Samsung is pushing lock screen customization a step further on Galaxy phones. A fresh LockStar update expands Samsung unlock animations, giving you a quick way to make your phone feel different every time you unlock it. It’s simple, and it’s instantly noticeable.
The Galaxy Store notes for LockStar 8.5.00.8 highlight added “Unlock Animation” effects and One UI 8.5 support, alongside a few quality of life tweaks. There’s one catch, Samsung doesn’t spell out which models get every feature, or when it lands everywhere.
Unlock animations take center stage
The headline change is the new unlock effects menu inside LockStar, with hundreds of animations to choose from. That’s a lot more variety than most people expect from a lock screen tweak.
The same version number and calls out the One UI 8.5 requirement. Samsung’s own notes confirm the feature exists, but it doesn’t confirm an exact count or whether the full list is identical across devices.
It’s not just eye candy
This update also aims at everyday usability. LockStar 8.5.00.8 adds manual Always On Display brightness control for full screen AOD models. If your screen is too bright in a dark room, this is the fix you’ll actually use.
Samsung also mentions a new “Text” feature for phones running One UI 8.0 or higher, which allows you to add custom text on your lock screen. On top of that, it addresses a fingerprint effect issue and adjusts widget corner rounding, small changes that can make the lock screen look cleaner.
How to try it now
To check it out, open the Galaxy Store and update LockStar to version 8.5.00.8. Then head into LockStar and look for the “Unlock Animation” setting. Tap around and pick one you’ll enjoy seeing daily.
If you install the update and don’t see the full animation controls, your One UI version is the likely blocker. Keep an eye out for One UI 8.5 on your model, then revisit LockStar once your phone is updated.
