Samsung has introduced a major change with its One UI 7 update, finally adopting a vertically scrolling app drawer for its Galaxy smartphones. This move aligns Samsung with most Android devices, which have long used vertical scrolling as the standard for navigating apps.
Previously, Samsung stuck with a horizontal app drawer that divided apps across pages. While functional, this layout felt outdated and slower compared to the seamless vertical scrolling found on other Android phones. Users could only change this experience by using third-party launchers or Samsung’s customization tool, Good Lock. Now, with One UI 7, the vertical scrolling app drawer is the default experience.
Key Features and Changes
- Default Vertical Scrolling
The app drawer now scrolls vertically by default, and there is no option to revert to the older horizontal page-based layout. - Sorting Options
Users can choose between “Custom” or “Alphabetical” app sorting views to organize their app drawer. - Customizable Layouts
- Adjust the homescreen and app drawer to display five columns of apps instead of the default four.
- Disable the app drawer entirely for a homescreen-only experience, similar to iOS.
- Icon and Widget Customizations
- Resize app icons to fit your preference.
- Turn app labels on or off.
- Enable labels for widgets for a cleaner or more informative layout.
Why This Matters
Samsung’s decision to shift to vertical scrolling enhances usability and brings its interface in line with the broader Android ecosystem. This change should make navigation faster and more intuitive for users, eliminating the need for workarounds to achieve a modern experience.
What’s your take on this update? Do you prefer the new vertical scrolling or miss the old paginated app drawer?
