What One UI 8.5 Changes for Accessibility and Everyday Use
One UI 8.5 accessibility changes are a mix of new protections for photosensitivity, tweaks to Samsung’s visual style system, and removals of older camera features that some users still depend on. The update adds a video dimming option for people sensitive to flashing content, adjusts color palettes in ways that can break dark mode in some Google apps, and removes native video filters from the stock camera. Together, these changes show Samsung trying to improve comfort and safety while introducing bugs and regressions that power users will notice. Reports from Galaxy S25 owners and other devices highlight how the update affects real-world use, from watching videos with strobing effects to recording filtered clips and keeping interfaces consistently dark at night. This guide explains what changed, how to turn on photosensitivity protection, and which workarounds can restore broken features.
Photosensitivity protection: Dim strobing videos in One UI 8.5
Samsung’s headline One UI 8.5 accessibility upgrade for light-sensitive users is a setting that automatically dims strobing and flashing content in videos. When enabled, the system reduces the intensity of rapid flashes so videos feel safer and more comfortable for people prone to photosensitive triggers. The option does not appear in the Settings search bar yet, so you have to find it manually under the Accessibility menus on each device. According to SamMobile, this “dim strobing” feature may not work in every app or with all types of video content, and it does not sync across phones and tablets. That means a Galaxy phone and Galaxy Tab each need the setting turned on separately if both run One UI 8.5. Even with those limits, the feature marks a clear step toward stronger photosensitivity protection on Samsung Galaxy devices.
Dark mode glitches after the Samsung Galaxy update—and how to fix them
Soon after installing the Samsung Galaxy update to One UI 8.5, some users noticed dark mode looking broken in Google apps. Interfaces that should be fully dark now mix black, dark gray, and light gray elements, making screens distracting and harder to read in low light. Reports span the Galaxy S25 and other models, and Android Authority notes the bug stems from Samsung changing the default color palette in a way that clashes with Google’s Material You theming. A Reddit user, MohamedEIngar, shared a fix using a forked version of Shizuku to revert to pre–One UI 8.5 colors, but that route is aimed at advanced users. For a simpler dark mode broken fix, you can open Wallpaper and style, tweak your Color Palette, and apply a darker scheme, which some users say temporarily restores consistent dark tones.
Native video filters removed—and a practical workaround
One UI 8.5 quietly removes native video filters from Samsung’s stock camera when shooting in video mode, affecting users who liked to record clips in styles like black-and-white without editing afterward. Photo mode still supports these filters, so the change feels like a deliberate narrowing of features instead of a bug. Android Police reports users on Reddit and TikTok were first to flag that “it doesn’t exist” in UHD and FHD video settings, while someone else noted, “Sometimes I record video in BW. Now it’s gone.” The good news is there’s a simple workaround: stay in Photo mode, select your preferred filter, then hold down the shutter button to start recording a video with that filter applied in real time. Early One UI 9 beta builds also omit video filters, so anyone dependent on them should expect to rely on this method for now.
Balancing accessibility gains with bugs and regressions
Taken together, One UI 8.5 shows Samsung prioritising accessibility while accepting trade-offs that impact daily use. The new video dimming option for strobing content is a clear win for photosensitivity protection, especially for users who consume a lot of short-form videos and mixed media. At the same time, visual changes under the hood have led to dark mode inconsistencies in Google apps, and the removal of native video filters reduces creative options in the stock camera. For now, the best approach is to treat One UI 8.5 as a transitional Samsung Galaxy update: enable the new accessibility setting on every compatible device, adjust Color Palette or use Shizuku-based tools if dark mode looks off, and switch to the photo-mode recording trick to keep filtered clips. As feedback builds, Samsung is likely to refine these choices in future firmware.
