Samsung released a new One UI 9 build for the Galaxy S26 Ultra in South Korea on October 26, 2026. It may matter if your phone freezes on the setup screen, but Samsung has not said that this update fixes the bug. A Samsung moderator acknowledged the freeze a week earlier, on October 20, and promised a fix in an upcoming over-the-air update. Here is what we know and what is still unconfirmed.

What is new in the October 26 Galaxy S26 Ultra update?

Our firmware feed lists the Galaxy S26 Ultra South Korea build as S948NKSU5BZJB, with an October 5, 2026 security patch level. The feed notes describe a security policy update.

Sammy Fans says the update may address the freeze, but its changelog only lists stability improvements and security fixes. Nothing official ties it to the setup bug yet, so treat the fix as unconfirmed until Samsung says otherwise.

The same notes say that once this build is installed, the phone can’t be downgraded to older software with a weaker security patch level. Read our downgrade guide before you try any rollback.

What is the Galaxy S26 Ultra setup freeze?

Affected phones freeze on the setup screen during Samsung Account sign-in. Only some units are hit. According to a Sammy Fans report, the problem seems to be tied to Samsung Account sign-in on certain mobile networks.

What did Samsung say about the freeze?

The moderator confirmed the issue on October 20, 2026, and said it would be addressed with the next OTA update. That statement is a week old, and Samsung has not added anything since. Samsung has not yet published a changelog entry that names the bug.

The reports so far come from South Korea, where One UI 9 has been rolling out in stages. Our One UI 9 stable rollout post for South Korea covers that earlier release. We have not seen confirmed cases of the same freeze from other regions.

What should you do if your Galaxy S26 Ultra is stuck?

Two workarounds came up in the community reports. They are not a Samsung fix, so try them as steps, not guarantees.

  1. Switch from mobile data to a Wi-Fi network while you are on the setup screen.
  2. Sign in to your Samsung Account through the official Samsung Account website, the route the moderator recommended.

If the phone is still stuck after both steps, the reports don’t offer a tested alternative yet. Our October 2026 security bulletin post lists what the monthly patch covers, which is useful if you are checking a build before you install it.

For the latest One UI 9 builds on your model, check our One UI 9 update tracker, which lists the Galaxy models, regions and builds we track.

FAQ

Has Samsung confirmed the Galaxy S26 Ultra setup freeze?

Samsung has acknowledged the issue through a moderator on the Samsung Members community, according to Sammy Fans. It has not published a full official explanation or a specific fix in its release notes.

Does the October 26 update fix the setup freeze?

Not confirmed. Samsung has not named the update that fixes it. The October 26 South Korea build may address the problem, but its changelog does not mention the setup freeze.

Can you downgrade after installing the October 26 update?

Our firmware feed notes say the new South Korea build blocks downgrades to older software with a lower security patch level. Check the notes for your own model and region before you flash anything.

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