One UI 8.5 is one of the most interesting updates for Samsung Galaxy in several years. After installation, many people simply continue using their phone as before. But this update introduced useful features that are disabled by default or configured suboptimally.
What's Wrong with the Default Settings
After the update, the system reverts to factory defaults in several key areas:
— the notification shade is cluttered with rarely needed toggles;
— hiding photos is still only possible through the cumbersome Secure Folder;
— the camera viewfinder is filled with unnecessary icons;
— new AI wallpapers in Creative Studio need to be launched manually.
Four Settings Worth Changing
1. Configure the quick settings shade. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap the pencil icon. Drag the toggles you need, remove unnecessary ones with the minus button. Some buttons can be made wider or narrower. Want more flexibility? Install the QuickStar module from Galaxy Store (part of Good Lock). In its advanced settings, enable Resize panel items to remove button size restrictions.
2. Enable Private Album in Gallery. Previously, hiding a photo meant moving it to Secure Folder, after which it disappeared from Gallery. Now it's easier: long-press the photos you want, tap More (three dots) → Move to private album. Files disappear from the main feed but stay in Gallery — access requires fingerprint or password. To open: Gallery menu → Private Album.
3. Remove unnecessary indicators from the camera. A row of icons accumulates above the viewfinder, most of which are rarely needed. Install Camera Assistant from the Plugins tab in Good Lock. Open the app, scroll down, tap Customize indicators and disable the ones you don't need — they'll disappear from the screen immediately. Settings for photo and video are separate.
4. Create AI wallpaper based on your own photo. In the updated Creative Studio, you can create AI wallpaper not only from a text description, but also based on your own photo — the result looks more personal. Open Creative Studio, select Create wallpaper and upload a photo. The system will suggest several styling options.
Conclusion
Each of these changes takes a couple of minutes, and together they noticeably improve how the phone works. One UI 8.5 made Samsung more flexible — the key is knowing where to tap.
If your phone started lagging, draining quickly, overheating, or experiencing other issues after the update — come for a free diagnostic at iClub.pro. We'll figure it out in 15–20 minutes and tell you what's causing it.