Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
In summary
- Auto Blocker is enabled by default on Galaxy devices running One UI 6.1. 1, including Samsung’s latest foldable phones.
- This feature automatically blocks installation of apps from unauthorized sources.
- Fortunately, it’s easy to disable Auto Blocker if you want to sideload an app.
There are plenty of useful Android apps that aren’t distributed through Google’s Play Store or an OEM’s app store, which is a major reason why many power users and open-source enthusiasts advocate sideloading for continued accessibility on Android. On the other hand, installing third-party apps can be risky for less tech-savvy users, as they may not have the know-how to properly vet an app, its developer, or its source. While pre-installed app stores are far from perfect, they do implement several checks that can catch some malicious apps before they impact users. To this end, Samsung has decided to block users from sideloading apps from unauthorized sources, starting with new Galaxy smartphones and tablets launching with One UI 6.1.1.
Technically, Android blocks sideloading by default at the operating system level. The permission needed to silently install new apps without asking the user, INSTALL_PACKAGEScan only be granted to pre-installed app stores like the Google Play Store, and it is automatically granted to apps that request it. The permission that most third-party app stores end up using is REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGESmust be explicitly granted by the user. Even then, Android will prompt the user every time an app with this permission tries to install a new app.
Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature goes a step further. First introduced in One UI 6.0, the feature completely blocks the installation of apps from unauthorized sources, even if those sources are the REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES permission.
When Auto Blocker is enabled, only the Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy Store can install new apps or update existing apps.
Q. When I try to install the downloaded APK file, a pop-up appears saying that the app cannot be installed.
A. The Auto Blocker feature automatically blocks files downloaded from sources other than authorized stores, such as Galaxy Store or Play Store. If the app is found to be safe, temporarily disable this feature and try again.
Auto Blocker is an optional feature in One UI 6.0 that users need to manually enable by going to Settings > Security & Privacy > Auto-BlockHowever, with the release of One UI 6.1. 1, Samsung has made some notable changes to Auto Blocker, including the addition of a new Maximum Restrictions mode that we previously reported on. One of these changes is to enable Auto Blocker by default for Galaxy devices released with One UI 6.1. 1, as noted on a Samsung support page.
Q. Apps that I installed and used fine on my previous device are not installed on my new device.
A. The Auto Blocker feature automatically blocks files downloaded from sources other than authorized stores. For Galaxy devices released with One UI 6.1. 1, the Auto Blocker feature is set to On by default. If the app is deemed safe, temporarily disable this feature and try again.
Currently, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are the only Galaxy devices launching with One UI 6.1. 1 out of the box. These two phones are only just getting into the hands of early adopters, so it’s unlikely many users will have experienced the change yet.
Additionally, Samsung notes that the setting value for Auto Blocker is supported by Smart Switch, which means that Auto Blocker will be disabled in One UI 6.1. 1 if users restore data from a previous One UI version where it was disabled. Many early adopters of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Galaxy Z Flip 6 likely own previous Samsung foldables that they’ve restored data from, which is likely why many reviewers, myself included, initially missed this change.
How to Enable Auto Blocker
You can enable or disable the Auto Lock feature in the phone settings.
* The default setting for Auto Lock is On in the phone’s initial setup wizard, but you can also change this setting to Off during initial setup.
* For devices updated to One UI 6.1.1 from a previous One UI version, the setting value for Auto Blocker will remain the same as you previously set.
Either way, we’ll likely soon see complaints on online forums about sideloading being blocked on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, thanks to Auto Blocker. Thankfully, turning off Auto Blocker is very easy.
How to Disable Auto Blocker in One UI 6.1.1
To disable Auto Blocker on your Samsung Galaxy phone running One UI 6.1. 1 and later, follow these steps:
- Open Institutions
- Scroll down and tap Security and privacy
- Scroll down and tap Automatic blocking
- Tap the switch to turn off Auto Blocker. The operating system will ask you to authenticate yourself before the feature can be turned off.
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
Once you disable Auto Blocker in One UI 6.1. 1, you will again be able to sideload apps from sources other than the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store. If you don’t feel comfortable sideloading apps in general, or want to take advantage of the other security features Auto Blocker offers, feel free to turn it back on. You don’t have to disable it permanently to sideload an app or two.