Samsung account - why do I have to set one up?

Anyone who owns a Samsung smartphone or tablet will be prompted to set up their own Samsung account shortly after the start. Read here what it is and whether you really need it.

Just an additional gimmick

Above all, the most important thing: You do not necessarily need the additional account. Of course, you can use all the functions that the Android platform offers without having to register again. Nevertheless, Samsung wants to bind you to itself and therefore provides you with additional features. You have to decide for yourself whether these are worth the additional access.

The Samsung Store

In addition to the classic "Google Play Store", there are already a number of alternative programs. Here Samsung also gets involved with "Samsung Apps". You can only access the store and all downloads by setting up a Samsung account. Of course, the app does not offer the same scope as the original from Google. Nevertheless, an interesting app occasionally sneaks into the Samsung range. You can find a paid game in the Play Store in Samsung's own store for a while free of charge.

Samsung additional apps

The newer your device is, the more own apps the manufacturer has placed on it. These include, for example, the "hubs" for music or games or the "Samsung Link" for wireless transmission of multimedia content. You need the Samsung account for these services to different degrees: You don't need to log in to easily view information in the hubs. If you want to transfer files to your TV using "Samsung Link", there is no way around it. So here it depends entirely on your usage habits, whether the additional account is worthwhile or not.

Your own cloud

Samsung has created its own cloud base for the users of its mobile devices. However, it does not work as you are used to from "Dropbox" and others. Samsung enables you to secure appointments and contact details by synchronizing. If they are deleted from the memory of the smartphone or tablet, they can be restored. Of course, the calendar entries that you create in the "S Planner" are also synchronized here. The standard Google account can do all of this, however.

For the older devices

In times of Android 2.x, the Samsung account had a completely different meaning: Here, the manufacturer did not make it possible to supply the device with updates "over the air" without further ado. It always had to be connected by cable to the PC and the "Samsung Kies" software. Samsung account users were able to bypass this and use the simple path that other manufacturers made possible without registering. But today it has hardly any meaning. Newer Samsung devices are updated by default without an account link. Older smartphones and tablets probably no longer receive new software versions.

You can find out how to delete your Samsung account easily in the next practical tip.