Samsung One UI 7 replace fixes and ruins lock display screen notifications

Notifications are a key a part of any system, they usually can actually make or break an expertise. With its One UI 7 replace that debuted on the Galaxy S25 Extremely this week, Samsung has determined to regulate lock display screen notifications in a manner that makes them successfully ineffective.

Android has, for years, proven notifications on the lock display screen with full-size notifications that seem within the heart of the display screen and could be simply interacted with. iOS works equally, even when Apple’s tackle notifications is usually thought of inferior to Android’s. However that’s not what Samsung usually does. Somewhat, Samsung has lengthy simply confirmed a bunch of icons underneath the clock to indicate that you’ve notifications, however solely exhibits these notifications if you faucet on the icons.

With One UI 7, Samsung is attempting one thing new with notifications, but it surely’s a practical step under each Android’s default and Apple’s implementations by default.

By default in One UI 7, Samsung units lock display screen notifications to “icons” solely. The total-size notifications are hidden, with the one indication of any notifications being within the high nook the place tiny icons are proven. We seen this on our Galaxy S25 Extremely evaluate unit which was restored from a Galaxy Z Fold 6 that had commonplace lock display screen notifications (pictured right here). Will Sattelberg of Android Police famous the identical conduct on his system which was arrange from scratch, and we additionally confirmed this occurs on the Galaxy S24 Extremely when it’s working the One UI 7 beta.

The excellent news right here is that “playing cards” truly permits Samsung customers to see their notifications as they will on another Android cellphone. The dangerous information is that the default setting is considerably worse than Samsung’s earlier selection, because it’s tougher to see.

Altering this isn’t too troublesome, but it surely’s not one thing that customers will simply discover. Beneath Settings > Notifications > Lock display screen notifications you possibly can change the “icons” setting to “playing cards” to revive the usual design of lock display screen notifications. This will’t be modified from the lock display screen itself, nor the “Lock display screen and AOD” part of the Settings menu.

The reasoning for that is unclear, however might have one thing to do with Samsung’s new lock display screen options such because the “Now Bar” or the refreshed customization choices similar to higher widgets. In any case, it’s a jarring change that instantly results in lacking notifications, as we shortly skilled upon beginning to use the Galaxy S25 Extremely. Since this is applicable to updates, it’s positive to be an annoying change for customers when One UI 7 begins rolling out to older units.

The Galaxy S25 sequence is now out there for pre-order from Samsung.com, with as much as $1,200 in financial savings, plus an extra $50 off if you click on on our hyperlinks and order inside half-hour.

Extra on Samsung:

Comply with Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram