Last month, we reported exciting news about Samsung’s Android 16-based One UI 8.0 for the Galaxy S25, which initially included the much-anticipated Predictive Back feature. This feature, which enhances user navigation by providing a preview of the previous screen, has been a significant addition to Samsung’s stock applications. However, in a later build of the operating system, this feature appeared to be absent, leading to disappointment among users. Despite this setback, we speculated that the omission might be temporary, and Samsung could reinstate the feature in a future update.
Our predictions were confirmed just a few hours ago when Samsung launched the second beta version of One UI 8 for the Galaxy S25. This latest update reintroduces the Predictive Back feature, now referred to as Back Swipe Preview (thanks to a tip from @GerwinvGiessen). Users can enable this feature manually, enhancing their experience with the device. To activate Back Swipe Preview, navigate to Settings » Advanced Features » Labs.
While the reintroduction of Back Swipe Preview is a welcome development, it’s important to note that there is a limitation. Currently, this feature only functions within the Settings menu and does not extend to third-party applications. The functionality of Back Swipe Preview is described as “Show a preview of the screen you’ll go back to when you start swiping from the edge of the screen.” Essentially, when users swipe from the left to the right edge of the screen to return to the previous page, the preview feature animates the current window to the right and reveals a glimpse of the previous screen in the background.
With the beta release now live, there is hope that Samsung will eventually expand the functionality of the Back Swipe Preview feature to work seamlessly across all applications. As users eagerly await the next beta version or the stable release of One UI 8, the community remains optimistic that Samsung will continue to enhance user experience by integrating this feature more broadly. Stay tuned for more updates on the evolution of One UI 8 for the Galaxy S25 and how it continues to improve the overall Android experience.
