3 minute read

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 went on sale on August 7, 2026 and ships with Android 17 and One UI 9, per Samsung’s product page. These five steps cover the first day. Menu labels below come from Samsung support pages and earlier One UI versions, and they were not checked on a Fold 8, so use the Settings search bar if a label differs.

1. Update the phone and sign in

Open Settings, then Software update, then Download and install, and apply anything pending before you set up apps. Sign in with a Google account for Play Store and app restores, and with a Samsung account. Samsung’s Fold 8 page says features such as Now Nudge and My FanCam need a Samsung account login.

2. Move your data with Smart Switch

On the Fold 8, Samsung describes starting a transfer by scanning a QR code. From an iPhone, it says no Smart Switch app is needed on the iPhone. That wireless method requires the Galaxy to run Android 17 and One UI 9 or later, and the iPhone to run iOS 26.6 or later. Samsung’s list of transferable data includes contacts, photos, videos, messages, notes, passwords and passkeys, eSIMs, saved Wi-Fi networks, and apps with their data.

From an Android phone, Samsung’s Fold 7 page says to open Smart Switch Mobile in Settings on the new phone. The same page recommends a wired connection when you transfer many kinds of data at once. That recommendation is from the Fold 7 page and was not repeated for the Fold 8.

3. Set up the fingerprint reader, and learn what this Fold lacks

The fingerprint reader is built into the power button on the right edge, as Gizmodo’s reviewer and FoneArena’s unboxing both describe. Register it under Settings, then Security and privacy, then Biometrics.

While you are in setup, know what is missing so you do not hunt for it. Samsung’s FAQ says the Fold 8 has no Flex Mode, no S Pen support and no SD card slot. It explains that the hinge is built for fully open or fully closed use, not partly open positions.

4. Check the cover screen and split view

The cover screen is 5.5 inches at 10:16 and the inner screen is 7.6 inches at 4:3, per Samsung. Samsung says One UI 9 supports two-way and three-way split view on the inner screen, and that Now Nudge can carry a suggestion from the cover screen into a split view when you unfold the phone.

Open the five apps you use most on both screens. The Samsung pages checked for this article do not list which apps are tuned for these two aspect ratios, so any app that crops or stretches video is worth noting before you rely on it.

5. Set the refresh rate and battery protection

Refresh rate. Search Settings for Motion smoothness. Samsung’s support page describes Standard as a fixed 60Hz for the best battery life, and Adaptive as adjusting dynamically up to 120Hz. It also says Power saving mode forces Standard. That page was written for earlier models. Reviews describe the Fold 8’s screens as 120Hz LTPO panels, so Adaptive is the setting to try first. Samsung’s page for the refresh rate options has the steps.

Battery protection. Open Settings, then Battery, then Battery protection. Samsung’s support page describes Basic as the default, which limits extra charging after 100%, and Maximum, which stops at a limit you pick from 80, 85, 90 or 95%. It says a lower limit can help manage battery life, and describes a sleep-time option that holds the charge near 80% overnight. Samsung’s Middle East support page still describes Maximum as an 85% cap, so options differ by region and software version. Check what your Fold shows.

The battery is 4,800mAh. Samsung quotes up to 26 hours of video playback, measured in its own lab with Bluetooth earphones over LTE, so everyday use will differ.

Checked October 12, 2026 against Samsung’s pages and two hands-on write-ups. Nothing here was tested on a Fold 8.

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