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Bixby is Samsung’s assistant for controlling Galaxy devices and carrying out tasks by voice, text, or taps. It can handle requests such as opening apps, setting reminders, adjusting supported device settings, and controlling connected SmartThings devices. The newest conversational controls announced for One UI 8.5 are a separate, limited rollout—not a feature every Galaxy owner can assume is available.
What is Bixby and what does it do?
Samsung introduced Bixby with the Galaxy S8 and S8+. It is designed to work with Samsung devices and selected apps, so it can do more than answer questions: depending on the device and software, you can ask it to open an app, send a text, create a reminder, or control a supported setting. You can interact by speaking, typing, or tapping.
Bixby also supports camera-based identification and accessibility actions. Its Quick Commands feature can run several preset tasks in sequence, but you must create a Quick Command before using it. Audio features may depend on a music-service subscription. The supported apps and content can vary by country and language. Samsung’s Bixby FAQ and Bixby product overview describe the available functions and caveats.
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Connected devices and SmartThings
Bixby can control supported SmartThings devices, including SmartTag, after you connect them in the SmartThings app. Compatibility is selective; a device’s connection to SmartThings does not by itself guarantee that every Bixby command will work with it.
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What changed with Bixby in One UI 8.5?
On February 20, 2026, Samsung announced a newer Bixby experience for One UI 8.5. The update is intended to make device control more conversational: instead of naming a setting exactly, a user can describe a desired result. Samsung’s example is asking the phone not to turn off the screen while the user is looking at it; Bixby can suggest enabling “Keep Screen on While Viewing.” Users can also ask why a setting behaves a certain way and receive a related setting suggestion.
The announcement also describes real-time web search results inside Bixby. Samsung gave the example of asking for hotels in Seoul with swimming pools for children. These features are not a universal description of Bixby on all Galaxy devices. At announcement, Samsung said the latest updates were available in One UI 8.5 in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the U.S., with broader expansion planned. Availability now depends on rollout, model, software, and market; check your device for the features actually offered. Samsung’s February 20, 2026 announcement gives the rollout and feature details.
Samsung said location permission may be requested when an answer depends on location. In the context of the announced feature, it states that location data is used to generate the response and deleted immediately after it is provided; this statement should not be generalized to every Bixby interaction.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
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How do you set up and use Bixby?
You need to sign in to a Samsung account and have an internet connection to use Bixby services. Samsung’s Canada setup guide, updated September 17, 2026, gives this phone path as a starting point; menu names and screens can differ by device and software.
- Open Settings → Advanced features → Bixby.
- Follow the prompts to grant requested permissions and, if offered, register your voice.
- Select a wake-up phrase and finish setup.
- Use the wake phrase, an available Bixby or Side button, or the on-screen text interaction to make a request.
Examples of requests include “Take a screenshot,” “Tell me today’s schedule,” “Set an alarm for 7 AM tomorrow,” “Play the next song,” and “Show my most recently received message.” Button controls vary by model. For current setup details, see Samsung Canada’s Bixby setup guide.
Optional hands-free use with Galaxy Buds
Compatible Galaxy Buds can access the assistant configured on the connected phone, and selected models support Bixby voice wake-up. Samsung lists Buds3, Buds3 Pro, Buds2, Buds2 Pro, Buds Live, and Buds Pro. The setting is in the Galaxy Wearable app, though its exact path may vary by model. Earbuds are optional; they are not required to use Bixby. See Samsung’s Galaxy Buds voice-command guide.
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What devices does Bixby support?
Bixby is available across a range of Galaxy phones and other Samsung products, but device support does not mean every feature works identically on every model. Samsung’s U.S. FAQ lists Galaxy S8/S8+, S9/S9+, S10, S20 through S25 series, Note8, Note9, Note10 and Note20 families, Z Fold and Z Flip families, and certain A-series phones. Samsung notes that some A-series models are not available in the U.S. Its broader product overview also covers selected tablets, watches, laptops, and earbuds.
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Does Bixby need Wi-Fi or mobile data?
Yes. Samsung says a data connection—Wi-Fi or mobile data—is required for Bixby service use, along with a Samsung account sign-in. The specific feature set also depends on device, software, language, and region. Samsung’s One UI 8.5 announcement lists support for English (UK, U.S., and India), French (France), German (Germany), Italian (Italy), Japanese (Japan), Korean (South Korea), Mandarin Chinese (China), Spanish (Spain and Latin America), and Portuguese (Brazil). Samsung cautions that not all accents, dialects, or expressions are recognized; pronunciation, speaking volume, and surroundings can affect recognition. These are the languages listed in that dated announcement, not a guarantee that every listed feature is available in every market.
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Why doesn’t Bixby Voice understand me properly?
Recognition can be affected by the language and dialect selected, pronunciation, speaking volume, and background conditions. Samsung says Bixby does not recognize every accent, dialect, or expression. Try speaking clearly in a supported language and reducing background noise; if the request concerns a device control, also check that the device, app, and feature are supported in your region.
Voice control can also be restricted by the phone’s current activity or mode. Samsung says Bixby Voice may be limited or unavailable while media is being recorded, during a call, while docked on Samsung DeX, or in Power saving, Emergency, or Kids mode. The Bixby product page also identifies Maximum Power Saving and Samsung Kids among limitations. Exact behavior can vary with device and software. Samsung’s FAQ and product overview list these restrictions.
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Can you customize Bixby’s name?
Samsung’s FAQ does not document a way to rename Bixby. During setup, you may be able to select a wake-up phrase; that changes how you call the assistant, not its name. Available wake phrases depend on device and software.
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Does Bixby support Incognito mode?
No. Samsung says Bixby Voice does not support Incognito mode and requires a Samsung account sign-in. Information may remain visible through the account, so do not treat a Bixby interaction as an Incognito session. See Samsung’s Bixby FAQ.
How does Bixby’s privacy policy work?
Samsung’s FAQ describes a consent process for review of audio recordings on mobile devices running Bixby app version 2.3.10.14 or later. Consent on one device applies to other Bixby Voice-enabled devices using the same Samsung account; other devices use separate consent procedures. Review the prompts and privacy controls presented on your own device, since the described process is tied to that app version and account setup.
For the One UI 8.5 location-dependent answers described above, Samsung says it requests location permission when needed and deletes the location data immediately after generating the response. That is a statement about the announced feature’s location use, not a complete account of all Bixby data handling. Consult Samsung’s privacy information and the consent screens for the service and device you use.
Can you turn off or uninstall Bixby?
Samsung says Bixby cannot be uninstalled through the controls described in its U.S. FAQ, but it can be reset or disabled. A separate, newer Canada setup guide documents a “Leave Bixby” flow that deletes personal Bixby data and signs the user out on connected devices; Samsung says the user can sign up again later. These are different actions, and their availability may vary by region, device, and software. Follow the option shown on your device and read its deletion notice before confirming. See the U.S. FAQ and Canada setup guide.
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