Samsung begins rollout of One UI 9 to Galaxy lineup
Samsung has started delivering its One UI 9 update, based on Android 17, to select Galaxy devices, with foldables and the newest S26 series receiving it first and older models slated for later in the year.
Samsung announced the start of its One UI 9 rollout, the company’s customized Android 17 skin for Galaxy phones. The update is pre-installed on the latest foldable models – the Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 – and began reaching the Galaxy S26 line on September 16 in South Korea, expanding to the United States by September 23 for the S26 Ultra on T-Mobile. Unlocked S26 units and those on AT&T or Verizon will receive the update later.
The company says the Galaxy S25 series – including the S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge and S25 FE – and the previous-generation Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 should see One UI 9 by the end of September. A broader group of devices, such as the Galaxy S24 family, S23 family, older foldables (Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5), various A-series phones, tablets and XCover rugged phones, are expected to receive the update later in the year, though no specific dates have been set.
Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy S22 and S21 FE will not be upgraded, as they have already received four major Android updates and will remain on One UI 8. Users can check for the update by navigating to Settings → Software update → Download and install, noting that the package is roughly 4 GB for the S26 Ultra and requires Wi-Fi, sufficient storage and a charger.
One UI 9 introduces several AI-focused features, including My FanCam, which isolates a person in a video; Now Nudge, which offers context-aware suggestions during conversations; Motion Assist, which adjusts scrolling based on vehicle motion; and Privacy Alerts that warn when apps access the camera or microphone in the background. Additional enhancements include a bottom-screen search bar, a customizable quick-settings panel, improved document scanning and the ability to schedule phone repairs directly from Settings, alongside the core Android 17 improvements.