One UI 9 makes major lock screen security change every Galaxy user needs to know - SamMobile

What the report says

SamMobile reports that Samsung is tightening lock-screen rules on Galaxy devices that ship with One UI 9, based on Android 17. According to the outlet, entering the wrong PIN, password or pattern 13 times will permanently lock the device, leaving a factory reset as the only way to use it again. The report was published July 25, 2026, and says the policy applies to models launched with One UI 9 preinstalled, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip 8.

The new system reportedly adds escalating delays before the final lockout. SamMobile says temporary lockouts begin after five failed attempts, starting at one minute and increasing through later failures, with a 24-hour wait after the 12th incorrect attempt. If the next attempt is also wrong, the phone becomes permanently locked. Samsung’s stated purpose, as described in the report, is to make brute-force attempts to guess a device credential more difficult.

The change matters because many users rely on fingerprint or face unlock but still need their backup credential in some situations. SamMobile notes that Android periodically requires a PIN, password or pattern, including after restarts or at set intervals, so forgetting the backup method could have more serious consequences on affected devices.

The outlet also reports that One UI 9 will show users how many attempts remain once warnings begin, and that repeatedly entering the same wrong credential will not count as multiple separate failures. SamMobile said its testing of a One UI 9 beta on the Galaxy S26 did not show the policy, and it remains unclear whether Samsung will later apply it to older Galaxy models updated to One UI 9.