Galaxy Z Fold 7 & Flip 7 Receive Major DeX Upgrades in One UI 8

Samsung’s latest One UI 8 firmware is rolling out to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 devices, bringing a suite of new features and usability fixes focused on Samsung DeX, the Now Bar, and overall system polish. These enhancements aim to address long-standing user requests while smoothing out the desktop-like experience on foldables and external displays. Below is what you need to know.

What’s New in DeX & One UI 8 for Fold 7 / Flip 7

• Home Screen Widgets in DeX: You can now place widgets like calendars, clocks, or even decorative image galleries directly on the DeX desktop or when using a connected display.
• App Pinning to Taskbar: Any app can be pinned to the taskbar for quick access. Especially useful for multitasking between communication, productivity, and entertainment apps.
• Dedicated Full-Screen Button: Instead of hunting through menus, there's now a visible full-screen toggle in the app header to maximize and restore windows.
• Keyboard & Input Customisation: Under Settings → Connected devices → Samsung DeX, you can adjust when and where the on-screen keyboard appears. This gives better control for different workflows.

Upgrades to Now Bar & Media Controls

• Google Finance Integration in Now Bar: Track stocks you follow and see alerts for significant price changes at the end of the trading day directly in the Now Bar — no need to open a separate app.
• New Media Controls in Now Brief: The update adds “Next” & “Previous” buttons for skipping tracks during read-aloud playback. Existing play/pause and close buttons remain.

Why These Updates Matter

With One UI 8, Samsung has rebuilt DeX on top of Android’s native Desktop Mode. That means improvements such as these can carry over more rapidly and align more closely with what Google builds for desktop-style workflows.

For users of Fold 7 and Flip 7, these changes reduce friction. Widgets provide at-a-glance info, the taskbar pinning ensures favourite apps are more accessible, and full-screen and keyboard enhancements help in both portability mode and when hooked up to external displays.

Current Limitations & What’s Still Missing

Though the update adds many things, a few features from classic DeX are still missing or have reduced flexibility. Users have noted:

• No auto-hide option for the taskbar yet in some regions.
• Bluetooth headset controls do not yet trigger the new Next/Previous buttons in Now Brief.
• Some taskbar visibility and keyboard behaviour settings remain less configurable than before.

How to Get the Update & What to Do Next

If you own a Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Z Flip 7, you can check for the One UI 8 update by going to Settings → Software update → Download and install.

Once updated, explore DeX settings under Connected Devices, customise taskbar pinning, try out widget placements, and test the media control enhancements. Your feedback helps; Samsung is actively patching and refining based on what users report.

Conclusion

The One UI 8 update elevates Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 devices closer to a true desktop experience. With home screen widgets, streamlined full-screen tools, better keyboard control, Google Finance alerts, and improved media controls in Now Brief, Samsung listens to the DeX community. Though there are still gaps versus the classic DeX, the trajectory is clear: one more integrated, powerful productivity mode for foldables and display-connected use.