I have a lot of Samsung devices and one of the attractions was the app and ability to control the devices from it. However, I’m finding that many of them you can’t actually control remotely, only monitor or change settings. For instance, I have an electric dryer that I cannot start from the app. In orderto start it, I have to be in front of it and press the smart control button. If I have to be in front of it, why do I need an app? It naturally shuts off between loads, but doesn’t really maintain a connection…..at least not enough of one to start the dryer from, say, my bathroom when I realize I need to wear something that is in the dryer that shut off last night….
My guess is that this is safety related. Running dryers that generate heat unattended is probably not recommended, so the option to start remotely isn’t on by default. I believe the same restrictions apply to some smart ovens and hobs.
But I can’t start my dishwasher remotely either. I can see it if your phone you are ysibg is not connected to the same wifi, but if I am. That means I am in the same location as the device. I can also see it not being an option with a gas dryer, but electric should not be an issue. And when they advertise that you can “ control your appliances remotely” that seems like false advertising.
Ai provides a long winded answer: TLDR its safety concerns
From Google Gemini
Here is the breakdown of why your phone can’t kick off a cycle:
- The “Trapped Life” Risk
The primary reason for requiring a physical button press at the machine is to ensure a human has looked inside the drum immediately before it starts.
• Pets and Kids: Cats and toddlers are notorious for climbing into warm, quiet dryers for naps. If you could start a dryer from the grocery store, you wouldn’t know if someone (or something) climbed in after you loaded the laundry.
• Safety Reset: Most smart appliances have a “Remote Enable” button. If the door is opened even once after you press it, the remote start capability is automatically disabled. This forces you to re-verify that the unit is still safe to run.
- Fire Prevention
Dryers are one of the leading causes of home fires due to lint buildup.
• Unattended Operation: Safety regulators are wary of appliances that generate significant heat (dryers and ovens) or use high-power motors (dishwashers) running when no one is home to smell smoke or hear a struggle.
• Obstruction: Starting a dishwasher remotely without being there to ensure a spray arm isn’t blocked or a plastic lid hasn’t fallen onto the heating element significantly increases the risk of a “melt event” or fire.
- Flooding & Mechanical Hazards
Unlike a smart lightbulb, a dishwasher involves pressurized water and drainage.
• If a hose has developed a pinhole leak or the drain is backed up, starting the machine while you are miles away could turn a minor puddle into a flooded kitchen by the time you get home.
- Regulatory Hurdles
In many regions, certification bodies like Underwriters Laboratories (UL) will simply not grant a safety rating to a dryer that allows “unattended remote start” without a physical handshake (the “Remote Start” button on the panel). Without this rating, manufacturers can’t sell the product, and insurance companies might not cover a fire caused by that device.
Summary of “Safety Levels”
Most manufacturers use a tier system for remote features:
• Green (Low Risk): Fridges, Coffee Makers, Vacuums. (Fully remote start allowed).
• Orange (Medium Risk): Washers, Dishwashers, Dryers. (Require a physical “Remote Enable” press; resets if the door opens).
• Red (High Risk): Stovetops/Hobs. (Remote start is almost universally prohibited).
Ha @Declankh , you beat me to it…
(I assumed OP was US based as gas dryers are not really a thing in UK)
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I get that, but do you stand there and watch your dryer thru the entire cycle? If your phone and the dryer are on the same wifi network, that means you are nearby. Most people start the load and then go on about doing other things. This would be the same thing except wouldn’t have to wrap yourself in a towel or robe and trudge down to the laundry room to start it.
Well, these things make more sense, but if the dryer or dishwasher can’t be started remotely, then don’t advertise that they can be controlled by the app. That is deceptive.
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Model number of the dryer?
Model number is DVE45B6300P/A3
I had the same question. I recently bought a washer and dryer; the app is great, the AI chooses the best mode for washing each type of clothing and saves energy, but it only starts manually and in person.
In your manual product, or Samsung site Use SmartThings to monitor your Samsung washing machine remotely
I know how to monitor it. I was trying to “control” it… as in turning it on from another room in my house
If your appliance is like mine, once you click on “Smart Control” only then can you control it remotely. It seems odd (especially for an electric dryer) that you can’t just start controlling it without having to press this button, but that’s how mine works. If your dryer is truely the model DVE45B6300P/A3 it should work just like mine, the “E” stands for electric and the electric model has both control and monitor, the '“G” model only has smart monitor. If you don’t have smart control, it maybe a bug in the SmartThings App or the developers removed that functionality. I know some of the features I had when I first bought ours are now gone (saving Custom Cycles for my Dryer to name one). If you do have the remote functions like I do it makes it nice as I can tell it when to start or end based on my daily routines. For me I use it mostly to start the wash that a family member needs done for the next day right after I get my nightly shower as our hot water is shared. But it also allows for us to set a end time for the laundry to end so as to not stay wet and stagnate all night long if we are using the washer or to set a time for the dryer to have items end when we get up as to not accumulate condensation from the humidity of outside air coming from a backdraft from the outward vent.
That is the correct model number. It defeats the purpose of remotely control to have to go to the dryer (or washer for that matter) and have to press a button to then be able to control it remotely. If I have to go to the dryer anyway, I can just control it from the dryer itself.
Many appliance manufacturers require a button to be pushed in order to enable remote operation. It’s not unique to Samsung appliances. My Thermador dishwasher also requires a button to be pushed. There is no point complaining in the Smartthings forum about choices made by appliance manufacturers.
I agree it’s annoying having to press the button just to use the smart features, but really think about it, other then these two presses; one to turn it on and one to press the Smart Control button, why are you using remote features to begin with if you are right there putting in laundry anyway. It defeats your logic of just starting it to begin with. The Smart Control features are if you are to be away from the appliance and know you aren’t going to start the appliance right away, this should be one of the only times you truely need to use the smart features anyway. Just like I said earlier these features are nice for when I have to do laundry at times I’m not going to be near the machine and not start it right away and have it sitting for a while. The other nice thing is in the app it gives clearer explaination as to what cycle your using and how they function (just like in the manual). If your like many that just put it on normal and then start it for every wash why even have the smart washer (like my other family members). I use it mainly to adjust each setting which is labeled in the app a lot more clearly so I don’t ruin delicate items by over heating and melting plastic based laundry. Just numbers on the appliance doesn’t always tell me how cold or hot the device is getting (I do understand 1 is for cold and 5 is for hot), but each laundry item has an instruction label for cleaning and tells the temp/spin cycle and numbers don’t always cut it where the app gives you these to prevent damage.
Also, I agree with @h0ckeysk8er , there is no sense complaining other to vent your frustations on this forum, 99.8% of forum users are customers just like you and the other .1% aren’t SmartThings developers just support people that can help report problems with the app/hubs. The last .1% don’t work for Samsung or SmartThings; but are independent developers and customers themselves that create modules for us users that have smart home hubs that allow us to use none Samsung products within the SmartThings System. If you want help about this problem contact Samsung or use the contact features in the apps, but we all will warn you that this is probably useless as they normally they will just try troubleshoot the issue with scripted responses, they won’t escalate the issue to a developer, or tell you your just tough out of luck. Again we aren’t trying to argue with you and I even agree that not being able to turn on/off the Appliance just to use the remote features is not what I thought when we bought ours, but that’s how it is and isn’t false advertisement as it does do what it says it does just not how we expected. Expectations and reality are two seperate things.