Samsung has released One UI 9.0-compatible versions of LockStar, NavStar, and Display Assistant modules. Support for the new operating system comes through updates to the three Good Lock apps/modules.

LockStar is the most widely used Good Lock plugin among the three. NavStar and Display Assistant modules have their own set of features. With extended support, users on One UI 9.0 can also utilize LockStar, NavStar, and Display Assistant.

Earlier, Samsung updated ClockFace and RegiStar plugins. The two have also received support for the Android 17 operating system. The total number of One UI 9-supported Good Lock apps has reached around 21.

One Hand Operation + module also received One UI 9 compatibility last week. This is among the most used Good Lock plugins, allowing users to enhance single-handed operation experience on their Galaxy devices.

Now, Home Up remains the only major Good Lock awaiting One UI 9 support. Samsung may have been testing the reliability of new features. Galaxy users should patiently wait for the Home Up module for better animation tweaking.

For now, you can install the latest versions of LockStar, NavStar, and Display Assistant. They work as usual on One UI 8.5 even without an update. If you’re on One UI 9 Beta, the update is necessary; you can find them in Good Lock.

• LockStar – v9.0.00.5
• NavStar – v9.0.00.11
• Display Assistant – v9.0.08

Samsung will launch its next foldables with One UI 9. The unveiling is expected on July 22, and global sales may start on August 5. That said, the company is preparing to make apps and services compatible with the new OS.

Image via SammyFans

Samsung Messages is set to shutdown in the US next week. Following the initial announcement in April 2026, Samsung is now notifying Galaxy users of the exact date of the shutdown of the native messaging application.

July 8 is the date when Samsung Messages will shutdown in the US. Galaxy users who are still on Samsung Messages are seeing an in-app notification. The page reveals the date and encourages users to switch to Google Messages.

It’s worth noting that Samsung Messages will stay online outside the US even after July 6, 2026. However, it’s unclear how long the Galaxy’s in-house messaging app will survive in countries other than the United States.

Switch to Google Messages

Samsung recommends users make Google Messages their default messaging app. The switch will ensure users won’t face any interruption with the messaging function.

Google Messages is equipped with Android’s expansive RCS support. The new standard offers a next-generation messaging experience with useful features such as reactions and replies.

If you are still on Samsung Messages, it’s good to make the switch instead of waiting for the deadline to arrive.

To make Google Messages the default, open Google Messages, and the app will walk you through the entire process, and your chats will also appear inside the application.

WhatsApp officially launched the “Username” feature for its users. Although the Meta-owned messaging giant has made it official, the public rollout won’t start anytime soon, as the timeline is “later this year.”

Handing someone your phone number has always felt like an oddly intimate gesture for what’s often a casual interaction.

What’s notable is how WhatsApp is framing this purely as a privacy upgrade rather than a social feature. You will need someone’s exact username to message them, and the messaging platform is expected to offer some life-saving tools.

In particular, WhatsApp is adding an optional “username key,” essentially a second layer requiring people to know a specific code before they can reach you.

Usernames are our latest step to make WhatsApp even more private. There’s no directory to browse and no suggestions; people will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time. To help control who can reach you on WhatsApp with your username, we’ve built an optional username key that others will need to know to message you.

The Instagram and Facebook handle-matching option is a smart touch too. Creators and businesses spend years building recognition around a single handle, and letting them carry that identity into WhatsApp without losing it to a stranger.

How to reserve your WhatsApp Username

Worth grabbing your preferred username now regardless, since with three billion people already on the app, the obvious choices won’t survive the week. Head to Settings, then Account, then Username, and lock it in.

WhatsApp is making Meta AI more useful with a new feature called Side Chat, giving users a private way to get AI assistance without leaving their conversations.

WABetaInfo reports that WhatsApp Side Chat feature is currently rolling out to a limited number of Android and iOS users, and it focuses on one key idea: letting Meta AI understand a conversation’s context while keeping the interaction protected.

Side Chat arrives as an extension of WhatsApp’s growing AI push. Earlier, Meta introduced Incognito Chat with Meta AI, which allowed users to have private AI conversations where messages disappear after closing the session.

Meanwhile, the Side Chat takes a different approach. Instead of starting a separate AI conversation, it lets users ask Meta AI for help based on an existing chat.

Here are the seven features WhatsApp users can expect:

1. Private AI help inside your chats
2. A separate panel for private questions
3. Context-aware replies without copy and paste
4. Web Search support for better answers
5. Private Processing keeps the feature secure
6. Different from @Meta AI in regular chats
7. Inaccessible when Disappearing messages and Advanced Chat Privacy enabled

The rollout is still limited, and WhatsApp has not publicly shared a timeline for wider availability. If the feature reaches more users, it could become one of the more practical ways Meta AI appears inside WhatsApp.

Related article:

• WhatsApp is bringing the Mentions feature to text Status updates

Samsung Good Lock nears full compatibility with One UI 9, and One Hand Operation + also receives support for the new operating system. Samsung is rolling out a new update, which also addresses a major issue.

One Hand Operation + is getting a new Samsung update, which makes it compatible with the Android 17-based One UI 9.0. Release notes mention OneUI9Beta compatibility, bringing good news for Galaxy S26 users.

Currently, One UI 9 Beta is only available on the Galaxy S26 series. The Beta Program was released in mid-May, and participants have received three Beta updates so far, with the fourth gearing up to release next week.

One Hand Operation + version 9.2.19.0 also brings bug fixes and stability improvements. One thing Samsung specifically highlighted: the resolution of the “Edge handle” problem, which was not working in certain cases.

If you’ve got a One UI 9 device, it’s time to install the latest One Hand Operation +. The update is available on previous One UI versions too. However, the latest changes only reflect if you’re running Samsung’s Android 17 Beta.

Here’s everything new in the update:

• Support for One UI 9 Beta.
• Fix the Edge handle not working issue.
• Bug fixes and stability improvements.

To update Samsung Apps on your Galaxy device, open Galaxy Store > Updates. A list of available apps will be showcased, and tapping the update icon starts the download.

Related post: Samsung One UI 9 now supports 17 Good Lock modules, including MultiStar