Quick start guide to your Samsung Family Hub refrigerator

Last Update date : Apr 16. 2025
Person interacting with the touchscreen on a Samsung Family Hub refrigerator.

Samsung’s Family Hub isn't your average refrigerator, it’s a smart home command center! This quick-start guide walks you through the initial setup, signing into your Samsung account and linking with the SmartThings app, so you can easily manage and monitor your Family Hub right away.

Note: While the advice in this guide is universally applicable, it has been tailored specifically for our Canadian customers.

Please follow the steps below to set up your Family Hub refrigerator:

1 Start-up screen: On the Family Hub’s screen, start by selecting your country and language.
2 Connect to Wi-Fi: Connect your refrigerator to your home Wi-Fi network by selecting your network from the list displayed and entering your network’s password when prompted.
Man using the touchscreen on a Samsung Family Hub refrigerator in a kitchen with his family.

Note: This step is optional, but an internet connection unlocks many advanced features of your Family Hub.

3 Accept the terms and conditions: Review and accept the terms and conditions when prompted.
4 Sign in to your Samsung account: Sign in to your existing Samsung account, or create one directly from the Family Hub.

Note: While this step is optional, we strongly recommend signing in. Syncing features between your Family Hub, phone and other SmartThings devices requires signing in with the same Samsung account.

5 Complete the setup: Tap Start to finish the initial setup process.

Now that your Family Hub refrigerator is all set up, let’s explore some of the exciting features that can transform your kitchen into a more connected and efficient space.

Home screen overview: The home screen of your Family Hub is the gateway to its functionality. Here, you can access widgets and apps that control your smart appliances, check the weather, update your calendar and even display your favorite photos.

Stream music and videos: Your Family Hub is not only for keeping your food fresh but also for entertainment. Stream your favorite music and videos directly on your refrigerator’s screen. Connect to Spotify or YouTube for a pleasant cooking environment.

A child pointing at the View Inside screen on a Samsung Family Hub refrigerator screen while her mom watches.

Manage food with View Inside: The “View Inside” widget allows you to see a real-time view of your refrigerator's contents. This feature is excellent for keeping track of what you have, what’s running low, and setting expiration notifications to reduce waste. It’s particularly useful for checking if you need milk while at the grocery store. To use this feature, either tap Apps and select View Inside or swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers slightly apart.

Note: Personalize your Family Hub by uploading family photos or setting up digital sticky notes directly from your phone or tablet via the SmartThings app (see the next section for connection details).

You can connect your Family Hub fridge to the SmartThings app on your phone or tablet as well. You’ll need to begin the connection process on your phone or tablet and then continue on the Family Hub panel.

1 Open the SmartThings app on your phone or tablet. If you’re opening it for the first time, tap Start, and then select Allow all the time. This will enable the app to scan for your refrigerator.
2 Tap the Devices tab at the bottom of the screen, and then tap the Add icon (the plus sign).
3 Tap Scan QR code or Scan nearby, and then follow the prompts to add your refrigerator to the app.
SmartThings screen showing Scan QR code and Scan nearby options on a Galaxy phone.

Note: You can also tap Add under Samsung devices, or tap the Search icon to find your refrigerator.

4 Select a name, location, and room for your refrigerator. When you’re finished, tap Next.
5 On the Family Hub panel, tap Apps, and then open Settings. Tap Connections, tap Easy Connection, and then tap Connect.
6 Wait as the phone or tablet searches for the fridge. If the Family Hub is already registered to an account, you may be prompted to reset it. Follow the on-screen instructions on your mobile device to do so.
7 Next, tap OK on the Family Hub panel, and then enter the PIN displayed on your fridge into the phone or tablet.
8 On the phone or tablet, choose your desired Wi-Fi network for the Family Hub, preferably the same one the phone or tablet is using. If it is a secured network, make sure the password is correct, and then tap CONNECT.
9 Wait for the registration to finish, and then tap Done. The Family Hub will now appear in the SmartThings app where you can remotely control some of its features and functions, like viewing the inside of the fridge.

When your Family Hub fridge is connected to the SmartThings app, you can use the SmartThings widget to monitor the smart devices around your home. The widget appears right on the Family Hub’s screen, so everyone in the house can see it at a glance. If you have a smart camera, you can also use the Family Hub’s camera widget to keep an eye on the live video feed.

Explore the SmartThings widget

With the SmartThings widget, you can control and monitor devices directly from the Family Hub panel on your Samsung smart fridge. It’s especially useful when you’re busy in the kitchen: whether you want to check on your laundry, get notified when it’s done, or lower the thermostat if things start heating up.

1 The SmartThings widget should appear on the Family Hub panel by default. Just make sure the panel is connected to the same Samsung account used in the SmartThings app on your phone. If not, your devices and scenes won’t show up.
2 Once connected, all of your registered devices will appear in the widget. Keep in mind that the widget can only display a few items at a time; tap the arrow to cycle through them.
3 To control a device, tap its card. For more settings and features, tap the device’s name.
Widget name highlighted on the Home screen of a Family Hub.
4 To activate a scene, tap its icon. Scene settings cannot be adjusted from the widget.
5 To change which devices or scenes appear, or their display order, touch and hold the widget, then tap Settings. Select or deselect items as needed. When you're done, tap Back to return to the widget.

Watch live feeds with the SmartThings video widget

The SmartThings video widget on your Family Hub fridge displays live streams from your connected smart cameras, so you can keep an eye on your home while you're busy in the kitchen. For example, you can check the camera in the baby’s room or see if guests have arrived at the front door.

1 Make sure your smart cameras are connected to the same SmartThings account that’s registered on the Family Hub.
2 Once a camera is connected, it will automatically appear in the SmartThings video widget.
SmartThings Video widget displaying an office on the Samsung Family Hub smart fridge.
3 To watch a live stream from the camera, simply tap its thumbnail. To exit the stream, tap the X icon.
4 Even if a live stream isn’t open, you’ll still get alerts on the fridge when motion is detected. To view recent alerts, swipe down from the top of the screen and check your camera’s notifications.

Note: You can only view past alerts from the SmartThings Cam on the Family Hub panel. For other camera brands, use their respective apps to view alerts.

5 If you have more than one camera connected, you can choose which ones appear in the widget. Touch and hold the widget, then tap Settings. Select or deselect the cameras you want to show. When you're done, tap Back to return to the widget.

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