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Freedom251 › Blog › Android Tips

How to Find and Enable Samsung Galaxy Features You May Have Overlooked

By Freedom251 Team · · 4 min read

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To find a setting on a Samsung Galaxy phone, open Settings and use its search control. To discover features added with an update, check your One UI version and the phone’s built-in help. Menus and capabilities vary by model, region and software version, so confirm that a feature is available on your device before following steps.

Find a setting with Settings search

Settings search is the quickest starting point when you know what you want to change but not where Samsung placed the control. Open Settings, tap the search control and enter a task or a likely term. Samsung’s One UI 8 guide uses “Wi-Fi” and “wallpaper” as examples. Open a relevant result and check nearby options for related controls.

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Searching by the outcome you want can help when you do not know a feature’s name. Try terms such as notification privacy, quick access, screen search or personalization. Results and labels can differ by software version.

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Check your One UI version and look for new features

  1. Find the installed version: Open Settings > About phone > Software information. Samsung’s One UI 7 guide gives this path for checking the software version.
  2. Check for an update, if appropriate: Look under Settings > Software update or System updates, then tap Download and install. The exact label and update availability depend on the device, model and carrier; Samsung notes that delivery timing can vary.
  3. Open the phone’s help: In Settings, look for a section named User manual, Tips and user manual, Help, Tips and user guide or Tips and help. Labels vary.
  4. Check “What’s new”: Look in the help or manual for information about changes associated with the installed update. This is a practical way to find release-specific features without assuming your phone received every feature shown in a general list.

Samsung’s update instructions and help labels are documented for One UI 7, so a different version may use a different route. Samsung’s One UI 7 support guide describes the version, update and help paths.

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Try screen-aware search and selection

Some useful Galaxy features are launched from what is already on screen, rather than from a Settings toggle. Samsung documents Circle to Search and AI Select in its One UI 8 guide. Availability and the exact way to open them depend on the device and its software.

Circle to Search

On a supported device, touch and hold the Home icon, then circle or tap an object on screen to search for it. The navigation setup and feature availability may affect what you see.

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AI Select

On a supported device, open the Edge panel and choose AI Select. Draw around part of the screen or tap an object; the actions offered depend on the selected content. If the option is absent, do not assume it can be enabled on every Galaxy model.

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Samsung’s One UI 8 guide provides the feature details and version context: One UI 8 features and guidance.

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Review notification controls with privacy in mind

Samsung’s One UI 8 guide describes notification pop-up style choices and per-app controls for showing notification content on the lock screen. Search Settings for “notifications” or the relevant app, then review the available controls on your phone. Showing message content on a locked screen can expose it to people nearby; hide sensitive content if that matters to you.

Use Good Lock for optional customization

Good Lock is an optional Samsung app for customizing parts of the interface. To explore it, open Galaxy Store, search for Good Lock, install and open the app, then browse its available modules. Samsung says modules can be downloaded or updated through Good Lock.

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Module Customization area described by Samsung
QuickStar Status bar and Quick panel
LockStar Lock screen and Always On Display
NavStar Navigation
Theme Park Themes
Home Up Home screen layouts and related controls

These are examples, not a promise that every module will appear on every phone. Samsung says availability varies by device and software version. Its Good Lock guide, dated November 25, 2025, covers installation and example modules.

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Check Finder only on compatible newer software

For Galaxy phones running One UI 8.5 or higher, Samsung documents a Home Finder entry point that is disabled by default. To show it, open Home screen settings and enable Show Finder on Home screen. Samsung’s guide says One UI 9 or higher adds a Show search on Home screen step. These instructions apply to the specified newer software, not all Galaxy phones.

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Samsung also describes Finder settings and the content it can search. Consult its Finder support guide for the version-specific instructions.

Which discovery route should you use?

Route Best for What to keep in mind
Settings search Finding a control you want to change Built into Settings; search terms and results can vary by software version.
Phone help and “What’s new” Learning about features associated with an update Built into the phone on supported devices; help labels vary.
Circle to Search or AI Select Searching or selecting visible screen content Contextual tools documented for One UI 8; availability and entry points vary.
Good Lock Customizing supported interface areas Requires installing an app from Galaxy Store; available modules vary by device and software.
Home Finder Adding a search entry point to the Home screen Samsung’s instructions cover One UI 8.5 or higher, with an extra step on One UI 9 or higher.

For any feature you find, check its device and software requirements before changing settings or looking for a missing control. Samsung’s guides describe particular One UI generations and regional support pages; they do not establish that every feature is available on every Galaxy phone.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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Android TipsGood LockOne UISamsung GalaxySamsung settings

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