Samsung DeX Rebuilt: Z Fold 7 Gets Major Desktop Update

Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 just picked up a substantial One UI 8 update that reshapes mobile productivity. The headline is not the bullet list of features, it is that Samsung completely rebuilt DeX on top of Google's Desktop Mode, a sharp turn in how it thinks about mobile desktop computing.

The timing is telling. The update rolled out in South Korea last week and is now available in the U.S., and it feels like more than a routine tune-up. It tackles pain points DeX users have complained about for years, while laying groundwork that can benefit from Google's ongoing Android desktop work.

What's actually new in DeX mode?

Let's get specific. DeX now supports home screen widgets, a dedicated full-screen button, pinning any app to the taskbar, and new keyboard settings. If you've used DeX before, you know the drill, basic conveniences were either buried or missing. Now they are front and center.

The widget support matters. You can now add widgets to your Home screen on a connected display, so glancing at weather, calendar events, or system stats no longer means opening an app first. Small change, big productivity feel.

The taskbar finally grows up. The update adds features to DeX such as the ability to add any app to the taskbar, which sounds obvious but was not always possible. Even better, Samsung previously hid the full-screen option in a menu, and this feature is now arriving on the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 with a dedicated button. One click, full screen. No more spelunking through menus.

Keyboard customization also gets a real fix. New keyboard settings under Settings > Connected devices > Samsung DeX allow control over when and where the on-screen keyboard appears. If you bounce between a physical keyboard and touch input, the new controls save you from wrestling with inconsistent behavior.

Now Bar gets smarter with Google Finance integration

If you watch markets, this is the bit that pops. The update also adds Google Finance stock alerts to the Now Bar and new "next" and "previous" media controls to Now Brief. The Finance tie-in is not just another widget.

With Google Finance in the Now Bar, you can receive stock alerts for major price changes at the end of the trading day, you can check stock prices without unlocking, and stocks you follow on Google Finance with significant price changes will appear on your Now bar at the end of the trading day. Less app hopping, more signal.

For active investors or anyone managing a portfolio, this trims the reflex to peek at a finance app every hour. Significant movements find you. That is how a foldable starts to feel like it earns its premium.

Samsung also tuned media controls to match daily use. The update adds new media controls to Now Brief, including 'next' and 'previous' buttons for skip tracks during read-aloud playback. And while the new media controls may not currently work with Bluetooth headset controls but are expected to be improved in future updates, the intent is clear, make the Now Bar genuinely useful, not just filler.

The bigger picture: rebuilding DeX from the ground up

The real story is the architecture. Samsung rebuilt DeX on Google's Desktop Mode, the new version of DeX is currently a bit of a downgrade, but Samsung is addressing common complaints, which signals a transition period, not a finish line.

Strategically, it adds up. Any improvements Google makes to Android's native Desktop Mode should carry over to DeX, so Samsung can focus on its value adds while benefiting from Google's broader investments. Maintaining a fully separate desktop stack is a grind, especially as Android keeps evolving.

There are rough edges. DeX currently lacks the ability to disable mouse continuity between displays, but this is expected to change in a future One UI release. And yes, the new DeX still needs a few features to reach parity with the classic version, but Samsung is working to close the gap.

The scope is big, both updates have download sizes of over 700MB, with firmware versions F766NKSU4AYI1 for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and F966NKSU4AYI1 for the Galaxy Z Fold 7. That is not a tiny patch, it is a system overhaul.

Where do we go from here?

This One UI 8 update feels larger than a standard refresh. Samsung is laying the base for a tighter, more capable desktop experience that leans on its own ideas and Google's platform moves. The widget support, better taskbar, and Google Finance integration show intent, turn these foldables into real productivity machines, not just party tricks.

Samsung makes DeX more customizable in One UI 8 and adds new media controls to Now Brief, and Samsung DeX users are discovering major changes to the desktop experience. That momentum suggests more to come.

For Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 owners, the download is worth it. It is not just about new toggles, it is a more refined, capable mobile computing setup that edges closer to the laptop you keep saying you will leave at home. On paper the changes may look incremental, in daily use they stack up, especially if DeX previously tested your patience.

Bottom line, Samsung is playing the long game on foldable productivity. By rebuilding on Google's foundation and layering its own enhancements, it positions these devices to benefit from Android's desktop progress while keeping a competitive edge. If you have not updated yet, now is a good time to see what the fuss is about.