FAQ: Did we lose the ability to add custom smartapps after the app update of June 2021?

[JDRoberts]

@jkp

Yes, when you tap and hold for 5 seconds on About SmartThings in menu > settings (gear icon)… you might notice the slight shaded background of that field changes to a white background. At that point, scroll down to the bottom of the page as the developer option is not readily shown on the screen. It took me several tries to figure it out

If you have problems, try force quitting the app and try again.

In case anyone wondered, there doesn’t appear to be any way to do this with voice navigation.

@blake.arnold

[mooch91]

@jkp

Yes, when you tap and hold for 5 seconds on About SmartThings in menu > settings (gear icon)… you might notice the slightly shaded background of that field changes to a white background. At that point, scroll down to the bottom of the page as the developer option is not readily shown on the screen. It took me several tries to figure it out

If you have problems, try force quitting the app and try again.

I’m sorry, there must be some phone specific bug at play with this. I’ve held it for 30 second and never see the effect described. I’m using an Iphone XS with the next-to-latest version of iOS. Not working for me.

[jkp]

Keep trying… it took about 5 attempts before I got it. It was not a fun experience.

[Xzerd]

I was able to add custom apps by using an iPad with the previous SmartThings app version, luckily it was dead and didn’t automatically update. Once I added the apps, it showed up on my phone in the new app.

I haven’t been able to activate developer mode in either apps though, but doesn’t look like I need to with the approach I took. Going to keep my iPad with the previous app version for now.

[mooch91]

@jkp

Keep trying… it took about 5 attempts before I got it. It was not a fun experience.

Then I must be looking for a single pixel. It either ends up opening the “About” screen or never turns away from gray, no matter how long I hold it.

[jkp]

To add Developer mode to the ST app…

login into the developer site first at This link

Then in the ST app go to

Menu > settings

Press down on the “About SmartThngs” field
The background color changes to a darker shade as you are pressing and about 5 seconds later the background changes to white so you stop pressing at that point.

Then scroll down to see developer mode at the bottom of that screen.

[mooch91]

@jkp

I am not sure what to say. I just tried it from another device…

Menu > settings

Push down on the About SmartThngs field
The background color changes to a darker shade as you are pressing and about 5 seconds later the background changes to white and I release my finger from pressing.
Then scroll down to see developer mode at the bottom of that screen.

I encountered what you described when I first tried last night… kept getting the popup for About SmartThings so I assume I was not pressing correctly. Make sure your finger is not moving… press and hold in place. Maybe throw in a force quit of the ST app and try again.

Just keep trying with a steady finger press… easier said now that I have done it.

Thanks - appreciate your help. It’s got to be something with the device. I know different iPhones have different haptic and 3D functionality. I just rebooted the phone and tried again, same result. I will continue to try, but I’m thinking something isn’t working on my phone. I have been reluctant to upgrade my wife’s phone, but maybe that’s another approach. Thanks again.

[mooch91]

Just got it, apparently you need to have logged in to the devceloper portal at SmartThings . developer .​samsung.com

[TRS (Sam)]

Yes - this did it for me too (login developer portal).

[Xzerd]

Nice! This worked for me too. Great find.

[manoj7698 (Manoj)]

Worked! Thank you.

[mrax1]

Outstanding… this worked thank you. But I can’t find the Homebridge v2 in the Smartapps.

[Brad_ST (Brad)]

Did you click Publish → For Me?

[mrax1]

Thank you for dealing with this idiot… that worked. Just bought a Pi and trying to set this all up. It is a little more of a challenge than I expected with SmartThings. Especially since ST just changed the app and all the instructions online deal with the old app. Thank you again.

[KB111 (KB)]

You guys saved me. Thanks for this!

[JFry (Jeff Fry)]

I was able to activate Developer Mode and see my legacy (Groovy) SmartApps, but my new SmartApp developed under the new process isn’t showing, even though it was previously installed and configured before this new ST app rolled out. If I select Add SmartApp from the menu, I can see my new SmartApp, but when I select it the window closes (takes me back to the Automations tab), and the app isn’t added. My new SmartApp is still working, but I can’t add it to the ST app so I can change the configuration options.

Anyone else having this issue or figured out a fix?

[jkp]

Which smartapp?

In the automations section, did you scroll tO the bottom of the screen? See your other smartapps there?

[JFry (Jeff Fry)]

I do see all of my Groovy SmartApps, but not the new one I created. It’s a webhook SmartApp developed under the new process.

[jkp]

Tagging @nayelyz

[nayelyz (OOO - Please contact @AlejandroPadilla or @Ivan_Luis_Falleau)]

Thanks, @jkp!
Make sure you deployed your SmartApp at the Developer Workspace, @JFry. It doesn’t appear in the list otherwise.
Eg.