Some Samsung smart fridges stopped working on Tuesday after a firmware update pushed through the SmartThings app, according to Korean media and user reports. The issue hit Samsung’s Bespoke AI line, mostly four-door models from 2024 or newer. The fridges suddenly lost power and their internal displays showed “Checking SmartThings app during update,” while the app listed the devices as offline.
Users on Samsung’s Korean community forum said refrigeration failed and all food had to be disposed of, with some saying they owned the fridge for a year or less. SBS Korea reported hundreds of filed cases, and the timing made things worse because the failures happened just before Chuseok, a major holiday focused on food. Some owners were told that technicians were limited and that repairs might not arrive until October.
Samsung stopped issuing the update as of September 23 and is aiming to have some fridges fixed by September 24, according to ZDNET Korea. A Samsung representative posted a forum response acknowledging an error during testing, saying emergency measures were being taken through service centers. The incident highlights how a faulty update can turn a connected appliance into a source of spoiled food and ruined plans, a risk that ordinary “dumb” fridges don’t carry.