How to Make Notification Spacing Smaller in One UI 7.0

Published On - January 19, 2026

ivan Blogging

Samsung’s One UI 7.0 continues to refine the Android experience with sleek visuals and intuitive interactions. However, one common gripe among power users and minimalists is the generous spacing between notifications on the lock screen and the notification shade. If you’re wondering how to make notification spacing smaller in One UI 7.0, you’re not alone—luckily, there are a few smart workarounds and customization tools at your disposal.

TL;DR:

If the default notification spacing in One UI 7.0 feels too large, you can reduce it using a combination of accessibility tweaks, third-party launchers, or notification customization apps like Good Lock’s NotiStar. While there’s no specific built-in toggle to shrink spacing, creative solutions involving Good Lock modules and developer settings can help you achieve a more compact notification layout. Keep in mind that not all methods are officially endorsed by Samsung, so proceed with a bit of caution and always back up your data. Customizing One UI is easier than ever, and with a little know-how, you can make your device feel uniquely yours.

Why Customize Notification Spacing?

For many users, especially those who receive a high volume of notifications, the default padding and spacing can result in excessive scrolling and a cluttered experience. Minimizing this spacing can offer:

  • Improved visibility – See more notifications at a glance.
  • Faster access – Spend less time scrolling through chat and app alerts.
  • Aesthetic refinement – Achieve a cleaner, denser interface.

If you’re the kind of user who values efficiency and clean visuals, this guide will walk you through every method available to refine your One UI experience.

Method 1: Tweak Developer Options

While Developer Options won’t let you directly change notification spacing, they do offer settings that affect UI scaling and density, potentially modifying how notifications are rendered.

  1. Go to Settings > About phone > Software information
  2. Tap Build number seven times to unlock Developer Options
  3. Navigate to Settings > Developer options
  4. Look for Smallest width under the Drawing section
  5. Increase this number slightly (e.g., from 411dp to 450dp). The higher the value, the more condensed the UI becomes.

Note: This change affects the entire system UI, not just the notifications. Use with care, and revert the setting if needed.

Method 2: Use Good Lock Modules

Samsung’s Good Lock app is a must-have for One UI power-users. While it doesn’t provide a specific setting for notification spacing, some modules modify UI elements that indirectly affect it.

1. QuickStar

QuickStar enhances your Quick Panel (notification shade) and may influence how notifications look or behave.

  • Open Good Lock and install QuickStar
  • Enable the Visibility of Indicator Icons to reduce clutter
  • Customize colors and transparency, which can help blend notifications with the background, creating a tighter visual feel

2. NotiStar

This is Samsung’s notification management module. It functions more like a powerful log than a style editor, but it gives you better control over how and when notifications appear.

  • Install NotiStar from Good Lock
  • Create filters to show only specific types of notifications
  • Disable less important app alerts that add unnecessary visual clutter
Image not found in postmeta

3. Multistar & Home Up

These modules address multitasking and layout density. They don’t directly compress the notification list, but interface alignment tweaks may affect how content is perceived.

Pro Tip: Combine Good Lock’s features with increased screen scale to create a denser UI appearance, mimicking reduced notification spacing.

Method 3: Try a Third-Party Notification App

Several third-party apps offer advanced control over how Android notifications are presented. Here are some standout options:

  • Niagara Launcher – Offers a minimalist but compact notification interface fused into the home screen.
  • Notif Log – A simple notification history tracker with customizable list views.
  • Power Shade – Mimics a modern notification panel and allows layout modifications.

While these apps don’t replace the system status bar, they can be used as companions to enhance or replace certain notification behaviors—especially on rooted devices or with ADB tools.

Optional: Use ADB Commands for Advanced Customization

If you’re tech-savvy and don’t mind hooking your phone up to a PC, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) can give you deeper access to hidden system configurations.

You’ll need to:

  1. Enable USB debugging in Developer Options
  2. Connect your phone via USB and launch your computer’s command terminal
  3. Use commands like:
    adb shell settings put system font_scale 0.85

Lowering the font scale can make UI elements, including notifications, occupy less space. However, this also affects app content and readability, so proceed with small increments and patience.

Bonus Tip: Adjust Screen Zoom and Font Size

This may sound elementary, but the built-in display size and font settings can have a significant impact. To access it:

  1. Go to Settings > Display
  2. Tap on Screen zoom and font
  3. Use the sliders to reduce both to the smallest comfortable level

Though not a “true” spacing reduction tool, tightening display density visually compresses notifications, producing a sleeker feed.

Why Samsung Hasn’t Added a Toggle (Yet)

It’s curious that Samsung, known for its customization features, hasn’t included a native toggle for notification spacing. This might be due to:

  • The desire for consistent UX across devices
  • Accessibility priorities, making content easier to touch and read
  • Developer preference for aesthetically spaced UIs

Nonetheless, with community demand rising, future updates may finally bring such granular control to One UI settings.

Conclusion: Crafting the Perfect Notification Experience

Although One UI 7.0 doesn’t allow direct notification spacing customization, exploring Developer Options, Good Lock’s toolkit, and third-party apps can get you pretty close. With a few smart adjustments, you can design a cleaner, more compact notification environment that better matches your productivity or aesthetic preferences.

Remember, modifications such as these—even simple ones—can have cascading effects on your phone’s behavior. Always back up your data before experimenting, and make incremental changes to fine-tune without frustration. The best part? Once you’ve achieved the look you want, you’ll enjoy a more streamlined and satisfying Android experience every time you pick up your phone.