Samsung Halts Global Rollout of One UI 7 Due to Serious Bug

Samsung Pauses One UI 7 Rollout After Bug Locks Users Out of Phones

Samantha Kelly is a freelance writer with a focus on consumer technology, AI, social media, Big Tech, emerging trends and how they impact our everyday lives. Her work has been featured on CNN, NBC, NPR, the BBC, Mashable and more. Samsung has paused the global rollout of its AI-driven One UI interface after a bug prevented some users from unlocking their phones. The pause, flagged earlier by frequent Samsung leaker Ice Universe, appears to have affected Samsung Galaxy S24 models receiving the update in South Korea. Users who upgraded to One UI 7 (aka Android 15) reported repeated issues unlocking their phones. The company has since pulled the update across all Galaxy models and regions, likely as a precautionary measure. Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for further comment. Samsung began rolling out the One UI 7 update to Galaxy phones and tablets on April 7, starting with the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. Other devices were expected to follow soon. One UI 7 introduces a redesigned interface built around AI, offering users more personalization and control. The software uses artificial intelligence to help edit videos, write messages, and suggest places to go for dinner. The move comes as tech companies race to embed more AI features into mobile devices, turning them into smarter personal assistants that can help complete everyday tasks.

Samsung Halts One UI 7 Rollout for Users Worldwide Over 'Serious Bug'

The OS update, which brings Android 15 and some new AI features, began rolling out to compatible devices in the US on April 10. But as leaker Ice Universe reports, a "serious bug" was discovered after the Korean Galaxy S24 series firmware was released, leading "to the suspension of the push plan in all other countries, including China." Users of some Galaxy S24 series devices in South Korea couldn't unlock their phones after installing the update, according to Sam Mobile. Based on complaints shared in Samsung's forum, the issue seems limited to phones running Exynos chips. Samsung didn't confirm the bug but said that the software's updated timing and availability will be shared shortly. "The One UI 7 rollout schedule is being updated to ensure the best possible experience," Samsung tells CNET. One UI 7 is a customized version of Google's Android 15 interface. Samsung's redesign can be spotted on the lock screen, home screen, notifications, widgets, the camera app, and more. The software also bolsters Galaxy AI with features such as call transcripts and a writing assistant. The public beta of the software was made available in December. The stable version began rolling out to most regions on April 7, before rolling out to the US three days later. According to The Verge, One UI 7 will be compatible with the Galaxy S24 series, the Fold 6, the Flip 6, the S23 series, the S24 FE and S23 FE, the Fold 5 and Flip 5, and the Tab S10 and Tab S9 lines. Newer devices such as the flagship Galaxy S25 series and the more affordable Galaxy A26, A36, and A56 come with the One UI 7 out of the box. Google rolled out Android 15 to Pixel phones in October. Samsung users, who have been waiting for the update for months, have expressed their frustration on social media. "At this point they should just cancel this and go straight to 8/Android 16," writes a user on Reddit. "Imagine delaying an update for 6 months and it's still broken when it releases. How is this even possible," writes another.

Samsung reportedly pauses global rollout of One UI 7 -- what you need to know

Several sources have indicated that Samsung is halting the international release of One UI 7. Samsung's Android 15-based update originally launched with the Samsung Galaxy S25 series. However, older model phones were expected to receive the update around April 7, 2025. Yet, in a post on social media, well-known leaker IceUniverse stated that a bug was discovered in the Korean Galaxy S24 framework, leading to the rollout being paused. IceUniverse's post was seemingly confirmed by discussions appearing on the Samsung Galaxy Community board. These posts all state that the update has been dropped for the time being. This isn't the first time we've heard of the update being delayed, with several sources indicating that the release for the Galaxy S24 models with the Exynos 2400 chip had been paused. These included a post from tipster Tauren Vats, who stated that Samsung had even removed the firmware from its OTA servers. However, it seems that the delay will affect models running Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 as well. This means that users with the Galaxy S24 series, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 might have to wait to upgrade their phones. One concern some users have is whether this will affect the eventual rollout to models like the Galaxy S23. While some of these older phones have gained access to the beta for One UI 7, there is no set release date. As such, it is possible this delay could push it back even further. For all that, OneUI 7 is well worth it when it releases, as it brings some great new features to Samsung phones. For instance, the update adds the new Now Bar feature to phones, alongside a simplified homescreen and redesigned widgets. The biggest inclusion, however, is several AI updates that were hitherto exclusive to the flagship Galaxy S25 series. For instance, One UI 7 includes Writing Assist, which lets you summarize or format the contents of text, Drawing Assist lets you instantly generate images based on text or your sketches and Audio Eraser. For the time being, we'll have to wait and see what the end result is. Tom's Guide has contacted Samsung for comment regarding the issue and we'll update this article as and when we receive a response.