SGS25U vibrating during GUI navigation unless *Call* vibrations are disabled

A few weeks ago I noticed my Samsung Galaxy S25U vibrating as I navigated around the GUI, including with NavStar icons at the bottom of the screen. I can’t correlate that with an OS, GUI or app update. That didn’t make sense since haptic/touch feedback is OFF (as it has been per my settings since the day I got the phone over a year ago), verified in the settings. I had a *few* vibrations enabled (for calls, for some notifications, when charging starts, Samsung Pay NFC broadcast, etc.), but none of that corresponds to what was going on.

Not only was this annoying and in violation of the settings, but I knew it would needlessly shorten battery life, a significant issue while traveling.

I used Good Lock/Nice Catch to check for “Vibration history”. Oddly it reported a barrage of “Android System: Ringtone Vibrate mode” events corresponding to the many navigation-vibrations I experienced. But that didn’t correspond to any Calls since there weren’t any – it was happening as I used the GUI to open or view running apps, lock or unlock the phone via my fingerprint, etc., general navigation.

I tried turning off just about every vibration option I could find. I tried setting the vibration intensity level lower and then OFF. I rebooted the phone. I tried things while the phone was charging, not charging, at full or reduced battery. At times I thought tweaking setting(s) *seemed* to make a difference only to have the haptic vibrations continue or return.

I checked & toggled Do Not Disturb (normally daily, ON at 10:15pm, off at 7:50am) or other settings or events that might be toggling between Sound/Vibrate/Mute. The only Routine I’m using toggles Slow Charging ON at 10pm, OFF at 8am. The navigation vibrations happened both within and outside of those times, with general sounds & vibrations enabled or disabled.

I checked to make sure I’m using the latest OS & updates available. Fully up to date.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Android 16

Android security patch level July 5, 2026

One UI 8.5

Google Play system update July 1, 2026

 

Eventually by trial & error, and also based on Good Lock/Nice Catch’s “Ringtone Vibrate mode” clue, I eventually found that turning OFF (muting) the Call Vibration intensity, even while leaving other vibration options on (slowly turning those others back on one or more at a time to check), stopped the rogue haptic/navigation vibrations even though there were *never* any Calls involved.

So for now my “solution” is to not have any Call vibrations. I can live with that, but I shouldn’t have to since there are *no* Calls in play, and the vibrations are occurring during general navigation even though all of those relevant settings are OFF. Checking Good Lock/Nice Catch Vibration history also no longer shows any events.

 

Any idea why my phone has gone rogue and is generating touch feedback on its own, contrary to all settings?

And why disabling Call vibrations seems to prevent that, so that I have to forgo that feature?

Seems like a bug in the Samsung Android OS, GUI or settings.