One UI 8.5 Beta Live in the US — Check If Your Galaxy S25 Is Eligible

Samsung has officially launched the One UI 8.5 Beta Program, and it’s now live in the US as well. But access is limited. As expected, the Korean firm has placed strict restrictions on who can join, so here’s everything you need to know before signing up.

Who can join Samsung’s One UI 8.5 Beta in the US?

The USA is one of the four countries to get One UI 8.5 Beta in the first wave — the UK, Germany, and South Korea are the other three. Samsung may roll out the beta program in India and Poland in the second wave later this month. At launch, only the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra are eligible for beta updates, though the company may add support for more devices later.

However, in the US, having one of these three models isn’t enough. To join One UI 8.5 Beta, your Galaxy S25 must be an unlocked unit or a T-Mobile variant. Users with other carrier variants are out of luck, once again. You must wait for the official stable release sometime next year.

Samsung has always put these kinds of restrictions on its beta programs, and it’s no different with One UI 8.5. While some users get early access to its next major software update and a chance to provide feedback before the stable release, most Galaxy users are not eligible to participate.

Nonetheless, if you meet all eligibility criteria, it’s pretty simple to join the Beta. Launch the Samsung members app on your Galaxy S25 (ensure it’s updated to the latest version) and look for the “Beta Programme” banner. Tap on it and follow the on-screen instructions to enroll your device. Note that you must keep an active SIM card in the phone during the whole process.

Once you complete the registration, wait a while and check for updates. Go to Settings > Software update and tap on Download and install. You should receive an update with the firmware build number ZYL8. Depending on the model, the update file may weigh 3-4GB, or even more. Stay tuned for more on new features, changes, and additional device eligibility as the beta expands.