If your broadband goes down but your home Wi-Fi is still working, some SmartThings controls may keep working too. Samsung’s new local-control feature lets a compatible phone communicate directly with a SmartThings Hub on the same Wi-Fi network instead of sending every command through the cloud.
That does not mean your entire smart home works without internet. The router, hub and local network still need power, and the feature depends on compatible hardware and devices.
What SmartThings local control does
Many SmartThings commands normally travel through Samsung’s cloud. With local control, a phone on the same Wi-Fi network as a compatible hub can communicate with that hub directly. Samsung says this can help during temporary internet disruptions and may make some commands respond faster.
Samsung says local control can improve response times by about 30% compared with cloud-based control. That figure comes from Samsung’s tests under controlled conditions, so results in a home will vary.
The important distinction is where your phone is. This local connection is for when you are at home on the same Wi-Fi as the hub. It does not let you control devices remotely if your home internet is down.
What needs to stay on?
An internet outage is different from a Wi-Fi outage. If broadband drops but your router continues broadcasting Wi-Fi, your phone and hub may still communicate locally.
- Your phone needs the SmartThings app and must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the hub.
- The hub and router must remain powered on.
- The device you want to control must be compatible with the hub and local-control feature.
If the router loses power, the Wi-Fi network goes down, or the hub itself is offline, this local connection cannot help. Devices that depend on their own internet connection or a third-party cloud service may also stop responding.
Which SmartThings hubs are supported?
Samsung lists SmartThings Station, SmartThings Hubs V2, V3 and V4, plus hub-enabled Samsung TVs and Family Hub refrigerators. The feature works with the SmartThings app on Android and iOS.
That is the supported hub list, not a promise that every connected device or routine will work locally. Samsung’s announcement does not provide a complete device-by-device compatibility list. Whether a particular light, plug or automation keeps working depends on how it connects to SmartThings and whether its actions can run locally.
Does SmartThings offline control work when you are away?
No. Samsung says the direct phone-to-hub connection applies when both are on the same Wi-Fi network. When you are away, SmartThings uses remote control through the internet and Samsung’s cloud.
If your home broadband is down while you are out, expect remote app controls to be unavailable. Local control is meant to help when you are at home and the local network is still functioning.
What about automations and Matter devices?
Samsung also announced Matter 1.6 support, adding four device categories: energy meters, closures such as some doors and gates, irrigation devices, and soil sensors. Matter support can improve compatibility, but it does not by itself guarantee that a device or routine will work during an internet outage.
The same caution applies to automations. Samsung has not said every SmartThings routine runs locally. Don’t assume a routine will keep working just because its devices appear in the app. Check the requirements for the specific device and automation, especially if you rely on it for security or access.
What it means for your home
SmartThings local control is a useful backup for one specific situation: the internet is down, but your router, hub and home Wi-Fi are still running. It is not a replacement for internet service, backup power or a fully offline smart-home setup.
If you need a light or plug to respond during an outage, confirm that your hub and device support local control and test the setup before relying on it. Samsung says the feature is being introduced as part of its SmartThings update; availability may depend on your app, hub and device receiving the update.
