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Cybersecurity

Samsung Auto Blocker Shields Galaxy Phones From Risky Apps, but Sideloading Gets Harder

Samsung Galaxy phones with One UI 6.0 or later include Auto Blocker, a default security feature that blocks risky app installs, USB commands and message images. Engadget reports that the tool also complicates sideloading, though Samsung recommends keeping it on.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-18 02:12

Auto Blocker is enabled by default on devices that ship with One UI 6.1.1 or later. It filters out apps, USB commands and messages that could put the device at risk. Its main job is to stop app installation from outside the Google Play Store or Samsung's Galaxy Store, closing off a common way malware ends up on a phone. It also blocks malicious commands sent through a USB cable, which matters when charging with a public cable, and filters images suspected of containing malicious code in messaging apps including Samsung Messages, Google Messages, Messenger, WhatsApp and Telegram.

Samsung offers a Maximum restrictions mode for stronger protection. That mode blocks device admin apps and work profiles, disables 2G network connections, prevents auto-reconnection to unsecured Wi-Fi and strips location data from shared photos. It increases security at the expense of convenience.

Epic Games sued Google and Samsung in 2024, arguing that Auto Blocker combined with existing Play Store and Galaxy Store flows forced users to take more than 20 steps to download the Epic Games Store. The lawsuit was dropped after Epic reached an agreement with Samsung, but Auto Blocker remained.

Users who need to sideload an app or run a developer tool can turn Auto Blocker off by going to Settings > Security and privacy > Auto Blocker and tapping the toggle. They must authenticate before switching it off. On phones running One UI 8.5 or later, users can enable an option that automatically turns Auto Blocker back on 30 minutes after it is disabled.

Samsung recommends keeping Auto Blocker on, and Engadget says that is sound advice for most users because the feature guards against malicious apps, unauthorized USB access and tampered software updates. The trade-offs are real for users who rely on open-source apps or sideloaded tools. Engadget suggests leaving Auto Blocker enabled by default and disabling it only when there is a specific reason to install something from outside official app stores, then turning it back on. Other protections, including Google Play Protect, can still help guard against malicious apps, but users should verify the source of anything they install from outside official app stores.