Samsung today released and then quickly suspended the first Android 11-based One UI 3.0 beta update for the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Apparently, the beta software contained a major bug that is rendering the new foldable phone unusable after the update.
According to user reports in the company’s official forums in South Korea, the phone no longer accepts a password, pattern, or any other unlocking method after installing the beta software. And since biometrics don’t work when you unlock the device for the first time after a restart, the phone is essentially unusable.
Samsung has already acknowledged the issue and withdrawn the beta software. “As soon as we opened the Fold 2 beta software, we encountered a problem that was too big and we stopped urgently,” a community moderator who is in charge of the Galaxy Z Fold software said in a forum post (roughly translated from Korean).
The company says developers are working to find the bug that caused the issue. Roll out will resume once they patch the bug. However, it’s unclear how the company plans to assist the users whose new, shiny foldable has become unusable because of a buggy beta software. The official Beta Operation Manager has yet to comment on this matter.
Samsung pulls the Galaxy Z Fold 2 Android 11 beta due to a bug, again
This is the second time Samsung has pulled the Android 11-based One UI 3.0 beta for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 due to a bug. Last week, the company indefinitely suspended the rollout after users reported heavy battery drain on the Galaxy Note 10.
To be specific, the bug was discovered on the first open beta for Note 10. However, Samsung suspended the program for the Galaxy S10, Galaxy Z Flip, and the Galaxy Z Fold 2 as well. This suggested that the bug affected the beta software prepared for these devices as well.
Samsung eventually rolled out a fix for the Note 10 later in the week. The company also pushed the first beta for the Galaxy Z Flip on Monday. So far, there haven’t been any complaints from the clamshell foldable users. However, a major bug has now forced Samsung to suspend the first beta software for the Galaxy Z Fold 2. It’s unclear how long it will take for Samsung to fix this bug. Hopefully, the company will soon re-open the beta program for the foldable.
Additionally, whether this discovery will affect the beta rollout for the Galaxy S10 also remains to be seen. The 2019 Galaxy S flagship will likely get its first One UI 3.0 beta later this week.