You have come across com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer while using a Samsung smartphone. It is okay to worry about what this component is and you may want to double-check whether it is a piece of malware or not.
Worry not; in this guide, I have covered all you need to know about com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer. We’ve started with the basics.
Com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer: Main Points
Com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer is a software package that lets you control a Samsung desk phone from your smartphone or tablet PC. It may come preinstalled on your device and it is not a malware/virus. But you can uninstall the package via adb tools or a root-access app remover.
What is com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer?
com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer is a software part of Samsung smartphones. It is installed along with the core Android system applications. However, you probably can’t find com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer on the app drawer or the home screen. Instead, you may come across this name on a list of all installed apps.
Technically, com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer is the package name for a component called Samsung Deskphone Manager. It is also called SDM in this context. As you can guess, this application is designed to access data from your Samsung desk phone through the smartphone.
When was it first introduced?
The exact date when com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer was introduced is not currently available. However, in its description, it requires a device running Android 4.0 or later. Therefore, I can assume that Samsung introduced com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer before 2011. I also saw some desk phone devices in the period.
Purpose of the application: SDM
com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer is designed to help you control a Samsung Deskphone using your smartphone or tablet PC. As I said, the com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer package works with Galaxy smartphones as well as some tablet devices. So, if you have a Samsung desk phone, you can connect them.
The major purpose of com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer is the effortless management of your Samsung desk phone. It could be an IP phone or a standard wired telephone. Instead of using conventional buttons and controllers, you can carry out tasks from your smartphone screen.
Features
Range of features offered by com samsung sdm sdmviewer
You can use the com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer package to do the following tasks.
- You can check the contacts saved on the Samsung desk phone
- Explore the call history and details on your Samsung smartphone
- Exchange Caller Identification Display between your smartphone and the desk phone
- Make calls from the desk phone using your smartphone
- Control and modify the apps installed on the Samsung desk phone
In addition to this, minute features in the com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer package makes it effortless to control the desk phone. Of course, the options vary based on the circumstances. For instance, if your Samsung desk phone already has a larger display, you may not need a smartphone screen.
However, in my experience, these IP phones come with tactile buttons and small screens. So, if you receive a lot of phone calls, you may have trouble keeping track of call history and contacts. In this instance, having a larger screen is better. I have also used these features to seamlessly transfer contacts between my device and the desk phone.
How does it differ from other similar applications?
As you can guess, many desk phone devices can be controlled using applications. However, because of how integrated Samsung devices are, the com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer package works differently. For instance, you can use com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer to gain almost full control of your Samsung desk phone.
It might include controlling the applications installed on the desk phone. However, I have not come across these advanced features in similar applications.
Updates on com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer
How does com samsung sdm sdmviewer notify users about updates?
As I mentioned, com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer runs in the background and becomes active only when you connect your device to a Samsung desk phone. However, if there are important notifications regarding your desk phone, com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer will show them instantly. You can keep track of these updates through the notification interface.
What is the Frequency of update notifications?
The frequency of these update notifications would vary depending on the device and its firmware.
Where to find settings icons in com samsung sdm sdmviewer?
If you cannot find com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer on the app drawer, you will have to open the list of both installed and system apps on your Samsung smartphone. You can find com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer on the list, tap it, and find the Settings icon. You can use this Settings icon to access the different aspects of the SDM package.
Customization options available for settings icons
You can also enable multiple settings icons for the com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer package. You can change it by going to the Settings interface that I mentioned earlier.
Package Disabler
Package disabler is something you may need while dealing with com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer.
As I said, com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer is a package and it can be turned off. It can be done with the help of a package disabler. However, unless you have a rooted Samsung smartphone, this option may not work. Even when you have a rooted device, you may need a third-party system removal or package disabler tool.
Alternatively, you can use adb tools to disable the com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer package on your device. I will talk about that in a bit.
Is Samsung.sdm.sdmviewer Safe? Is it a Virus or Malware?
I understand if you are worried about the safety of com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer.
However, com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer is completely safe and secure. It is developed by Samsung and the app is installed during the setup process. It means you can trust com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer as much as you would trust other Samsung applications on your smartphone or tablet PC.
To answer the related question, Samsung.sdm.sdmviewer is not a virus or malware. Unless you connect your smartphone to the desk phone, the package will not become active. I have also checked multiple sources to see potential issues with com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer.
I could not find any reports of the com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer package malfunctioning, either.
What Permission do com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer Require?
The com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer package requires the following permissions:
Permissions | Description |
android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE | To read contacts/call logs synced from desk phone. |
android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE | To write synced desk phone data locally. |
android.permission.READ_CALL_LOG | To read contacts/call logs synced from the desk phone. |
android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION | To access phone location for call context. |
android.permission.CAMERA | Likely unused but may be requested anyway. |
android.permission.READ_CONTACTS | To read desk phone contacts. |
android.permission.WRITE_CONTACTS | To write synced contacts locally. |
As you can guess, all these permissions are entertained only when you connect your Samsung smartphone to a Samsung desk phone.
Can I uninstall the SDM Viewer app?
You certainly can uninstall the SDM Viewer app from your Samsung smartphone.
However, I suggest that you should not.
You may currently be sure that you do not need this app. But, there may come a time when you need better ways to manage your desk phone. At that time, reinstalling the SDM Viewer package may not be easier.
How to remove the SDM Viewer app using adb tools?
Here are the easy steps:
- Go to Settings > System > About phone.
- Tap the Build number seven times to enable Developer Options.
- Go back to the main Settings menu and select Developer Options.
- Activate USB debugging by selecting the appropriate toggle.
- Download the ADB software onto your computer.
- Extract the ZIP file of ADB into a specified folder.
- Open the folder where you extracted the ZIP file.
- While holding down the Shift key, right-click in a space within the folder.
- Click the Open Powershell window here from the right-click menu.
- Type the command: adb devices in the Powershell window.
- Use a USB cable to connect your Android device to the PC and set the USB mode to File Transfer.
- Unlock the smartphone for full access.
- Authorize USB debugging by tapping OK when the notification appears on your phone.
- Input the command: adb devices again to check connectivity.
- Confirm that your device’s Serial number is displayed in the Powershell window.
- Run the command: adb shell pm uninstall –user 0 com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer.
- Check if the SDM Viewer app is successfully removed from your device.
As you can see, this process does not require a rooted device.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a Samsung Android smartphone, it would have come with the SDM preinstalled. Alternatively, you can search for the app on the Play Store and install it.
com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer is used to control Samsung desk phone devices using your smartphone or a tablet PC.
Samsung.sdm.sdmviewer is completely safe, secure, and privacy-friendly. Unlike what you may think, it is not a malware or virus.
The Bottom Line
I hope this guide cleared all your doubts on Samsung.sdm.sdmviewer and com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer. it is not a piece of malware; instead, you can use it without any privacy issues. But, if you want to remove it from your device, you have steps here as well.
5 Comments
I think I wanna remove it… thanks for the guide.
I like the part where you highlight the permissions and their descriptions. Now I can understand this app better. Thanks!