Galaxy S8 Guides

How to power on, power off and reboot Galaxy S8 and S8+ even when phone hangs?

Last updated on: April 13, 2017 · First published on: April 13, 2017 42 Comments

You may know you can use power button to power on Galaxy S8 or power off Galaxy S8 and S8+.

But do you know how to power off Galaxy S8 and S8+ if your Galaxy S8 or S8+ hangs and does not respond to power button?

This guide will show you how to power on, power off and reboot Galaxy S8 and S8 at any situations, including when the phone hangs (power button is not responsive).

Use power button to power on Galaxy S8, power off Galaxy S8, and to reboot Galaxy S8 and S8+

When Galaxy S8 or S8+ is powered off, you can always press and hold power button for a few seconds to power on (turn on) the phone as shown below.

Please note, Galaxy S8 (and S8+) power button is located in the right side of the phone as explained in Galaxy S8 layout and Galaxy S8+ layout page.

Some owners may press the Bixby button, which is located in the left side of Galaxy S8 and S8+ and below volume buttons, mistakenly for power button.

When the phone is powered on, if you press and hold power button for more than 7 seconds, you will then reboot Galaxy S8 and S8+. This is considered as forced reboot.

If you press and hold the power button for 2-4 seconds, you will get the Galaxy S8 power button options:

Power off. Tap this button (marked as 1 in the screenshot below) to power off Galaxy S8 and S8+.
Restart. Tap this button (marked as 2 in the screenshot below) to reboot Galaxy S8 or S8+. This essentially is powering off Galaxy S8, then powering it on.
Use emergence mode.

Using power button options is the safest way to reboot Galaxy S8 or … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S8 apps screen, and how to hide and show apps screen button in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Last updated on: August 4, 2017 · First published on: April 12, 2017 Leave a Comment

By default, Galaxy S8 apps screen button in Galaxy S8 and S8+ is hidden. Samsung expects you you to use touchscreen gestures to access Galaxy S8 apps screen.

This is actually a new feature in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

This Galaxy S8 guide first shows you how to use Galaxy S8 apps screen with gesture. Then the guide explains to you how to show apps button and how to hide apps screen button in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

How to use gestures to access Galaxy S8 apps screen?

When you get you Samsung Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, you will find there is no apps screen button (app drawer button).

Then you may wonder how to access Galaxy S8 apps screen (apps drawer).

The quick answer is that you can use touchscreen gestures to access Galaxy S8 apps screen directly in home screen of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Of course, the apps screen button is just hidden. You can enable the setting to show apps button (read on).

The gestures you can use to access Galaxy S8 apps screen include is just a swipe.

Swipe upwards from bottom part of the home screen as shown below.

This will bring up the apps screen (app drawer) in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Once in apps screen of Galaxy S8 or S8+, you can swipe left and right to scroll apps screen panels as you did in previous Galaxy phones.

If you swipe up again in the apps screen, you will be brought back to home screen.

In other words, the swipe up gesture will cycle you through Home screen –> Apps screen –> Home screen –> Apps screen—>.

Another way to return to Home screen is to press Home button or Back button.

How to show and

… Read the rest

How to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and S8+ without using any apps?

Last updated on: April 9, 2017 · First published on: April 11, 2017 7 Comments

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide shows you three different methods to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and S8+ without using any apps: physical buttons (Volume down+Power), palm swipe, and Assistant menu.

All these 3 methods work on all models of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

And of course, it is NOT necessary to install any apps.

Use physical buttons to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Samsung ditched the physical Home button in Galaxy S8 and S8+, and switched to on-screen navigation buttons as explained in new features of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

You can even change the location of the Recents and Back buttons.

But missing physical Home button means the old method of using Home button and Power button to take screenshot will not work on Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Now, Samsung gives you a new button combination to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and S8+: Volume down button and Power button.

You may check Galaxy S8 layout page if you are not familiar with the location of these buttons.

So, to take a screenshot on Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+, you just need to hold down both the Volume down button and Power button simultaneously as shown below.

This method actually is from stock Android. Most other Android vendors already implemented this method in their Android devices.

In the past, because of the physical Home button, Samsung did not implement this method for taking screenshots in Galaxy phones.

Use palm swipe to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+

The second method to take screenshot on Galaxy S8 and S8+ (and all other Samsung Galaxy devices as well) is to use the side of your palm to swipe across the screen as shown below.

You may need to enable this feature … Read the rest

How to remove Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen?

Last updated on: October 6, 2017 · First published on: April 10, 2017 49 Comments

In Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen, the leftmost panel is reserved for Bixby Home page (Hello Bixby), which is part of Samsung Bixby. But many owners want to remove Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen.

This guide shows you how to easily turn off or remove Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen.

If you want to disable Bixby button in Galaxy S8 and S8+, you may follow this guide.

What is Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen?

Prior to Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung added Flipboard briefing to the leftmost panel of home screen.

This is one of the least popular features. It seems nobody except Samsung likes this annoying feature. Luckily, you can disable flipboard briefing in all previous Galaxy phones.

Now, in Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung replaced the Briefing page with Bixby Home page as shown below.

Samsung Bixby is actually a good new feature in Galaxy S8 and S8+ and it works mainly locally on the phone.

But Samsung wants to stuff you with Bixby everywhere in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Bixby Home (Hello Bixby) is Bixby’s claimed territory in Galaxy S8 home screen.

The Bixby Home page is very similar to Google Now page comes with Google Now launcher or Pixel launcher. You can personalize Bixby Home page to show your preferred apps, news and reminders.

It sounds great.

But what disturbs many owners is that the Bixby Home page occupy a dedicated panel in Galaxy S8 home screen.

Can I remove Bixby Home page in Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen?

Yes, you can remove Bixby Home page from Galaxy S8 and S8+ home screen, just like what you can do with Briefing page in previous Galaxy phones… Read the rest

Galaxy S8 SIM card guide

Last updated on: October 19, 2017 · First published on: April 9, 2017 33 Comments

You need to use the correct SIM card for Galaxy S8 and S8+, and use it correctly.

This Galaxy S8 SIM card guide shows you what the correct SIM card size is for Galaxy S8 and S8+, how to insert and change Galaxy S8 SIM card, and how to use two SIM cards in Galaxy S8 dual SIM versions.

What is the correct Galaxy S8 SIM card size for S8 and S8+?

To make phone calls or to use mobile data with Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+, you need a SIM (subscriber identity module) card, which is issued by your carrier to identify each customer.

Over the years, different sizes of SIM card have been used for mobile phones. You may wonder the correct SIM card size for Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Technically, there are 4 different sizes of SIM card for mobile phones:

Full-size SIM. Full-size SIM is often referred as 1FF (1st form factor). It is “giant” in size: 85.60 mm × 53.98 mm × 0.76 mm. Anyway, you probably cannot find one in the market and none of the Android phones used it.
Mini-SIM (2FF). Mini-SIM usually is referred as “big” or “normal” or “standard” SIM card in some countries. Most carriers and phone manufactures phased out mini-SIM a few years ago. .
Micro-SIM (3FF). Micro SIM is still the most popular size of SIM card for smartphones. Most middle range and budget smartphones are using micro SIM card. In some regions, micro-SIM is referred as “small” SIM card.
Nano-SIM (4FF). Nano-SIM is the smallest SIM card available for smartphone today. Most flagship smartphones requires nano-SIM

Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ use nano SIM card.

The good news is most carriers offer 3-in-1 SIM card, which … Read the rest

How to customize Galaxy S8 navigation buttons and navigation bar?

Last updated on: May 30, 2021 · First published on: April 8, 2017 41 Comments

Samsung ditched the “signature” capacitive (hardware) navigation buttons (Back, Recents, and Home) in Galaxy S8 and S8+ as explained in Galaxy S8 layout page and new features of Galaxy S8 page, and embraced the modern software-based on-screen navigation buttons which can be found in almost all other Android devices.

But Samsung did one step further to allow you to customize Galaxy S8 navigation buttons and navigation bar.

Update 1: You can now even choose to hide or show the navigation bar in any apps in Galaxy S8 and S8+.!

This Galaxy S8 new feature guide will show you how to use and customize the on-screen Galaxy S8 navigation buttons, and the Galaxy S8 navigation bar.

What can you do to customize Galaxy S8 navigation buttons and navigation bar?

In stock Android, the on-screen navigation buttons are fixed, although a few vendors, for example, LG, may allow you to add more buttons in the navigation bar.

Samsung used not only different (and a bit confusing as well) icons for the three standard buttons (Recents/Overview, Home and Back), but also made the layout of these navigation buttons customizable in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

For Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ on-screen navigation buttons and the navigation bar, you can:

switch locations of the Recents and Back button.
customize the background colour of Galaxy S8 navigation bar.
adjust Galaxy S8 Home button pressure level sensitivity.

Please note, the fingerprint scanner was decoupled from the Home button in Galaxy S8 and S8+, and is now relocated to the back of the phone (next to the main camera) as detailed on Galaxy S8 layout page.

How to customize Galaxy S8 navigation buttons layout?

In stock Android, the Back button is to the left of the Home button and the Recent … Read the rest

Galaxy S8 layout and Galaxy S8+ layout

Last updated on: October 19, 2017 · First published on: April 7, 2017 16 Comments

Galaxy S8 layout (and Galaxy S8+ layout) guide shows you the location and explains the functions of the buttons, cameras, sensors, ports, SIM card slot, NFC antenna and other components in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

You should spend a few mins to familiarize yourself with Galaxy S8 layout when you get the phone so that you can use Galaxy S8 and S8+ properly and effectively.

Please note, as explained in Galaxy S8 specs and Galaxy S8+ specs, the only difference between Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ is the size of the two phones (Galaxy S8+ is bigger with a bigger battery).

The layout of Galaxy S8 is identical to Galaxy S8+ layout.

Galaxy S8 layout: front view

The front view of Galaxy S8 layout is illustrated below.

Screen and edge screen

Samsung touts the infinity display as one of the major new design features of Galaxy S8 and S8+. This is evidenced by the front view of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

About 85% of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ front is occupied by the screen.

Because curved screen is used in Galaxy S8 (and S8+), edge screens can be found in both sides.

Hardware buttons

Power key is still in the right side and volume keys in the left in the front view of Galaxy S8 layout. If you have problems to power on Galaxy S8 or S8+, you may check this guide.

A new Bixby button was added below volume button.

If you often hit the Bixby button inadvertently, you may disable the Bixby button in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Navigation buttons

There are no capacitive buttons in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

The back and recent buttons are software based as shown above. You can re-order Galaxy S8 navigation buttons.

Home button is embedded … Read the rest

Top 8 missing features of Galaxy S8 and S8+ that may annoy you

Last updated on: October 6, 2017 · First published on: April 4, 2017 11 Comments

There are some missing features of Galaxy S8 that may annoy you, although Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are surely one of the hottest flagship smartphones in 2017 based on specs and new features.

Actually, the sales number of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ will surely beat all other Android phones. But this does not mean Galaxy S8 and S8+ are perfect or the best.

You may notice that some important features are missing in Galaxy S8 and S8+. These missing features of Galaxy S8 may be relevant to some users.

So, we hope this list of the top 8 missing features of Galaxy S8 and S8+ can help you make the decision before pre-ordering the phone.

#1 of top 8 missing features of Galaxy S8: smaller battery

As a reaction to the failure of Galaxy Note 7 battery, Samsung is extremely careful with Galaxy S8 and S8+ battery.

They apparently did not push the design and engineering limit for a bigger battery for S8 and S8+. And if Galaxy S8 battery fails again, Samsung will probably be in the death spiral in smartphone market.

The result is the smaller battery.

It is so small that you should concern about the battery life, although Samsung claimed similar battery life as Galaxy S7.

As a comparison, the 5.8-inch Galaxy S8 has a 3000mAh battery, whose capacity is identical to that of the 5.1-inch Galaxy S7.

And the 6.2-inch Galaxy S8+ has a 3500mAh battery, which is even smaller than that (3600mAh) in the 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 edge.

The new 10nm processor may help save some battery. But the screen, which is bigger now, usually is the major battery drainer. There are no new technologies in the Super AMOLED screen for battery saving.

So, … Read the rest