Samsung Smart Fridges Fail After Update, Leaving Owners with Spoiled Food

Just before the big Chuseok holiday in South Korea, many Samsung smart fridges suddenly stopped working. The problem started after owners installed a software update through Samsung’s SmartThings app. Instead of improving their fridges, the update caused them to lose power and stop cooling, ruining food inside.

Most affected models are Samsung’s Bespoke AI four-door fridges made from 2024 onwards. Users reported that the fridge screens froze during the update and then went offline. Many found their appliances totally unresponsive, with internal lights off and no cooling at all.

This caused serious frustration, especially as families had stocked up on food for the holiday. Some owners described having to throw away ice cream and other perishables. Others tried basic fixes like power cycling or reconnecting the fridge but nothing worked.

Samsung quickly stopped the faulty update once they realised the issue. The company said the problem happened because a test version of the software was accidentally sent out to customers. They have sent service engineers to fix the fridges and aim to complete repairs by September 24. Repair costs will be free, but Samsung is still deciding how to handle compensation for spoiled food.

Despite the emergency response, some customers said they faced delays in getting repair appointments. Samsung promised emergency on-call service during the holiday weekend to help those with urgent problems.

This incident shows how smart appliances, while convenient, can cause big headaches when software updates go wrong. For now, frustrated owners just hope their fridges and food can be saved quickly.