Samsung consolidates audio controls into SmartThings, ending the Sound app after brief debut

Samsung is phasing out its recently launched Sound app in favour of integrating audio device management into its central SmartThings ecosystem, signalling a strategic shift towards app consolidation and unified device control.

Samsung is folding its short-lived Samsung Sound app into SmartThings, bringing a quick end to a product that was only recently introduced for controlling the company’s Wi-Fi speakers and soundbars. According to Samsung’s own wording, the change is intended “to provide a more convenient and unified experience”, with audio device management moving into the broader SmartThings ecosystem.

The transition will not be immediate. Samsung says the Sound app will stay active until 31 March 2027, giving users a lengthy grace period to migrate their devices. After that date, SmartThings will take over as the control point for compatible Samsung audio hardware, so owners will not lose access to their speakers or soundbars if they make the switch in time.

That timetable suggests Samsung is abandoning a standalone audio utility that never had long to prove itself. SamMobile reported that the app was launched only months ago with a more focused interface for sound mode controls, equaliser settings and multi-speaker setups. But even in its brief life, it did not fully replace SmartThings, which already offered some of the same core functions and, in some cases, more advanced controls.

Samsung’s decision appears to reflect a familiar strategy: reducing overlap between apps and concentrating device management in one platform. For users, that should mean less duplication and fewer apps to maintain. It also points to SmartThings remaining the central home for Samsung’s connected devices, including products well beyond audio. The company’s support pages already describe SmartThings as a control layer for thousands of Samsung and partner devices, with support varying by region and device type.