Samsung is reportedly finally set to introduce a long-requested feature by Galaxy users: a native App Lock, integrated directly into One UI 9.5, to lock access to individual apps without having to resort to third-party apps. The discovery comes from a leak of the One UI 9.5 firmware version, identified on a Galaxy S26.
How the One UI 9.5 App Lock would work
The discovery comes from insider Fahad Ali Javed, who identified the One UI 9.5 firmware for Galaxy S26, installed it on his flagship and began exploring for new features.
As of now there are no official confirmations from Samsung, and as with any such rumor we recommend taking the information with due caution until an official announcement.
According to reports, to activate the lock on a specific app you simply need to long-press the app or game icon you want to protect and tap the lock icon that appears in the top-right corner of the contextual menu.
Once activated, to reopen the locked app you will need to unlock the device with the same method already set for screen unlocking (fingerprint, face, or PIN), without the need to configure a separate password dedicated solely to that application.
It’s a simple approach: no extra passwords to remember, no third-party apps to install, the security of the single app relies directly on the unlocking system you already use every day to access your phone.
Which devices it will arrive on, and when
The rollout would not be simultaneous across the Galaxy lineup, but should start first with the upcoming S27 family models, then appear on other flagships and on older devices:
- Galaxy S27: the first lineup to receive the feature, with a launch expected for early 2027
- Galaxy S26, Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8: at a later time
- Older, lower-end devices: to follow, in a progressive rollout
This means that, even if One UI 9.5 arrives first on some devices, the App Lock feature might not be available right away on all models compatible with the update, but would follow a separate rollout schedule.
A feature awaited for two generations
It’s not the first time this has been discussed: the same feature had already been deemed certain with One UI 7.0 as well as with One UI 9.0, only to never actually arrive on devices.
These precedents are a good reason to stay cautious: even this time it’s a firmware leak, not an official Samsung announcement, and nothing rules out that the feature could still change shape or slip further before the actual release.
If the feature does arrive with One UI 9.5, it would fill a gap Galaxy users have long reported, and would spare having to install third-party apps, often invasive in the permissions requested, just to block access to a specific app. We’ll keep you updated as soon as more solid confirmations arrive, perhaps from the first public betas of One UI 9.5.
