Just a day after announcing the One UI 9 Beta Program, Samsung has now started rolling out the One UI 9 Beta 1 for the Galaxy S26 devices. The first beta is currently available in Germany, Korea, the UK, and soon in the US. The beta program is also expected to expand to India and Poland starting with the second beta release.
The first One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S26 series carries build number ZZEF. Since this is the first beta build and also a major upgrade from One UI 8.5, the update size exceeds 3GB, although it may vary slightly depending on the device model.
In the official announcement, Samsung already revealed some of the major new features coming with the One UI 9 beta, including new tools in Samsung Notes, Creative Studio in Contacts, an improved Quick Panel, Text Spotlight, new Galaxy AI features, and more. You can check out the complete details in our dedicated article.
One UI 9 Beta 1 Changelog
- More customizable quick panel
- You can now rearrange and customize the controls in your quick panel even more than before. You can change the size of the brightness and volume sliders as well as the media player. You can also separate the sound mode button from the volume slider.
- Samsung DeX enhancements
- It’s easier to move an app window from one desktop to another using the menu at the top of the window. Desktop previews are now available at the top of the Recents screen, making it easier to switch with a single tap.
- Do more with notes
- The new Tape feature in Samsung Notes let’s you cover parts of your note with tape and reveal them when needed. A variety of new pen styles have also been added, giving you even more options for writing and drawing.
- More settings in Game Booster panel
- Adjust your game settings without stopping the action. You can now access screen resolution, screenshot format, and more directly from the Game Booster panel.
- Location access transparency
- Stay on top of your location privacy. A blue indicator will appear at the top of the screen when an app accesses your location. Tap the indicator in the quick panel to see which app it Is.
- Discover new Accessibility features
- Check the What’s new menu in Accessibility settings to learn about and try the latest Accessibility features for your Galaxy.
- Text spotlight for easier reading
- Need a closer look? Tap any text on the screen to show it enlarged and highlighted in its own window. You can also customize the font size, colors, and other settings to match your preferences.
- Physical keyboard shortcuts
- Use shortcuts on your physical keyboard to access the Accessibility settings you need without touching the screen.
- Mouse keys enhancements
- New options are available when using your keyboard for mouse interactions including speed and acceleration control. You can also use the keyboard’s number pad to point and click.
- Replace swipe with single tap
- The Replace swipe with single tap option is now located on Dexterity and interaction menu instead of the Assistant menu for easier access.
- Select to speak
- Get quick audio readouts without turning on full TalkBack.
- With the new Select to speak feature, you can select an item on your screen, like text or an image, and hear it read or described out loud.
- Improved TalkBack updates
- Through continuous collaboration, Samsung and Google’s TalkBack features have been unified. TalkBack updates can now be applied with a simple app update from the Play Store.
If you have a Galaxy S26 device and want to experience the next big One UI build before its public rollout, you can register for the One UI 9 Beta program. As usual, you can register from the Samsung Members app > Notice or Banner for Beta > Read all the details and simply tap the Register button.
The first beta of One UI 9 will be available immediately after registration. You can check the update in Settings > Software Update > Download and Install. Don’t forget to back up your data before installing the beta version.
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