Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag is designed to compete with Apple’s AirTag, and offers similar object-tracking capabilities. A significant limitation, however, is its exclusive compatibility with Samsung phones. Fortunately, a third-party app offers a workaround, enabling Galaxy SmartTag 2 functionality on any Android device.
uTag: Unleashing Galaxy SmartTag 2 on All Android Phones
A developer (Kieron Quinn) has created an application called uTag (via AndroidAuthority) that allows you to configure and operate a Galaxy SmartTag 2 with any Android phone. It mirrors the core features of the Samsung Find app, letting you view the SmartTag 2’s location (including UWB precision finding), trigger its ringer, and customize the ringtone.
It also provides button customization options, alerts for unknown SmartTags tracking you, and the ability to share your SmartTag 2 with family and friends. Home screen widgets are also available. The app can also contribute to the Samsung Find platform.
The main caveat is the requirement for a patched version of the SmartThings app. This modified version bypasses the device check that restricts SmartThings Find to Samsung phones. The uTag app conveniently automates the download and installation of this patched SmartThings version on non-Samsung Android devices.
To use uTag, your non-Samsung Android device must be running Android 11 or later. Root access isn’t mandatory, but rooted devices offer an alternative approach using an Xposed module for live-patching the SmartThings app, eliminating the need for the patched version.
Method 1: Using uTag with Patched SmartThings
This is the most effective method as the uTag app handles the download and installation of the patched SmartThings app automatically.
Step 1: Download and install the uTag app from its GitHub repository.
Step 2: After installation, launch the uTag app.
Step 3: Sign in to your Samsung account twice. The first login verifies your SmartThings devices, while the second facilitates communication with Samsung APIs.
Method 2: Using uTag with Xposed Module (Rooted Devices Only)
This method is only applicable if your Android device is rooted.
Step 1: Install the Xposed Framework on your rooted Android device.
Step 2: Download and install the uTag app from its GitHub repository.
Step 3: Install an Xposed module that live-patches the SmartThings app. This will bypass the device check, allowing the SmartThings app to run on non-Samsung devices.
Step 4: Sign in to your Samsung account twice through the uTag app. The first login verifies your SmartThings devices, while the second facilitates communication with Samsung APIs.
Unifying Tracking Platforms
The collaboration between Google and Samsung on WearOS and Quick Share serves as an example for further integration. A merger of Google’s Find My Device and Samsung Find into a unified platform would create a more comprehensive tracking system, similar to Apple’s Find My network, offering improved device location capabilities.
With uTag, the functionality of Galaxy SmartTag 2 is no longer limited to Samsung devices, offering a broader range of Android users the benefits of this tracking technology.