Samsung Requires Account to Unlock Full Foldable Phone Screen Features
Samsung has announced that owners of the Galaxy Z Flip8 foldable phone must create a Samsung account to fully exploit the external screen’s capabilities, even though the device runs Android and can operate without any extra account.
Technical reasons and requirements
Certain Galaxy AI tools, such as AI‑powered photo and video editing, require a cloud connection and a Samsung account, which the company justifies as a security measure. Moreover, the MultiStar app is not available on Google Play; it is only distributed through the Galaxy Store, which mandates a Samsung login.
MultiStar enables up to fifty apps to run on the 4.1‑inch external display, including WhatsApp, Spotify and Google Maps. Without it, the external screen supports only a limited set of Samsung‑selected apps.
Background and system support
Samsung has rolled out improvements in One UI 9, yet third‑party app support on the external screen remains in the experimental Labs section. Consequently, a Samsung account is essential to install MultiStar and unlock the screen’s full potential.
This requirement raises privacy concerns for users who wish to avoid extra accounts, but it aligns with Samsung’s strategy to unify the user experience across its cloud services.
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