Samsung quietly revived this immersive DeX feature is attracting attention across the tech world. Analysts, enthusiasts, and industry observers are watching closely to see how this story develops.
This update adds another signal to a fast-moving sector where product decisions, platform changes, and competition can quickly shape the market.
Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
Samsung’s DeX mode underwent massive changes last year, as the company dropped its legacy desktop experience in favor of a rebuilt mode in partnership with Google. Unfortunately, this rebuilt experience lacked several legacy DeX features, including a toggle to automatically hide the taskbar. Thankfully, a One UI 8.5 update brings good news.
A recent One UI 8.5 update for the Galaxy S26 series has resurrected the Auto hide taskbar toggle. This feature can be accessed by tapping Settings > Connected Devices > Samsung DeX > Connected Display. You can then scroll down and find the toggle below the screen timeout option.
We’re glad to see this toggle in DeX once again, as it means we’ve now got an easier way to hide the taskbar when going full-screen. Samsung’s rebuilt DeX did let you enter an immersive mode when maximizing an app, although it wasn’t very intuitive. This entailed clicking and holding on the maximize button until a menu popped up, then tapping the immersive option. This would indeed hide the taskbar, but Samsung didn’t make this option easy to find. So the auto-hide toggle is a far more convenient solution.
Samsung has also revived a couple of other legacy features since it launched the rebuilt DeX. This includes the on-screen keyboard location option and a toggle to output sound through the connected display. In any event, we hope the company continues to revive old features and bring new additions to its desktop experience.
Thank you for being part of our community. Read our Comment Policy before posting.
Why This Matters
This development may influence user expectations, future product strategy, and the competitive balance inside the broader technology industry.
Companies in adjacent segments often react quickly to similar moves, which is why stories like this tend to matter beyond a single announcement.
Looking Ahead
The full impact will become clearer over time, but the story already highlights how quickly the modern tech landscape can evolve.
Observers will continue tracking the next steps and how they affect products, users, and the wider market.
