Samsung is rolling out a major One UI 9 update, based on Android 17. If you’ve got one of the Galaxy S26 handsets launched at the start of the year, you should see it pop up on your device soon (it came pre-installed on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 devices unveiled in July).
After the Galaxy S26, next in line for the update are the Galaxy S25, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7 phones—though Samsung hasn’t said exactly when the software will arrive for those devices. After that, phones from as far back as 2023 should eventually get One UI 9, including the Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and Galaxy Z Flip 5 handsets.
If you do have an eligible phone, you’ll want to dive in and start making the most of the update as quickly as possible. These 10 hacks should get you up and running. From making your device more secure to creating your own custom widgets, these are my favorite tricks and tips for the updated OS.
Cut down your doomscrolling with “AI Network Guard”
AI Network Guard is a new feature in One UI 9 that cuts off the internet when you open an app you’ve put on a specific restricted list. It’s actually designed to stop kids from stumbling across unsuitable content, but it works great for limiting doomscrolling for grown-ups as well.
The feature isn’t easy to find, though—it’s on the same hidden menu that features Samsung’s wifi signal scanner (why Samsung is keeping it hidden is anyone’s guess). From Settings, tap Connections and Wi-Fi, then tap the three dots in the top right corner and select Intelligent Wi-Fi. On the next screen, tap the Intelligent Wi-Fi button seven times to reveal a new Connectivity Labs option.
Go into Connectivity Labs, and you will at last discover AI Network Guard. Follow the instructions to set up a PIN, and you can then pick the apps you want to block internet access for. Use the Downtime feature (via the three dots, top right) to set certain periods in the day when those apps can be used as normal.
Tailor your phone’s menus by adjusting “Quick Panel” shortcuts
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One UI has always impressed in terms of the number of customization options it gives users, and there’s a new tweak available in the latest update. If you swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to get to the Quick Panel, then tap the pencil edit button, you’ve got more freedom to adjust its layout. You’ve always been able to swap widgets in and out, but now you can position them in any way you like (just tap and drag), and change their sizes (via the handles around the edges). The sound button is also now decoupled from the volume slider, so you can manage them separately. Tap Add a control to introduce new elements, and tap Done when you’re finished.
Use “My FanCam” to spotlight one person in your videos
If you want one person in particular to be the star of a video, My FanCam is here for you in One UI 9. It lets you load up a video you’ve already recorded and create a new clip with a specific individual front and center. The obvious use case for this is your kid in the school play or at sports day, but you can use it for whatever you want. You do need to give My FanCam plenty of material to work with in terms of footage and framing—it can’t magically produce new angles or new clips out of nothing.
To get started, open up a video from the Gallery app, then tap the Galaxy AI button (the stars) and My FanCam to get started. After a few moments, you’ll be able to choose the person you want to follow and select crop and aspect ratio settings.
Build your own “Now Brief” cards to receive more relevant alerts
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Samsung Now Brief is aiming to give you timely alerts throughout the day about information that’s relevant to you—such as weather updates or appointment reminders—and in One UI 9 you can make it more useful with the option to create your own cards. From Settings, tap Galaxy AI > Now Brief, then choose Custom cards. You can have three active at any one time, centered around weather details, health statistics, or particular categories of video pulled from the web.
Cut down on car sickness with “Motion Assist”
Google has finally gotten around to building something to match the anti-car sickness Vehicle Motion Cues feature that Apple put into iOS last year, and it’s called Motion Assist. It was rolled out as part of the Android 17 update, and Samsung has carried it over to its own One UI 9 upgrade.
To find it, open up Settings, then choose Google services > All services > Motion assist. Beyond enabling and disabling the feature, you can customize the color, shape, and opacity of the dots that flow across the screen while you’re moving, and which will (hopefully) keep any nausea at bay.
Liven up the interface with a “Motion Photo” wallpaper
Give your wallpaper game a bit of a lift by setting a Motion Photo as your phone’s backdrop, rather than a static image. These images are accompanied by short videos when they’re captured, giving you a second or so on either side of the still frame—tap the little icon that’s an ‘A’ inside a series of rectangles to turn it on in the Camera app.
One UI 9 lets you set these Motion Photos as wallpaper to add a bit more movement and interest. You still set the wallpaper in the same way: Wallpaper and style, then Change wallpapers > Gallery from Settings. You should see a Motion photo option appear on compatible images.
Search your phone more quickly by adding “Finder” to the home screen
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The Finder is the search tool built into One UI, and it’s traditionally been available at the top or bottom of the app drawer that appears when you swipe up on a home screen: You just type in the app or file you want to find on your phone. One of the nice tweaks introduced with One UI 9 is the option to have the Finder on the home screen for more convenient access. Open Settings, then choose Home screen > Show search on Home screen to enable it.
Keep an eye on what your AI assistants are up to
AI continues to become more integrated into our phones, and Galaxy handsets are no exception: You may well have several third-party AI apps on board your device, as well as the built-in Galaxy AI features. One UI 9 ushers in a new “AI Assistant Activity” dashboard that lets you keep tabs on what AI apps and their agents are doing on your phone, from booking concert tickets to analyzing photos. You can see everything that’s been happening in one place. You can find the dashboard from Settings by tapping Security and privacy > AI assistant activity. Any actions AIs have taken on your behalf can be viewed app by app, with filters for activity over the last seven days or the last 24 hours.
Learn faster by taping over your Samsung Notes
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Perhaps not a One UI 9 upgrade that’s going to grab many headlines, but a useful one nevertheless: Samsung Notes now has a Tape tool that works exactly like the name suggests: It lets you put a bit of digital “tape” over part of your note. You can use this as a revision aid, as a decoration for scrapbooking or journaling, or to protect sensitive information when you’re sharing screenshots of your notes. You’ll find it along the bottom toolbar when a note is open (the icon looks like a piece of tape). You can choose different colors and patterns for your tape, change the size, and have the app automatically straighten your taping too. Use the tape icon on the tool pop-up to show or hide all your tape.
Run diagnostics to spot potential problems in the new “Warranty and Care” menu
This is a tip that you’ll hopefully not have to call on too often, but there’s a new Warranty and Care section in Settings that brings together a few older features and adds some new ones on top. From here, you can sign up for Samsung Care+, check if your phone is still under warranty, book repairs for your device, or run a diagnostics check on your phone. You can even ask Bixby for some troubleshooting tips and advice.