10 Hidden Galaxy Z Flip Features (Z Flip 8, 7, 6 and Older)

The best hidden Galaxy Z Flip features live on the cover screen and in the half-folded Flex mode: running full apps on the FlexWindow, hands-free selfies with the main camera, a laptop-style touchpad, and quick replies without opening the phone. Most work on the current Z Flip 8 and last year's Z Flip 7, and several go back to the Flip 6, 5 and 4.

Samsung released the Z Flip 8 in summer 2026 with One UI 9 and the same 4.1-inch FlexWindow size as the Flip 7. The tips below come from Samsung's own support pages for each model (for example its Z Flip 7 FlexWindow guide), and the table near the end shows which Flip supports what.

Cover screen (FlexWindow) features

1. Run full apps on the cover screen

Out of the box, the FlexWindow shows widgets and notifications, not regular apps. Samsung hides full-app support in Labs. Go to Settings > Advanced features > Labs > Apps allowed on cover screen, turn on the top switch, then pick the apps you want. For apps that aren't on the list, tap Get MultiStar, enable the Launcher widget, and add any app to it. Now Google Maps, WhatsApp or YouTube run on the closed phone. Some apps aren't optimized for the small screen, so expect the odd cropped layout.

2. Learn the four cover screen swipes

Double-tap the FlexWindow to wake it, then swipe down for quick settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, screen recorder, modes), right for notifications, left for widgets and apps, and up for Samsung Wallet once you've set it up. On an incoming call, swipe right to answer or left to decline. These gestures mean you open the phone far less often.

3. Pinch to see every widget at once

Swipe left on the cover screen and pinch with two fingers to see all your widgets as tiles instead of scrolling one at a time. To add or remove widgets, touch and hold, tap Edit, and open the phone when prompted. On the Flip 8, Samsung says the cover home layout now syncs with the main home screen.

4. Reply to messages without opening the phone

On the Flip 6 and later, Galaxy AI suggests replies on the cover screen: swipe up on a notification or open conversation to see them. One catch Samsung notes: suggested replies don't appear if Cover Screen apps (tip 1) or Good Lock are turned on, so you choose one setup or the other.

Camera features most owners miss

5. Take selfies with the main camera

With the phone closed, double-press the side button to open the camera on the FlexWindow, and shoot with the 50 MP rear camera instead of the smaller camera above the inner screen. Samsung calls this FlexCam. The preview on the cover screen shows you exactly what the main camera sees.

6. Use the phone as its own tripod, with Auto Zoom and a palm gesture

Fold the Flip partway, between 75 and 115 degrees on the Flip 7, and stand it on a table. FlexCam previews on the cover screen, Auto Zoom reframes as people step forward or back, and holding up your palm starts the timer. If you wear a Galaxy Watch 4 or later, its Camera Controller acts as a remote shutter.

7. Mirror View and Flip Shot (Z Flip 8 only)

The Flip 8 adds two cover screen tricks that need One UI 9. Mirror View turns the FlexWindow into a live mirror at up to 120 fps, with zoom and edge lighting. Flip Shot puts a photo, GIF or text on the cover screen while you take a mirror selfie, so the back of the phone becomes part of the picture. Samsung lists both as Flip 8 exclusives.

Flex mode and multitasking features

8. Turn the bottom half into a touchpad

Open an app, then fold the phone halfway. The app moves to the top half and a control panel appears below, with notifications, screenshot, brightness and volume. Tap the rightmost icon to start a touchpad and move a cursor like on a laptop, which is handy for scrubbing through a video on a table. Choose which apps show the panel in Settings > Advanced features > Flex mode panel. Samsung lists support from the Z Flip 3 through the Z Flip 8.

9. Drag a link into split screen

Touch and hold a web link or a notification, then drag it to the top, bottom or center of the screen. It opens in split screen or a pop-up window without leaving the app you were in. For faster splits, turn on "Swipe for split screen" in Settings > Advanced features > Multi window and swipe up from the bottom with two fingers. Apps stay open when you fold into Flex mode.

10. Keep using an app after you close the phone

Samsung calls this app continuity. To carry an app over to the cover screen, set it to full screen under Settings > Display > Full screen apps and allow it as a cover screen app (tip 1); it then continues on the FlexWindow after you fold. Good for finishing a voice note or following map directions as you walk out the door.

Which features work on the Z Flip 7, 6, 5 and 4?

Feature	Models Samsung documents it for
Flex mode panel and touchpad (tip 8)	Z Flip 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7 FE and 8
Full apps on the cover screen via Labs (tip 1)	Z Flip 6 and Z Flip 7; Flip 8 adds a customizable app tray
AI suggested replies on the cover (tip 4)	Z Flip 6 and later
FlexCam with Auto Zoom (tips 5 and 6)	Z Flip 6, 7 and 8
Palm gesture timer and Watch shutter (tip 6)	Z Flip 7 and 8
Mirror View and Flip Shot (tip 7)	Z Flip 8 only, with One UI 9

The big jump came with the Flip 5, whose Flex Window Samsung describes as 3.78 times larger than the Flip 4's cover screen. On a Flip 4 or Flip 5, the Flex mode tips (8 and 9) are the safe bets; the cover screen features depend on which One UI version your carrier has delivered, so update first under Settings > Software update and then look for each setting by name.

What kind of case works with a Z Flip?

A Flip case has two jobs a regular case doesn't: it must leave the FlexWindow fully visible, and it must let the hinge fold to any angle for Flex mode. Venito's Lucca for the Flip is full-grain cowhide with a suede lining and shock-absorbing padding, cut for each model's ports and cameras, and it works with Qi wireless chargers. Look at the product photos to see how the FlexWindow and hinge sit before you order. Choose Lucca for Galaxy Z Flip 7 ($59), Lucca for Z Flip 6 ($59), Lucca for Z Flip 5 ($59) or Lucca for Z Flip 4 ($49). Lucca currently covers the Flip 4 through Flip 7; each generation's hinge and camera cutouts differ, so the cases are not interchangeable.

If you own a Fold rather than a Flip, Venito's Trieste is a leather folio wallet with RFID shielding, a card holder and a stand. See Trieste for Galaxy Z Fold 7, and browse every Galaxy size in the Samsung case collection. Full-grain leather darkens where your hand holds it, and on a folding phone you handle constantly that patina shows quickly; our guide to leather patina explains why.

FAQ

Why don't I see "Apps allowed on cover screen"?

It sits under Settings > Advanced features > Labs, not under Cover screen settings. Update to the latest One UI if Labs is missing. Remember that turning it on disables AI suggested replies on the cover.

Does a case stop Flex mode from working?

A case made for your exact Flip model should leave the hinge able to hold its angles. Generic or stiff hinge covers are the usual culprits. If Flex mode feels different after fitting a case, check that the case halves aren't pressing on the hinge.

Is the Z Flip 8 water resistant?

Samsung rates the Z Flip 8 IP48, the same as the Flip 7. The 8 means protection against water immersion; the 4 only covers solid objects larger than 1 mm, so keep it away from sand and fine dust.

Can I use the main camera for video selfies too?

Yes. FlexCam works for video as well as photos, and on the Flip 8 Dual Recording can capture both perspectives in a split view.

Turn on the Flex mode panel and the cover screen apps from Labs first, since those two change the Flip the most. Then fit a case cut for your exact model, such as Lucca for the Z Flip 7. If you are still deciding between a foldable and a slab phone, our iPhone vs Samsung comparison covers the wider lineups, and the leather phone case buying guide explains what separates a good case from a cheap one.

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