The latest beta version of One UI 8 has made its debut for the Galaxy S25 series, and it brings with it a notable enhancement that users have been eagerly anticipating. Samsung has integrated support for Android 15’s predictive back gesture within its stock applications, a feature that was conspicuously absent in the previous One UI 7 update.
Enhanced Gesture Navigation
Predictive back, introduced with Android 15, is designed to enrich the gesture navigation experience by allowing users to glimpse the screen they will return to before finalizing the back gesture. In the earlier One UI 7, this functionality was primarily limited to Google applications. However, with the introduction of the One UI 8 beta, users can now enjoy this feature across a wider array of Samsung’s own applications, including:
- Clock
- Calculator
- Weather
- Settings
- Voice Recorder
- Contacts
Despite this improvement, it is worth noting that the predictive back gesture remains unavailable in certain Samsung apps, such as Calendar and Reminders.
Developer Options and Accessibility
Another significant update in One UI 8 beta is the visibility of the toggle for predictive back animations within the Developer Options menu. Previously, this setting could be located through the Settings search bar but was not accessible when selected, creating a sense of confusion. This inconsistency has been rectified in the new beta version, making the setting fully accessible. Interestingly, users do not need to enable this toggle for the predictive back feature to function in Samsung apps.
It is important to mention that to utilize the expanded predictive back gesture in One UI 8 beta (as well as the previous version in One UI 7), users must disable the One Hand Operation+ Good Lock module. If this module is active, the predictive back feature will not operate. Additionally, users must enable gesture navigation to take full advantage of this functionality. Looking ahead, Google is also working on extending predictive back support to three-button navigation in the upcoming Android 16.
