Samsung One UI 7.0 brings new user interface upgrades, and these are highly visible on the surface, but there’s a wider picture for settings and features that are either removed or renamed from One UI 6.

The update is gaining attention from users with improved interactions, better animations, and redesigned UI elements such as icons. However, a deep exploration has revealed some noticeable changes between the new and the older software versions.

These changes are part of the progress that the phone maker has especially applied to the user experience. It also shows Samsung’s policy to deprecate what’s no longer needed and make space for useful additions. So, here’s every setting and feature removed or renamed from One UI 7.0.

Note – This article doesn’t cover any graphical-UI related changes. The feature removal could mean that Samsung may have merged its option with another group.

Table of contents

• Home screen settings
• Wallpapers
• Lock screen
• Sound and vibration
• Notifications
• Display
• Security and privacy
• Advanced features
• Device care
• Battery
• General management

Home screen settings

The latest One UI has removed 4×5 and 5×5 home and app grids. You can now only select between 4×6 and 5×6 layouts. However, the app screen grid will show column selection when you switch to the vertical app drawer.

Wallpapers

Similar wallpapers are grouped in the Featured section. This doesn’t apply to the graphical and color sections.

Modes on lock screen

One UI 6.1 shows routines on the Lock screen under “Modes and Routines”, which is now removed. Instead, One UI 7.0 has modes inside the Now Bar.

Sound and Vibration

This settings section no longer offers Dolby Atmos for gaming, a part of One UI 6.x. It seems to be fused with Dolby Atmos in the new OS version.

Notifications

Lock screen notifications

• Notifications to show are now renamed to Show alerting notifications with a toggle button.
• Show content when the unlocked toggle is removed

Do not disturb

• Hide all toggle is removed from Hide notifications

Advanced settings

• The show notification icons option has been removed
• A battery percentage option from advanced settings has been removed, and is now solely available in the battery section.

Display

• Full screen apps option removed, and it’s a reasonable decision.
• Vibrate when the handle is touched – removed from the Edge panels. This happens by default in One UI 7.0.

Security and privacy

• Additional privacy controls renamed to Controls and alerts
• Biometrics is renamed to Screen Lock and biometrics
• Pin app toggle renamed from Allow apps to be pinned from More security settings
• Theft protection is moved to Lost device protection alongside Find my mobile

Advanced features

This segment also has various new changes

Bixby

• Voice wake-up renamed to Voice registration, including new settings
• Show Bixby on Apps screen toggle is removed

Side button – Quick launch camera and Wake Bixby options are now moved inside Double press and Long press. Show contacts when sharing content removed. Video call effects renamed to Video effects. The Gaming Hub toggle is no longer visible in the settings.

Device care

Processing speed is removed from the performance section and replaced by the Performance profile. On the other hand, the Settings section has removed the customization service.

Battery

Samsung has removed the “Super fast charging” toggle, but fast and wireless charging are still available.

General management

Voice input is removed and replaced with Language packs. Password, passkeys, and autofill have also been removed from this section and may have been moved somewhere else.

Conclusion

That’s it folks, these are One UI 6.x settings and features removed, renamed, merged or replaced in One UI 7.0. If you found something that we missed in this article, please share it via our social media channels.

One UI 8 is the new talk of the town, with reports suggesting a Beta Program launch within a month. One UI 7 has just landed, and talks of One UI 8 Beta have started, rendering the former a short-term software iteration.

Samsung introduced One UI 7 earlier this year with the Galaxy S25 series. Just two months before debuting the official version, the company started the Beta Program in late December, bringing early access to owners of the S24 series.

If we look at Samsung’s software rollout strategy, excluding the One UI 7, the One UI 8 Beta should have been introduced around August, and the Stable release should take place later this year, specifically, in the fourth quarter.

Samsung officially confirmed Android 16 is coming to Galaxy devices this Summer. Recent developments confirm that the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7 will come pre-installed with Android 16-based One UI 8 operating system.

One UI in 2025

• One UI 7
  • Beta Program – December (2024)
  • Official Launch – February 2025
  • First Rollout – April 2025
• One UI 8
  • Beta Program – Late Q2, 2025
  • Official Launch – Summer 2025
  • First Rollout – Likely in late Q3, 2025

One UI 7 is a major upgrade, and leaks point to One UI 8 bringing finishing touches to the advancements adopted in Samsung’s Android 15 update. That said, the One UI 8 will be capped at refining the user interface and features.

The One UI 7 is the most delayed update, and it could be the shortest-lived version too. A portion of power users eagerly await every new update to explore the changes and help the developers shape the software through feedback.

Galaxy S24 users have upgraded to One UI 7 through the Beta Program in early December. Now with One UI 8 Beta coming early, they would have the opportunity to jump to another new OS within a gap of just 6 months (approx).

One UI 7 update has a lot to explore, and Samsung is bringing new features with incremental updates. Despite the fact, One UI 8 Beta will open new ways for users to dive deeper in Samsung’s software advancements this Summer.

Will you ditch the One UI 7 such early in favor of One UI 8 Beta? I’d love to hear your feedback or tips—connect with me on X/Twitter @TweetToYash!

Samsung is developing One UI 8.0, built on the upcoming Android 16, followed by One UI 8.5. The company appears to be gearing up for not one, but two new versions of its popular One UI software.

This news comes from a hidden menu discovered in the Phone app on Galaxy devices, offering a peek into Samsung’s plans for its custom Android skin. The Phone app includes a hidden debugging menu typically used by developers.

This menu organizes features by One UI version and, in its latest iteration on One UI 8.0, references both One UI 8.0 and One UI 8.5. This discovery supports earlier rumors that Samsung is working on these updates.

Earlier, Samsung has rolled out incremental updates like One UI 6.1 or 6.1.1 to bring new features and refinements. Moving directly from One UI 7 to One UI 8.0 and then to One UI 8.5 suggests the company might step away from the usual pattern.

Release and Eligible Devices

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 are expected to launch with One UI 8.0 pre-installed. Following that, One UI 8.5 could first appear on the Galaxy S26 series, though official word from Samsung is still pending.

It’s reasonable to assume that smartphones and tablets eligible for One UI 8.0 will also see One UI 8.5. A full list of eligible devices for One UI 8.0 can be checked here, and One UI 8.5 should follow a similar rollout.

For now, Samsung Galaxy users can look forward to the One UI 8.0 Beta. The company is likely to kick off a Beta Program for Android 16-based One UI 8.0 later this month, starting with the Galaxy S25 lineup.

Samsung Now Brief

Once your Galaxy S22 gets One UI 8, that’s it for major Android OS upgrades. No Android 17 or beyond. The term “bittersweet goodbye” fits perfectly for Galaxy S22 users facing the end of major updates with Android 16.

When Samsung’s One UI 8 lands, you’ll get a final batch of new features and improvements tied to Android 16. It’s the end of a four-year journey that started with Android 12, followed by security updates through 2027.

Samsung released the Galaxy S22 series with Android 12 and One UI 4.1 out of the box. At the time, the company committed to providing four major Android OS upgrades for its flagship phones. Here’s what that looks like for the S22 lineup:

• Android 12 (One UI 4.1) – The starting point in 2022.
• Android 13 (One UI 5) – The first major upgrade.
• Android 14 (One UI 6) – The second major upgrade.
• Android 15 (One UI 7) – The third major upgrade, likely rolling out around now or soon, depending on your region.
• Android 16 (One UI 8) – The fourth and final major upgrade, expected sometime in 2026.

Since the S22 series debuted in February 2022, you can expect security patches to keep coming until at least February 2027. These updates won’t bring new features, but they’ll help protect your device from vulnerabilities.

Samsung is bringing One UI 8 early this year, with the Beta Program likely within a month. The Galaxy S22 series might not join the Beta Program and jump straight to the Android 16-based One UI 8 firmware by the end of the year.

Galaxy S21 Series

As One UI 7 (Android 15) is already out, the Galaxy S21 series has received its final major upgrade, making it ineligible for One UI 8 (Android 16).

Launched in January 2021 with Android 11, the S21 series originally fell under Samsung’s three-year update policy. However, in 2022, Samsung extended that to four major upgrades for select devices, including the S21 lineup.

If Samsung cares about its fans, these phones should get One UI 8

Samsung might start the One UI 8 Beta Program for Galaxy devices in late May or early June 2025. Before the official announcement, a banner has been spotted for the One UI 8 Beta Program in the Samsung Members app.

A Samsung Galaxy smartphone user, @MarioSamsungBoy, has recently found new code in the Samsung Members app that shows a One UI 8 Beta banner and poster. This poster looks very similar to the ones Samsung used for earlier beta programs, which suggests it is for One UI 8.

Moreover, the poster has mentioned that no beta programs are available right now, but it asks users to check back later. Its design matches Samsung’s typical aesthetic for Beta programs, with minimalistic graphics and a focus on functionality.

Image via MarioSamsungBoy

This shows that Samsung is already preparing the One UI 8 Beta internally. It could be released very soon for Galaxy users. Samsung seems to be working quickly on the new version of One UI, getting ready to let users try it out before the final release.

It is expected that the Galaxy S25 series, including the Galaxy S25 Edge, will be the first Samsung Galaxy series to get the One UI 8 Beta. If you have one of the latest Galaxy flagship phones, you should keep checking the Samsung Members app for the banner.

To join the beta program when it launches, make sure your phone’s software is up to date. Also, update the Samsung Members app to the latest version. When the beta becomes available, you might see a notification or banner inside the app to register.

It seems that Samsung is getting close to releasing the One UI 8 Beta Program, and users of the newest Galaxy phones should stay ready to join and try it early. Stay tuned for more information.

One UI 8 redefines the magic of One UI 7’s Lock Screen AOD animations [Watch]