One UI 9, Samsung's Android 17 update, is rolling out to Galaxy phones in the US in waves. Here is what to do before you tap Download and install, how to check whether your phone has it, and which models have it now. We did not install it ourselves. Reported facts are attributed to Samsung and the outlets named; the rest is labelled as our advice.

Before you update

Back up first. This is our advice, and the Samsung page we read gives no backup procedure: a major version update is the moment to make sure photos, messages and app data are saved somewhere else. Samsung's pages we read do not give a backup procedure, so use whichever backup you already trust.

Use Wi-Fi, free up space and stay plugged in. Android Police warns the update is a big download, about 4 GB on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. It recommends Wi-Fi rather than cellular, enough free space, and keeping the phone plugged in so the battery does not run out mid-update.

Galaxy A57 owners: hold off for now. SamMobile reported on October 12 that some A57 owners who installed One UI 9.0 hit a boot problem, and advised holding back until Samsung fixes it. We could not confirm how widespread this is.

Expect the size to vary. Droid Life puts the unlocked Galaxy S26 update at close to 4 GB (3,982 MB) for phones that were not in the One UI 9 beta, and possibly upwards of 600 MB for beta testers.

How to check for the update

Samsung, Droid Life and How-To Geek give this path:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Software update.
  3. Tap Download and install. Samsung adds that you then tap Check for updates.

If nothing shows, our reading is that your wave has not started yet. How-To Geek says the rollout is phased, so it can take time to reach your model. Droid Life says the software downloads and installs, then offers Restart or Schedule for later.

Samsung also points to its Samsung Members app to see which devices are compatible and the release date for your model. We did not open it.

After the update

Our recommended post-update checklist (not a Samsung procedure; we did not test the update):

  • Check for another update. Run Software update again in case a follow-up is waiting.
  • Open the apps you depend on. Banking, work and sign-in apps are worth a quick test.
  • Look at the new AI settings. Samsung says One UI 9 brings an enhanced Galaxy AI, including Now Brief with richer personalization and a smarter Now Nudge. Samsung notes that additional AI features exist beyond those it lists, and does not say which are on by default.
  • See what else is new. 9to5Google's copy of Samsung's changelog for the S26 series lists Now Nudge suggestions in conversation notifications, My FanCam, and a more customizable Quick Panel. Features may vary by device.
  • Find warranty and support. Droid Life says hardware support now sits in the main Settings menu, where you can view warranties across linked Galaxy devices, run diagnostics, get repair estimates and schedule service.

Who has One UI 9 in the US now

Latest rollout reports in our sources, dated in each line. We did not check carrier pages.

  • Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Fold8 and Z Flip8: Samsung says One UI 9 launched on these first. Android Police says it is preinstalled.
  • Galaxy S26 series: Droid Life reports the stable update began on September 16 (Korea first, per Android Police). Android Police says it reached the US from September 23, and Droid Life reported on September 28 that unlocked models were getting it, with owners on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Google Fi reporting it.
  • Galaxy S25 series, Z Fold7 and Z Flip7: How-To Geek reported on October 6 that they are receiving it in the US.
  • Galaxy S24 series: SamMobile reported on October 12 that the stable update has begun on carrier-locked S24 models in the US, with factory-unlocked models expected soon. How-To Geek had reported on October 6 that it was limited to Samsung's home market.
  • Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6: SamMobile reported on October 12 that the update has begun outside South Korea, including the US.
  • Galaxy S23 series: Android Police says this will be its last major update. We found no confirmed US date.
  • Galaxy A57: SamMobile reported on October 12 that the stable update is live outside South Korea. It also reports a boot problem for some A57 owners (see Before you update). We found no US-specific A57 report.
  • Other A-series models (A56 down to A06), Tab S11, S10 and S9, Tab A11 and A9+, XCover 7, 7 Pro and 6 Pro: Android Police says expected, but not dated, realistically toward the end of the year.
  • Galaxy S22 and S21 FE: Android Police says they stay on One UI 8, having used up their four major Android updates.

What we could not confirm

  • Carrier-by-carrier timing beyond what Droid Life and How-To Geek report for the S26 series.
  • When factory-unlocked S24 phones get it, and dates for the S23, other A-series and tablet waves in the US. Samsung's own page says only that the update will expand to more devices.
  • Android Authority's October 12 report on the S24, Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 US rollout: its page was blocked for us, so we did not use it.
  • How the update behaves on your phone. We did not test it, and we did not check the Samsung Members app.