Samsung is testing a native custom widget creator in an early build of One UI 9.5, allowing users to build modular widgets—called “My Custom Widget” or “Make Your Own Widget”—directly from the home screen settings. The feature surfaced in code from a leaked build, showing Split-Layout widgets that combine two app modules in a single tile without needing the full app to launch.([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/20/samsungs-custom-widgets-show-up-in-one-ui-9-5/))
What We Know So Far
One UI 9.5 is being developed alongside Android 17 and will power Samsung’s upcoming devices, including its latest foldables.([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/20/samsungs-custom-widgets-show-up-in-one-ui-9-5/)) In the screenshots shared by a well-known leak account, the tool lets users pick two or more modules—like calendar and messaging—to show up together in one widget tile. The modules are independently interactive, linked directly to the respective functions, without a full app wrapper.([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/20/samsungs-custom-widgets-show-up-in-one-ui-9-5/))
Samsung’s new tool appears similar to a custom widget feature Google revealed in May 2026, which also lets users build widgets from scratch by describing what info they want (weather, alerts, countdowns, etc.). That rollout was set to include both Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices.([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/20/samsungs-custom-widgets-show-up-in-one-ui-9-5/)) While Samsung’s version isn’t yet finalized, the idea seems to echo Google’s approach: modular, flexible, user-driven widget creation.([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/20/samsungs-custom-widgets-show-up-in-one-ui-9-5/))
Potential Ties and Bump from Daily Brief
Some elements of this feature may work alongside Samsung’s existing Daily Brief panel, which already lets users surface custom information on lock screen or always-on displays. But as things stand, Daily Brief’s custom sections are viewed by insiders as underdeveloped compared to what this new widget tool might bring.([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/20/samsungs-custom-widgets-show-up-in-one-ui-9-5/))
No confirmed launch date is available yet. Because the custom widget tool was spotted in an unreleased One UI 9.5 build, Samsung may need more time to polish it. It’s plausible the feature could land as part of the end-summer updates for Galaxy phones.([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/20/samsungs-custom-widgets-show-up-in-one-ui-9-5/))
This marks an interesting evolution in Android home screens. Custom widget builders are becoming more common, driven by advancements in AI, modular UI design, and user demand for personalization. Samsung embracing this supports a broader trend: users want control over information at a glance, without a bunch of excess. What to watch: how flexible the creation tools will be, what modules are supported at launch, and whether this becomes a core differentiation point between Samsung and its Android peers like Google and others. Future updates may show whether this tool is merely catch-up or a new high bar for Android customization.
