Samsung might be prepping to bring new focus tools to its One UI 9 update. Instead of just selecting a basic time limit on how long you can look at an app, this new and upcoming feature cuts off its internet access entirely, helping users enter Zen mode and keep away from distractions.
Samsung Network Blocker Feature Spotted in Development
Spotted first by Android Authority, the feature is expected to arrive as a part of the Samsung Connectivity Labs. The strings for the Network Blocker feature were spotted in the same menu, which is housed inside the Wi-Fi settings on Galaxy Phones. Users can open this by tapping the Intelligent Wi-Fi button multiple times.
The strings give us a brief idea about how the feature will work. Besides its main functionality, which is to block internet access for distracting apps, there are a few interesting things worth noting about the tool, namely "Network management for concentration".
Instead of blocking apps one by one, the feature allows users to block apps categorically. The strings list categories like Browser, Games, Social, Streaming and Other. There's also a Preset option, which points toward the ability to make a custom schedule.
This means you can turn off the internet for all social media and streaming apps while keeping your connection active for apps that matter, such as work and email apps. Besides, the strings also mention requiring a 6-digit PIN that a user needs to enter to change the settings and turn the blocker off.
Because the feature is expected to be locked behind a password, parents could easily use this tool to restrict their children's internet access for certain games or video apps, giving them more granular access to better the digital life of their kids.
Besides, users will not have to turn the blocker on manually every day. One of the strings includes a "Downtime" mode where users can set specific start and end times. This would allow internet restrictions to happen automatically, much like the scheduled Bedtime Mode on Google Pixel smartphones.
While there's no concrete information about the feature's potential release timeline, with One UI 9 Beta 1 already live for Galaxy S26 series, rumours point to its release in One UI 9 stable by the end of 2026.
