So you only have a Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge. And now that?
Maybe you’re upgrading from the previous year’s Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Maybe you’re switching from one of the other rugged Android smartphones, like the HTC One M9 or the LG G Flex 2.
If you’re still trying to find your sea legs and aren’t sure how to use your brand new phone, here’s a collection of helpful hints and tips to get you started from my time with variants of both devices.
Tip: Although the following instructions are specific to Samsung Galaxy S phones, they can also be applied to other Android phones, including those made by Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.
The basics
The quick menu: To quickly get to the most frequently used settings, simply swipe down from the top of your phone’s screen to open the quick menu. Voila! You can now turn Wi-Fi, location services, Bluetooth, auto-rotate screen, and volume on or off. For more options, tap the top right arrow facing down and you’ll get several additional icons for features like airplane mode, mobile hotspot, power saver, flashlight, NFC, mobile data, sync, and more.
NO MORE BUMP DIALING: Have you ever been in trouble because your phone turned on in your pocket and you accidentally dialed a contact who then overheard a conversation you weren’t supposed to have? To avoid the dreaded rear dial:
- Launch the Settings app .
- Go to Display and wallpaper.
- Turn on the Keep screen off option . This will prevent the phone from turning on in a dark place like your pocket or bag.
Change the main font: If the default text looks, well, too default for you, don’t worry. Simply launch the Settings app , go to Display and wallpaper , tap on Font and choose the new one that best suits your taste. In addition to the included additional fonts, you can also download new ones.
Move apps to home screen: Want to move one of your favorite apps to home screen? Just go to the home screen of your choice , tap on the Apps icon on the bottom right bar and find the app you are interested in. Long press the icon and drag it to the home screen.
Adding windows to the home screen: If you want to add additional windows to the home screens, just tap and hold an empty space on the home screen. This will show you the minimized versions of all your home screens. Swipe right until you see a blank window with a plus sign on it and tap on it. You can also use this minimized view to remove a window by tapping and holding the window you want to remove and dragging it onto the trash can icon.
Manage apps, wallpapers, themes, and widgets: This starts the same way as adding tiles to your home screen. After tapping and holding an empty space, look at the bottom screen and you will see a new bottom menu . Options in this menu include changing wallpapers and themes, adding widgets, and changing the screen grid for the number of apps that can fit on a home screen.
Screenshot: Ah yes, the good old screenshot feature. Things haven’t changed much for Galaxy vets, as taking a screenshot requires holding down the Power and Home buttons at the same time. As with previous models, you can also hit your inner kung fu master by shaping your hand with a knife and then running the palm side of your hand across the screen. If it doesn’t work, go to Settings , then Advanced Features , then make sure Palm swipe to capture is on.
Quick launch camera: What about the times when you need to take a quick shot with your phone’s camera? Just double-tap the Home button quickly and this will take you to camera mode right away.
advanced features
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge share “Advanced Features” which can be accessed as a menu option through the Settings app. Here’s a rundown of the features and what they do.
Direct call: Do you want to call someone as soon as possible? This feature allows you to automatically call a contact whose call log, message, or contact details are on the screen when you hold the phone to your ear.
Easy to mute: The sound of silence is not just a song. Enabling this allows you to silence your phone simply by placing the palm of your hands on the screen or by turning the phone upside down.
One-hand operation: This is especially useful for the S7 Edge, whose large screen is great for watching videos but can be challenging to operate with one hand. When enabled, one-handed operation allows you to press the Home button three times to shrink the screen. You can also use it to reduce the size of the keyboard and make it easier to type with one hand.
Popup View: This allows you to easily switch a full screen app to a smaller popup view mode. Just swipe down diagonally from any of the top corners and you’re all set.
Palm Swipe to Capture: As mentioned in the screenshot tip above, this allows you to take a screenshot with a knife hand gesture as you swipe the palm side of your hand across through the screen.
Smart capture: If this option is activated, the options to share, crop and capture hidden parts of the screen will be displayed after taking a screenshot.
Smart alert: This feature makes your phone vibrate when you pick it up to alert you to missed calls and messages.
get a head start
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge gets extra features over the regular S7 thanks to its, well, screen edge. These include Edge panels that display apps, contacts, and news. You also get Edge feeds that can be used for sports scores, news alerts, and missed calls. Lastly, there’s Edge lighting that causes the edge of the screen to light up when receiving calls or notifications while the screen is down.
You can access the Edge screen by swiping left from the right edge of the screen. You can also turn some Edge settings on or off via the Settings app on the “Edge Screen”.
