Samsung has started the One UI 9 beta program for Galaxy S26 owners, giving early access to Android 17 on Samsung devices. The beta is currently rolling out in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States via the Samsung Members app.
At the time of writing, registration options were not yet available and the beta program had not appeared on the monitored Galaxy S26 devices. Samsung has not provided a timeline for expanding the program to other markets or previous Galaxy models.
What One UI 9 adds to the Galaxy S26 Beta
The Samsung Notes app now includes additional decorative ribbons and pen line styles. The Contacts app has been updated to link directly to Creative Studio to create custom profile cards, although Creative Studio still requires a separate download and Samsung account login.
The Quick Panel has been redesigned to allow users to adjust brightness, sound and media controls independently. It also offers more size options for each control.
Accessibility and security changes in One UI 9
Accessibility updates in One UI 9 include adjustable mouse key speed for smoother cursor control and a new TalkBack package that combines previous Samsung and Google TalkBack implementations. A new Text Spotlight feature displays selected text in a larger 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 application from running or installing, and suggests deleting it.
Samsung has not shared details about how high-risk apps are identified or how users can review or override system decisions.
How Samsung’s One UI 9 Beta Registration Works
Users with eligible Galaxy S26 devices in launch countries can sign up for the beta through the Samsung Members app once registration opens.
Samsung has not provided details on how long the beta period will last or when stable One UI 9 updates will be widely available. In the meantime, stable versions of One UI 8.5 are still rolling out to older Galaxy devices.
