Samsung Galaxy devices come packed with proprietary apps and services designed to enhance your experience. For new users, unfamiliar features like Samsung Free can raise questions. Here's a clear breakdown of what it is and how to manage it.
If "Samsung Free" rings a bell as something new, you might recall its predecessors: Bixby Home or Samsung Daily. These are essentially the same service rebranded over time.
Bixby Home debuted with the Galaxy S8 series, mimicking the Google Discover feed on Pixel phones. It provided a customizable news feed accessible via the leftmost home screen panel in Samsung's One UI launcher.
In 2019, Samsung Daily took over, retaining core features while reducing emphasis on the Bixby brand. Then, with One UI 3.0 in late 2020, Samsung Free arrived – a refreshed version with updated visuals but identical functionality.
Samsung Free acts as a versatile content hub, aggregating news, podcasts, live TV, and games into four intuitive tabs on your left home screen page.
The "Look" tab delivers free live TV via Samsung TV Plus, available on Galaxy phones and smart TVs. Enjoy a blend of traditional cable channels and exclusive Samsung broadcasts.
Dive into podcasts with the "Listen" tab, featuring categorized recommendations and a built-in player. Subscribe directly without extra apps for seamless playback.
The "Read" tab curates web articles akin to Google Discover, highlighting trending stories across categories with straightforward browsing.
"Play" offers instant games via the pre-installed Game Launcher – no downloads needed. Browse by category for quick entertainment on the go.
Not a fan? Disable it easily without switching launchers. (Third-party launchers bypass it entirely, but Samsung's One UI is often preferred.)
Long-press an empty spot on your home screen.
The screen zooms out; swipe left to Samsung Free.
Toggle the switch at the top to OFF.
Done! The left panel vanishes. Re-enable anytime via the same steps for your Samsung Galaxy home screen.
