Galaxy S10 Guides

a owners-help-owners community of Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+ and S10e

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How to use Galaxy S10 Multi Window?

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use Galaxy S10 Multi WindowGalaxy S10 Multi Window allows you to run two apps side-by-side (split-screen view) or to overlap multiple apps over each other and other apps (pop-up view) to improve your productivity on Galaxy s10, S10e, S10+, and S10 5G.

Samsung changed and removed some multi-window features on Galaxy S10 with the updated Recents screen.  Besides, Galaxy S10 Multi Window is significantly from that in the stock Android.

This Galaxy S10 how-to guide explains everything you need to know about Galaxy S10 Multi Window: what is it, the difference between the split-screen view and pop-up view, how to use the split-screen and pop-up views of Galaxy S10 Multi Window.

What is Galaxy S10 Multi Window?

By default, only one Android app can occupy the screen at any time, although Android is based on Linux, which of course supports multitasking on the desktop.

Google first introduced the multi-window (split-screen view) feature in Android Nougat.

But for Samsung Galaxy phones users, Multi Window had been introduced since Galaxy Note II in 2013.

And Samsung continued to polish this feature in each iteration of the Galaxy devices.

Galaxy S10 Multi Window allows you:

  • To run two apps side by side (split-screen view).
  • To let one or more apps floating over other apps and any screens (pop-up view).  The size of the app window can be adjusted and even minimized. The stock Android does not support this even in the latest Android Pie.

Of course, you can use the split-screen view and pop-up view simultaneously.

What are the Multi Window features removed in Galaxy S10?

Unfortunately, Samsung removed some very useful features from Galaxy S10 Multi Window including:

  • Converting a normal app window to the pop-up view mode with a gesture. The diagonally swiping gesture is not supported on Galaxy S10. You cannot find the settings in Galaxy S10 settings anymore.
  • Directly converting split-screen view to pop-up view.  When two apps are in the split-screen view mode, the only multi-window tool in Galaxy S10 is to resize the window. All other tools and options  (e.g., app pair creation, Snap Window, swap apps) are removed in Galaxy S10 Multi Window.
  • Snap Window.
  • Multi Window (split-screen) icon was removed in the thumbnails in the Recents screen. You have to long tap the app icon in the Recents screen to use Galaxy S10 Multi Window feature.

Please note, these features were also removed in the Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S8.

If you still need these features, you need to install Samsung's Good Lock app.

What are the differences between the split-screen view and pop-up view?

If you migrated to Galaxy S10 from other Android phones, you probably tried the split-screen view in the stock Android.

The most powerful feature of Galaxy S10 Multi Window is the pop-up view.

Basically, the split-screen mode allows you to run two apps side-by-side (in the long side). You can adjust the percentage of the screen for each app. … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S10 navigation buttons and navigation gestures?

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You have to use either Galaxy S10 navigation buttons or navigation gestures to navigate through different pages and apps on Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e, and S10 5G.

If you just migrate to Galaxy S10 from a non-Samsung phone or a Samsung phone running Android Oreo or lower versions of Android, you may need to spend some time getting used to Galaxy S10 navigation gestures.

This Galaxy S10 how-to guide shows you how to use and customize the navigation buttons and navigation bar, and how to use the Galaxy S10 navigation gestures.

How to use Galaxy S10 navigation buttons?

By default, Galaxy S10 (including Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e) uses a navigation bar with 3 navigation buttons: Back, Home. and Recents (overview) on the bottom part of the screen.

Please note Samsung moved to software navigation buttons since Galaxy S8. There are no hardware navigation buttons on Galaxy S10. The 3 hardware buttons (keys) on the Galaxy S10: Power button, Volume (up and down) button, and Bixby button as explained in Galaxy S10 layout.

By default, you will see the following Galaxy S10 navigation buttons in the navigation bar.

illustration of Galaxy S10 navigation buttons

Galaxy S10 navigation buttons (navigation bar)

If you migrated from non-Samsung phones, you may find the button order is different from other phones. In stock Android, the Back button is on the left of the Home button and Recents (Overview) button to the right. Of course, you can change the navigation button order on Galaxy S10 to match other Android phones (read on).

The functions of the 3 Galaxy S10 navigation buttons are similar to those in other Android phones.

Home button

Galaxy S10 Home button accepts three touchscreen gestures: tap, long tap, and swipe to the right side

You can tap the Home button to back to the Galaxy S10 home screen regardless of what you are doing, or what app you are using.

If you are on the Galaxy S10 home screen already, tapping the Home button will bring you to the “home” of the home screen panels.

Please note, unlike the home button on Galaxy S8, S9, Note 8, or Note 9, the Galaxy S10 home button is not pressure-sensitive. On the Galaxy S10 always-on display (AOD), you can tap anywhere to wake the screen if you enable the tap to wake feature.

If you tap and hold (long tap) the Home button, by default, Google Assistant will start.

If you swipe to the right side from the Home button, you will switch to the most recent app (read on in the Galaxy S10 navigation gestures section).

Back button

The behaviour of the Back button actually depends on the app you are using. In other words, the app developer can decide what happens when you tap the Back button when using the app.

For most apps, tapping the Back button brings you back to the previous screen of the app until you exit the app. Remember some apps don't allow you … Read the rest