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Shizuku on Samsung (One UI): Setup & Fixes

MFWritten by Marcus Feld, Android Systems WriterIndependent editorialUpdated July 2026Tested on real devices

Shizuku works well on Samsung Galaxy phones once you stop One UI from killing it — set it to unrestricted battery, and fix the USB configuration if you activate over cable. The two Samsung-specific pain points are the service dying when the screen locks and wireless debugging stalling after a Smart Switch import. Both have clean fixes below.

Install v13.6.0 from the download page and read the activation basics first; this guide covers only the Samsung extras. Not sure which Android release your Galaxy is on? Check the Android version guide before troubleshooting further.

Activate Shizuku on a Galaxy phone

  1. Enable Developer options — Settings → About phone → Software information → tap Build number seven times.
  2. Turn on Wireless debugging (Android 11+) under Developer options while on Wi-Fi, then pair it with Shizuku using the pairing code.
  3. Tap Start in Shizuku. If you use USB instead, enable USB debugging and run the ADB start command from a PC.

Fix: service dies when the screen locks

One UI’s battery optimisation is the culprit — it suspends the ADB link when the display sleeps. Set Shizuku to unrestricted battery, and if you activate over USB, switch the USB configuration so ADB is always on.

  1. Unrestricted battery: Settings → Apps → Shizuku → Battery → Unrestricted.
  2. Stop deep sleep: Settings → Battery → Background usage limits → remove Shizuku from Sleeping apps and Deep sleeping apps; turn off Put unused apps to sleep.
  3. USB fix (if using cable): dial *#0808#, set the mode to MTP+ADB, or set Default USB configuration to Debugging only under Developer options.
  4. Lock in recents: open recent apps, tap the Shizuku app icon, and choose Keep open / lock.
Careful in the *#0808# menu

The *#0808# screen is a Samsung service menu. Only change the USB selection to one that includes ADB (MTP+ADB is safe). Leave everything else alone and tap OK/Reboot.

Fix: stuck on “searching for pairing service”

This usually follows a Smart Switch settings import, which corrupts the wireless-debugging state copied from your old phone. Toggle the debugging features off and on, reboot, and re-pair; if it persists, reset Developer options or set up without a Smart Switch import.

  1. Turn Wireless debugging OFF, then turn Developer options OFF.
  2. Reboot the phone.
  3. Re-enable Developer options and Wireless debugging, confirm you are on Wi-Fi, and pair Shizuku again.

One UI version differences

Samsung moves the battery menus between One UI versions, so the exact path depends on your release:

  • One UI 6 (Android 14): Settings → Battery → Background usage limits holds the Sleeping and Deep sleeping app lists.
  • One UI 7 (Android 15): the same controls sit under Settings → Battery, with “Put unused apps to sleep” as a separate toggle.
  • One UI 8 (Android 16): structurally the same, but this is where the frozen Play build finally breaks — switch to the GitHub release. The screen-off service kills were first reported around here (GitHub #1478, #1459).

Which activation method is best on Samsung?

On modern Galaxy phones, wireless debugging is the most reliable way to activate Shizuku — it sidesteps the USB configuration quirks entirely. Use the PC/ADB route only when wireless debugging will not pair, and apply the *#0808# USB fix if you must stay on a cable.

A note on Samsung Knox: Shizuku does not trip Knox and does not need it disabled, because it uses standard ADB rather than modifying the system. Secure Folder runs as a separate profile, so a Shizuku session started in your main profile will not carry into it.

Samsung FAQ

One UI suspends the ADB connection to save battery when the display sleeps. Set Shizuku to Unrestricted battery usage and, if you activate over USB, change the USB configuration so ADB stays available. This keeps the service alive with the screen off.
Dialling *#0808# opens Samsung’s hidden USB settings menu. Setting it to MTP+ADB (or selecting the ADB option) restores a reliable ADB connection when the normal USB configuration will not keep Shizuku running. Do not change other values in that menu.
It can. Importing settings from an old phone via Smart Switch sometimes carries over a corrupted wireless-debugging state, which shows up as “searching for pairing service.” Setting the phone up without importing, or resetting Developer options, fixes it.
In Settings → Battery, set Shizuku to Unrestricted, turn off “Put unused apps to sleep,” and remove Shizuku from the Sleeping and Deep sleeping apps lists. Then lock it in recent apps. One UI is aggressive, so apply all of these.

Based on the project’s Samsung reports (issues #1478, #1459 and #1072) and testing on One UI devices.