Samsung has confirmed that it is dropping support for its official DeX app for Mac (and Windows 7) in January.
The move means Galaxy smartphone owners will no longer be able to connect their device to a macOS machine to turn it into an Android-powered desktop. However, the awesome DeX feature itself isn’t going anywhere.
DeX for macOS will die next year
Although DeX hasn’t really taken off in a big way — mostly due to a lack of third-party support — it’s a terrific feature. It turns a compatible Samsung Galaxy device into a desktop, simply by connecting it to a monitor.
DeX gives you a proper desktop interface, with windowed app support, and runs just about anything you have installed on your smartphone — including games. It also works with a keyboard and mouse, just like any other desktop.
Samsung’s Mac and Windows apps made using DeX a little simpler by allowing you to use the feature on an existing machine over USB-C, rather than having to connect your phone directly to a monitor and other peripherals.
But unfortunately for Mac fans who use a Galaxy device, the DeX app is dying.
You have until January
“We’re ending support for Samsung DeX for Mac OS in January 2022,” reads a new popup that appears inside the DeX app for Mac. “You can still use Samsung DeX if it’s already installed, but there will be no customer support or updates.”
If you already have DeX installed and you plan to continue using it, then, be sure you don’t accidentally remove it. And if you don’t have DeX installed and may want to use it in the future, download it now before it’s gone.
The good news is that the DeX feature itself isn’t going anywhere, so you can continue using it by connecting your phone to an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard — which actually provides a smoother experience — if you need to.