Ever since I got my Samsung SmartThings Hub installed in my Home, I have always wanted to integrate my Blink camera systems into them as well.
But the fact that there is little to no information on whether the integration is possible surprised me and got me to put on my research hat to dive deep into this void of knowledge.
After facing a few waves of valuable information thanks to a few Reddit threads and forums, I figured I would make this article to end this dilemma.
Blink does not natively support integrations with Samsung's SmartThings ecosystem, but it is possible to enforce an integration using IFTTT and use IFTTT's custom applets to mutually integrate both services.
Does Blink Work Seamlessly with SmartThings?
Unfortunately, Blink doesn't natively support a proper integration with Samsung's SmartThings ecosystem, at least as of writing this article.
There are no rumors or a possible timeline posted anywhere of such an integration coming in the future, so it is best not to get hopes up.
But fortunately, there is a certain service that is mutually supported by both Blink and SmartThings, which can act as a third party to enable this integration.
IFTTT
IFTTT (IF This Then That) is a service that connects multiple services in order to automate certain tasks that involve both services.
Essentially, it acts as an integration portal for multiple services including Blink and SmartThings, and helps in automating certain tasks you typically perform.
Once the services are synced to an IFTTT account, you can group multiple actions and create a macro task called Applet.
Enabling this Applet triggers the actions. This can be set up and automated based on multiple factors, including time and location.
Since Blink and SmartThings are supported as a service on IFTTT, you can simply create an applet in order to merge both services or use one of Blink's own applets.
How to Set Up Blink to Work With Smartthings Using IFTTT
Setting up Blink to work with SmartThings with the help of IFTTT can seem like a cumbersome process, at least compared to a first-party integration.
At first glance, it can also seem a bit overwhelming for the non-tech savvy. But once you get the gist of it, it is a very simple process.
But before we move on to the setup process, it is imperative to make sure certain prerequisite conditions are met:
- You must have an account on IFTTT, which you can create by installing the IFTTT app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
- You must have your Blink device configured using the Blink app on your smart device, with your Blink account logged in.
- You must have your SmartThings Hub configured using the SmartThings App on your smart device, with your Samsung account logged in.
Once the above basic conditions are met, it is time to move on to the meat and potatoes of the topic at hand: integrating all the three above-mentioned services.
First, we need to integrate the IFTTT account with your Blink account, which you can do by simply following the steps given below:
- Open the IFTTT app on your phone.
- After logging in, tap on the Explore option on the bottom right of the home screen.
- On the search bar that pops up on the resultant screen, search for Blink.
- Tap on the first relevant result with the official Blink logo.
- This will prompt you to connect your Blink account with IFTTT, which you can do by tapping on Connect.
- On the resultant web view screen, log in to the same Blink account that you used on your Blink app with your credentials.
- If prompted, verify the login with the One Time Password (OTP) that Blink sends to your mobile number or email.
- Once verified, tap on Grant Access to link your Blink account with IFTTT.
Now that your Blink account and IFTTT are interlinked, the next natural step is to integrate IFTTT with your Samsung Account.
This can be done by simply following the steps given below:
- Open the IFTTT app on your phone.
- After logging in, tap on the Explore option on the bottom right of the home screen.
- On the search bar that pops up on the resultant screen, search for SmartThings.
- Tap on the first relevant result with the official SmartThings logo.
- This will prompt you to connect your Samsung account with IFTTT, which you can do by tapping on Connect.
- On the resultant web view screen, log in to the same Samsung account that you used on your SmartThings app with your credentials.
- If prompted, verify the login with the One Time Password (OTP) that Samsung sends to your mobile number or email.
- Once verified, tap on Grant Access to link your Samsung account with IFTTT.
Now that we have established the connection from Blink to IFTTT and SmartThings to IFTTT, the setup is done and you can use the IFTTT app to set applets.
When you open the Blink applets list on IFTTT, there are two available preset applets that can be used with SmartThings:
- Arm Blink When You Lock the Door.
This uses your location data taken from your phone and automatically enables your Blink camera to detect motion and lock your SmartThings-enabled door lock.
- Disarm Blink When You Unlock the Door.
This uses your location data taken from your phone, automatically disables your Blink camera, and unlocks your SmartThings-enabled door lock.
You can also create your own Applet from the IFTTT application according to your liking.
The following triggers and actions are available for Blink:
Triggers Available For Blink | Actions Available For Blink |
---|---|
Motion detected | Disarm system |
Arm system |
The following triggers and actions are available for SmartThings, depending on the SmartThings device connected to the SmartThings hub:
Triggers Available For SmartThings | Actions Available For SmartThings |
---|---|
Switched On | Switch on |
Switched Off | Switch off |
Any new motion | Unlock |
Presence detected | Lock |
Presence no longer detected | Deactivate the siren/strobe |
Locked | Activate siren/strobe |
Unlocked | |
Opened |
Final Thoughts
With the emergence of hundreds of smart device companies, the integration between their products can often seem restricted.
This inevitably causes a rift in the experience of consumers, who then might be forced to focus on a single brand, locking them to that particular ecosystem.
But with services like IFTTT, this can be prevented.
Since IFTTT acts as the third party, it saves the companies like Blink and SmartThings from the hassle of solving bugs and issues with multiple integrations.
I hope my article on whether Blink devices work with Samsung's SmartThings ecosystem has been a worthwhile read and has aided you with the same.
Have a good day!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does Blink natively support geofencing?
Blink has no built-in geofencing, but the feature can be incorporated by using an IFTTT applet to automatically arm/disarm your system when you leave/return home.
Is SmartThings limited to Samsung devices?
SmartThings is Samsung's answer to a smart home ecosystem and is not locked only for Samsung devices. It is available for free on Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store.
Do Blink devices need a hub like the SmartThings Hub?
Select Blink devices, such as the Blink Indoor gen 2 and the Blink Outdoor cameras require a hub, which is named a Sync Module for Blink devices.
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