After the latest version of One UI debuted on the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year, Samsung took two months to port One UI 6.1 to older devices. When the rollout began, Samsung initially included flagship phones and tablets released in 2023 in the first phase.
The second phase finally started a few days ago, with Samsung initiating the rollout of the One UI 6.1 update for the Galaxy S21 series, galaxy s22 series, Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 in South Korea on May 2. Despite the time Samsung took to make One UI 6.1 work on older devices, things didn’t go as smoothly as expected.
Galaxy S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra owners in Korea encountered problems accessing their phones after installing the update, prompting Samsung to halt the rollout. Some devices have reportedly failed to boot, or if they booted and got to the lock screen, failed to unlock.
Problems like these are not uncommon with major software updates. While users with 2023 Galaxy phones and tablets that got One UI 6.1 haven’t had any issues, it seems others haven’t been so lucky. This may also be one of the reasons why Samsung didn’t extend the availability of the update to pre-2023 devices outside of Korea many days after the initial release.
With the issues mentioned in mind, there are a few steps that anyone with a Galaxy phone or tablet eligible for One UI 6.1 should take before installing the update.
Before installing One UI 6.1, backup your data first
Backing up your data is always wise before any major operating system update, but it’s especially important when installing One UI 6.1. There are several ways to back up all your data, such as making a temporary backup to the cloud using your Samsung account from the Device care » Maintenance mode menu of your device.
You can find more information about creating temporary cloud backups of your Samsung account here connection. Also, for more backup methods, you can check out our One UI 6.0 preparation guide here. This guide also includes other recommendations that you may find useful, although the backup part is the most critical.
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Disable the device screen lock
Almost everyone now locks their phone with a password, PIN or fingerprint. But if you install One UI 6.1, you may face a problem: your phone won’t unlock. So it’s a good idea to turn off the lock screen before updating.
To change the screen lock, go to Settings, then Security & Privacy, then Lock Screen, and finally Screen Lock. From there, select “None” as the screen lock type. This will turn off the lock screen so your phone will boot directly to the home screen.
When you remove the screen lock, any fingerprints, patterns or PINs you have set will be deleted. But we think this is a small problem that you don’t need to worry about. Once you install One UI 6.1 and your phone boots up safely, you can simply register them again.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rollout of One UI 6.1 to older Samsung devices has been uneven. While the 2023 flagships received the update smoothly, the S22 series in South Korea encountered lock screen issues, forcing Samsung to pause the update. This experience highlights the importance of caution before installing major updates. Here’s how to prepare your Galaxy device for One UI 6.1:
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Backup your data: Backing up data is critical to avoid losing important information. Use your Samsung account for temporary cloud backup or see our One UI 6.0 preparation guide for more methods.
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Disable the device screen lock: To prevent potential lock screen issues after an update, turn off the screen lock by going to Settings > Security & privacy > Lock screen > Screen lock and selecting “None”. Remember, you can easily re-enable the lock screen and set up your preferred method (fingerprint, PIN, etc.) after the update is completed successfully.
By following these steps, you can minimize the risk of encountering issues during the One UI 6.1 update and ensure a smoother transition for your Samsung Galaxy device.
Before You Update: Important Steps to Take Prior to One UI 6.1 Installation
