Samsung’s One UI 8.5 has complicated the process of checking free storage, as it seems that math is now considered a feature.

      One UI 8.5 has made things a bit more challenging for some users.

      Samsung has implemented a minor adjustment in its latest significant software update for One UI, which has left Galaxy users feeling quite frustrated. The One UI 8.5 update has eliminated the available storage indicator from the Device Care menu. Consequently, users can now only view the total storage capacity and the amount of space currently in use, without a clear display of the remaining free space.

      Reasons for user frustration

      The previous version of One UI showed the exact amount of available space directly in the storage section, making it straightforward and quite helpful. Users could easily see all the essential information at a glance. Now, however, users must subtract the used storage from the total capacity to determine the available space.

      Though this may seem like a minor issue, it can become increasingly bothersome for users with larger-capacity phones. Owners of 512GB and 1TB Galaxy devices have voiced their concerns about this change, as the previous interface allowed for quick checks of available storage. Reddit users have also compared One UI 8.0 and One UI 8.5, illustrating how the older version made the free-space metric clearer.

      Now it's time for calculations

      Unfortunately, this change isn’t something that can be adjusted in settings, and the alternatives aren’t very effective. Users can add a storage widget to their home screen for the same information; however, some have reported receiving inaccurate figures. For instance, an S25 Ultra owner indicated that the widget displayed 418GB free, while the System Monitor Edge panel showed only 389GB, and refreshing the widget did not resolve the discrepancy. The more dependable native option seems to be the System Monitor Edge panel, but even it requires additional swipes and menus to check a basic system statistic.

      Effective storage management is fundamental maintenance for individuals who frequently shoot videos, install large games, and generally use a lot of storage. Thus, altering familiar utilities can taint users’ first experience with One UI 8.5. Samsung has not yet commented on whether the previous storage indicator will return in future updates, meaning users will have to deal with this change for the foreseeable future.