Set Up the Strobing Video Dimmer for Light Sensitivity
One UI 8.5 quietly introduces one of its most important accessibility additions: a strobing video dimmer that helps people sensitive to flashing lights. When enabled, your Galaxy can automatically dim videos that contain strobe-like effects, making them more comfortable and potentially safer to watch. The setting is buried and currently doesn’t appear if you search for it in Settings, so you must navigate to it manually. Once turned on, it works only on that specific device and doesn’t sync to your other Galaxy products, meaning you’ll need to repeat the process on each One UI 8.5 phone or tablet you use. Samsung also notes that the dimmer may not work in every app or with every type of video, so treat it as an extra layer of protection rather than a universal filter, and test it with the apps you rely on most.
Use Dynamic Weather Backgrounds to Personalize Your Alarms
Beyond major system tweaks, One UI 8.5 adds a subtle but delightful touch inside the Samsung Clock app: dynamic weather-based alarm backgrounds. When enabled, your alarm screen reflects current conditions with animated visuals, such as rain, clouds, or sunshine, to better match the mood outside as you wake up. To get started, first ensure the Clock app is updated by opening it and heading to Menu > Settings > About Clock. After you turn on the weather background feature, the app automatically checks your local conditions each time an alarm rings and swaps in the appropriate animated scene. Because it relies on your phone’s location services, you’ll want to confirm location access is enabled for the most accurate results. It won’t change how the alarm functions, but it does make waking up feel more polished and personalized on your One UI 8.5 device.
Fix Broken Dark Mode with a Simple Color Palette Workaround
Some users report that the One UI 8.5 security update has unintentionally broken dark mode in a handful of apps, particularly Google’s. Interfaces that should appear consistently dark now show a patchwork of black, dark gray, and light gray elements. The problem appears to stem from Samsung changing the default system color palette, which clashes with Google’s Material You styling. Power users can revert the colors to a pre–One UI 8.5 style with a forked version of Shizuku, but this is more technical than many people want to attempt. A more accessible dark mode workaround is to adjust your Color Palette in Wallpaper and style settings; several users say this temporarily cleans up the inconsistent tones. Until Samsung issues a formal fix, it’s worth experimenting with different palettes and sending feedback through the Samsung Members app so the issue gets more visibility.
Record Filtered Videos After One UI 8.5 Removes Galaxy Camera Filters
One UI 8.5 also removes a familiar convenience: native video filters inside the Samsung camera’s video mode. Previously, you could pick a filter and see it applied live while recording, just like with photos. After the update, that live-filter workflow still exists for photos but disappears when you switch to video, leaving many users who relied on black-and-white or stylistic filters frustrated. For now, there is a straightforward Galaxy camera filters workaround. Open the Camera app, stay in Photo mode, apply your preferred filter, and then hold down the shutter button instead of tapping it. Holding the button records a video while preserving the photo-mode filter you selected. This isn’t as intuitive as having a dedicated filter option in Video mode, but it keeps your favorite filtered look one long-press away while you wait to see if Samsung reverses the decision in a future release.
What the One UI 8.5 Security Update Means for Galaxy S25 FE Owners
Alongside visual and accessibility tweaks, Samsung is rolling out a One UI 8.5 security update to devices like the Galaxy S25 FE and other recent Galaxy phones. While the specific patch notes vary by model, these updates typically include privacy hardening, vulnerability fixes, and under-the-hood changes that can influence how system features like dark mode and theming behave. That’s part of why you may notice design quirks, such as the color palette conflict affecting Google apps, after installing it. For most users, staying up to date remains the safest option, but it’s wise to explore new settings each time you update. Turn on the strobing video dimmer if you’re sensitive to flashing lights, enable dynamic weather alarm backgrounds for a more pleasant wake-up, and test your favorite apps in dark mode. If something looks off, use the workarounds above and report issues via the Samsung Members app.
