Samsung Galaxy S21 Guides

status bar

How to use Galaxy S21 quick settings panel?

use Galaxy S21 quick settings panelGalaxy S21 quick settings panel (aka Galaxy S21 quick panel or Galaxy S21 quick setting buttons) lets you turn on/off some features or change some settings quickly from a dropdown panel without navigating through the Galaxy S21 Settings.

This Galaxy S21 guide explains what Galaxy S21 quick settings panel is, how to access the Galaxy S21 quick panel, the components in the quick settings panel on Galaxy S21, how to customize the layout of the quick settings panel, and how to add (and remove) buttons to Galaxy S21 quick panel.

What is Galaxy S21 quick settings panel?

Galaxy S21 quick settings panel (aka Galaxy S21 quick panel, quick settings buttons) is a special page with some buttons for you to access or turn off some features directly without digging into the Galaxy S21 Settings page.

Just like other Android phones, you can turn on or turn off some features quickly on the quick settings panel of Galaxy S21 so that you can use the phone effectively.

For example, you want to turn on mobile data on Galaxy S21. You can do it by tapping Settings, tap Connections, tap Data usage, then Tap the switch for Mobile data. So, … Read the rest

How to use navigation gestures on Galaxy S21?

how to use navigation gestures on Galaxy S2You can use navigation gestures instead of the default navigation buttons on Galaxy S21.

In fact, Galaxy S21 offers two sets of navigation gestures, and you can choose any of them and switch between them (or switch back to navigation buttons if you want) at any time.

This Galaxy S21 how-to guide explains the two sets of navigation gestures on Galaxy S21, how to use them, and how to switch between navigation gestures and navigation buttons on Galaxy S21.

Navigation gestures are identical n all Galaxy S21 models. So this guide applies to Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra.

Navigation buttons vs navigation gestures: who needs what?

Prior to Android 9, Android uses 3 navigation buttons (Back, Home, Recents/Overview) for you to navigate through pages (panels) and apps.

Google introduced the two-button navigation gestures in Android 9 (Android Pie). Full-screen navigation gestures were introduced in Android 10.

In Google’s view, the future is navigation gestures, not navigation buttons. It is a natural evolution from physical navigation buttons (like this one) to software (on-screen) navigation buttons, and now to navigation gestures.

Of course, it is merely Google’s perspective. Many Android users still prefer the old-school navigation buttons … Read the rest

Master Meaning of Galaxy S21 Status Icons and Notification Icons

Meaning of Galaxy S21 Status Icons and Notification IconsYou need to understand the meaning of Galaxy S21 status icons and notification icons to use the phone properly and effectively.  Galaxy S21 status icons and notification icons can tell you rich information about the status of the phone status, phone health, and notification from individual apps.

This Galaxy S21 how-to guide first explains the differences between Galaxy S21 status icons and notification icons, then explains the meaning of Galaxy S21 status icons and notification icons you may find in Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra.

Because Samsung uses slightly different icons in different regions or for some carriers, you may get Galaxy S21 status icons and notification icons that are different from those shown in this guide. This is normal. If you cannot figure out the meaning of those icons, you may share the screenshot on our FaceBook page so that the community can help you identify them.

What is the difference between Galaxy S21 status icons and notification icons?

Like all other Android phones,  Galaxy S21 use the top part of the screen as the status bar to display some icons indicating the system status, alerting you about possible issues and notifying you about incoming notifications.

These icons … Read the rest

How to use touchscreen gestures on Galaxy S21?

use touchscreen gestures on Galaxy S21You cannot skip touchscreen gestures when using Galaxy S21.  Even if you choose to use navigation buttons, you still need to use the touchscreen gestures for many operations on Galaxy S21.

This Galaxy S21 how-to guide explains the 8 supported touchscreen gestures on Galaxy S21 and demonstrates how to use them. Some advice on taking care of the Galaxy S21 screen is also covered.

This guide applies to all models and variants of Galaxy S21 phones because the touchscreen gestures are a common software feature on these phones.

What are the supported touchscreen gestures on Galaxy S21?

Galaxy S21 supports 8 touchscreen gestures:

  1. Tap (single tap).
  2. Double-tap.
  3. Triple tap.
  4. Long tap (tap and hold).
  5. Swipe (slide).
  6. Drag.
  7. Pinch.
  8. Spread.

These are touchscreen gestures supported at the system level. Some apps may support other fancy gestures.

Tap (single tap)

Tapping is the simplest and most frequently used touchscreen gesture on Galaxy S21.

You touch (tap) somewhere on the Galaxy S21 screen once, then move your finger away from the screen, as illustrated below.

Galaxy S21 touchscreen gestures: Tap (single tap)

When using DeX with a mouse, the corresponding operation is  “click”.

The action of the tapping gesture depends on the object you touched and the app you … Read the rest

How to Use Galaxy S21 Home Screen?

Galaxy S21 Home screenGalaxy S21 Home screen is an essential part of your phone. It is a convenient location for you to open apps and check widgets.

This Galaxy S21 how-to guide explained what the Galaxy S21 Home screen is, why you need it, the meaning and usage of all items you may find on the Galaxy S21 Home screen, and how to use gestures on the Galaxy S21 Home screen.

Although Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra differ in hardware configurations and a few software features, the home screen is identical on these 3 phones. So, this guide applies to all Galaxy S21 phones.

What is the Galaxy S21 Home screen? Why do you need it?

Galaxy S21 Home screen is the centre of the phone. You always start from the home screen after you unlock the phone (you SHOULD set up lock screen security for Galaxy S21). It is like your desktop on a PC.

Like on other Android phones, the Galaxy S21 Home screen can be used to hold frequently used apps, app folders, and widgets. You can also use it to pin files and pictures.

So, the Galaxy S21 Home screen can help you use the phone … Read the rest