One UI 8 adds two new options to Now Bar

Now Bar, which was one of the main attractions of One UI 7, has received some improvements with the recently released One UI 8 update. It now shows ongoing activities from two additional stock apps. However, the biggest improvement could be its integration with Android 16's Live Updates feature.

On devices running One UI 8, the Now Bar can show ongoing activities from two more apps: Modes and Routines and Samsung Phone. As you can see in the images below, the active Mode is displayed in the Now Bar on the lock screen. Tapping the Now Bar opens up the list of Modes that you can activate.

It also displays ongoing voice calls made using the Samsung Phone app. When you place a call and if the callee hasn't answered it yet, the Now Bar displays the calling status. When they answer the call, its call duration is displayed in the Now Bar, along with the name of the callee.

Besides these two integrations, more third-party support will come to devices running One UI 8.0. As we reported earlier, Samsung has brought integration of Android 16's Live Updates feature into the Now Bar, which means live activities from third-party apps can also be displayed in the Now Bar.

Google said during the Google I/O 2025 developer keynote event that food delivery, navigation, and ride hailing apps will be supported by Live Updates, and Uber Eats is one of the first third-party apps that will implement the feature. Such live updates will also be displayed in the Now Bar. Google plans to support more types of apps for Live Updates in the future.