Samsung is taking aim at one of the most frustrating smartphone annoyances: apps that bombard users with ad-filled push notifications. A new update to the Samsung Device Care app introduces a feature designed to automatically curb intrusive notification spam by restricting overly aggressive apps.
Device Care is already a familiar tool for many Galaxy users, offering features that help spot apps draining battery, using too much memory, or affecting overall performance. With the latest update, Samsung expands that mission beyond performance and battery protection, focusing on everyday usability by helping users regain control of their notification tray.
The new feature is called Intelligent Blocking. It works by analyzing incoming push notifications and estimating whether they contain advertising. When the system detects that an app is frequently sending promotional notifications, it can place that app into deep sleep mode. Once an app is in deep sleep, it is no longer allowed to deliver notifications, effectively cutting off repeated ad spam at the source.
Samsung notes that this classification isn’t perfect. In some cases, Intelligent Blocking may incorrectly flag notifications that a user actually wants to receive. If that happens, users can go into the Device Care settings and manually unblock the app so important alerts come through again.
For now, Intelligent Blocking is rolling out first on phones running One UI 8.5, including the Galaxy S26 lineup such as the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. The broader rollout may take some time, as updates like this typically arrive in waves over several weeks before reaching all compatible devices through official distribution channels.
For Galaxy owners who are tired of apps turning push notifications into mini billboards, this Device Care update could be a meaningful quality-of-life improvement—one that doesn’t just silence noise, but also encourages developers to be more respectful of users in the first place.
