Samsung rolls out One UI 9 beta on S26

Samsung said on May 13 that it had opened the One UI 9 beta for Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra users, marking the company’s first public test of its Android 17-based software. The beta is available through the Samsung Members app in selected countries, according to Samsung Newsroom posts published in the United States, Britain, India and other markets. Samsung said the software adds new creative tools, more customization options, accessibility changes and new security protections. The company also said the full One UI 9 release will debut on upcoming Galaxy flagship devices later this year. ### Which phones can join the beta right now? The Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra are the first devices in the program, Samsung said in its announcement. Samsung’s global newsroom said the beta is available to Galaxy S26 series users in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States starting this week. Samsung Developers lists the same six countries for the One UI Beta Program. Users can enroll through Samsung Members, where Samsung handles registration, software downloads and feedback collection. ### Was this a staggered rollout or a single launch? May 13 is the date Samsung attached to its official One UI 9 beta announcement. Samsung’s own regional posts say the program begins “this week” in the listed markets, while community posts and third-party reports described Germany, the U.K., Korea and the U.S. as the first wave, with India and Poland following days later. Samsung’s official materials do not spell out a first-wave and second-wave timetable in the same detail. They do show that India and Poland were included in the company’s published availability list by the time the global and regional newsroom posts were live. ### What is Samsung saying is new in One UI 9? Samsung said One UI 9 is built on Android 17 and includes expanded creative tools, more personalization and accessibility updates. The company said the beta adds support for more tailored user controls and changes aimed at making the interface easier to use. Security is one of the areas Samsung described in more detail. Samsung said One UI 9 can warn users when new high-risk apps are detected, block execution and installation, and recommend deletion through security policy updates. ### How does this fit into the broader Android 17 rollout? Android 17 had been most visible through Google’s Pixel beta track before other manufacturers began outlining their own plans. Samsung’s public beta puts one of the largest Android phone makers into the Android 17 testing cycle with shipping consumer hardware rather than developer previews alone. YTECHB and Sammy Fans both reported in May that Samsung had moved from internal testing to a live beta on the Galaxy S26 line. Samsung’s own announcement confirmed the public phase and tied it directly to Android 17. ### Where do users actually sign up? Samsung Members is the sign-up point for eligible users, Samsung said. The company directs Galaxy S26 series owners in supported countries to apply inside the app, where beta notices appear when enrollment is open. Samsung Developers says the beta program is meant to gather user feedback before the official release. That page also lists Germany, India, Poland, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States as participating countries. ### What comes after the beta? Later this year is the timeline Samsung gave for the full One UI 9 experience. Samsung said that broader release will arrive with upcoming Galaxy flagship devices and will include advanced AI features. The next concrete milestone for users is beta availability through Samsung Members in the six listed markets. Samsung has not yet published a final stable release date for older Galaxy devices on its official beta pages.