Galaxy S26 Ultra users may soon be able to keep a floating video private without sacrificing access to the rest of the display. One UI 9 Beta 4 reportedly changes Privacy Display so that it masks only a picture-in-picture, or PiP, video window rather than the entire screen.
The adjustment addresses a major limitation of the earlier behavior. When PiP was active, Privacy Display was said to cover the full display, even when only one application contained content the user wanted to conceal.
A More Targeted Privacy Layer
The new behavior was shown by tipster Ice Universe in a post on X. In the example, Privacy Display was enabled specifically for YouTube, and the effect remained limited to the YouTube video after it was reduced to a floating PiP window.
This leaves the homescreen, widgets, icons, and other applications visible to the user. At the same time, the video window is obscured from people viewing the device from the side.
The privacy layer also appears to move with the video window. A video can be dragged around the display while the protected area continues to match its new position instead of covering unrelated interface elements.
A post on Samsung Community Korea reportedly showed the same result. The PiP window could be repositioned, while Privacy Display continued to follow the floating video.
Designed to Limit Side Viewing
Samsung introduced Privacy Display with the Galaxy S26 Ultra earlier this year. The built-in feature can be enabled from the Quick Panel to reduce the chance of nearby people reading screen content.
The display remains clear when viewed head-on by the device owner. From a side angle, however, it appears dimmer, making notifications and app content more difficult for others to read.
| Viewing Angle | Privacy Display Effect |
|---|---|
| Front view | The screen remains clearly visible to the user. |
| Side view | The display appears dimmer and is harder to read. |
Availability Is Still Limited
Privacy Display can be configured for notifications alone or for selected applications. The per-app setting is the basis for the PiP improvement, allowing protection to remain focused on the floating content from a chosen app.
According to Gadgets360, One UI 9 Beta 4 is being delivered to Galaxy S26 Ultra participants in the One UI beta program through the Samsung Members app. As part of a test release, the feature is not necessarily available to every user yet.
One UI 9 is based on Android 17, and its stable version is expected in the same week as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8. If the PiP behavior reaches the stable release, Privacy Display could offer a less intrusive way to protect video content during everyday multitasking.
