Following the expansion of One UI 8.5 beta in March^[1], the program is now rolling out to more devices, including the Galaxy S23 series and Galaxy S23 FE. The beta will be available in select markets, including the U.K, India, Korea, and the U.S.^[2], as part of a phased rollout.

Building on our ongoing collaboration with Android, Samsung is introducing support for AirDrop through Quick Share on One UI 8.5 beta, enabling more seamless cross-platform file sharing for Galaxy users on select devices, including Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7, Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6^[3].

The beta program will continue to expand to additional Galaxy devices later this month. Users can register via the Samsung Members app.

[1]The March 2026 One UI 8.5 beta rollout brought support to the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold6, Galaxy Z Flip6, Galaxy S25 FE, Galaxy S24 FE and the Galaxy Tab S11 series.

[2]Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5 are supported in Korea and the U.S. only; Galaxy A36 5G is supported in India only. Availability and timing may vary by market

[3]Airdrop support is currently available on the Galaxy S26 series. Availability and timing may vary by market.

One UI 8.5: What’s New for Content Creation?

One UI 8.5 makes creating and sharing content more intuitive from start to finish. Users can keep generating new images without interruption with the updated Photo Assist^[1]. They can edit photos using Photo Assist features continuously, without needing to save each iteration. When finished, they can easily review all the creations in edit history and pick their favourites to keep.

Sharing is smoother too, thanks to enhancements to Quick Share^[2] which now recognises people in photos and proactively suggests sending them directly to those contacts.

How Does One UI 8.5 Improve Device Connectivity?

New cross-device features make managing devices easier, whether users need to manage files, share their network, or communicate with nearby devices. Audio Broadcast^[3] enables effortless communication with LE Audio-supported devices nearby using Auracast. In addition to audio from media sources, users can now broadcast their voice using their Galaxy phone’s built-in microphone – ideal for group situations like tours or events.

Storage Share^[4] brings even more fluidity to the Galaxy ecosystem by showing files from other Galaxy devices – including tablets and PCs – directly in the My Files app. It also allows users to access their phone’s files from other Samsung devices, including their TV.

How Is My Galaxy Device Staying Protected?

One UI 8.5 strengthens device protection and gives users clearer control over their security settings. Theft Protection keeps phones and their data secure in the case that it is lost or stolen. For additional protection, Failed Authentication Lock automatically locks the screen if there are too many failed attempts to verify identity by fingerprint, PIN or password. Identity check also safeguards more settings than before, adding an extra layer of protection.

Availability

The One UI 8.5 beta program will be first available to Galaxy S25 series users in select markets includingthe UK, Germany, India, Korea, Poland and the U.S. from December 8. Galaxy users can apply to join the beta program via the Samsung Members app.

[1]Generative Edit feature for Photo Assist requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Editing with Generative Edit may result in a resized photo. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. Screen image simulated for illustrative purposes. Actual UX/UI may vary.
[2]Available on devices with One UI 2.1 or above, with Android Q OS version or higher installed. Bluetooth Low Energy and Wi-Fi connection are both required for Quick Share. Actual speed may vary depending on device, network condition and user environment. Screen image simulated for illustrative purposes. Actual UX/UI may vary.
[3]Only available on Galaxy S25 series devices, including Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. Screen image simulated for illustrative purposes. Actual UX/UI may vary.
[4]Each device must be signed in to same Samsung account and must have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. Requires updated Galaxy phones and tablets with One UI 7 or higher and kernel version 5.15 or higher and Galaxy Book2 or later(Intel) and Galaxy Book4 or later(Arm) and Samsung Smart TV models including U8000 and above released after 2025. Feature availability may vary by region and device model. Screen image simulated for illustrative purposes. Actual UX/UI may vary.

“After years of R&D with a relentless focus on the home user experience, we are thrilled to be rolling out more Smart Forward updates to our earlier released appliances around the globe,” said Miyoung Yoo, EVP and Head of the Software Development Team, Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “With the enhanced functionality, extended lifespan and improved security provided by Smart Forward, the home experience can truly take a step forward.”

Reference Image: Samsung Digital Appliances connecting to download updates^[3]

New Functionalities Alter Kitchen Experiences

The Smart Forward updates introduce an array of new functionalities designed to enhance the user experience and appliance performance. The Family Hub, a touchscreen panel installed on the 4-Door French Door Refrigerator^[4] for food management, entertainment and communication, will now come with Quick Share, Buds Auto Switch ^[5] and Fridge Call, new features that significantly improve connectivity and usability.^[6]

Quick Share makes sharing memories and recipes while in the kitchen easier than ever by allowing users to quickly send photos to the Family Hub screen directly from their mobile device^[7] with just a few clicks. When users have their Galaxy Buds connected to the Family Hub to listen to music or watch cooking tutorial videos, the Buds Auto Switch feature allows users to seamlessly switch to their mobile device to answer incoming calls and back when the call is finished, enabling a cooking experience free from interruptions.

Finally, users can receive phone calls with Fridge Call directly on the Family Hub using its microphone and speaker, eliminating the need to move to a different room to find their phone. This is especially convenient when users’ hands are occupied to cooking, cleaning and dishwashing, making it much easier to multitask while remaining connected. Perhaps best of all, these new features will be available on refrigerator models with Family Hub produced from 2017 onward rather than new models only.

Quick Remote,^[8] an additional feature in which a user’s mobile phone becomes a remote control for connected Samsung appliances, is being expanded across refrigerators produced since 2023, regardless of whether they include a Family Hub screen or not.^[9] Other connected appliances include washing machines and air conditioners also produced since 2023.^[10] All users need to do is simply move close to a SmartThings-connected appliance,^[11] and a remote control menu for the appliance will appear on the quick panel of the Galaxy phone screen being used. This seamless integration ensures that users can control their home environment with ease.

Future-proofing Home Appliances to the Next Level

Apart from making the user experience more seamless, Samsung is also focused on future-proofing existing appliances. The upgraded Bixby^[12] will understand commands with multiple intentions and remember the most recent conversation.^[13] This advanced functionality transforms the way users interact with their appliances, making voice commands more intuitive and responsive.^[14] Samsung UK is providing the update to three products launched in 2024 first: the Bespoke 4-Door Refrigerator with AI Family Hub; Bespoke AI Laundry Combo; and Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI.

Safer Use and Lower Energy Consumption

In terms of safety and energy-savings, Samsung is rolling out updates to older models — including refrigerators made as far back as 2021 — because the importance of safety does not diminish with time.^[15]  After an event of a power outage and once resumed with power, refrigerators will detect and notify users via the SmartThings app when internal temperature is high, providing an extra layer of food safety by making users aware of potential issues that could affect the freshness of their stored food.

Additionally, users can now choose different chimes for open door notifications, giving them greater control over their appliance settings. Furthermore, users can maintain a peaceful home environment by putting ice makers in sleep mode, preventing them from working during the night and creating the disruptive sound of ice falling into the tray while users sleep.

Optimal Scheduling, which delays the start of appliances to not have them run during peak energy usage hours or periods of high carbon intensity, will also be added to the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo^[16] and Samsung Dishwashers.^[17] This feature can help users cut down on energy cost. Additionally, the 7-inch AI Home on the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo now automatically switches to power-save mode during wash cycles, further contributing to smart energy savings.^[18]

These updates reflect Samsung’s broader strategy of providing value to customers by enhancing the products they already own. By continuously improving the functionality and performance of its appliances, Samsung ensures that users do not have to worry about their devices becoming obsolete. This approach not only safeguards customers’ investments but also aligns with the company’s efforts to reduce the need for frequent replacements.

Samsung’s updated home appliances will be showcased at IFA 2024 in Berlin, Germany, from September 6 to 10, where visitors will be able to see and experience each feature.

[1] The following updates will be alerted to the user via SmartThings app push notification when available. On the SmartThings app, users can check the product and features that are ready to be updated and monitor the update progress.

[2]  Updates will be available throughout 2024. Actual update schedule may differ according to product, model type, and region.

[3] Image is created to visually help understand the process of updating appliances through Wi-Fi Connection. Screens on the appliances does not appear as in the image during updates.

[4] This is the global name, and naming may differ by region. For example, 2024 Bespoke refrigerator with the 32-inch Family Hub screen is named Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+ in North America and Bespoke 4-Door French Door Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+ in Latin America.

[5] Quick Share and Buds Auto Switch are available with Galaxy mobile phones only.

[6] Quick Share, Buds Auto Switch, and Fridge Call update are currently available on refrigerators with Family Hub in North and South America and will be available sequentially in Europe, East Asia and Southeast Asia throughout 2024. Actual update schedule may differ according to product and region.

[7] The SmartThings app is available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. Users are required to utilize a single log-in account between the devices

[8] Quick Remote feature is available in Galaxy mobile phones with Android 1.8.21 or above, and the SmartThings app must be installed. A Wi-Fi connection and Samsung account are required. Users are required to utilize a single log-in account between the devices.

[9] Will be available globally on select refrigerators, washing machines and dryers produced since 2023, starting in October and sequentially throughout the rest of 2024. Actual update schedule may differ according to product and region.

[10] Feature will be available on select Freestanding Air Conditioners (FAC), Wall Air Conditioners (WAC) and dehumidifier models produced since 2023 and select Residential Air Conditioner (RAC) models produced in 2024.

[11] Connected Galaxy mobile phone must be within 10 meters of the appliance. Quick Remote may not work properly, if objects come between the mobile phone and the appliance.

[12] Bixby is Samsung’s brand of Internet of Things (IoT) voice assistant. Bixby service availability may vary depending on the country. Bixby recognizes certain accents/dialects of English (US, UK, Indian), Chinese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish (Spain, Latin America) and Portuguese (Brazil). The user interface may change and differ by device. The availability of Bixby features and content providers may vary depending on the country/carrier/language/device model/OS version. A Samsung account log-in and data network connection (Wi-Fi or data network) are required.

[13] Multi-Intent and Multi-Turn are supported in the following languages: English (US, UK, India), Korean, Spanish (Latin America, Europe), French, German, Italian and Portuguese (Brazil). Device Q&A is currently available for English (US) and Korean. The following scenario is based on English (US) and may vary depending on user language settings.

[14] In order to control other devices, all devices must be connected to SmartThings under the same Samsung account. Control is limited to connected devices’ original features and voice control activated features may be limited, depending on the type of the product and the model that execute the commands.

[15] Update will be available globally on select refrigerator models produced since 2021, starting in October.

[16] Update will be available globally, starting in October.

[17] Update will be available for DW7700B dishwashers sold in Europe only, starting in August.

[18] Update will be available on Bespoke AI Laundry Combo in 2024 Q4.

It can be hard to know the right way to do this. For example, you might have concerns around the security of third-party messaging platforms. Or you might be worried that your private information and data could be lost or compromised in the event of a server attack or the loss of your phone. When connecting to another device, you might also worry about who can see your data, and how to keep it secure.

At Samsung, we’ve thought of all this and made it our mission to keep you protected so you can safely and comfortably share your data with whomever you choose.

Private Sharing with Quick Share

Ever been in a situation like this? You want to share pictures or a video from your recent holiday, but don’t want to risk them somehow ending up online or visible to anyone other than those you intended.

Samsung Galaxy has a built-in solution to this problem: Quick Share’s Private Sharing, a privacy-preserving file-sharing function that lets you share your data with peace of mind.
With Private Sharing, you and you alone own the data. You can ensure that only the designated recipients can open the files you send – no one else. You can also set permissions and expiration dates for the data, so it’s only viewable for a limited amount of time. Further, you can give read-only access without the ability to re-share; revoke the data access whenever you like; restrict screenshotting, and see when the recipient received and opened the file.

Private Sharing makes it safe and easy to share your content, and you can share up to 20 files at once with a total size of up to 200MB. And of course, all your files are securely and fully encrypted when shared, courtesy of blockchain-based encryption technology.

To use Private Sharing, select the file you want to send and tap the Share icon. Tap Quick Share, followed by the three dots for more options in the top right corner. Then select Turn on Private Sharing. Once the message has been sent, you can check what you’ve sent and change the expiration date or revoke sharing permissions.

▲ Select file > Quick Share > Three dots (more options) > Turn on Private sharing

No more worries about misfiring a private photo or file, or having your information fall into the wrong hands. With Quick Share’s Private Sharing, you’re in control of your data and whom you choose to share it with, with visibility into file share status every step of the way.

Enhanced Data Protection with End-to-End Encryption

Here’s a moment that would make anyone panic. You receive a notification that something’s gone wrong with a website you visited, and the server where your sensitive account details are stored has been compromised.

No one wants their data leaked. But with Galaxy’s Enhanced Data Protection, you can be confident that your data remains secure in the Samsung Cloud.

Starting with the Galaxy S24, Enhanced Data Protection offers additional protection for Galaxy devices when you sync or back up your data with Samsung Cloud. This feature mitigates data loss via end-to-end encryption (E2EE), which ensures data can only be encrypted or decrypted on your device and cannot be seen by anyone but you. In other words, you can connect to other devices while staying secure, and your data will be kept safe even if a server is compromised or account details are stolen.

When you activate Enhanced Data Protection, you’ll be prompted to write down a recovery code to help prevent the loss of your data in the event you lose your device.

To use Enhanced Data Protection, open the Samsung Cloud app, tap the three dots for more options, choose Settings, and then Enhanced Data Protection. From here, you can choose to encrypt backup or synced data. Alternatively, you can open your device Settings and go to Security and Privacy to find this feature.

▲ Samsung Cloud > Three dots (more options) > Settings > Enhanced data protection ▲ Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Enhanced data protection

End-to-end encrypted data is only accessible on devices using the Enhanced Data Protection feature, and cannot be accessed by anyone else, including Samsung.

We know that our users want to be able to enjoy their lives safely with the knowledge that their devices and data are protected. Galaxy enables you to do just that – so you can safely go out there knowing we have your back.