Samsung Galaxy S20 Guides

Everything about Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra

fingerprint sensor

How to use Galaxy S20 lockdown mode?

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Galaxy S20 lockdown modeGalaxy S20 lockdown mode allows you to turn off biometric and smart lock in some special situations to enhance security and privacy protection.

This Galaxy S20 guide explains what Galaxy S20 lockdown mode is, when to use it, how to enable and exit the lockdown mode.

The lockdown mode is available in all Samsung Galaxy phones with Android Pie (Android 9), Android 10, or Android 11. So, this guide applies to not only Galaxy S20 phones but also Galaxy phones with Android 9 and later versions including Galaxy S8, Galaxy S9, Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy Note 10, and Galaxy Note 20.

What is Galaxy S20 lockdown mode?

Android 9 (Android Pie) introduced the lockdown mode to boost phone security on-the-fly. And Samsung implemented it in all od their Galaxy phones with Android 9 or later Android OS.

Galaxy S20 lockdown mode, once activated,  blocks all biometric security (face unlock and fingerprint) and smart lock. In the lockdown mode, the only way to unlock your Galaxy S20 is using the primary PIN, Pattern or Password.

Voice recognition (Bixby and Google Assistant) will also not work when the lockdown mode is activated.

Besides, all notifications that would usually be displayed on the Galaxy S20 lock screen will be hidden, and you can only read them after you unlock the phone.

In a nutshell, Galaxy S20 lockdown mode:

  1. Force you to use PIN, Pattern or Password to unlock Galaxy S20.
  2. Hide all notifications from the lock screen regardless of the notification settings for the lock screen.

Therefore, it is a security feature, not a convenience feature.

Please note, Galaxy S20 lockdown mode is a one-time feature. It means it will return to normal once you unlock Galaxy S20 with PIN, pattern or password. If you need the mode again, you have to activate it again.

If you want to use the lockdown mode permanently, you may set the phone in this way:

  • Delete the registered facial features and fingerprints
  • Reset the smart lock and remove any trusted devices and locations.
  • Choose not to show any notification on the lock screen.
  • Disable Bixby and Google Assistant on the lock screen.

Anyway, this would cause some inconveniences.

When to use Galaxy S20 lockdown mode?

Using face recognition to unlock Galaxy S20 is usually blazingly … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S20 face recognition (face unlock)?

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use Galaxy S20 face recognition (face unlock)You can use Galaxy S20 face recognition to unlock the phone (face unlock) by just looking at the phone.

Because the in-display ultrasound fingerprint reader on Galaxy S20 ( and S10) is hard to use and is slow, many Galaxy S20 owners have to use face recognition to unlock the phone and find that face recognition (face unlock) is faster than the fingerprint.

This Galaxy S20 guide explains what Galaxy S20 face recognition is, how to use and manage face recognition to unlock Galaxy S20, how to register your facial features for face unlock, and limitations of Galaxy S20 face recognition.

Galaxy S20 face recognition (face unlock) works identically on Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra. So this guide applies to all of these three models.

What is Galaxy S20 face recognition (face unlock)?

In addition to using a PIN or password, you can use your biometrics to unlock Galaxy S20 (and other Android phones as well).

Galaxy S20 implements two biometrics features:

  1. Fingerprint.
  2. Facial recognition.

Please note, Samsung stopped using (the most promising) iris scanner since Galaxy S10. You can find the iris scanner on Galaxy S8, S9, Note 8 and Note 9.

So, you can use your fingerprint and face to unlock Galaxy S20 if you want. By default, both fingerprint and facial recognition is not enabled.

Android included face unlock since Android 4.0 (Icecream Sandwich). Of course, it is less accurate than a fingerprint reader. Prior to Android Nougat (Android 7.0), it is easy to fool the phone with a photo.

In recent releases, Android has greatly improved facial recognition. It is fast enough so that you do not need to wait too long. It is accurate enough so that you cannot cheat it with a photo.

Of course, the face unlock on all Android phones is still considered as “less” secure than the fingerprint.

When Samsung ditched the iris scanner (and the intelligent scan), Samsung did NOT add an IR camera. So, on Galaxy S20, face unlock purely relies on the selfie camera. It is NOT comparable to Apple Face ID.

You may consider the Galaxy S20 facial recognition if you need an alternative to the inferior in-display fingerprint scanner.

Why is Galaxy S20 face recognition (face unlock) important?

As mentioned, in most Android phones, the traditional fingerprint reader works very well. You just put your finger on the reader, and it can wake … Read the rest

How to use app shortcuts on Galaxy S20 lock screen?

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manage and use app shortcuts on Galaxy S20 lock screenYou can add up to two app shortcuts on Galaxy S20 lock screen so that you can use these apps without unlocking the phone, or use the app directly after unlocking the phone.

This Galaxy S20 guide explains how the app shortcuts on Galaxy S20 lock screen work, how to manage, customize and use the app shortcuts on the lock screen, how to use the floating button for app shortcuts.

App shortcuts are available on all Galaxy S20 models: Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra. So, this guide applies to all these three Galaxy S20 models.

How do app shortcuts on Galaxy S20 lock screen work?

As explained in this guide, on Galaxy S20 lock screen, by default, there are two app shortcuts (Phone app and Camera app, by default) on the two bottom corners.

You can drag or swipe the icon to the centre of the screen to use the two apps without unlocking Galaxy S20.

There are no security issues with the app shortcuts on the Galaxy S20 lock screen.

Most apps will work only after you unlock Galaxy S20. Only selected apps will work without accessing your data and without unlocking Galaxy S20.

Your data are always safe. They can only be accessed after you unlock the phone. There is no exception.

So, the app shortcuts on Galaxy S20 lock screen work in different ways depending on the app shortcuts you put there:

  1. Without restrictions. For apps that do not access any data, they can work normally. For example, you can use Flashlight or Do Not Disturb without any restriction on the lock screen.
  2. With restrictions. For selected apps, including  Phone app, Camera app, they can run in a restricted mode. For example, the Phone app on the lock screen can only be used for emergency calls. The camera app can only be used to take photos or record videos, and it can only access photos or videos taken in that session. Of course, you can use all Galaxy S20 camera modes and change some camera settings.
  3. Unlocking the phone is required. For most apps, you need to unlock the phone to continue the app.

As a convenience feature,  you should put the most frequently used apps on the lock screen so that you can access them quicker than tapping the app icons on the home … Read the rest

How to use and customize Galaxy S20 lock screen?

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use and customize Galaxy S20 lock screenGalaxy S20 lock screen keeps your phone safe from prying eyes. It acts as a door to protect your private data and info.

This Galaxy S20 guide explains how the lock screen protects your data,  the layout of the lock screen, and shows you how to use gestures on the Galaxy S20 lock screen.

Why is the Galaxy S20 lock screen so important?

Like in all other Android phones, Galaxy S20 lock screen is an essential part to secure your phone.

Basically, it is a door to your contents and private data. You are holding the key. And the key is your lock screen PIN/password/pattern.

So, Galaxy S20 lock screen protects your data from unauthorized access.

If anyone can bypass your Galaxy S20 lock screen, then he/she can access almost all data saved on the phone.

For Galaxy S20, if you forget the password or PIN, you can only unlock the phone with Samsung Find My Mobile as explained in this guide. If you forget to enable it on Galaxy S20, you have to perform a factory data reset (you will lose all of your data) and then set it up again with your Google account existed on the phone before the factory data reset.

By default, when you unlock the lock screen, there is unlock sound. You can disable it in Settings — Sounds and vibrations — system sound/vibration control — screen lock/unlock, as explained in this guide.

Galaxy S20 lock screen layout

As shown in the screenshot below, typically, there are 7 components on the Galaxy S20 lock screen.

#1. Status bar

The status bar on the lock screen shows the name of the current mobile network provider and other status icons. You can find the meaning of status icon on this page.

There are no notification icons in the status bar of the Galaxy S20 lock screen. Notifications, if enabled on the lock screen, will be shown below.

#2. Clock/faceWidgets

By default, a clock, whose clockface can be customized, is shown here.

But this is also the place holder for faceWidgets. You can swipe left or right in this region to switch to different faceWidgets.

Galaxy S20 allows you to enable up to 5 faceWidgets on the lock screen.

Please check this guide on how to enable, customize and use faceWidgets on Galaxy S20 lock screen and always-on display screen.

Update: … Read the rest

How to unlock Galaxy S20 to Home screen directly (without swiping on Galaxy S20 lock screen) with face recognition?

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How to unlock Galaxy S20 to Home screen directly (without swiping on Galaxy S20 lock screen) with face recognition?By default, after you unlock Galaxy S20 with face recognition, you are not directed to the Home screen. You have to swipe on the lock screen to reach the Galaxy S20 Home screen.

Many Galaxy S20 owners want to reach the Home screen without swiping on Galaxy S20  lock screen when using face recognition to unlock Galaxy S20.

As Galaxy S20 uses the inferior and inconvenient in-display fingerprint sensor,  most  Galaxy S20 owners find the face recognition (face unlock) is the most convenient way to unlock Galaxy S20 quickly.

This Galaxy S20 guide shows you how to unlock Galaxy S20 to Home screen directly without swiping on Galaxy S20 lock screen when using face recognition on Galaxy S20.

The face recognition on Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra works identically. So, this guide applies to all of these 3 Galaxy S20 models although only “S20” was used in the text.

Besides, the default face recognition (face unlock) settings are similar on all Samsung Galaxy phones with Android 10. This guide also applies to most other Samsung Galaxy phones with Android 10 update including Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy S9, Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S8, and Galaxy Note 8.

Why I still stay on the lock screen after unlocking Galaxy S20 with face recognition?

When face recognition is enabled, you may inadvertently unlock Galaxy S20.

For example, you may pick up the phone just to check the time.  But the face recognition is activated and may unlock Galaxy S20 automatically whenever the screen is wakened up.

To mitigate this side effect of face recognition unlocking method on Galaxy S20, Samsung, by default, lets you stay on the lock screen if the phone is unlocked by face recognition. If you actually want to unlock the phone, you need to swipe on the Galaxy S20 lock screen to go to the Home screen.

As shown in the screenshot below, after unlocking Galaxy S20 with face recognition, you are still on the lock screen page. The open lock icon on the top of the lock screen and “Swipe to open” text on the bottom tells you that the phone is unlocked.  You can open the Home screen by swiping on the Galaxy S20 lock screen.

lock screen after unlocking Galaxy S20 with face recognition

Of course, you can change this setting (read on) so that you can reach the Home screen without swiping on Galaxy S20 lock screen.

This is … Read the rest

5 worst features of Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra

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top 5 worst features of Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 UltraGalaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra will be one of the best selling flagship phones in 2020, although there are some missing features and poorly implemented features.

This Galaxy S20 guide explains the top 5 worst features of Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra: in-display fingerprint scanner, curved screen, no headphone jack, no QC 3.0-, and the price.

In-display fingerprint scanner: the worst of the worst features of Galaxy S20

Samsung introduced the ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor in Galaxy S10.

It’s probably one of the worst features in S10 and S10+. Luckily, you can still choose Galaxy S10e if you need a better fingerprint reader.

The in-display fingerprint reader in most cases is less accurate, slower, and inconvenient. It is an example of meaningless innovation for smartphones.

Samsung since then added this not-ready features to all of their “flagship” smartphones to differentiate them from other Android phones (because only a few Chinese brands used similar or even worse in-display fingerprint read).

If you skip the fingerprint reader, then you have only the less secure face recognition for biometric authentications.  The default behaviour of face recognition in Galaxy S20 is that you have to swipe on the lock screen after the phone is unlocked. You need to follow this guide to disable the stay on the Lock screen.

All of the three Galaxy S20 models (Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra) use the same in-display fingerprint sensor.

If you need a normal fingerprint reader, you should eliminate Galaxy S20 from your list.

Although Samsung claimed they improved the fingerprint sensor, for example, a larger touch area (see Galaxy S20 layout) and faster recognition, it is still inferior to most of the capacitative fingerprint readers found in many middle-range smartphones.

You will feel the pain sooner or later. Especially, in the dry winter, it is almost impossible to use the in-display fingerprint reader.

So, we consider the in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is the worst of the worst features of Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and S20 Ultra.

Curved screen

Samsung “invented” the curved screen in Galaxy Note Edge (Note 4 Edge) with a separated curved edge screen, which nobody likes.

Samsung is so proud of their curved screens that they want to make it a signature feature of their top-tier smartphones, although it reduces the usability of the phone.

Since Galaxy S6,  the curved screen became an option: you … Read the rest