Samsung Galaxy S21 Series One UI 6.1 Update Tracker

Check out One UI 6.0 progress for your Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra with our most up-to-date update tracker. We regularly update this article with the latest information so you always stay up-to-date.

Also Read: Check Out Galaxy AI Features [Video]

Galaxy S21 Series Software Update Policy

Samsung has promised to offer four generations of OS updates to the Galaxy S21 series. Since the S21 phones were released with Android 11, the next OS update – Android 15 – will be the final one. Before that, the phones will get One UI 6.1 update.

What’s New in One UI 6.1?

The Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra are getting Galaxy AI features, but not most of them. Samsung only offers Circle to Search and Chat Assist as the Galaxy AI features to the S21 models.

Here are other changes the latest update has to offer:

• More accurate image clipping
• Copy an object from one image and paste it to another
• Improved Gallery search feature
• Edit video playback speed
• Add depth-of-field effects to the home screen and lock screen wallpapers
• New lock screen widgets
• More font options for the clock widget on the lock screen
• Add background to alarms
• More customization for alarms and reminders
• Ability to change the order of modes
• Turn on/off modes from the home screen
• New Routines settings
• New Samsung Find app (for location sharing with other devices and finding lost devices)
• Ability to create a Samsung account for children
• Samsung Internet allows sharing tab groups with other devices
• New Samsung Health options
• Easier access to video call effects
• More information in the weather widget
• Open all minimized apps at once
• More battery protection features
• Share video editing state with other Galaxy devices

Also Read:
One UI 7 (Android 15) Eligible Galaxy Devices

Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra One UI 6.1 Progress

We’re regularly updating this section with the latest One UI 6.1 information. Make sure to follow us on Telegram to never miss any updates.

[May 14, 2024]: Samsung Galaxy S21 models are now getting the One UI 6.1 update in Canada.

[May 13, 2024]: One UI 6.1 is already rolling out the locked Galaxy S21 models, and now it’s available for the unlocked models as well. The update is rolling out with the following firmware version:

• Galaxy S21: G991U1UEUAGXDE
• Galaxy S21+: G996U1UEUAGXDE
• Galaxy S21 Ultra: G998U1UEUAGXDE 

The software package doesn’t include the May security patch, still a month older April security patch.

[May 11, 2024]: The One UI 6.1 update for the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra is now rolling out in the US. Currently, it’s available for the locked models on the Verizon network, but it won’t take long to expand to remaining carriers and unlocked models.

According to the official changelog, the update brings Circle to Search, Battery protection, an improved Gallery app, and a new Alarm app with alarm backgrounds and an updated world clock to show sunrise and sunset details.

The changelog doesn’t include more features. However, in a recent press conference, Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy S21 models are also getting the Chat Assist feature with the One UI 6.1 update.

[May 10, 2024]: A week after the One UI 6.1 started rolling out to the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra in Korea, Samsung is expanding it to Europe. If you have any Galaxy S21 models (except S21 FE) and live in Europe, check if an update is available to download and install.

The update is rolling out in Europe with the following firmware versions:

• Galaxy S21: G991BXXUAGXDA
• Galaxy S21+: G996BXXUAGXDA
• Galaxy S21 Ultra: G998BXXUAGXDA

[May 2, 2024]: Surprise! One UI 6.1 update starts rolling out to the Galaxy S21 series. Currently, the update is available in South Korea, with more regions to follow very soon.

The Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra are getting One UI 6.1 update with Galaxy AI, but you may hate Samsung for this. In the name of Galaxy AI, the company has only added the “Circle to Search with Google” feature.

[March 27, 2024]: Samsung’s One UI 6.1 rollout begins, starting with the Galaxy S23 series. There’s no official rollout schedule yet for the S21 series, but we can expect it to be released at the end of April or early May 2024.

[March 20, 2024]: You can still hope for Galaxy AI features on the Galaxy S21 series. During Samsung’s 55th annual general shareholders meeting held earlier today, the company’s MX CEO TM Roh said he is reviewing if Galaxy AI features can be brought to older phones.

This doesn’t mean that Galaxy AI features are coming to the Galaxy S21 series for sure, but there’s some hope, at least.

[March 15, 2024]: The Samsung Galaxy S21 series is receiving a new software update in Malaysia. It’s based on One UI 6 and brings the March 2024 security patch to fix dozens of vulnerabilities found in the previous software version.

[March 13, 2024]: Verizon is rolling out the March 2024 security patch update for the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra models in the US. Hopefully, this will be the last security patch before Samsung starts rolling out the One UI 6.1 update for new models.

[February 29, 2024]: The Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra users in India are receiving the February 2024 security patch update.

[February 21, 2024]: Samsung has now officially confirmed that One UI 6.1 will start rolling out in late March 2024. Sadly, this rollout timeline is for devices that are eligible for Galaxy AI, which includes the Galaxy S23 series, S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Flip 5, and Galaxy Tab S9 series.

Samsung didn’t announce when the next One UI upgrade will be available for older devices that won’t get Galaxy AI, such as the Galaxy S22 and S21 series.

[February 19, 2024]: Samsung expands the February security patch to Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra users in Korea.

[February 12, 2024]: The February security patch for the Galaxy S21 series is now available on the unlocked models in the US. It should be available to unlocked models in the coming days.

[February 7, 2024]: The February 2024 security patch update is now live for Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra. This means the One UI 6.1 update could be on its way and may arrive soon.

The February update for the Galaxy S21 series is currently rolling out in Switzerland and should expand to more and more regions in the coming days.

[January 24, 2024]: A Samsung Community moderator has revealed that One UI 6.1 update will come to the Galaxy S21 series after the February 2024 security patch.

He also revealed that the February security patch will be distributed to the S21 series phones between mid-February to last-February.

[January 23, 2024]: A Samsung executive told Tech Radar, “For now, we’re limiting Galaxy AI to last-gen devices.” It means that the Galaxy S21 series won’t get Galaxy AI features. However, the phones are eligible for the One UI 6.1 update, which should also bring a bundle of improvements to the device and several new features as well.

[January 18, 2024]: Samsung has revealed the initial batch of devices that’ll get the One UI 6.1 update with Galaxy AI features in H1 2024. Here’s what Samsung said to Android Authority:

Many of the Galaxy AI features introduced on Galaxy S24 will also be supported on previous models including Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5, and Galaxy Tab S9 series within 1H 2024. Please stay tuned for more details.

Though the above statement from Samsung doesn’t mention S21 phones, the word “including” means that more devices could get the Galaxy AI features before June 2024. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the S21 series.

[January 17, 2024]: During the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event, Samsung announced that Galaxy AI features will come to select premium older Galaxy devices. However, they didn’t reveal the names of the eligible devices.

[January 16, 2024]: Samsung is internally testing One UI 6.1 builds on the Galaxy S21 series phones. It has been spotted on the test servers in Europe and India with the build version G998BXXU9GXA5/G998BOXM9GXA5/G998BXXU9GXA5.