For many, Samsung’s One UI is simply the software that runs their Galaxy phone. They might change the wallpaper, rearrange some icons, and call it a day. But to do so is to miss the forest for the trees. One UI is not merely a “skin” on top of Android; it’s one of the most powerful, feature-dense, and deeply customizable operating systems in the mobile world. It’s packed with tools designed to enhance productivity, streamline your workflow, and tailor your phone to your exact preferences.
To use your Samsung phone like a pro means to go beyond the surface and unlock this hidden potential. It’s about transforming your device from a simple communication tool into a personalized powerhouse. This guide will walk you through the essential pro-level features of One UI, turning you from a casual user into a Galaxy master.
1. Master Multitasking with Edge Panels and Split Screen
A pro user doesn’t just use one app at a time. Samsung has the most robust multitasking system on any smartphone, and it all starts with the Edge Panel.
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Activate and Customize Edge Panels: Go to Settings > Display > Edge panels and turn it on. This creates a small, subtle handle on the edge of your screen. Swipe it to reveal a panel of your favorite apps. But don’t stop there. Tap the settings icon to add more panels: a weather panel, a tools panel (with a ruler and compass), or even a clipboard panel that saves a history of your copied text and images.
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Create App Pairs: The ultimate pro move. Open two apps in split-screen view (from the Recents screen, tap the app icon and select “Open in split screen view”). Once they’re arranged how you like, tap the small blue bar between them. You’ll see an icon with a plus sign. Tap this to save the combination as a single “App Pair” on your Edge Panel. Now, you can launch both apps in your preferred layout with a single tap—perfect for having YouTube open while browsing a website, or Maps and Spotify running side-by-side.
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Use Pop-up View: From the Recents screen or by dragging from a corner, you can open an app in a floating window. You can resize it, change its transparency, and minimize it to a floating icon, keeping it ready for when you need it.
2. Automate Your Life with Modes and Routines
This is arguably the most powerful feature in One UI and the one that truly separates the pros from the amateurs. Modes and Routines is a built-in IFTTT (If This, Then That) engine for your phone.
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How it Works: Go to Settings > Modes and Routines. A “Mode” is a collection of settings for a specific activity (Work, Sleep, Driving). A “Routine” is a specific trigger that causes a specific action (If I connect to my car’s Bluetooth, Then open Google Maps and start my driving playlist).
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Pro-Level Examples to Set Up:
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Work Mode: Triggered by your work location’s Wi-Fi or a specific time. Actions: Mute social media notifications, turn on Wi-Fi, open Outlook and Slack, set the phone to vibrate.
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Driving Routine: If connected to car Bluetooth, Then: Launch Waze, read notifications aloud, and automatically reply with “I’m driving, I’ll get back to you soon.”
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Low Battery Routine: If battery level drops below 20%, Then: Turn on Power saving mode, lower screen brightness, and turn off Always On Display.
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Gaming Routine: If a specific game app is opened, Then: Turn on Do Not Disturb, optimize performance with Game Booster, and maximize screen brightness.
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3. Unleash the Power of Good Lock (The Ultimate Customization)
If One UI is a workshop, Good Lock is the key to the master tool chest. Available from the Galaxy Store, Good Lock is a suite of official Samsung apps that let you customize nearly every aspect of your phone’s interface.
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Theme Park: Don’t just rely on the built-in themes. Theme Park lets you create your own theme based on the colors of your wallpaper, allowing you to customize the Quick Panel, keyboard, icons, and more.
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One Hand Operation+: This is a game-changer. It adds customizable gesture handles to the left and right sides of your screen. You can set a short diagonal swipe up to take a screenshot, a long straight swipe to open the notification shade, or a swipe down to act as a back button. It makes navigating a large phone with one hand a breeze.
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NavStar & LockStar: Want to change the navigation bar icons or add more shortcuts to your lock screen? These modules give you granular control over elements that are normally locked down.
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RegiStar: A power-user favorite. This module lets you customize the Settings menu, change what a long-press of the side key does, and even enable “Tap back,” allowing you to double-tap or triple-tap the back of your phone to launch an app or take a screenshot.
4. Pro Camera and Gallery Tricks
Your Galaxy phone has one of the best cameras on the market, but the pros know how to push it further.
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Shoot in Expert RAW: Download the Expert RAW app from the Galaxy Store. This mode captures immense amounts of image data, giving you incredible flexibility to edit exposure, color, and detail in post-processing with apps like Adobe Lightroom.
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Master the Gallery’s AI Editor: The built-in photo editor is more powerful than you think. Long-press on an object or person in a photo to lift it from the background and save it as a sticker. Use the “Object Eraser” to remove unwanted people or shadows from a shot. The “Photo Remaster” tool can instantly improve the brightness, color, and sharpness of an old or blurry photo.
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Customize Pro Mode: In the camera’s Pro Mode, you can save your custom settings for ISO, shutter speed, and white balance. If you often shoot in a specific low-light condition, create a preset for it for quick access.
5. S Pen Sorcery (For Ultra, Fold, and Note Users)
If your device has an S Pen, you’re only scratching the surface by using it to jot down notes.
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Screen Off Memo: The moment you eject the S Pen with the screen off, you can start writing. It’s the fastest way to capture a thought.
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Smart Select & Pin to Screen: Use Smart Select to draw a box around anything on your screen—a phone number, an address, a picture—and instantly extract the text or save the image. The pro move is to “Pin to screen,” which creates a floating window of your selection that stays on top of all other apps. It’s perfect for referencing information while filling out a form.
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Air Actions: Use the S Pen as a magic wand. Configure it to control the camera shutter, swipe through gallery photos, or control media playback with a flick of your wrist, all without touching the screen.
Becoming a One UI pro isn’t about learning one single trick. It’s about adopting a mindset of exploration and understanding that the software is designed to adapt to you, not the other way around. Dive into the settings, experiment with Routines, and download Good Lock. You’ll discover a phone that is uniquely, powerfully, and professionally yours.