Last updated: July 21st, 2026 at 00:46 UTC+02:00
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The fourth beta version of the new software adds a message to the power menu informing users that the device has been locked.
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Abhijeet Mishra / SamMobile
Samsung’s latest Android skin for Galaxy smartphones, One UI 9.0 (Android 17), introduces several changes and improvements. One of them is the removal of the Lockdown Mode from the power menu, which previously locked the phone and disabled biometric authentication, requiring you to enter your PIN, pattern, or password to unlock it.
Despite removing the option, the brand has actually strengthened security. One UI 9.0 now automatically locks the phone and disables biometric authentication as soon as you open the power menu, eliminating the need to manually enable Lockdown Mode. However, this behavior wasn't immediately obvious. The company has now addressed that.
Last week, Samsung released the fourth beta version of One UI 9.0 for the Galaxy S26 series. The update adds a message to the power menu that reads “For your security, your phone is locked“(via Tarun Vats). It makes the new security behavior much more obvious.
Just like before, once you exit the power menu, the biometric unlock options will be disabled, and you will have to enter the PIN, pattern, or password to unlock the device. The brand is expected to debut the stable version of the new software tomorrow with its next flagship foldable phones.
First Samsung device: Galaxy S II
I’m a computer science engineer living in Hyderabad, India, who has a keen interest in automobiles and consumer electronics. My journalism career kicked off in 2017 with MySmartPrice where I wrote news, features, buying guides, and explanatory articles about technology among other things, and reviewed many products, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, PC components, smartwatches, audio devices, wearables, and smart home products. Since then, I have worked for 91Mobiles, Apple, and Onsitego, before finally landing on SamMobile.
