Starting September 25, Samsung smartphone users will be required to have a Samsung account to access the Galaxy Store, the app that lets you download and update software specific to the Galaxy ecosystem. Until now it was possible to use this service without first connecting, but this facility will disappear.
A big change for Galaxy users
According to a press release issued by Sammy Fansthe manufacturer states that you will need to connect to a Samsung account to use the Galaxy Store and its services. This announcement appeared in the latest Galaxy Store update (version 6.6.13.10) and it affects users around the world. This measure, if it does not affect all applications (the majority comes from the Google Play Store), therefore targets services and software developed by Samsung.
This requirement to create a Samsung account is a clear departure from past practices. Until now, the Korean company encouraged users to create an account, but never made access to its services dependent on a mandatory connection. This radical change may be aimed at strengthening control over access to updates and the security of applications, especially those downloaded from third-party sources.
This new policy comes in a context where Google, for its part, has taken measures to better secure its own Play Store. The American company has in fact launched a series of changes to strengthen user protection, especially with Play Protect, the real-time threat detection service powered by artificial intelligence. Developers are also encouraged to integrate an integrity API to block the use of apps installed or updated outside of the Play Store.
In the same way, it seems that Samsung wants to limit the risks associated with installing applications from third-party stores or directly via unofficial installation files (in other words, sideloading). By requiring an account, the manufacturer probably intends to exercise better control over updates and installations, an area where security vulnerabilities can easily be created.
If most of the apps installed on Galaxy devices come from the Google Play Store, the Galaxy Store remains an essential gateway for Samsung’s internal services. Many features and native apps, such as Samsung Pay or Galaxy Wearable, depend on updates delivered by this store. Therefore, not having a Samsung account can deprive users of the latest improvements and fixes for these apps.