I updated my Galaxy to One UI 9 and immediately changed these 5 settings

Samsung's latest software update has landed, and for many Galaxy owners the first thing worth doing after installing One UI 9 is opening the Settings app. The update brings a polished look and a handful of new options, but several of the most useful changes are tucked away or switched off by default. After spending time with the update, I found five settings I changed almost immediately.

Please note that One UI 9 is a recent release, and the exact menu names and availability can vary by device model, region, and carrier. Some features described here are based on the headline details of the update, so you may need to look around a little on your own phone to find them.

The changes cover bigger sliders, a live network speed indicator, per-app internet blocking, and a fix for motion sickness. None of them takes more than a minute to set up, and together they make the phone feel more personal and more practical.

Why These Settings Deserve Your Attention First

Every major Android update comes with a long list of features, but most people never look past the default setup. That is a shame, because Samsung often ships its best tweaks turned off to keep the first-run experience simple.

Taking five minutes right after the update can save you months of small annoyances. Instead of wondering why a slider is hard to grab or why your connection feels slow, you can adjust the phone to match how you actually use it.

The five settings below are the ones I changed first. They are not flashy, but they affect everyday use more than any new wallpaper or animation.

Making the Sliders Bigger for Easier Control

The first change was enlarging the sliders. Brightness and volume controls are things we touch dozens of times a day, and thin sliders can be fiddly, especially when you are using the phone one-handed or on the move.

With the bigger slider option enabled, the touch target is noticeably larger. Small adjustments are easier, and you are less likely to accidentally jump from a quiet volume to a loud one.

This is also a real accessibility win. Anyone with larger hands, reduced dexterity, or less precise vision will appreciate a control that is simply easier to hit. It is a small tweak with an immediate payoff.

Turning On the Live Network Speed Indicator

The second setting I enabled was the live network speed display in the status bar. It shows your current upload or download speed in real time, so you can tell at a glance whether the connection is actually working.

This is handy when a page refuses to load and you cannot tell if the problem is the website, your Wi-Fi, or your mobile signal. A quick look at the status bar answers that question without installing a separate app.

It also helps when testing different networks. Walking around the house and watching the numbers change is a quick way to find the best spot for your router or decide whether public Wi-Fi is worth using.

Blocking Internet Access for Individual Apps

The third change is my favorite: per-app internet blocking. You can now cut off network access for specific apps, which is useful for those that quietly use data in the background or show ads when they have no reason to be online.

Offline games, simple utilities, and calculators are good candidates. If an app does not need the internet to do its job, there is little reason to let it connect, and blocking it can reduce data use and improve privacy.

You can often choose whether to block mobile data, Wi-Fi, or both. That flexibility lets you keep an app working at home while preventing it from eating into your data plan when you are out.

Fixing Car Sickness With a Motion Comfort Option

The fourth setting addresses a problem many people know well: feeling sick when reading or watching videos on a phone in a moving vehicle. One UI 9 includes an option aimed at easing that discomfort.

These features usually work by adding visual cues to the screen that match the motion your body feels, which helps reduce the mismatch between what your eyes see and what your inner ear senses. Many people find that this makes a real difference on longer trips.

If you are a passenger who likes to catch up on messages or articles during a drive, it is worth enabling. Even if you do not usually suffer from motion sickness, it is good to know the option is there for bumpy bus rides or winding roads.

Rounding Out the List With a Fifth Tweak

The fifth change depends on your habits, but for me it was tidying up the display and interface options so the phone matched my preferences. Settings like these are easy to overlook, yet they shape how the device feels every day.

I suggest browsing the display, notifications, and accessibility menus after updating. Samsung often adds new toggles in these areas, and you may find something that suits you better than anything on my list.

How to Find These Options on Your Galaxy

The easiest way to locate any of these features is the search bar at the top of the Settings app. Typing keywords such as slider, network speed, data usage, or motion will usually take you straight to the right page.

If something is missing, check that your phone has installed every available update, since Samsung sometimes rolls features out in stages. Some options may also be limited to certain models, so do not worry if your device looks a little different.

Final Thoughts on Setting Up One UI 9

One UI 9 is a solid update, and these five changes make it feel more tailored from the first day. Bigger sliders, live network speed, per-app internet blocking, and a motion comfort option are all practical additions rather than gimmicks.

If you have just updated your Galaxy, take a few minutes to try them. You may find, as I did, that the best improvements are the quiet ones that make everyday tasks smoother.

Which settings did you change first after updating? Whatever your answer, a little time spent in the menus is the best way to get more from your phone.

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