Samsung's software has transformed from TouchWiz to the polished One UI 5 over the years. It blends advanced Android features with a familiar Galaxy aesthetic and thrives without abandoning Google's touch. One UI 6 has been released with improved features, but not everyone has access to it and needs to make do with its predecessor.
One UI 5 has its fair share of flaws. Whether or not you're a newcomer to the Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets, the company's user interface has plenty of room to grow. We cover six of our least favorite elements about it and tricks to make them more bearable.
1 App drawer organization is a headache
There's a lot to admire in smartphones that run the pure stock Android version, like the Google Pixel 7a. It's also hard to ignore the unparalleled and consistent excellence of Samsung's hardware. Until now, One UI hasn't deviated significantly from the Google experience, except for one noteworthy aspect: the app drawer.
One UI's app drawer is chaotic. By default, its organization is set to custom, which makes finding applications unnecessarily difficult, especially when you've installed plenty. Also, the iOS-style left-and-right swiping feels out of place on Android. Fixing the problem is easy, and organizing your apps takes seconds.
Start with alphabetical sorting. It arranges apps based on their initial letters. The system automatically maintains the order as you add new apps. This way, you aren't constantly and manually arranging them.
Next, remove any default folders in your app drawer. When sorting alphabetically, they automatically populate the top area of the first app page, regardless of their name. If you prefer to keep them, rename and organize them rather than rely on Samsung's default options.
2 Large notification style
One UI 5 revamped Samsung devices and many users are not fans of some changes. Notifications, especially the minimized ones, take up too much space. All notifications come with a gray background, making it hard to find important alerts faster. However, you can manage your notifications in numerous ways.
For one, set priority notifications for special conversations and silence or snooze apps. Turn off your notification history if you prefer a cleaner experience without historical logs.
You can also register important keywords in the Notifications menu and assign them a color. When next you get a notification containing that word, its color stands out from others.
The Color by keyword feature requires an exact title match with the notification you want to single out. This way, the system doesn't apply colors to similar or unintended phrases.
Use the steps below to color code notifications on One UI 5:
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Notification pop-up style.
- Select Color by keyword.
- Type a keyword that means something to you. Then tap +.
- Tap the colored circle beside your keyword. Then, pick a color from the Swatches or Spectrum tabs.
- Tap Done.
3 Always On Display goes off in seconds
Samsung's Always On Display feature keeps a portion of your device's screen active to show key information continuously, even when you aren't using it. You can glance at the screen without unlocking the phone to check the time or see if there are pending notifications.
It isn't always on by default and disappears after 10 seconds. You must tap it again to view the information. To fix this problem, customize your Always On Display in the settings menu. You can change it to show always, appear only when scheduled, or display when new notifications pop up. You can also change the clock style.
4 Confusing advanced features
Some people find Samsung's advanced features intuitive and useful, while others feel overwhelmed by the options available. If a feature on your phone acts strange, dive into the settings menu to find its origin. Explore and experiment with each feature and determine which ones enhance your experience and which you prefer to deactivate.
You may also enjoy visiting the Labs menu. There, you'll find the forced multi-window and swipe for pop-up view options, among others. Those only scratch the surface of what you can accomplish. Motions and gestures allow you to change how your smartphone interacts with taps and raising. One-handed mode lets you take advantage of the massive display on the S23 Ultra without your thumb stretching eight inches wide. To access these features, go to Settings > Advanced features.
5 The Bixby button has been repositioned
Samsung removed the dedicated Bixby button from its phones with the release of the S20 series. The company integrated the voice assistant with the power button on the side of your device. It's frustrating for many users as it adds an extra layer of complexity to what was a simple and direct action.
Now, long pressing your side button wakes Bixby instead of shutting down the device. You can remap the virtual assistant's function and avoid accidentally triggering it. You can also deactivate Bixby completely and replace it with the more versatile Google Assistant.
6 Samsung Wallet opens accidentally
Samsung Wallet aims to shorten checkout queues with contactless payment. However, its quick access shortcut is intrusive, especially for people who hardly use it. It appears when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen. It doesn't go away by forcing stopping the app, uninstalling its updates, and revoking permissions.
You'll need to deactivate the gesture from within the app. Uninstalling it is possible if you use a recent device model that came without the app preinstalled. Older models require you to root your device, a risky process that may damage it.
One UI 5's annoyances are not without solutions
Samsung's software might not be as simple and clean as the Google experience on Pixel phones, but there's potential. One UI 5 is among the most customizable versions released, so much so that you may not be taking advantage of everything it offers. To start, use its personalization features for your home screen to make it feel like your own. If you update to One UI 5.1, you'll see improvements in lock screen widgets, camera, and other areas.
