One UI 9 Adds Dedicated Hub to Identify Sideloaded Apps

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Samsung’s One UI 9 update makes it easier for Galaxy users to manage apps installed from outside official stores. The new software introduces a dedicated hub called “Manage unknown apps,” which lists all sideloaded apps in one place. This helps you quickly spot potentially unsafe apps and remove them.

Samsung now shows all sideloaded apps in one place

Android 17-based One UI 9 beta is now available for the latest Galaxy S26 series in select regions. Alongside a fresh software experience, the update also puts a stronger focus on the security segment. Samsung brings a new way to handle unknown or sideloaded apps.

Now, when you navigate to Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings, you will see a new section called “Manage unknown apps.” This section basically serves as a dedicated hub, where you can find all sideloaded apps. The description reads, “The apps below may put your phone and data at risk because they weren’t installed from an approved source such as the Play Store or Galaxy Store. Uninstall any apps that you don’t trust or recognize.”

If you have installed apps from APK files or other third-party sources, they will show up in this section. As such, you can review apps that may not have gone through the same security checks as apps available on the Play Store or Galaxy Store. Earlier, you needed to manually scroll through the complete app list to spot sideloaded apps. This process could be time-consuming, particularly if you have dozens or even hundreds of apps installed on your device.

As of now, the “Manage unknown apps” section is part of the beta testing phase. However, Samsung should make it available in the final version of One UI 9 as well, expected to debut in July 2026. Other security enhancements, including the ability to block USB connections and a dashboard showing the history of blocked apps, are also part of the latest software.

Written by

Binay Konwar

Binay Konwar started his blogging journey in 2014 and has since written plenty of tech articles. At present, he is working as a News Writer at SammyGuru, covering everything about Samsung. He holds a Master's degree in Mathematics, but his real passion lies in tech and writing. In his free time, he enjoys playing chess and watching movies.

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