Samsung smart fridges stop cooling after faulty update

On September 22, Samsung smart fridges in South Korea began to experience malfunctions after a faulty software update was installed. The update, meant for internal testing, was mistakenly sent to customers through Samsung's SmartThings app. Affected models were mostly Bespoke AI four-door refrigerators released since 2024.

Owners reported issues such as dark interior lights, screens stuck on an updating message, and fridges that stopped cooling altogether. The timing was unfortunate, as Chuseok, a major Korean holiday focused on family gatherings and food, was about to begin. Some owners had to discard up to 20 kilograms of food, and others were concerned about perishable items like meat and groceries they had purchased for the holiday.

Samsung acknowledged the problem on its community forum, attributing it to an error during software testing. The company stopped distributing the faulty update, offered free repairs, and aimed to restore affected refrigerators by September 24. However, Samsung has not publicly confirmed the number of fridges affected or whether all repairs were completed by the target date.

The outage highlights the crucial role of software in modern appliances. While smart features like food recognition and customized washing cycles may be useful, Samsung's fridge failure demonstrates the potentially dire consequences when software malfunctions. The basic function of keeping food cold is at risk when the software inside an everyday appliance fails.