Samsung has rolled out a crucial tweak to the virtual power button in its quick settings panel with the One UI 9 Beta 4 update, resolving a major user frustration.

The change, which debuted in the latest beta build for the Galaxy S26 series, gives control back to the users. Samsung has introduced a new settings option that lets you decide whether to enable strict lockdown mode, replacing the mandatory auto-lock feature from previous versions.

In earlier beta builds, tapping the virtual power button in the notification shade to turn off the device automatically triggered an advanced lockdown mode. The screen would immediately go black, disabling both fingerprint and facial recognition. Users were forced to manually enter their PIN or password to unlock the phone—a major daily annoyance.

Beta 4 completely revamps this mechanism. Now, pressing the virtual power button simply brings up the standard power-off or restart menu. If you dismiss this menu, the phone immediately returns to your active app, rather than abruptly locking you out and bumping you to the lock screen.

For those who prefer the stricter security protocols, Samsung has added a dedicated toggle in the Secure Lock settings. Notably, this change applies only to the virtual power button. Long-pressing the physical power button on the side of the device will still initiate the lockdown mechanism to protect your data when necessary.