Galaxy S6 Guide

Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel

Learn what you can do with Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel, and how to do them

As in all Android devices, Samsung Galaxy S6 and galaxy S6 edge has a notification center where you can access all notifications, reminders and alerts.

But you can do more in Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel.  As Galaxy S6 edge notification panel is identical to that of Galaxy S6, this guide also applies to Galaxy S6 edge. For notifications on the edge screen, please check this guide.

Table of Contents hide
1) What’s Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel?
2) How to access Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel
3) How to close Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel
4) How to use quick setting buttons in Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel

What’s Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel?

As shown below, Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel provides lots of functions of features.

It is surely not just for you to access notifications.

You can use Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel to:

  • Read notifications, reminders and alerts.
  • Take actions on notifications, reminders and alerts, including dismissing notifications, snoozing/stopping alarms and reminders. Some apps allow you take further actions depending on the nature of the notification.
  • Access Quick Setting buttons to toggle on/off some features.
  • Rearrange Quick Settings buttons so that frequently used buttons appear first.
  • Launch Settings for your Samsung Galaxy S6.
  • Adjust brightness of the screen.
  • Launch S Finder to search contents in Galaxy S6.
  • Launch Quick Connect for sharing with nearby devices.
  • Clear all notifications.

samsung_galaxy_s6_notification_panel_1_functions

Please note,  Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel is slightly different from previous Galaxy devices:

  • EDIT button replaced quick settings panel. There is no quick settings panel any more.
  • Two finger swiping is no longer supported.

Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel is also different from vanilla Android Lollipop as you can find in Nexus devices or Motorola Moto devices:

  • Galaxy S6 does not support swipe down twice as shown in this guide.
  • Galaxy  S6 does not support Android Lollipop multiple users (for example guest users).  So, there are no user-related settings in the notification panel.

How to access Samsung Galaxy S6  notification panel

To access Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel, you can swipe down (please refer to this guide on using gestures in Galaxy S6) from the status bar (i.e. top of the screen if status bar is hidden in some apps)  at any time from any apps, home screen or apps screen, as shown below.

samsung_galaxy_s6_notification_panel_2_access_notification_panel

When you receive new notifications, such as messages or missed calls, indicator icons appear on the status bar in your Galaxy S6. To read the notifications, open the notification panel and read the details.

For the meaning of the notifications icons and status icons in Galaxy S6, please check this guide.

How to close Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel

You can close Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel in many ways:

How to use quick setting buttons in Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel

Update: if some quick settings icons/buttons are suddenly missing, please follow this guide to install and run Quick Panel Restore app.

Samsung removed the quick settings panels in Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel. Many long-term Galaxy phone users will miss that feature.

You can tap quick setting buttons to activate/deactivate the corresponding features.  Swipe to the left or right on the buttons area to view more buttons in Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel.

If you tap and hold a button, you can view more detailed settings. This is a new feature in TouchWiz.

To rearrange buttons in the buttons area, you can tap EDIT as shown above, tap and hold a button, and then drag it to another location.

A detailed guide on how to use Galaxy S6 quick settings was created here. It covers how to use the quick settings buttons, how to rearrange them.

Are you happy with the new Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel? Do you have any questions on using Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel?

Please feel free to leave your comments if you have any questions or comments on Samsung Galaxy S6 notification panel or Galaxy S6 edge notification panel.

For other features of Galaxy S6, please check Galaxy S6 online manual page.

For detailed guides on how to use Samsung Galaxy S6, please check Galaxy S6 how-to guides page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. krystal Duran says

    How do you make it to where your phone doesn’t vibrate every 15 seconds when you have a notification? It’s driving me nuts and I’ve tried everything. have the s6 edge.

    Reply

  6. Nidal says

    I’m not getting any facebook notifications. I’ll just get a badge ticker on the app icon, but if someone likes my post or something I don’t get a notification at the top of the screen like I would from Gmail, messages, or twitter.
    How can I get this working?
    I checked settings/sounds and notifications/app notifications/facebook and made sure “block notifications” was deselected.

    Reply

  10. Mark B. says

    On the new Galaxy S6 – It would be really nice to have the Quick Settings toolbar be adjustable in either size of icons or be able to turn it off so you don’t have to see it or have it take away screen space from the rest on your notifications – which are more important than the same info. all the time.

    Reply

  11. Camie says

    Does anyone know how to disable the message where it says Mobile data will be disabled? I have to press ok every time. It is annoying. And is there a way to remove the Power Saving Enabled on the notification bar? Thank you

    Reply

  14. Mark says

    Is it possible to get rid of the s finder and the quick connect buttons? They are driving me mad and I’ll never need them!

    Reply

  15. Devinair says

    When connecting your Bluetooth to your car, when the car is finding the Bluetooth device, click on refresh on the Galaxy S6 in the Bluetooth settings. Then your car will pick it up. At least that’s what I did and it worked. I could not get my car to recognize my device until I did that.

    Reply

  16. cass says

    how do i adjust the snooze time duration as well as amount of snoozes on my alarm? my s4 had these options

    Reply

  17. lee says

    i do not get any info on my lock screen when i recieve a message missed call facebook post or whats app my lock screen never changes however if i unlock it i could have missed all of these and the setting seems to be set to show all even each app is set to show

    Reply

  18. Tammy Shepherd-Collins says

    My Galaxy 3 had a reminder for unread text messages that went off every 10 minutes. I cannot find any sort of reminder on the Galaxy 6 Edge. Are there any options?

    Reply

  19. shawn says

    Is there a way to have my S6 vibrate when receiving a message or notification? when the phone is on vibrate mode, I receive the icons, but no vibration of new messages

    Reply

  20. jASON says

    I do not get notifications on the message or phone icons. When I get a text it shows up on the top bar but doesn’t give a #1 or 2 or 3, etc. to show that I have new messages or calls. I have tried everything…. Can anyone help??

    Reply

  23. Erwin says

    Hi, no red badge notification appears on my apps such as instagram and viber. i need to open the app to know that there are new messages.

    appreciate if you could help.

    thanks.

    Reply

  24. Erwin says

    What are those pre-installed apps?

    this is my first time to use android. been using ios since.

    Thanks.

    Reply

  25. Todd says

    Any way to turn off the mode notifications in the notifications screen (not the locked screen, the one you get when you swipe down from the top) I have “do not disturb” and “power saving” modes enabled, and those notification always show. I don;t need to see them constantly.

    Reply

  26. weiwei says

    why S6 block quick expand notification bar feature? most other launcher can use gesture by swipe down any place at home screen and it will expand notification bar, but now Samsung has block it, can’t use that feature anymore. Why?

    Reply

  27. kleigh says

    I have a facebook notification in the notification panel (little facebook aymbol top left corner ) but when i pull the notification panel down nothing is there how do i ger rid of the symbol ?

    Reply

  28. Paula says

    Hi i have a problem with my edge s6 Samsung i get no notifications from my Outlook or ebay or facebook or anything i have turned all on i checked everything but nothing please help

    Reply

  30. savana says

    My phone keeps notifying me after I get a notification and won’t stop until I click on it or clear my notifications. Is there a way to make it notify me once?

    Reply

  31. Samihah S Zaman says

    How can I block email and other notifications during a call on my S6? They’re very annoying an keep beeping in my ear but there seems to be no way to block them only during calls. Please note that I want the app notifications to be on when I’m not a call.

    Reply

  34. Scott says

    Any way to set the email to ding when a new email arrives but not show in the notifications panel?

    Alternatively, any way to set the phone to automatically remove the notifications when the email has been read on my work computer? This is a work phone and when I clear the messages on my computer the phone updates my email showing that everything has been read, but the notifications don’t ever clear… It is a waste to have to clear the notifications manually…

    Reply

  35. amber Unsworth says

    It used to show the # of messages on each app, fb and text messages abs phone calls, as a red circled #. I think it’s called badge ticker on app icons. But now it Doednt show it, I just get regular notifications in my status bar and on lock screen. How can I turn on the badge ticker notifications for each app ? Pop ups are activated on fb and messages and phone calls. Thx

    Reply

  36. amber Unsworth says

    I know, and all these apps came with phone and had the ticker. I did something when I was going thru settings and it disappeared. My phone is only a week old.

    Reply

  38. Alex says

    Holding an icon to access detailed settings is not new at all, it’s been around for quite a long time

    Reply

  39. Fab says

    I was wondering if there is any way for me to see the full notification on the lock screen without me having to pinch out of every single tweet or press on it to open Twitter?

    Reply

  40. Fab says

    Thanks for the reply…But it is my phone that is requiring me to pinch out on every tweet I get notified about to see all of it. Is there a way for me to change that? There doesn’t seem to be many options in regards to notification settings… It’s the same for text messages I receive. I would like to see every message in full without any action on my part.

    Reply

  41. Felipe Oliveira says

    My data icon is missing.. I got the phone for 2 weeks and it was working perfectly.. Tonight the data icon disappeared.. Any help?

    Reply

  42. Jurgen Calderon says

    My Private Mode Icon Has Disappeared From The Control Panel, Now I Have To Take The Long Way To Turn It On. Does Anyone Know How To Bring It Back To The Control Panel ?

    Reply

  43. Danish says

    S6 is drving me nuts. I even factory reset it but all in vain. There is no sound of any notification during a call. I have checked all the settings.

    Notifications are on.
    Tried default notification sound and other sounds as well.

    Reply

  46. nana says

    My mobile data icon just dissappear today. I dodnt do anything. Help. How to put it back in notification panel.

    Reply

  48. tracy says

    is there any way to hide the pull down menu when you aren’t using it? With the S5 you could make it so you could use your whole screen but still pull the menu into view from the top when you needed it. With the S6, I have the pull down menu black bar thing showing almost all the time, and I don’t like it! I would like to be able to use the whole screen especially when reading online. Any ideas?

    Reply

  49. sail says

    now actually i m not getting any icon of data connection in notification panel….and i alsaw tried editing my panel still there is no icon for my data conection..plzz

    Reply

  50. mark says

    You would have to do a factory reset to get those quick settings that disappeared…
    Either a factory reset or you wait for an update that might correct the issue..

    Problem has to do with a recent update

    Reply

  51. shara says

    The mobile data..hotspot.. private…all these options just disappered out of my quick settings panel…i cant find it wen i clicked edit also. How do i bring it back on the quick acess panel?

    Reply

  52. Simone says

    The vibrate icon disappeared from the notification panel. I’ve rebooted, but it still doesn’t appear. Other status icons do appear. How can I get this back? On my SIII, I was able to change the device sound from the lock screen position. I really miss that feature. Now I have to unlock screen to do this while at work. It’s pretty annoying. Thanks.

    Reply

  53. Anspua says

    It is useless to do the factory reset, I did it yesterday and all the icons came back as normal but this morning I woke up and noticed the three icons not there anymore (mobile data, hotspot and private) …….please help ……!!!!

    Reply

  54. Vera93 says

    My brightness slider disappeared, does somebody know how i can get it back??

    And for the problem for the disappearing other buttons in the quickpanel you can use the app QuickPanel Restore that you can find in the Galaxy apps store:

    http://www.galaxyclub.nl/2015/06/samsung-galaxy-s6-edge-sneltoetsen-verdwenen-missing-quicksettings

    http://www.galaxyclub.nl/2015/06/samsung-galaxy-s6-edge-snelle-instellingen-mobiele-gegevens-weg-fix-herstellen-tip

    This unfortunately didn’t work for my brightness slider 🙁

    Reply

  55. sachin Bhardwaj says

    Dont worry below is the solution for this issue
    Just go to samsung galaxy app store (not google play store) and download a app QUICK PANEL RESTORE. Open it and press Restore button and run it.
    If you still not see the icon you just reboot your mobile. After rebooting you definitely got solution for this problem.

    After solution just say thanks to me……..

    Reply

  56. Robert Bradford says

    Is there a way to make it so when I read a message on my phone the notification goes away? That’s how it worked on the s3, but with the s6 I have to manually clear the notification every time.

    Reply

  57. NM says

    My notifications are NOT appearing on my lock screen even though i have them turned on. No email, messages or calls are showing up. Is there a way to fix this?

    Reply

  58. jessica says

    Does anyone know how to enable the unread notification badge bubble on the stock message app for the galaxy s6? I used to have it on the s5 and when I get messages it would say I have 1 or 2 but in the s6 I see nothing.

    Reply

  59. Kevin says

    Anyway to make the screen stay off when a notification comes in? All I want is the LED indicator on. Very annoying when screen always turns on for a notification. Galaxy 3 you could change the setting for the lock screen.

    Reply

  60. Jen says

    How can I lock text messages on my S6 and is there a way to change the colour of the message banner?..the orange is awful! And why does it make a two tone beeping noise randomly?? It’s a very odd noise not connected to any open apps or notifications.

    Reply

  61. Jen says

    I want to lock a message to keep it. I delete my messages regularly but some I need to keep. On my S4 and S5 I could lock the ones I needed and delete the rest. The beeping has nothing to do with the battery, it happens randomly whether the battery is full, half full ir nearly dead. It has nothing to do with an app runing either as I close down all apps and it still bleeps. I have downloaded some themes but the theme option in my settings has disappeared so I can’t access any of them….they weren’t suitable anyway…space themes and lovehearts aren’t my thing.

    Reply

  62. Jen says

    So I can’t lock messages in the standard message service? I have to download a message app? No, the beeping isn’t due to any background apps, that was the 1st thing I checked. I have taken my debit card out of my phone case and haven’t heard the beeping since so may have been that. The Theme option in my settings menu has disappeared…just gone?! I’m thinking of changing back to my S5 as the S6 is quite difficult to navigate.

    Reply

  63. Jen says

    Thanks for your help Simon. I don’t have a lock option in my message settings. When I hit More my options are: edit (which only gives me a delete option!) start chat group, font size and settings and there is no lock option in the settings… I’ve checked and looked in all areas of my message options and can’t see any lock option anywhere. Regarding the theme I don’t have a personal option in my settings and when I hit edit in my home screen it only gives me the option to delete apps. I tried what the manaul said ie; settings, theme…but no theme (or personal) in my settings! I found all my previous samsungs very easy and straight forward and I’m not a complete dimwit….this phone setup just seems to have me stumped! Thanks again.

    Reply

  64. Kizzy says

    when I set a reminder for myself it shows up in my notification panel. But once I have viewed it, it disappears. Shouldn’t a reminder stay until you have accomplished the task and dismiss it?

    Reply

  65. Erica says

    How to I get the phone to keep giving me the sound notification when I receive a text message until I check it. When I miss a text message is there a way I can set it to sound every 5 or 15 minutes to remind me?

    Reply

  66. Keziah says

    I can’t see my twitter notifictions anywhre unless I havr to manually open thm in the app. It doesn’t show up in my notifications bar
    And it doesn’t have a number bade in it. Can you guys please help me? It’s really annoying to have to go to the app jst to see if somebody mentioned me or retweeted my tweet. Itried everythin tho.

    Reply

  67. bibo says

    Is there a way to show something like a to-do list/checklist on your lock screen just like on an iphone’s notifications?

    Reply

  68. Sheeza Farooq says

    please tell me how do i turn off the recent message preview shown when that person is calling on s6. i have looked for every option and its not there
    thanx

    Reply

  69. Mary says

    Hello, I can’t get my Edge notifications to turn on. I’ve set everything up. The only time the light shows is if I have it face down but it never streams any notifications or messages and the only thing that shows up is the clock at night.

    Reply

  70. Fiona says

    My husband and I both have galaxy s6 phones we just purchased this spring. In what I think is called the “application notification panel”with all the little icons at the very top of my home screen, there also appears, in blue, the current temperature where I live. My husband’s phone does not show the temperature and he would like to add it. Is there a way to do that?

    Reply

  72. David says

    I would like to silence all notifications besides incoming calls and text messages. I do however want notifications on the screen and for the light to flash. Please can you tell me how to do it. Thanks.

    Reply

  73. Cindy Richardson says

    My unread badge alarm keeps going off every 2 minutes until I dismiss it manually. I only need it to tell me once. How do I stop this? It’s driving me crazy. Thank you

    Reply

  74. Paula says

    Im having the same problem i used to have with my edge6 it wont give me notifications from my outlook email i had that before it was working good for a month or 2 but now it does not send me any notifications again please help

    Reply

  76. Erin says

    Hi, hoping you can help, just got the S6 but when I open pre installed apps ie. Calendar and gallery the notification bar disappears. Not much of a problem in gallery but in calendar I want to see the current time if scheduling an event for that day.

    Reply

  77. KS says

    I have a Samsung s6 and am struggling with the following:

    1. the quick setting button (Sound mute), doesn’t always work. There are times, when I have to hit clear before it will work. Why? What can I do to fix it?

    2. Every time I want to turn my “sync” or data off, it wants me to unlock the phone first. Whats the point of quick access then?

    3. I know you said “In Galaxy S6 and s6 edge, you should have 3 options for notification on lock screen as well: show contents, hide contents and tien off.” Although, I do have show content on, the text messages are not displayed, unlike S3. Why or do you know how I can fix it?

    Reply

  78. petri71 says

    I can’t find a way to get my notification history, there used to be a settings shortcut widget but it’s not there in this phone. So how can I manage my notification history in case I deleted or cleared some by mistake ?

    Reply

  79. Mike says

    All I want is to get a notification when an SMS or WhatsApp message arrives with my sound of choice (Knock Knock) I want it ONCE and ONCE ONLY. Now nearly everything is knock knocking at me and then it continues until I’ve opened the app. It has become SO ANNOYING ! I’m sure it didn’t work this way before.

    Reply

  80. MM says

    I receive banner notifications for the factory-installed Gmail app but no badge. I receive badges for other apps such as messages. Notifications are turned to “on” for all inboxes and “labels”. How do I add the badge to the Gmail app?

    Reply

  81. Mary Pratt says

    I am not getting Pages Manager notifications and as a social media manager it is important to my job. I have checked both settings and the settings in the app yet I seem to still not be getting them. Can you help?

    Reply

  82. Alex says

    Is there a way that I can get a notification, like a text or a sound, when I receive an email from a specific person, like my boss on my phone. I don’t want this for my gmail account I want it for my work email (outlook).

    Reply

  83. Cindy says

    On the homescreen when you pull down the notifications, many notifications are multi lined. But the notification screen only shows 2 lines for each notice, 1 for the app name and 1 for the notification, sometimes cutting off the reat of the notification message. If I click on the notification to open it, the app will open and default to the app’s homepage and not go to whatever the alert was for. The S5 used to let me hold down on the notification and scroll thru the entire alert message but the S6 won’t let me do that. Anybody know how to make this an option? Or know how to get the alerts to open the apropriate place in the app?

    Reply

  84. Stephany says

    I have set my Default Notification sound and my Messages Notifications to one of the verizon pre-loaded tones but it doesn’t change. Regardless of what I choose, it shows it as what I want but that isn’t what plays. For example, I choose Temple Bell but it plays something different

    Reply

  85. Christina says

    The x button used to exit the youtube app from the notifications panel does not work. I tried pressing pause and than the x and it stays. U have to literally stop what ur working on, enter the youtube app just to back of app. Thats the only way it disappears from the notification panel.

    Reply

  86. Finnbogi says

    Í just hate the gray notification on top of the screen when the phone ís in power saving mode. This happened when it update to marshmallow

    Reply

  87. Steve Reece says

    When i schedule an appt I usually set a reminder notification. What is troubling is that the reminder notification keeps reminding me for days after the appt was scheduled. I turn off the reminder and hit save but it does not stop the notification. Any clue? it is rather annoying.
    Steve

    Reply

  88. Murray says

    now that my S6 has upgraded to Marshmallow, I appear to have lost the full functionality of the ‘two finger swipe’ on the notification panel. Previously I could swipe with two fingers on an item in the notification panel to expand it (Exchange Email for example). Now when I try to swipe down on an item with two fingers, it tells me ‘content hidden’ – where I previously would expect the first few lines of the email. If I swipe down with only one finger, it expands the toolbox at the top of the screen. sometimes the content/email summary is displayed, sometimes it isn’t – has something been lost in the transition to Marshmallow? (I can send a screenshot if required)

    Reply

  89. Janet Wilson says

    Please, Please, Please, Someone from Samsung Galaxy products help me. I have been on the phone with Technical Support at Verizon for over four hours, I called Samsung Customer Service and spoke with Level one technical support and am now on hold for Level 2 technical support for over an hour. I have seen blog after blog of people complaining about this issue, yet I still have yet to find a fix. Please help me fix this, so I don’t have to switch over to another phone, our family is dedicated loyal customers of Samsung with three Samsung S5 phones, two Samsung 10 inch tablets, and 2 Samsung S6 phones. My ongoing frustrations encountered in trying to get help to fix my problem makes me question my loyalty (and I don’t want to) Here’s my problem…..
    I am an open heart nurse. On my cell phone, I have always received emergency pages from our hospital Emergin email/ paging system. Prior to the lollipop update, I had a contact created for this emergency paging system that allowed these pages to come through with a special notification tone so that I could differentiate an emergency from other non important emails/texts/posts etc. Now, I am no longer able to set a special notification tone for these pages. The option to go to the contact and create a specific ringtone or message tone works fine, if perhaps the paging system called me or texted me, but since it comes through an email to my text messages I can’t change the notification sound. To date, in order to circumvent the problem, I have gone into settings and set every notification to be loud and obnoxious so that I can make sure I hear everything regardless of its importance, to avoid missing an emergency. As you can imagine, this causes much unnecessary stress every time my phone sends any notification, but I have no other choice, please contact me and help me and the thousands of other loyal Samsung customers fix this. I would be forever grateful.

    Sincerely,
    Janet Wilson

    Reply

  90. Cindy says

    This is what I would suggest. On one of the text messages that you’ve received from the email address, open the text message to view it. At the top of the screen (top right corner), there’s three vertical dots. Click on that and pick Customize. Pick the option for the TONES. Select whatever tone you want to use that you loaded on your phone in media storage or some other app like ZEDGE. The next time you receive a text message from that email address, it should have the revised TONE that you just selected. If you get text messages from several different email addresses, you’ll have to do this for each one of them.

    Hope this helps.

    Reply

  91. Kate says

    I have a Samsung s6 edge and now all of a sudden I cannot view my notifications. The icons are at the top showing me I have notifications but when I swipe down nothing happens. This means I can’t easy turn my phone on silent and turn on my Bluetooth etc..
    Please can you advise me as to why it has stopped working
    Kind regards

    Reply

  92. Christine Parker says

    I have updated the software on my Samsung S6 the notification panel is awful. I hate the white colour & the small writing, it makes it so difficult to see how. Is there anyway I can change these.

    Reply

  93. simon says

    You can use different themes if you don’t like the color scheme. There are many free themes in the theme store.

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    Reply

  94. Sol Vasquez says

    Moderator, you’re not very helpful at all! Did you even bother to read the post by Janet Wilson? And themes do not change the dreadful display of the latest Samsung update atrocity!
    Samsung have potentially lost more customers with this sad excuse for an update! Myself included! Going back to iPhone from tomorrow!

    Reply

  95. Sam says

    Hi. My galaxy s6 doesn’t show smart stay shortcut in the quick panel. How can I get it? I tried the running the quick panel restore app but it says my phone is not compatible for this app.
    I have an android 6.0.1 . Model: SM-G920A
    Would appreciate your help.

    Reply

  96. Peter Williams says

    This feature is the bane of my life. Every single time i make a phone call either Bluetooth gets swithched off or the phone gets set to mute. Please introduce double swipe

    Reply

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