One UI 8.5 Fixes an Annoying Gaming Issue in DeX Mode

Samsung has addressed a gaming-related bug in its DeX Mode with One UI 8.5. The update fixes a problem with game controller input that triggered when the phone screen turned off during gameplay. You can now enjoy a more reliable gaming experience on big screens via your phone.

DeX users can now use controllers correctly in One UI 8.5

Samsung DeX lets Galaxy users connect their phone to a monitor or TV for a desktop-like experience. It supports keyboard, mouse, and game controller input, which comes in handy for productivity tasks and gaming.

However, a strange bug ruined the gaming experience in Dex mode for many Galaxy users. When the phone’s screen turned off, the analog sticks on the game controllers stopped functioning. Keyboard and mouse inputs continued to work normally, but controller users experienced unreliable controls. While players could still use buttons like start and select, they struggled to move their characters in the games. 

To fix the problem, some turned on the “Stay awake” option in developer settings, which keeps the screen on while charging. Others installed an app like BleKi to prevent the display from going to sleep. While these workarounds worked to some extent, they were not ideal due to concerns about screen burn-in over time.

Now, with One UI 8.5, Samsung has fixed the bug. The controller’s analog sticks now work even when the screen turns off. If your older DeX-supported Galaxy phone is still running One UI 8, you should update to One UI 8.5. The company has already pushed the big software update to a bunch of devices across the S, Z, and A series.

Apart from bug fixes, Samsung has brought back a feature that many long-time DeX users depended on. One UI 8.5 update restores the auto-hide taskbar option in DeX Mode. The company had removed this toggle in One UI 8 after rebuilding the desktop experience in partnership with Google.