Samsung has launched the One UI 9 beta program for Galaxy S26 owners, providing early access to Android 17 on Samsung devices. The beta is currently being rolled out in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States via the Samsung Members app.
At the time of this report, sign-up options were not yet available, and the beta program had not appeared on monitored Galaxy S26 devices. Samsung hasn’t provided any timeline for expanding the program to other markets or older Galaxy models.
What does One UI 9 add to the Galaxy S26 beta
The Samsung Notes app now includes decorative tape and additional pen line styles. The Contacts app has been updated to link directly to Creative Studio for creating custom profile cards, though Creative Studio still requires a separate download and a Samsung account login.
The quick panel has been redesigned to let users independently adjust brightness, sound and media controls. It also offers more size options for each control.
Accessibility and security changes in One UI 9
Accessibility updates to One UI 9 include adjustable mouse key speeds for easier cursor control and a new TalkBack package that adds to the previous Samsung and Google TalkBack implementations. A new Text Spotlight feature displays selected text in a large floating window, making it easier to read on-screen without the need to change system-wide font settings.
One UI 9 now actively blocks high-risk apps. When the system detects suspicious behavior, it issues a warning, stops the app from running or being installed, and suggests removing it.
Samsung hasn’t shared details about how high-risk apps are identified or how users can review or override the system’s decisions.
How Samsung’s One UI 9 beta enrollment works
Users with eligible Galaxy S26 devices in the launch countries can sign up for the beta through the Samsung Members app once registration opens.
Samsung hasn’t provided details about how long the beta period will last or when the stable One UI 9 update will be widely available. Meanwhile, the stable release of One UI 8.5 is still being rolled out for older Galaxy devices.
