{"id":1912,"date":"2026-04-05T15:46:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T14:46:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovatenews.site\/index.php\/2026\/04\/05\/these-are-my-5-favorite-one-ui-power-user-tricks-for-samsung-foldables\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T15:47:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T14:47:06","slug":"these-are-my-5-favorite-one-ui-power-user-tricks-for-samsung-foldables","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innovatenews.site\/index.php\/2026\/04\/05\/these-are-my-5-favorite-one-ui-power-user-tricks-for-samsung-foldables\/","title":{"rendered":"These are my 5 favorite One UI power user tricks for Samsung foldables"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The topic These are my 5 favorite One UI power user tricks for Samsung foldables<\/strong> is currently the subject of lively discussion \u2014 readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019ve used Samsung foldables for half a decade, spanning both Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold models. The hardware hasn\u2019t always been on point \u2014 my Galaxy Z Flip 3 screen protector cracked along the crease in less than a year, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 I replaced it with became outdated quickly. Only recently has Samsung flexed its hardware muscle with the impressive Galaxy Z Fold 7, and to a lesser degree, the Galaxy Z Flip 7. All the while, One UI software and its optimization for the foldable form factor never let me down.<\/p>\n

Samsung\u2019s One UI software has long tried to go above and beyond the basic Android features, occasionally to its detriment. The extra utility truly helps you make the most of Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold phones, though. From app and operating system behaviors set by folding status to handy Flex Mode controls, there are a lot of One UI customization features built just for foldables.<\/p>\n

One UI has a robust automation suite under the \u201cModes and Routines\u201d page in the Settings app, and foldable users can create routines tied to whether their phone is opened or closed. Samsung foldables know whether their folding display is currently open, closed, or even partially folded. You can leverage this information to initiate custom routines based on the phone\u2019s folding status. For instance, a routine could automatically enable auto-rotate when the phone is opened and rotation lock when the device is closed.<\/p>\n

This is particularly helpful for using One UI with a foldable phone, as the cover screen and folding display are each used for different tasks. Let\u2019s say you have a Galaxy Z Fold 7 and use it at your desk as a digital calendar or to-do list. You can create a custom routine that extends the screen timeout period to 10 minutes only when the foldable is opened, so the screen doesn\u2019t go dark while you\u2019re at your desk. When the phone is closed, the screen timeout period could remain shorter. Similarly, it\u2019s possible to create routines that specify unique font styles, font sizes, and screen zoom profiles for when a foldable is opened or closed.<\/p>\n

The possibilities are almost endless. To try it for yourself, open the Settings app on your foldable and find the \u201cModes and Routines\u201d page. Switch to the \u201cRoutines\u201d tab and press the \u201c+\u201d icon to create a new routine. Select \u201cFolding status\u201d as the trigger for the routine and pick any action as the \u201cThen\u201d statement for the routine. When you\u2019re finished, the routines you\u2019ve created will automatically take effect based on your foldable\u2019s hinge status.<\/p>\n

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By far, my favorite One UI trick for foldable phones is Flex Mode. Other folding phone brands have come up with similar ways to control their phones, but none match Flex Mode\u2019s utility in my experience. Flex Mode is simply a user interface that allows you to intuitively use your phone like a laptop when it is half-opened on a flat surface. I use it for watching videos, reading articles, and anything else that involves propping up a flip phone or a big-screen foldable on a table or desk. The top half of the foldable displays your content, while the bottom half is exclusively for software controls that adapt situationally.<\/p>\n

Flex Mode is available when your foldable phone\u2019s hinge is opened between 75 degrees and 115 degrees. It\u2019s built into One UI, so you don\u2019t need the individual app you\u2019re using to support it. Depending on the open app, folding your smartphone at around 90 degrees will either automatically launch Flex Mode or display a Flex Mode button at the bottom-left corner of the screen.<\/p>\n

Most foldable users will activate Flex Mode for the convenient on-screen controls for media playback. The user interface includes a timeline scrubber, playback controls, and skip forward or back buttons on the bottom half of the screen. The top half is exclusively reserved for your content. I only watch videos in Flex Mode on my foldables \u2014 it\u2019s great having a built-in stand, and standard widescreen videos fit the top half of the screen almost perfectly.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not all Flex Mode can do. It offers a virtual touchpad that can be used to control the top of the screen with a cursor. Additionally, Flex Mode offers helpful shortcuts for taking screenshots, adjusting the volume, changing the brightness, or viewing notifications. You can use apps in One UI\u2019s Multi Window mode while in Flex Mode, effectively turning your foldable into a mini laptop.<\/p>\n

It sounds surprising, but I\u2019ll take a foldable over every other smartphone type for mobile photography. Foldable phones might not always sport the largest or newest camera sensors, but they have a built-in kickstand and dual displays. Those hardware features and One UI software combine to form an excellent camera experience. Simply fold your phone in half, and you have a stand to position the device\u2019s camera sensors anywhere you\u2019d like. This activates Flex Mode, shifting the viewfinder to the top of the screen and freeing up the bottom for controls.<\/p>\n

There are too many useful One UI camera features for foldables to count, but two that shine are Capture View and Dual Preview. Capture View lets you monitor the results of your shots in real time. It\u2019s available on Galaxy Z Fold phones and takes advantage of the extra screen space available when they are unfolded. The right side of your screen runs the same minimized camera app you\u2019d use when the phone is folded. The left side shows all the photos you\u2019ve captured in a given session, allowing you to swipe through them without leaving the viewfinder.<\/p>\n

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Google offers a similar feature, but it\u2019s only available on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold \u2014 earlier Google foldables are puzzlingly incompatible. Samsung brought Capture View to every Galaxy Z Fold model running One UI 8 or later, which is great to see.<\/p>\n

Dual Preview is available on both Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold models, and it\u2019s very straightforward. This shooting mode displays a live viewfinder on both the main and cover screens. You\u2019d want to use this mode when taking selfies with the primary camera system, or to give both a photographer and the subject a way to monitor the viewfinder. This simple feature lets me take 200MP selfies with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, providing detail and sharpness a traditional phone\u2019s selfie camera could never match.<\/p>\n

One UI offers robust app multitasking modes, including split-screen view and pop-up view. I love using the Galaxy Z Fold 7\u2019s main display to run two apps side-by-side. Due to the phone\u2019s almost-square aspect ratio when unfolded, it\u2019s like having full-size apps on two traditional smartphones next to each other. Samsung makes this really easy on Galaxy Z Fold models, as they\u2019re equipped with the One UI Taskbar to make app switching and multitasking simple.<\/p>\n

One UI 8 also supports Android 16\u2019s new 90:10 multitasking view that lets you seamlessly juggle between two full-size apps. It\u2019s not quite as good as the OnePlus Open\u2019s Open Canvas, which supports more than two apps, but it\u2019s close. This works on both the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip lines, and it\u2019s arguably better on the smaller screen.<\/p>\n

Galaxy Z Flip models don\u2019t have the Taskbar due to the smaller screen, unless you use Samsung DeX with an external display. Don\u2019t fret, because One UI has a solution to that too. In the Settings app, navigate to \u201cAdvanced features\u201d and tap \u201cMulti window.\u201d Flip the toggle beside \u201cSwipe for split screen,\u201d and you\u2019ll be able to swipe up with two fingers from the bottom of the screen to start multitasking from anywhere.<\/p>\n

One UI is all about customization, and the operating system crucially gives you the choice of what happens when you shut your foldable with an open app. You can force apps to always or never automatically open on the cover screen. The better option is splitting the middle with the \u201cSwipe up to continue app\u201d option. This gives you the choice to swipe up on the cover screen immediately after folding to continue using an app. Or, you can do nothing, and the foldable will lock in a few seconds as normal.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s certainly a first-world problem, but it can be frustrating to move from the folding display to the cover screen and re-unlock your device each time. This toggle helps avoid that hassle, and you can find it in the Settings app under \u201cDisplay\u201d and \u201cContinue apps on cover screen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Foldable phones have the potential to deliver new experiences and enhance productivity, but they need great software to realize that potential. Hardware is only the beginning, and it\u2019s why foldable phones are a joy to use for hobbies like photography despite lacking the most impressive specs. Samsung\u2019s One UI 8 offers just about everything I could want from foldable software, and it\u2019s part of the reason the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is arguably the best folding phone on the market in North America.<\/p>\n

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