One UI 8.5 Brings Smarter Flashlight Control with the Now Bar

Samsung is steadily polishing its custom Android skin, and the upcoming One UI 8.5 update demonstrates that even the smallest changes can make a big difference in daily use. One of the most practical improvements centers around something simple yet essential – the flashlight. For years, Galaxy users have been able to switch it on quickly, but turning it off often meant fumbling with menus or swiping into quick toggles.

With One UI 8.5, Samsung has finally streamlined the process.

The key player here is the Now Bar, a feature that debuted in One UI 7. Designed to act as a live status strip, it sits on both the lock screen and status bar, offering immediate access to notifications, music playback, timers, and other ongoing activities

. Until now, though, it had some frustrating gaps – several system functions, including the flashlight, simply weren’t supported.

That changes with One UI 8.5. The flashlight now appears as its own activity card in the Now Bar. This means that if you’ve switched it on, you no longer need to navigate through toggles to disable it. Instead, a single tap on its card – from the lock screen or the top status bar – instantly turns the torch off. It’s a small but meaningful refinement that makes the Galaxy experience smoother, especially for those who rely on their flashlight in a pinch.

What makes this update even more interesting is the possibility that Samsung is quietly expanding the Now Bar’s repertoire beyond the flashlight. Early testing of leaked One UI 8.5 firmware suggests that more system-level activities could be tied into the feature, though Samsung hasn’t published a definitive list. Since the settings menus don’t explicitly outline which functions are supported, users will likely discover these additions over time as they experiment.

This isn’t the first time Samsung has used incremental updates to enhance its ecosystem. By layering subtle quality-of-life upgrades, the company keeps its interface fresh without overwhelming users. While the flashlight tweak may seem modest, it hints at Samsung’s broader strategy: evolving One UI into a hub where essential tools and ongoing activities are always just one glance away.

As testing continues, we expect to learn more about the hidden gems in One UI 8.5. Until then, Galaxy owners can look forward to quicker flashlight control and possibly more surprises tucked inside the Now Bar.