Today the Galaxy Themes App received an update (Galaxy themes Version: 5.2.01.18, Service Version: 11.1.0.1) which basically hid the app from user’s view.
So this update is an automatic opt out, that stops showing you the Galaxy Themes App in the Home Screen and in the Apps list.
Yes, you can go to search, find and open the themes menu in settings, then figure out there is an option to “turn on” the app again, but why? Why to hide our Themes Store, we’re themes sellers and our store is being hidden! Unfair!
Why the Galaxy Store does not have an opt in / out too? Why themes are not longer present in the Galaxy Store, specially when our Themes Store is being hidden?
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That started in 2019 (It may be part of the privacy regulations) and yes sales fell somewhat. I don’t think the new update will have any affect since most people that opted out already did so.
Ron
Samsung Developer Relations
I’m not sure how having an icon directly linking to the theme store would be a privacy issue, but it is annoying that this last update removed the icon from people’s home screens without any notice or warning!
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I understand your explanation, thanks. But why in the whole Galaxy ecosystem off apps -or bloatware- is Themes App the only one with that “privacy” feature that allows you to deactivate it, removing it from your home screen AND from your list of apps? It’s almost like uninstalling it! It took me some time to figure out what was going on and re-install it. It wasn’t even listed as an app, like the rest.
If that “privacy” option was always there, and I opted in once, years ago, like someone suggested, why is now automatically opting me out with an update, without asking me or even telling me? Sales are already low, is this a way of helping us to sell less? Wait! we want the opposite!
I imagine users thinking themes store was discontinued. They associate the presence of something thru the visual help of an icon, an icon for the Themes app, which we carefully design as a paint brush, hoping they continue to tap on it and letting us to continue our life cycle as sellers.
BTW - Why Themes are no longer present or mentioned in the Galaxy Store App? There used to be a banner, a tab, and you could acccess Themes thru that app. Not now.
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BTW - Why Themes are no longer present or mentioned in the Galaxy Store App? There used to be a banner, a tab, and you could acccess Themes thru that app. Not now.
It is still a tab in the store. For some countries it is called personalization in most countries it is still Themes
I understand your explanation, thanks. But why in the whole Galaxy ecosystem off apps *-or bloatware-* is Themes App the **only one** with that "privacy" feature that allows you to deactivate it, removing it from your home screen **AND** from your list of apps?
It did remove it from my home screen but did not remove it from my app list. I do not know of any Android apps that now directly install to a home screen except the ones that are added by default by Android or a service provider.
Ron
Samsung Developer Relations
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Thanks for your response, I appreciate it.
I attach a screenshot for comparison Themes vs Galaxy Store. I know Apps may look different depending on which country you are in, but I’m in contact with other theme developers and they experienced the same after the update. The Theme app dissapeared by itself.
So please check the comparison graphic. No banners or tabs for themes in the Galaxy Store, no option for showing or hiding the icon in other apps (bc it not only removes it from the home screen, it also removes it from the apps screen**, so you go to apps looking for it and it’s not there!)** I think this was either and error or an arbitrary decision that affect our sales (and Sansung’s stake too).
If I had that option activated, why the update deactivated it? Please consider that some users are not that enthusiast or care much about some services like themes and when you hide it from their eyes, they will just ignore it. They’re not pending of our life.
Please let’s ask them to reverse this decision and make Themes visible as it always was.
You have to click on the Apps tab (at the bottom) not the Games Tab to see themes.
When I did this a few years ago it asked me if I wanted it on the home page and I selected no it was still in the apps (swipe up) but it wasn’t on any page. I added it to my second page and it hasn’t been removed on any updates since then.
I inquired about this a few years ago and the Galaxy Store was as surprised as I was. You can maybe report it to the Samsung Mobile Support or your service provider support.
Ron
Samsung Developer Relations
If an Icon for an app has been placed on on the Home screen by a customer, an update to that app should never remove it if the app is still available. Pretty simple concept. 
I believe that the theme store app was added to the home screen by Samsung. It is not placed there in new mobiles now.
The update asks if you wish it to be on the Home Screen and does not remove it without notification.
So this update is an automatic opt out, that stops showing you the Galaxy Themes App in the Home Screen and in the Apps list.
Ron
Samsung Developer
The update asks if you wish it to be on the Home Screen and does not remove it without notification.
Below is a screen capture of the update that removed Themes icons from both my home and apps screen, I’m from Argentina. The second screenshot is from a developer in USA, he experienced the same issue. Themes app disappeared without notification.
Galaxy themes version: 5.2.01.18 / Service Version: 11.1.0.1
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Yep, removed without notification… unless the notification is hidden in the Terms and Conditions somewhere.
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Darn, mIne too, moved to Android Settings
Ron
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Galaxy Theme Store is looking into this they were not aware of the issue.
Apologetic Ron
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Thanks everyone that has responded in this thread. Because of your attention a patch will be released next week. I know it will put the app icon back in the icon tray we do not know if it will have an option to add to home screen or not.
Ron
Samsung Developer Relations
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Awesome!! Thank you so much!!
Hi again. So yes, there was an update --like you mentioned-- last week (Version 5.2.01.22), but the Themes Store App is still not visible in the apps tray. So it’s like they’re actually removing the Themes app as such.
It’s redundant but I want to repeat that I’m talking about the list of apps that you know are installed somewhere in your phone, when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen and you see all apps, even those that are disabled: the Themes Store App disappeared, this one:
Is it the beginning of the end of our Themes Store? Now, in the Galaxy Store App, the ‘themes’ tab (which is within the “Apps” icon) does not link to the Themes Store: here is a step by step walkthrough of what a plain user would experience:
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The Galaxy Store Theme team did not consider the fix sufficient either. You will need to:
Go to you mobile settings. Scroll down just a bit to Themes Settings. Enable App Icon. It will enable the App Icon in the app tray and add an icon to the home screen (probably last screen).
It looks like they can not undo what they did and restore it to the position it was previously in. The Galaxy Store Ops team is looking into this as it was not fully implemented. If I hear more about it I will post here. I know this has been passed to a high level in Samsung.
Ron
Samsung Developer Relations
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Hi,
I got the final answer
It was an error in the update. However, unfortunately, we can not restore ICONs already removed. The user will need to make a shortcut again.
Theme Client is special app not having ICON in the app tray by default. We can not make ICON as default because Theme entry menu is on Setting Menu & Home Pinch Zoom In.
Ron
Samsung Developer Relations
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Since I updated my Galaxy S21+ to android 12 , there’s not as many themes on the theme store. WHY?? please help!! What’s going on?
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@ brewgirl0003 The new Themes editor is full of bugs and almost none of the themes for Android 12 are getting approved (because a series of messy updates). That’s why you can’t see them.
You’ll have to wait until they fix the whole thing and themes will start popping gradually. There is a bottle neck for A12 themes approval.
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