Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Gets its Final Android Update with One UI 8

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is one of the best-selling Fan Edition smartphones. The smartphone was launched in 2022 with the Android 12 operating system. Today, the company has started rolling out the anticipated Android 16-based One UI 8 update for Galaxy S21 FE, which is probably the last big upgrade for the smartphone. Read on to learn more details.

Samsung is pushing the One UI 8 update to the Galaxy S21 FE with G990EXXUIHYJ2 firmware version. At the time of writing, the rollout is live in Vietnam and Thailand for the Exynos variant. It will also be available in other regions and for the Snapdragon variant in the coming days. The update brings the September 2025 monthly security patch.

One UI 8-based Android 16 update comes with a slew of new features and changes. The list of features includes the new Adaptive lock screen clock, improved split-screen view, better display support in Samsung DeX, easier file sharing with Quick Share, Dynamic Lock screen, hide apps in secure folder, updated stock apps, improved animations, and more.

Here’s the complete release notes shared by Samsung.

Productivity
- Check stock prices without unlocking: Stocks you follow on Google Finance with big price changes will appear on your Now bar at the end of the trading day.
- Easier file sharing with Quick Share: It’s never been easier to send and receive files. Tap the Quick Share button in quick settings to get started. You can receive files while the Quick Share screen is open and send files to others directly from Quick Share.
- Sticky notes: Add quick annotations on top of documents in Samsung Notes. There’s no limit to the number of sticky notes you can add, and it’s easy to remove them later without disturbing the original document.
- Find downloads fast: You can now filter files based on the app that was used to download them. Works in the Downloaded and Recent views in My Files.
- Redesigned Samsung Internet: Access the features you need quickly. The Samsung Internet menu has been optimized to make it easy to access the features you use most. You can also customize the layout to match your personal preferences.
- Scientific calculator in portrait view: Use the scientific calculator without the need to rotate the screen. The scientific calculator now works in portrait view in addition to landscape.
Multitasking
- Do more in DeX on connected displays: You can now add widgets to your Home screen when using DeX on a connected display as well as control settings for the mouse and on-screen keyboard.
- Enhanced display support for DeX: The new Samsung DeX gives you more options when connected to an external monitor or TV. You can choose an optimized display resolution up to WQHD and rotate the display 90, 180, or 270 degrees.
- Enhanced split screen view: While 2 apps are open in split screen view, you can push one app against the edge of the screen to keep it partially visible while giving most of your focus to the other app. Tap the smaller app any time to switch between them quickly.
Reminder
- New Reminder interface: The Reminder app has been redesigned with categories shown at the top of the screen, making it easier to see how many reminders are in each category with a quick glance. Custom categories can be hidden with a quick tap to free up more screen space. Tap one more time to make them appear again.
- New sample reminders: Discover the power of reminders. Sample reminder templates are now available in the Reminder app. Explore these reminders to see what you can do to manage important tasks in your life.
- Add reminders easily: It’s never been easier to add new reminders. Just type your reminder into the box at the bottom of the screen. Suggestions will appear as you type that you can tap to save time. You can add checklists, locations, and pictures using the buttons below the text box. Or, if you don’t want to type at all, tap the Mic icon for voice input.
Calendar
- Manage reminders in Calendar: You can easily create reminders in the Calendar app without opening the Reminder app. Whenever you tap the + button, you’ll have the choice of adding an event or a reminder. You can also drag and drop reminders on your calendar to reschedule them.
- Add events quickly: When you start adding an event in the quick add menu, you’ll get suggestions for event names and times based on your past events. Just tap one of the suggestions to add an event without additional typing.
Samsung Health
- Running coach: Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced runner, the new Running coach feature in Samsung Health provides personalized training programs and tips to help you run farther and faster while minimizing the risk of injury. Works with Galaxy Watch7 or higher.
- Bedtime guidance: Get to sleep at the right time so you wake up feeling refreshed. The new Bedtime guidance feature analyzes your sleep data and recommends the best time to go to sleep each night.
- Running challenges: In addition to step challenges, you can now challenge your friends to run. You can set a target distance and see who gets there the fastest or set a time limit and see who runs the farthest.
- Check your antioxidant intake: The Antioxidant index (Labs) feature uses your Galaxy Watch to detect the level of carotenoids in your skin. Carotenoids are a type of antioxidant contained in fruits and vegetables that can help prevent physical aging. Works with Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.
- Food recording reminders: Stay on track to meet your calorie goals. You can now set reminders for recording your food intake in Samsung Health.
- Track your vascular load: Use your Galaxy Watch to measure your vascular load, which is the amount of stress on your blood vessels. First, create a baseline measurement by wearing your watch while sleeping for at least 3 days, then you’ll be able to see when your vascular load gets higher or lower over time. Works with Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Photo and Video
- Swipe up or down to open quick controls: Access quick controls in Camera even quicker than before by swiping up or down anywhere in the preview area. In Camera settings, change the Swipe up/down option to open quick controls.
Audio enhancements
- Quick access to Galaxy Buds settings: It’s easier than ever before to control your Galaxy Buds. You can now adjust Buds settings directly from your phone’s Settings without the need to open the Galaxy Wearable app.
Communication
- See calls on the screen: Call captions show what each person says on the screen in real time during calls. Follow the conversation on your screen to make sure you don’t miss anything.
- Improved profile cards: It’s easier to create and edit your profile card to get the perfect layout for your name and picture. After creating, you can share your profile card so other people can see it when you call them.
- Review recorded calls in Contacts: It’s now easier to review your past conversations. Calls you’ve recorded now appear on the contact history screen.
Security and Privacy
- Enhanced Secure Folder: Keep sensitive apps and data in a separate, protected area of your phone. You can now set Secure Folder to close apps and prevent notifications when you lock it. You can also completely hide and encrypt your Secure Folder for maximum protection.
- Stronger account security: Knox Matrix regularly scans devices signed in to your Samsung account for security risks. When a serious risk is found on a device, that device will be automatically signed out of your Samsung account to protect the security risk from spreading to your account and other devices. You can check the security status of your devices any time in Security and privacy settings.
- Show or hide notification content while locked: The option to show or hide notification content while your phone is locked is now located in Notifications settings. Choose to show content for quick access to notifications without unlocking your phone, or choose to hide content to keep your notifications private and prevent others from seeing them.
Accessibility
- Pinch and zoom with the Assistant menu: The Assistant menu now provides more ways to zoom in and out on the screen. In addition to dragging with one finger, you can now adjust the zoom level by pressing buttons on the screen.
- Control mouse actions with your keyboard: If you can’t or don’t want to use a mouse, turn on Mouse keys in Accessibility settings to use your physical keyboard to move the mouse pointer, click, hold, and scroll.
- Magnify your keyboard: You can now make the keys on the on-screen keyboard larger so they’re easier to see and tap. Turn on Magnify keyboard while typing in Magnification settings to try it.
- Easily pair Bluetooth hearing aids: You can now pair and connect your Bluetooth hearing aid devices directly on the Hearing aid support screen in Accessibility settings.
Modes and Routines
- New preset routines: Check out the new preset routines for weather and other advanced conditions. Use them as they are, or customize them to meet your needs.
- New routine actions: New actions are available for getting data from the Clock, Calendar, and Samsung Notes apps. After you get data, you can use it in other conditions or actions in your routine.
Even More Improvements
- Easily organize alarms: You can now add existing alarms to an alarm group by tapping the + button on the Alarm group screen. You can also add an alarm group to a widget on your Home screen so you can turn all of the alarms in the group on or off with a single tap.
- Enhanced app notification settings: You can now choose the pop-up notification style for each app separately in the app’s notification settings.
- Revamped weather visuals: The Weather app now provides more rich and realistic images to help you intuitively understand the current weather conditions.

If you own the Galaxy S21 FE, you can now upgrade your device to the One UI 8 update. In case you missed the OTA notification, you can check for the update, go to Settings > Software Update, or you can wait for a few days for a broader rollout. Once the update is available on your phone, you can download and install it.

Please charge your phone to at least 50% before updating to the One UI 8-based Android 16 update. Also, don’t forget to back up your data just in case.

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