In late 2024, the Android 15 QPR2 beta update introduced the Terminal app. While it’s currently only available on select Pixel devices, Samsung might be preparing to bring this feature to its Galaxy phones. And the good news is… Terminal app may be fully functional just as One UI 8.0 arrives.
Terminal app makes it to the One UI 8.0, but don’t get too excited yet
Samsung’s upcoming One UI 8 firmware has seemingly leaked, giving us a peek into what’s coming — and what’s not. While the update is still in an early stage, some key features are starting to take shape. As spotted by @DevOfIpos, the Terminal app is included in One UI 8. But it’s hidden in the developer options for now. The tipster noted that while it can be enabled, it doesn’t work as expected due to issues with Samsung’s Knox security and Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM).
There are a few hurdles to clear before this feature is widely available. The KVM system in One UI appears to support only protected virtual machines. And at least for now, there are error messages related to Knox when trying to use the app. For now, it seems the Terminal app is still a work in progress rather than a fully functional feature.
If Samsung manages to get it working on Galaxy devices, it could be a big win for developers and power users, opening up the possibility of running a full Linux environment on a smartphone. It could become a go-to tool for techies. While it’s still unclear whether this will make it into the first round of One UI 8 beta, the chances are strong. But for now, that’s more of an educated guess than a confirmed fact.
