartThings-enabled TV, monitor, or other shielding device connected to your wider smart home. This is certainly convenient, but not as convenient as one might think. For example, using this tool requires you to open the SmartThings app, which may slow you down to the point where grabbing a physical remote would be faster.

But today, the SmartThings app for Android received the December 2024 update, which should make the process faster. This is possible thanks to the new remote widget. This allows you to place the remote control widget directly on your phone’s home screen, significantly speeding up your access.

You can see what the widget looks like in the screenshot below:

One thing to note here is that this remote gadget does not work with any Samsung TV/Monitor. Your Samsung screen must be manufactured in 2022 or later. We’re not sure why this limitation exists, although we believe it has something to do with the hardware or operating system built into devices prior to 2022, preventing the widget from working reliably.

Anyway, if you have the latest Samsung screen at home, you can now control it using this widget. You need to update the SmartThings app to the latest version through the Play Store or Galaxy Store (if you have a Samsung phone).