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Good Lock just fixed the most annoying navigation change on the Samsung Galaxy S24
The old navigation system makes its return with the ability to hide the nav bar and theme the back gesture
The Galaxy S24 series was the first set of phones to get Circle To Search, a Google Now On Tap-style feature that introduces a new way to search what's on your screen. It's pretty great, but the addition led Samsung to remove one of the most popular features in One UI: hiding the navigation bar. We found that you could still force it to disappear if you were willing to use a workaround, but now Samsung has updated the NavStar Good Lock module, adding new features and restoring old ones.
Samsung's Good Lock is getting an overhaul for One UI 6
Good Lock will be rebuilt with new features in time for One UI 6
Good Lock is one of our favorite parts of the Samsung Galaxy experience. Being able to tweak and customize your OS at such a deep level is something few phones let you do, and for some of us, Good Lock is important enough to be numbered among the reasons we stay with this brand. Once a year, Good Lock breaks for a lot of users as the next versions of Android and One UI arrive, and that's no different this year with One UI 6. Many modules are broken at the moment, but now we have a timeline of what to expect next.
You can finally add whatever widget you want to your Samsung Galaxy phone’s lock screen or Always On Display
The latest Lock Star Good Lock module enables this handy functionality
Samsung's software lets you customize the Always On Display and lock screen on any the best Galaxy phones. You're able to place certain system widgets on the lock screen, while Always On Display customization options include using stickers, emoji, and more. If these options aren't enough, Samsung's LockStar Good Lock module adds even more personalization. But despite so many options, so far there's been no way to place third-party widgets on the lock screen or AoD, to view important information at a glance. This will no longer be the case going forward, thanks to the latest LockStar module update.
Samsung Good Lock module One Hand Operation + lets you launch your favorite apps faster than ever
Your apps are just a swipe away
Good Lock has become such a staple of the Samsung experience that, for many of us, it's something we couldn't do without. One of my favorite modules has always been One Hand Operation +. Weird name aside, the level of customization it gives you over gesture navigation has ruined other phones for me. Whenever I use a device without it, I miss it instantly. Now the module is getting even better, with a new gesture action that helps you open your favorite apps faster than ever.
Samsung QuickStar update lets you hide your phone's most annoying icons
Device Care and Modes and Routines icons can now be hidden
As if they weren't already some of the best customization tools on Android, Samsung's Good Lock suite of apps just keep getting better with each update. Theme Park recently gave us full manual theming capabilities with Material You color palettes, and you can even transfer all of your customizations to a new phone. With the latest version of QuickStar, you can now get rid of at least two pesky icons without sacrificing any functionality.
Samsung Theme Park now lets you manually adjust Material You color theming
If you're tired of pastels, this is a long-awaited feature
Material You has been with us for two versions of Android, and since its introduction in Android 12, many of us have criticized how dull the colors are. Pastels are lovely, but sometimes bright and vibrant colors look better. Thankfully, Samsung has just updated Theme Park, an app that lets you create your own themes and icon packs, and the new version goes a long way to solve this issue.
Samsung's Camera Assistant update brings welcome features to devices old and new
Quick tap shutter will greatly improve the photo-capturing experience
Samsung's One UI is among the best Android skins on the market. The company's Good Lock app and accompanying modules are a cherry on top as they add further customization options and features. Following One UI 5's release in October 2022, Samsung dropped a new Camera Assistant module that lets you tweak important camera settings on your Galaxy phone. With the launch of One UI 5.1 and the Galaxy S23 series, Samsung is now rolling out a major Camera Assistant update with new features and expanded device support.
Samsung's Good Lock suite can finally update multiple modules at once
Quality-of-life improvements are always welcome
Samsung's Good Lock software has become a staple of the Galaxy user experience for so many of us thanks to the wide range of customization it offers, and we love using it. For all its benefits, Good Lock is in need of some quality-of-life updates, and thankfully that's becoming more of a focus, with the app recently gaining Smart Switch support. Keeping all the modules updated has always been a hassle, especially with the app failing to notify you when updates become available. As of the latest version, you can now install all available updates with the touch of a single button, removing much of the friction from the process.
Samsung Good Lock update helps set up your new Galaxy phone faster
We have the Smart Switch support to thank for that
Samsung Galaxy phone owners have been able to customize their devices for years through the Good Lock app on top of One UI, and the app is constantly updated with new personalization options. This makes Good Lock a treasure trove for Samsung fans, and for those in South Korea, the recent addition of the "Galaxy to Share" module ensures they won't lose their current Good Lock settings when switching to a new Galaxy device. However, this feature isn't currently available outside of the country, but Samsung has devised a clever workaround by incorporating Smart Switch support into a few of Good Lock's modules.
Samsung's endlessly customizable Good Lock suite comes to Galaxy phones in these new countries
Everybody, everywhere, customizing their Galaxy phones
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Samsung's Good Lock app suite is one of our favorite parts about using the company's Android devices, and with the recent release of One UI 5 based on Android 13 we're even getting new Good Lock modules to add to the list of existing utilities. Good Lock uncorks a proverbial bottle of bubbly champagne for personalization enthusiasts, allowing custom gestures and personalization of system elements like the volume control. Last week we learned about a bunch of countries around the globe that were finally getting access to Good Lock, and today we're hearing about even more.
Our six favorite Samsung Good Lock features for you to get started with
Good Lock expanding to more countries opens the service to a lot of new users
Samsung phones have improved a lot over the years, and it's no surprise that you'll often see them topping the list of our favorite Android phones. One of the many things we love about them is the extent of software customization available, and a collection of apps called Good Lock makes these phones even more tweakable than they are out of the box. Recently, Good Lock started expanding to more countries, giving a lot of users their first opportunity to use it. The sheer number of options in Good Lock could appear intimidating, so if you're just getting up to speed and need some advice on what to check out, here are our favorite features to get you started.
Samsung’s latest Good Lock module makes sharing your system settings and config options super easy
Share Good Lock settings across devices using the plugin
Samsung's Good Lock software and all its various modules bring a ton of new features and customization options to your Galaxy phone — stuff you won't find on any other Android devices. Following One UI 5's release, the South Korean giant released several new modules, like Camera Assistant, DropShip for easily sharing large files, and RegiStar for Settings menu customization. Now Samsung's latest Good Lock module is making its debut, ready to make it easy to transfer your custom system settings across devices.
Samsung’s Good Lock suite brings several useful capabilities to existing hardware, like the Back Tap gesture and easier file transfers. If you have used these apps, they can make everyday tasks a breeze, and Samsung regularly updates them as well. Many Good Lock modules are now receiving updates to support Samsung’s One UI 5 based on Android 13. This time, the update for the Dropship app simplifies platform-agnostic file sharing, as well as bringing other handy feature improvements and bug fixes.
Don't download this fake version of Samsung's file-sending Good Lock module from the Play Store
In case it's not obvious, you shouldn't download it
Samsung tends to experiment and try out new stuff through Good Lock, a suite of apps that has become essential for any Samsung phone owner serious about advanced customization. The company recently released a very interesting module called DropShip for One UI 5 phones. It's an app that lets you share files with other smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Now, a "DropShip" app has made it to the Play Store, but you probably shouldn't download it.
Samsung’s latest Good Lock module adds Back Tap gestures to your Galaxy
You can also customize the Settings menu and Side key behavior
Samsung has been on a roll with its software update support recently. Following the release of Android 13-based One UI 5 for the Galaxy S22 series, it updated most of the popular Good Lock modules to support the latest version of Android. Then, it launched a new DropShip module that attempts to one-up WeTransfer by making file transfer from your Samsung Galaxy device to an iPhone, Android, or PC easier. Now, the Korean giant has released another Good Lock module: RegiStar. It provides even more customization options by letting you re-arrange the Settings menu and change the side key's long press behavior.
Samsung's latest Good Lock module attempts to one-up WeTransfer
'DropShip' should make it easy to share files on every single device
Samsung Good Lock is an essential app for almost all Galaxy smartphone owners, enabling features that are otherwise not available by default. We've seen the addition of innumerable Good Lock modules over the past few years with the company usually dosing them out following the annual One UI software refresh. Samsung is now making another module available for Good Lock users in the form of DropShip, a file transfer app that can send files to practically any device, including Android phones/tablets or iPhones/iPads, and even your laptop.
Here's every new Samsung Good Lock 2022 feature
MultiStar now allows you to run apps on the Flip3's cover screen
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Good Lock is one of the best parts of One UI, providing a plethora of customization options usually found in custom ROMs. Good Lock's modules are often broken whenever a new version of One UI is released, but the team of developers managed to get all of them working with One UI 4 before it was released to the public. Now, Good Lock's 2022 update has started rolling out, bringing plenty of new options to coincide with the release of some of this year's best phones.
Samsung gets its Good Lock modules ready for One UI 4 in record time
Plus some new features are along for the ride
To call Good Lock one of the most popular parts of One UI would be something of an understatement. Users love it so much that they don't want to go without, and every year when we write about the latest One UI beta, some commenters always say they won't update until certain Good Lock modules are fully compatible. Last year, we had to wait until January for those updates to start catching up, and others took even longer. Thankfully, we've got no such delay this time around, and as of now every single module in the Good Lock suite is compatible with One UI 4 and Android 12.
Samsung is updating Good Lock for Android 12, starting with QuickStar and One Hand Operation +
You can now pin the Edge bar on your Fold3 without screwing up your status bar
Samsung's Good Lock and all its modules allow for an unprecedented level of customization, offering many of the features you'd usually only find in custom ROMs. Unfortunately, Good Lock modules have a habit of breaking whenever Samsung updates its phones to a new version of Android, and that's been the case with Android 12. Thankfully, the company has already started updating Good Lock to support this latest release.
Samsung's Good Lock modules prep exciting new features in anticipation of One UI 3.1.1
Icon theming is already available to try
Back in June, Samsung's Good Lock module NiceCatch confirmed the existence of One UI 3.1.1 by mentioning it in its changelog. Now the manufacturer is set to launch the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 next month, and we're expecting to see the debut of One UI 3.1.1 alongside them. While we may get fewer new features in favor of optimizations and bug fixes, the big release is still a little further out — One UI 4 based on Android 12, later this year. As we look forward to all that, several more Good Lock modules have been updated in anticipation, promising some exciting new features in the next version of One UI.