Samsung’s latest Galaxy S24 series introduced an exciting new feature called the Now Bar, designed to display personalized information like sports scores directly on the lock screen. However, users testing the One UI 7 beta on their S24 devices have encountered a frustrating bug preventing sports scores from appearing as intended.
The Now Bar Feature
The Now Bar is a dynamic element on the lock screen that surfaces relevant information based on user interests and usage patterns. For sports fans, it can display live scores for favorite teams, keeping users updated without unlocking their phones. This feature debuted with the Galaxy S25 series running the stable version of One UI 7.
The Sports Scores Bug
Galaxy S24 owners participating in the One UI 7 beta program have reported that the sports scores functionality within the Now Bar is not working correctly. Despite following teams and enabling the feature in Google Discover, the widget remains blank on the lock screen. This issue appears to be specific to the Galaxy S24 series running the beta software.
Symptoms of the Bug
- No sports scores displayed in the Now Bar
- Widget remains empty even when properly configured
- Issue persists after clearing Google app cache
- Problem occurs regardless of user account changes
Cause of the Problem
The Now Bar relies on Google’s Sports feed to populate score information. While the exact cause hasn’t been officially confirmed, the bug seems to stem from an integration issue between the One UI 7 beta software and the Google Sports data pipeline on Galaxy S24 devices specifically.
Affected Devices
- Galaxy S24
- Galaxy S24+
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
It’s important to note that this bug appears to be isolated to the Galaxy S24 series. Other Samsung devices compatible with the One UI 7 beta are not experiencing this particular issue with sports scores in the Now Bar.
Potential Fixes and Workarounds
Unfortunately, there are no confirmed user-side fixes for this bug at the moment. Common troubleshooting steps like clearing app caches, updating the Google app, or switching Google accounts have not resolved the issue for affected users.
Expected Resolution
The good news is that this problem is likely to be resolved soon. Here’s why:
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Software-based issue: Since the feature works correctly on other devices, the bug is almost certainly a software integration problem rather than a hardware limitation.
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Beta stage: The One UI 7 beta program is designed to identify and fix such issues before the stable release.
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Upcoming stable release: Samsung has announced that the stable version of One UI 7 for the Galaxy S24 series is scheduled to roll out starting April 7, 2025.
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Final beta version: The most recent beta update (released in late March 2025) is likely to be the last before the stable release, indicating that Samsung is in the final stages of bug fixing and optimization.
What Users Can Do
While waiting for the official fix, Galaxy S24 owners experiencing this bug can:
- Stay updated: Keep an eye out for new beta updates or the stable One UI 7 release.
- Report the issue: Use Samsung’s official feedback channels within the beta program to ensure the development team is aware of the problem.
- Use alternative apps: Temporarily rely on dedicated sports apps or widgets for score updates until the Now Bar functionality is restored.
The Now Bar sports scores bug is a minor setback in an otherwise exciting beta program for Galaxy S24 users. With the stable One UI 7 release on the horizon, fans of the feature can look forward to a fully functional experience in the near future.