Whether you like it or not, there’s no denying that Samsung’s One UI packs more features than any other Android skin. Some are as handy as a pocket on a shirt, and once you discover them, you’ll use them every day. But even those that might not look particularly useful at first glance can offer value that many Galaxy phone owners will greatly appreciate.

Many One UI features are enabled by default, but given the sheer number Samsung includes, some of the best ones have to be enabled manually before you can use them.

Good Lock

The most powerful One UI feature ever

Good Lock is a customization suite available for most modern Samsung Galaxy phones that packs almost 20 modules, each brimming with cool features that let you customize your Galaxy phone to the moon and back. Calling Good Lock a “feature” is a gross understatement, but I decided to do so for simplicity’s sake.

Enabling Good Lock is quite straightforward. All you have to do is download the app from Google Play or the Galaxy Store. Once it’s installed, open it and start downloading and enabling the modules you find interesting.

Now, I know the sheer number of modules will look daunting, let alone the number of options each one offers, but I recommend arming yourself with patience and curiosity, as well as a few Good Lock guides. It’ll be worth it, especially if you’re a customization fiend who constantly hops between third-party launchers because, with Good Lock, you won’t need one.

I also recommend doing this over a weekend because Good Lock is an incredibly robust app that will devour your free time once you decide to dig in, and for good reason. Sure, learning the ropes and exploring every nook and cranny is time-consuming, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you ever enjoyed your Galaxy phone without it.

Secure Folder

Your own private space for sensitive files and apps

Secure Folder has been a part of One UI for years, and while it’s not one of the features that takes center stage, it’s an incredibly powerful tool that shouldn’t be ignored. You can activate it by opening Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder. You can then set it up, and once you’re done, you’ll find it in the app drawer.

Once there, you can use it to store sensitive files and apps, such as banking apps (but sadly, not Samsung Wallet). You can also use it as an environment that’s sandboxed from the rest of your phone because you can install and use almost any app inside it, including second instances of apps you already have on your phone.

You can also use Secure Folder for work, and once you finish your workday, simply hide the folder via a Quick Settings toggle or disable background activity while Secure Folder is locked in the Secure Folder settings menu. If you work with sensitive data, there are several ways to make the folder even more secure.

Modes and Routines

Surprisingly powerful once you learn the ropes

Another One UI feature that’s never been the talk of the town but is surprisingly robust and powerful is Modes and Routines. It’s a collection of automations made up of two distinct components: Modes and Routines.

The former includes a number of situational modes you can activate manually or configure to activate automatically. For instance, you can trigger them at certain times, when you leave a specific area (like your home), when you connect to or disconnect from a specific Wi-Fi network, and more.

Routines are automations you create yourself, and they’re even more versatile than Modes. I created a few simple routines that disable Bluetooth after my earbuds disconnect from my phone, and turn off mobile data when I connect to my home Wi-Fi (then turn it back on when I disconnect from my home network), but you can really go wild with them.

With a bit of time invested in learning the ropes, you can create multi-step, complex routines or simple yet highly specific ones that can be incredibly useful. For instance, you can have your phone come out of silent mode only when specific people call, automatically switch to the Performance profile when you open the Camera app, and much more.

If you own a Samsung Galaxy phone, you should definitely check out this feature because even if you aren’t interested in creating your own routines, the preconfigured collection of Modes is handy enough on its own.

Stack multiple widgets on top of each other

Now, Stackable Widgets is a feature that’s technically enabled by default, but the catch is that you first have to create a widget stack, which often results in people using a Galaxy phone for years without realizing it exists. That happened to me; I’d used my Galaxy S21 FE for almost a year and a half before discovering it. But once I did, it became one of the most useful features on my phone. It’s so useful, in fact, that Google should make it an official part of Android.

Creating a widget stack is super simple. You can either drag a widget on top of another widget of the same size, and One UI will automatically create a stack. Then, simply swipe the top widget left or right to access other widgets. Alternatively, tap and hold a widget until the widget menu appears, then press Create stack and select the widget you’d like to add. Once you add a second widget, the button changes to Edit stack, allowing you to add even more widgets to the same stack.

While it’s not brimming with options and possibilities like the other features on this list, it can be indispensable if you’re a fan of widgets. Instead of having them scattered across multiple Home screen pages, you can keep them all on a single page.

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You should also enable Developer options

While Developer options isn’t a One UI-exclusive feature, I recommend that every Galaxy phone owner enable it. Unlocking it is very simple, and there are plenty of good reasons to do so. My personal favorite is speeding up animations, which is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make your phone feel faster.

Before I wrap things up, I also recommend giving Edge Panels a try. While the feature is enabled by default, not many people end up using it, but you should check it out because adding a taskbar-like panel to your Galaxy phone can offer all sorts of benefits.