Updated
Updated · Android Authority · Jul 15
Samsung Adds 1 Toggle to One UI 9 Beta 4 Power Menu Lockdown
Updated
Updated · Android Authority · Jul 15

Samsung Adds 1 Toggle to One UI 9 Beta 4 Power Menu Lockdown

3 articles · Updated · Android Authority · Jul 15

Summary

  • One UI 9 beta 4 adds a new “Secure lock with Power button” setting that lets Galaxy S26 users decide whether the Quick Settings power shortcut triggers Lockdown mode.
  • By default, that Quick Settings shortcut no longer auto-locks the phone; exiting the power menu now returns users to their last app instead of forcing the lock screen.
  • Turning the setting back on restores the earlier behavior from beta 2 and beta 3, where opening the power menu disabled biometric unlock until a PIN, password, or pattern is entered.
  • The physical side button still always invokes Lockdown mode when set to open the power menu, so the new control applies only to the Quick Settings shortcut.
  • Samsung appears to be making Lockdown more flexible ahead of One UI 9’s stable release, though the beta feature could still change before launch.

Insights

Has Samsung's UI update weakened user security by prioritizing convenience for its powerful Lockdown mode?
How does Samsung's custom security on the S26 challenge Google's own vision for the new Android 17?
Is Samsung's Knox Vault creating a security fortress that makes the underlying Android OS almost irrelevant?