Samsung's One UI 9 can block distracting apps at the network level
Samsung is testing a focus tool in One UI 9 that goes further than anything Apple or Google currently offer: instead of greying out an app icon, it cuts the app's internet connection entirely. The feature — called "Network management for concentration" — was found inside the Connectivity Labs section of the One UI 9 beta by Android Authority, and it's still experimental. There's no guarantee it survives to the stable release.
The lock, not the nudge
Standard screen-time tools on Android and iOS set a timer, then show a warning screen you can dismiss with a tap. Samsung's approach is different. The feature blocks internet access at the system level for chosen apps or entire categories — social media, browsers, games, and streaming services. Open Instagram during a block and you'll see the feed spin indefinitely, because the data simply isn't coming through. Getting around it isn't as simple as adjusting a time limit.
To stop you from caving in a weak moment, the feature requires a six-digit PIN to modify or disable. That friction is the point: the extra seconds it takes to type in a code give your brain a chance to remember what you were supposed to be doing.
Scheduled blocks and what's actually available
A companion mode called Downtime lets you set a recurring schedule — say, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays — during which distracting categories lose their connection automatically. When the window ends, access restores itself without any manual input.
The Samsung Newsroom confirms the One UI 9 beta is live for Galaxy S26 series owners in the US, UK, Germany, Poland, South Korea, and India. The stable release is expected in July 2026, tied to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 launch. Beta testers can find the concentration feature inside the hidden Connectivity Labs menu — but because it sits in a labs section rather than the main settings, Samsung hasn't officially announced it and could drop it before the final build ships.
Worth watching, not banking on
Neither Google's Digital Wellbeing nor Apple's Screen Time currently offer system-level network blocking — both rely on app-layer timers that are comparatively easy to dismiss. If Samsung ships this feature intact, it would be a meaningful step up for anyone who has found standard screen-time limits too easy to ignore. The PIN-gated design also makes it a credible parental control option, not just a personal productivity tool.
That's a significant if, though. Features discovered in experimental menus don't always make the cut. For now, it's one to watch when the stable One UI 9 update arrives later this summer.
