These are my 5 favorite One UI tricks for Samsung foldables

I’ve used Samsung foldables for the past half decade, including both the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold models. The hardware hasn’t always been in perfect condition – 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protector cracked along the crease in less than a year, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 I replaced it with quickly became outdated. Recently Samsung has stepped up its hardware prowess with the impressive Galaxy Z Fold 7 and, to a lesser extent, the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Meanwhile, the One UI software and its optimization for the foldable form factor has never disappointed me.

Samsung’s One UI software has long been trying to go above basic Android features, sometimes to its detriment. However, the added utility really helps you get the most out of the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold phones. From app and operating system behavior determined by folding state to convenient Flex Mode controls, there are many One UI customization features made just for foldables.

One UI has a robust automation suite under the “Modes and Routines” page in the Settings app, and foldable users can create routines based on when they open or close their phones. Samsung foldables know whether their folding display is currently open, closed, or partially folded. You can leverage this information to initiate custom routines based on the phone’s folded state. For example, a routine can automatically enable auto-rotate when the phone is opened and rotation lock when the device is turned off.

This is especially helpful for using One UI with foldable phones, as the cover screen and folding display are each used for different functions. Let’s say you have a Galaxy Z Fold 7 and use it as a digital calendar or to-do list on your desk. You can create a custom routine that extends the screen timeout period to just 10 minutes when the foldable is opened, so the screen doesn’t go dark when you’re at your desk. When the phone is turned off, the screen timeout period may be shorter. Similarly, it is possible to create routines that specify a unique font style, font size, and screen zoom profile for opening or closing a foldable.

The possibilities are almost endless. To try it yourself, open the Settings app on your foldable and find the “Modes & Routines” page. Go to the “Routines” tab and press the “+” icon to create a new routine. Select “Folding Status” as the trigger for the routine and any action as the “then” statement for the routine. When you’re done, the routine you created will automatically take effect based on the hinge position of your foldable.

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 in my experience none match the usefulness of Flex Mode. Flex mode is simply a user interface that allows you to use your phone seamlessly like a laptop when it’s half open on a flat surface. I use it for watching videos, reading articles, and anything else that involves placing a flip phone or 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 to the situation.

Flex mode is available when the hinge of your foldable phone is opened between 75 degrees and 115 degrees. It’s built into One UI, so you don’t need the individual apps you’re using to support it. Depending on the open app, turning your smartphone approximately 90 degrees will either automatically launch Flex Mode or display a Flex Mode button on the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Most foldable users will activate Flex Mode for convenient on-screen controls for media playback. The user interface includes a timeline scrubber, playback controls, and forward or backward skip buttons on the bottom half of the screen. The top half is reserved exclusively for your content. I only watch videos in flex mode on my foldables – it’s great to have a built-in stand, and standard widescreen videos fit almost perfectly in the top half of the screen.

That’s not all Flex Mode can do. It offers a virtual touchpad that can be used to control the top of the screen with the cursor. Additionally, Flex Mode provides helpful shortcuts for taking screenshots, adjusting volume, changing brightness, or viewing notifications. You can use apps in One UI’s multi window mode while in Flex mode, effectively turning your foldable into a mini laptop.

It sounds amazing, but I would take a foldable over every other type of smartphone for mobile photography. Folding phones may not always sport the biggest or latest camera sensors, but they do have built-in kickstands and dual displays. Those hardware features and the One UI software combine to create an excellent camera experience. Simply fold your phone in half, and you’ll have a stand to place the device’s camera sensor anywhere you want. This activates Flex mode, moving the viewfinder to the top of the screen and freeing up the bottom for controls.

There are so many useful One UI camera features for foldables that it’s hard 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 is available on Galaxy Z Fold phones and takes advantage of the extra screen space available when they are opened up. The same minimal camera app runs on the right side of your screen that you use when you turn the phone. The left side shows all the photos you’ve captured in a given session, so you can swipe through them without leaving the viewfinder.

Google offers a similar feature, but it’s only available on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold — earlier Google foldables are surprisingly inconsistent. Samsung brought Capture View to every Galaxy Z Fold model running One UI 8 or later, which is great to see.

Dual Preview is available on both the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold models, and it’s pretty straightforward. This shooting mode displays a live viewfinder on both the main and cover screens. You may want to use this mode when taking selfies with the primary camera system, or to give both the photographer and subject a way to monitor the viewfinder. This simple feature lets me take 200MP selfies with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, delivering detail and sharpness that a traditional phone’s selfie camera can never match.

One UI offers robust app multitasking modes, including split-screen view and pop-up view. I like to use the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s main display to run two apps simultaneously. Because of the phone’s almost square aspect ratio when unfolded, it’s like placing full-sized apps next to each other on two traditional smartphones. Samsung makes this really easy on the Galaxy Z Fold models, as they come equipped with the One UI taskbar to simplify app switching and multitasking.

The Galaxy Z Flip models do not have a taskbar due to the smaller screen, unless you use Samsung DeX with an external display. Don’t worry, because One UI has a solution for this too. In the Settings app, go to “Advanced features” and tap “Multi Window.” Flip the toggle next to “Swipe up to split screen” and you’ll be able to swipe up with two fingers from the bottom of the screen to start multitasking from anywhere.

One UI is all about customization, and the operating system importantly gives you the option of what happens when you close your foldable with an open app. You can force apps to always or never open automatically on the cover screen. A better option is to split the middle with a “Swipe up to continue app” option. This gives you the option to swipe up on the cover screen immediately after folding to continue using the app. Or, you can do nothing, and the foldable will lock normally within a few seconds.

This is definitely a first-world problem, but going from a folding display to a cover screen and having to re-unlock your device every time can be frustrating. This toggle helps avoid that hassle, and you can find it in the Settings app, under “Display” and “Continue apps on cover screen.”

Software makes or breaks the foldable experience

Folding phones have the potential to deliver new experiences and increase productivity, but to realize that potential they need great software. The hardware is just the beginning, and that’s why foldable phones are a joy to use for hobbies like photography, despite lacking the most impressive specifications. Samsung’s One UI 8 offers almost everything I want from foldable software, and that’s why the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is arguably the best folding phone on the North American market.