Samsung has released the first beta version of One UI 8.5 for Galaxy devices, introducing the Storage Share feature that enables users to view files from other Samsung phones, tablets, and PCs directly within the My Files app on their Galaxy phone.
This update allows bidirectional access, permitting a Galaxy phone’s files to be viewed on other Samsung devices, including televisions, as detailed in the changelog. According to Android Authority, the feature appears in the My Files app on devices running the beta software. On a Galaxy S25 Ultra equipped with One UI 8.5 beta, Storage Share activates via a simple toggle switch. Once enabled, the shared storage from connected devices displays under the external storage section of the app.
Testing confirmed the functionality across devices. Paul Jones, a colleague, successfully accessed files stored on his Galaxy Z Fold 7 using the S25 Ultra. He viewed the contents remotely without issues. However, the interface did not support immediate saving of those files to the S25 Ultra or initiating a Quick Share transfer directly from within Storage Share.
The implementation supports cross-device workflows by facilitating file management between Samsung ecosystem products. Users can generate presentations or capture photos on one device and proceed to edit them on another Samsung gadget. Similarly, phone content becomes viewable on a Samsung TV without requiring screen casting or mirroring.
Alongside Storage Share, One UI 8.5 includes enhancements to Quick Share. The sharing tool now detects individuals identified as friends or family members within photos and prompts users to share those specific images with them. The method of facial recognition remains unspecified, with possibilities including local AI processing on the device or cloud-based analysis. Local processing would maintain user privacy by avoiding data transmission to external servers.
The changelog further specifies control options for incoming transfers. Users can configure Quick Share to accept files solely from devices logged into their Samsung account or Google account. Prior versions of the software on Galaxy phones supported restrictions to Google account-signed devices only. The addition of Samsung account-specific filtering represents an expansion of these security measures.
