What One UI 8.5 Changes—and the Bugs You’ll Notice First
One UI 8.5 bugs are software issues introduced or exposed by Samsung’s latest One UI update, affecting DeX Mode gaming, app dark mode styling, and Galaxy keyboard resize behavior, and they can often be fixed with settings tweaks or minor workarounds instead of waiting for another firmware patch. Although the update focuses on polishing visuals and simplifying the interface, a few changes have created pain points for power users. Gamers have run into controller problems in DeX Mode, dark theme fans are seeing mismatched shades in Google apps, and long‑time Samsung Keyboard users have lost a favorite shortcut. The good news is that none of these problems is a dead end. One is already fixed in the update, and the others can be managed with options hidden in settings or with third‑party tools if you are willing to go a bit deeper.
DeX Mode controller issue: what broke and what now works
Samsung’s rebuilt DeX Mode in One UI 8 caused a major DeX Mode controller issue for wireless gamepads. When the connected phone’s screen turned off, the analog sticks would stop responding, even though face buttons and keyboard and mouse input still worked. According to Android Authority, several Galaxy owners reported the same problem over eight months, confirming it was not an isolated glitch. One workaround was to enable Developer options and use the Stay awake setting to prevent the screen from sleeping while charging, or install a screen‑on helper app. Both kept the controller usable but were clumsy band‑aids. One UI 8.5 finally fixes the bug, restoring normal analog stick behavior in DeX once you install the update and the May 2026 security patch, so modern Galaxy phones no longer need those older workarounds for big‑screen gaming.
Dark mode broken in Google apps? Try this Samsung dark mode fix
After installing One UI 8.5, many users have noticed strange dark themes in Google apps: some elements go full black, others sit in dark gray or light gray, and the mix looks unfinished. Reports from Galaxy S25 owners and others point to a clash between Samsung’s new default color palette and Google’s Material You styling. Reddit user MohamedEIngar explained that Samsung’s palette change is what throws off Google’s implementation. One workaround uses Shizuku or a forked variant to revert colors to the pre‑One UI 8.5 palette, restoring consistent dark mode. If that sounds too technical, you can often get a quick Samsung dark mode fix by going to Wallpaper and style, then adjusting the Color Palette and reapplying it. This may not last forever, but many users say it temporarily cleans up the mismatched shades without waiting for another firmware update.
Galaxy keyboard resize: the shortcut is gone, not the feature
Samsung Keyboard also changed with One UI 8.5, confusing users who often customize their layout. The toolbar in Samsung Keyboard lost three tools: Text Editing, Extract Text, and Keyboard Size. That last one affects Galaxy keyboard resize fans the most, because the quick shortcut to adjust height and width has disappeared. The resizing capability itself, however, is still present behind the scenes. You now need to head into Samsung Keyboard’s Settings menu to find the same resize interface from earlier One UI releases and change the keyboard’s size from there. Extract Text has effectively moved into the Camera app’s Scan text feature instead of living in the keyboard. While this adds a few taps compared with the old toolbar button, it means you do not lose functionality—you only have to relearn where Samsung hid it in the new layout.
Should you install One UI 8.5 now or wait?
With these One UI 8.5 bugs in mind, it is fair to wonder whether you should delay the update. For gamers who rely on DeX Mode, One UI 8.5 is worth installing because it fixes the controller bug that made analog sticks unusable when the phone display slept. Dark mode fans who mostly live inside Google apps will face a temporary color mismatch, but there are usable workarounds through Shizuku or the Color Palette tool. Keyboard users lose a speedy Galaxy keyboard resize shortcut but keep the underlying option in settings. If your phone is still on One UI 8, staying there means DeX issues linger. If you move to One UI 8.5, you gain the gaming fix and can handle dark mode and keyboard changes through settings until Samsung issues a more polished follow‑up release.