Samsung Frame TV asks for subscription to view photos
Samsung Frame TVs suddenly told users after an update they would require a subscription to display a slideshow on their TV.
Background
Samsung’s Frame TV line includes an “Art Mode” feature that lets people show artwork or personal photos when the TV is not in active use. Before the July 2025 update, users could upload personal photos & have them displayed as a rotating slideshow without any subscription requirement.[1] This feature was a selling point for many customers, as discussed in Samsung’s own marketing & customer testimonials on its community forum.[2]
Incident
On or around 2025-07-31, after an update to the Samsung Art app, many Frame TV owners reported that the ability to run a slideshow of their own personal photos in Art Mode was disabled unless they purchased a subscription to the Samsung Art Store.[1] While users could still display a single personal photo, attempting to run a slideshow triggered a subscription paywall message.[3]
The change affected many Frame TV models, with reports from owners of LS03B (2022), LS03C (2023), & LS03D (2024) models.[1] Customers described this as a “bait and switch,” claiming that Samsung had retroactively removed a feature that influenced their purchase decision.[2]
Samsung's response
In a statement to Tek.no, Samsung said the change was “a mistake” and not intentional.[1] The company promised to restore slideshow functionality for personal photos in a future software update, but did not provide an exact timeline.[1] As of the latest user reports in the Samsung Community threads, the issue remained unresolved.[2][3]
Consumer response
The update prompted hundreds of complaints on Samsung’s official community forum.[2][3] Many users expressed frustration that a paid subscription was now required for a feature they used to use for free, with some stating they would return their TVs or file complaints with consumer protection agencies.[1] The Tek.no article covering the controversy was widely shared among Norwegian technology readers and amplified the backlash.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Kunder raser mot Samsung etter oppdatering – En feil, sier Samsung". Tek.no. 2025-08-04.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Frame TV ART Mode: Why can't I display a Slideshow..." Samsung Community. 2025-08-01.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Solved: Frame TV cannot display slideshow of my own personal pictures unless I pay membership fee". Samsung Community. 2025-08-01.