Galaxy Z Flip 6 Finally Gets Gemini AI on the Cover Screen

Samsung has quietly rolled out one of the most requested updates for its foldable lineup, and it’s something owners of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 have been waiting on for months. The Google Gemini AI assistant is now usable directly from the cover screen of the Z Flip 6, transforming how owners interact with their compact foldable.

While the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 were the first devices to launch with this feature natively enabled, many fans of earlier models felt left behind. With this update, that gap is beginning to close.

To activate Gemini on the Flip 6’s cover display, users currently need to rely on the familiar “Hey Google” wake word or place the Gemini app into the Good Lock launcher widget. It’s not entirely seamless yet – pressing and holding the power button still forces the device to open before Gemini can continue, which somewhat undermines the convenience. Samsung and Google haven’t confirmed whether this will be streamlined in an upcoming patch, but it’s clear that users are hoping for a smoother experience.

Despite that small inconvenience, the assistant is largely functional on the cover display. Whether through voice queries or quick text inputs, Gemini responds to most commands just as it would on the main screen. Even Gemini Live, the mode that uses your camera feed for real-time interactive assistance, is supported. The only feature notably absent is screen sharing, but considering the tiny dimensions of the cover panel, it’s a trade-off few are likely to find problematic.

The arrival of Gemini on the Z Flip 6 is tied to Samsung’s latest One UI 8 rollout, which itself is based on Android 16. Owners will need to update their devices to One UI 8 before they can enable Gemini on the cover display. Interestingly, however, the appearance of this feature isn’t linked to the software update alone – it appears to be toggled on server-side, or perhaps via a quiet update to the Gemini app itself. That subtle implementation means some users might see the change appear before others, even if they’re on the same software build.

What makes this update particularly exciting is how much it expands the usefulness of the Flip 6 as a compact daily driver. Foldables like the Flip are designed to balance style and practicality: pocket-sized when closed, but powerful when fully opened. By enabling Gemini on the outer screen, Samsung is enhancing that balance. Imagine walking through a busy street and being able to dictate messages, ask questions, or trigger AI-powered tasks without even unfolding your phone. For many, this represents the ideal blend of portability and power.

As AI continues to define the smartphone experience in 2025, Samsung’s decision to backport Gemini access to older foldables shows a commitment to long-term device support. For Galaxy Z Flip 6 owners, this isn’t just a minor update – it’s a quality-of-life improvement that makes their device feel more future-ready. And with Gemini’s capabilities expanding month after month, the Flip 6 is suddenly looking a lot more like a phone built for what’s next.