Bixby button remapping is coming to Samsung phones with upcoming One UI update

Samsung isn’t giving up on Bixby just yet but it will allow users of the Galaxy S10 and earlier (until the Galaxy S8) to remap their phone’s dedicated Bixby button to do other things. While the Galaxy S10 trio of phones will come with the feature out-of-the-box, older Galaxy phones (Galaxy S8/Galaxy S8+, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S9/Galaxy S9+ and Galaxy Note 9) will be getting it via an upcoming One UI update, Samsung has confirmed. 

The Bixby button has been a subject of much debate (and criticism) ever since Samsung first introduced it in the Galaxy S8. The button allows users to summon Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant, and communicate with it for different tasks – therefore, Samsung’s decision to go with it in a bid to actively promote Bixby isn’t surprising. But Samsung should have at least allowed users to remap it, the consensus suggests. It did not, but in the following Galaxy models, it did bring about the ability to switch the button off. But then, the button was just a useless thing taking up space, something that users and critics both were vocal about. 

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Now, Samsung is finally listening to the hue and cry around the Bixby button, and giving users the option to remap it. Only, Samsung is still not giving up on Bixby yet. The button in the Galaxy S10 (and other Galaxy phones post the One UI update) will let users assign a third-party function but it will still have one more functionality – a single press and a double press. Should users assign one of the presses to something, the other will automatically switch to Bixby. And, a press and hold, will still summon Bixby like before.  

While not exactly a complete solution, it’s surely another step in the right direction, one that users will likely appreciate. As for Bixby, well, Bixby is still Bixby. Although Samsung continues to add more features to the platform – this year it is adding routines and the ability to recognize a wider range of objects.     

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