Following the release of the latest version of One UI on the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year, Samsung took two months to extend One UI 6.1 to older devices. Initially, flagship phones and tablets launched in 2023 were included in the first phase of the rollout.
Samsung began rolling out the One UI 6.1 update to the Galaxy S21 series, the Galaxy S22 series, the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 4 in South Korea on May 2, marking the start of the second phase. However, despite Samsung’s efforts to make One UI 6.1 compatible with older devices, the transition didn’t proceed as smoothly as anticipated.
After installing the update, owners of the Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra in Korea faced issues accessing their phones, prompting Samsung to stop the rollout. Some units failed to boot, while others, upon reaching the lock screen, were unable to unlock.
Major software updates often come with such issues. While users with Galaxy phones and tablets from 2023 who received One UI 6.1 didn’t encounter any problems, it appears others haven’t been as lucky. This could be a reason why Samsung hasn’t expanded the update’s availability for pre-2023 devices outside Korea many days after the initial release.
Given these issues, there are a couple of steps that everyone with a Galaxy phone or tablet eligible for One UI 6.1 should take before installing the update.
Before installing One UI 6.1, First Backup Your Data
It’s always wise to create a data backup before any major OS update, particularly when installing One UI 6.1. There are several ways to back up all your data, such as making a temporary cloud backup using your Samsung account from your device’s Device Care » Maintenance Mode menu.
For more information about making temporary cloud backups on your Samsung account, you can visit this link. Additionally, for more backup methods, you can refer to our preparation guide for One UI 6.0 here. This guide also includes other recommendations that you may find useful, though the backup part is the most critical.
Disable Mobile Screen Lock
Most people now secure their phones with a password, PIN, or fingerprint. However, installing One UI 6.1 might lead to an issue: your phone might not unlock. Hence, it’s advisable to disable the lock screen before updating.
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To change your screen lock, navigate to Settings, then Security and Privacy, followed by Lock Screen, and finally Screen Lock. From there, select “None” as your screen lock type. This action will deactivate the lock screen, allowing your phone to boot directly to the home screen.
Removing the screen lock will erase any fingerprints, patterns, or PINs you’ve set up. Nevertheless, we believe this is a minor inconvenience not worth worrying about. After safely installing One UI 6.1 and rebooting your phone, you can easily re-register them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rollout of One UI 6.1 to older Samsung devices has been rocky. While 2023 flagships smoothly received the update, the S22 series in South Korea faced lock screen issues, prompting Samsung to halt the update. This underscores the importance of caution before installing major updates. Here’s how to prepare your Galaxy device for One UI 6.1:
- Back Up Your Data: Make sure to back up your data to prevent any loss. Use your Samsung account for a temporary cloud backup or refer to our One UI 6.0 preparation guide for additional methods.
- Disable Device Screen Lock: To avoid potential lock screen issues post-update, disable your screen lock by navigating to Settings > Security and Privacy > Lock Screen > Screen Lock, and select “None.” Remember, you can easily re-enable the lock screen and set up your preferred method (fingerprint, PIN, etc.) after a successful update.
By following these steps, you can reduce the risk of encountering problems during the One UI 6.1 update and ensure a smoother transition for your Samsung Galaxy device.