A Galaxy SmartTag is Samsung's answer to Apple's AirTag, and it works better than object location trackers that use Google's Find My Device platform. However, the problem with Galaxy SmartTags is that they only work with Samsung phones. However, a third-party app now allows you to use Galaxy SmartTag 2 on any Android phone.

uTag lets you set up and use Galaxy SmartTag on any Android phone

A developer (Kieron Quinn) has successfully developed an app called uTag (via AndroidAuthority) that lets you set up and use the Galaxy SmartTag 2 on any Android phone. It basically replicates all the functionalities of the Samsung Find app. You can view the Galaxy SmartTag 2's location (including precision finding using UWB), ring it, and even change its ringtone.

It lets you customize its button and alerts you if an unknown Galaxy SmartTag is tracking you. It also lets you share your Galaxy SmartTag 2 with your family members or friends. It also features a few widgets that you can add to your phone's home screen. You can contribute to the Samsung Find platform.

However, the only catch is that you need to use a patched version of the SmartThings app. The patched version of SmartThings skips the part where the app checks if you are using it on a Samsung phone and disables SmartThings Find if it finds a non-Samsung device. Fortunately, the uTag app automatically downloads the patched version of SmartThings to the non-Samsung Android device on which it is running.

Once it is installed, you need to sign in to your Samsung account twice to have the uTag app work.  The first sign-in is to check all your SmartThing devices, and the second sign-in is to communicate with Samsung APIs. The app is open source, and you can view its code and download the app from here.

You need a non-Samsung Android device running Android 11 (or later) to use uTag. You don't need a rooted device, but if you have a rooted Android device, it makes it easier to use an Xposed module that live-patches the SmartThings app instead of using a patched version of SmartThings.

Watch how the Galaxy SmartTag 2 works in our review in the video below.

Google and Samsung should merge Find My Device and Samsung Find platforms

Similar to how Google and Samsung worked together to improve WearOS and Quick Share, we think the companies should merge Google's Find My Device and Samsung Find to create a single system that can replicate Apple's Find My network to track and locate devices.

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