Galaxy S8 Guides

How to use app shortcuts in Galaxy S8 Home screen in Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+?

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use app shortcuts in Galaxy S8 Home screen in Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update allows you to add app shortcuts in Galaxy S8 Home screen.

App shortcuts let you access some features of supported apps very quickly from Galaxy S8 Home screen.

This Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update guide shows you how to add app shortcuts to Galaxy S8 Home screen (pinned app shortcuts) and how to use them.

What are app shortcuts in Galaxy S8 Home screen in Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+?

App shortcuts are actually not a new feature in Android Oreo. Google introduced app shortcuts in Android Nougat 7.1.

Because Samsung’s Android Nougat firmware was based on Android 7.0, app shortcuts were not implemented in all Samsung phones with Android Nougat. Instead, Samsung offered own context menu in Android Nougat. But it is different from app shortcuts as explained in this guide.

App shortcuts give you quick access to some features of the corresponding apps.

For example, you want to check missed calls in Galaxy S8 with Android Oreo update.

The traditional way to get the list of missed calls includes these 5 steps:

  1. Tap the Phone icon;
  2. Tap Recents tab in the Phone app;
  3. Tap the menu key;
  4. Tap calls to show;
  5. Tap missed calls.

You need 5 taps to get the list of missed calls.

But if you use app shortcuts in Galaxy S8 Home screen in Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+, you can get it with just 2 taps:

  1. Tap and hold (long tap) the Phone app icon;
  2. Tap Missed calls (which is one of the available app shortcuts for the Phone app).

That’s it.

App shortcuts in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update also work on Galaxy S8 apps screen identically

In Android Oreo, Google added the support … Read the rest

Top 10 new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+

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Top 10 new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+

Update: Super slow-motion camera mode (960 fps)is available on Galaxy S8 and S8+ now. Please check this super slow-motion mode guide on how to use it.

Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+ has been rolled out in some regions. More and more Galaxy S8 and S8+ owners want to know how to use the new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

In this Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung updated the UI (Samsung Experience 9.0) and added Android Ore0 8.0.

This Galaxy S8 guide explains the top 10 new features of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

You may check this Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update guides page for step-by-step guides on how to use these new features.

For new features of Android Oreo 8.0, you may check this guide.

#1. Notification channel (categories)

In Android Oreo, notification channels (notification categories) were introduced so that the app developer can “categorize” their notifications.

These categorized notifications can then be pushed through notification channels, just like radio channels. You, as an app user, can then turn on/off individual notification channel to get what you want to receive and block what you don’t.

You may find more info on notification channel on Android Oreo here.

#2. App shortcuts support in Home screen

When you tap and hold (long tap) an app icon in Galaxy S8 home screen, you have some options.

In Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+, you get additional options to launch some special features of the app directly (if the app developer enabled this feature).

Compared to the traditional way to access such app features, app shortcuts are faster.

Such app shortcuts are shortcuts to certain features of the corresponding apps.… Read the rest

How to use Secure Folder on Galaxy S8, S9, S10, and S20?

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You can use Secure Folder to run one additional private copy of any apps installed on your Galaxy phones including Galaxy S8, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S20, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S9, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy Note 9, and Galaxy Note 10.

You can also use Secure Folder to hide any apps and private data on the phone.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide explains everything you need to know about the Secure Folder in Galaxy S8 and S8+: what Secure Folder is, when you will need Secure Folder, how to enable it in Galaxy S8 and S8+, how to add apps and files to the Secure Folder, how to add shortcuts of Secure Folder app to Galaxy S8 home screen, how to customize app icon and name for the Secure Folder, how to hide the Secure Folder, and how to reset and uninstall Secure Folder in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Because the Secure Folder is similar in all Samsung Galaxy devices, this guide also applies to secure folder in Galaxy S20, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S9, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy Note 9, and Galaxy Note 10.

What is Galaxy S8 Secure Folder?

Usually, you can secure your Galaxy S8 and S8+ with Galaxy S8 lock screen using a pattern, PIN, password, fingerprint or iris scanner.

But for some owners, this may be not sufficient.

Galaxy S8 Secure Folder allows you to create a private and encrypted space for your apps and files on Galaxy S8 or S8+.

Apps and files in Galaxy S8 Secure Folder are independent of the same app outside of the Secure Folder. These apps and files are secured with Samsung KNOX framework.

Essentially, you can run another copy of any apps in a secured environment.  You can also … Read the rest

How to use device maintenance in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+?

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use device maintenance in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+Device maintenance in Galaxy S8 and S8+ makes it easy to clean up and optimize the phone: free storage, clean up memory, close background apps, check abnormal battery usage and scan malware.

You can do it with one tap.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide explains to you what you can do with device maintenance, and how to use these features.

What is device maintenance in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+?

Device maintenance in Galaxy S8 and S8+ is not a new feature.

In Galaxy S6, Samsung introduced controversial smart manager. In Galaxy S7, Samsung corrected the mistakes in smart manager and rebranded it as device maintenance.

In Galaxy S8,  new features were added and old features were further polished.

Most Galaxy S8 owners use device maintenance to clean up the phone.

But device maintenance in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ can do more.  Some commonly used features include:

  • You can optimize (clean up) the phone with one tap.
  • You can check battery usage.
  • You can enable and customize battery saving modes.
  • You can enable and customize different performance modes.
  • You can check memory usage of all apps and clean up the memory.
  • You can manage the storage in Galaxy S8 and S8+, and to free up the storage.
  • You can scan the phone for malware.

So, device maintenance in Galaxy S8 and S8+ actually is a collection of tools to manage and optimize the phone.

How to access device maintenance in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+?

There are at least three different ways to access  device maintenance in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

Method 1: from Galaxy S8 Settings

You can start Settings app, or tap Settings icon in notification panel to access Galaxy S8 settings.

In the Settings page as shown below, you then tap Device maintenance… Read the rest



Galaxy S8 apps screen guide

Everything you need to know about Galaxy S8 apps screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+!

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Galaxy S8 apps screen guideGalaxy S8 apps screen is a place-holder for all apps installed in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. You need to know how to use it.

In addition, there are several new features in Galaxy S8 apps screen. For example, you can access apps screen using touch screen gesture and hide apps screen button.  You can also hide Galaxy S8 apps screen.

Please note, although Galaxy S8 is used in this page, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ share the identical home screen and apps screen.

The differences between Galaxy S8 apps screen and Galaxy S8 Home screen

In all Android phones, in addition to home screen,  there is always an apps screen, aka app drawer, where all apps are listed.  But some launchers may hide this screen and show all apps in home screen.

Technically,  apps screen is just a special page of Android Home screen.

Galaxy S8 apps screen is different from Galaxy S8 Home screen. The differences include:

  • Apps (app icons) in Galaxy S8 Home screen are just shortcuts to the app. While Galaxy S8 apps screen is a holding place for all apps.
  • You can add multiple copies of the same app in Galaxy S8 Home screen. But in Galaxy S8 apps screen, you can only have one copy.
  • You can set wallpapers, themes, screen grid and other settings in Galaxy S8 Home screen, but not from apps screen.
  • You can add widgets to Galaxy S8 Home screen. In Galaxy S8 apps screen, widgets are hidden by default.
  • You can create empty panels (pages) for Galaxy S8 home screen. In Galaxy S8 apps screen, empty pages will be removed automatically.
  • You can hide Galaxy S8 apps screen; but you cannot hide Galaxy S8 Home screen.

Many third-party launchers may have additional features for home … Read the rest

How to hide apps screen in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+?

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If you want to show all apps in Home screen, you can choose to hide apps screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

This guide shows you how to hide Galaxy S8 apps screen and how to search apps after you hide apps screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Why you may want to hide apps screen in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+?

In Android phones, there is an apps screen, aka app drawer,  which lists all apps installed on the phone.

While home screen lists any of the installed apps, and holds some widgets.

So, apps screen and home screen in Android phones serve different purposes.

But due to the popularity of iPhone, which does not have separate apps screen and home screen, more and more Android vendors try to mimic the look of iPhone.

Samsung introduced a new feature allowing users to hide apps screen in Galaxy S7 and S7 edge.

Now, in Galaxy S8, Samsung again allows you to hide apps screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

By hiding apps screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+, you can:

  • get a simple interface. Many new Android users have difficulties in understanding the difference between apps screen and home screen. Especially for owners who seldom use widgets, they did not see the necessity of an apps screen at all.
  • show all apps in Galaxy S8 Home screen without adding them manually.  In Google Play store, you can configure it in such a way that all newly installed apps are added to home screen automatically.  But by default, some of the pre-installed apps were not added to Galaxy S8 Home screen. Also, if you install apps from third-party app store, e.g., Amazon Appstore for Android, apps will not be added to home screen automatically.
  • find
… Read the rest

How to use and customize Galaxy S8 lock screen?

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Every owners of Galaxy S8 and S8+ owners will have to use Galaxy S8 lock screen!

This guide explains to your components of Galaxy S8 lock screen in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, and how to use them.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide also shows you how to customize Galaxy S8 lock screen: customize notifications in lock screen, customize information and FaceWidgets and customize app shortcuts in the lock screen of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

What are the components of Galaxy S8 lock screen?

Galaxy S8 lock screen is an integral part of Galaxy S8 and S8+. You cannot avoid it.

As shown below, there are several common components in Galaxy S8 lock screen (the numbers match the those in the screenshot).

0. Status bar

Status bar is in all screens of Galaxy S8 and S8+, not just lock screen.

In Galaxy S8 lock screen, you can swipe down from status bar to access quick setting buttons and notifications.

Please note, when the screen is locked, some quick settings buttons will not function before you unlock Galaxy S8 or S8+.

For example, if you tap the WiFi button from lock screen, it will ask you to unlock Galaxy S8 or S8+ first.

This is a security consideration, not a bug.

Other quick setting buttons should work without unlocking the phone.

For example, you can turn on and off always-on display or blue-light filter without unlocking Galaxy S8 or S8+ because accessing such features does not impose any security risks.

1. Clock  and faceWidgets

By default, the clock is displayed in this area when music is not playing in background.

When you are roaming, a local clock will be shown here side by side.

You can swipe right or left to access other FaceWidgets.

When music is playing in the … Read the rest

How to create, use and manage app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen?

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You can use app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen to organize apps in the home screen so that you can access the apps faster.

App folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen also help you reduce the number of home screen pages (panels) so that you can scroll through Galaxy S8 Home screen panels faster.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide shows you how to create (3 different methods) , use, delete and manage app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen for your Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

What are app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen?

As explained in this page, app folder is one of the most frequently used components in the home screen of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

Basically, an app folder is a placeholder for multiple app icons in Galaxy S8 Home screen.

Without app folders in Galaxy S8 Home screen, each app icon will occupy one spot. Now, you can put several apps with similar functions or from same developer into an app folder.

This will help you increase your productivity in Galaxy S8 and S8+:

  • App folders will reduce the number of Home screen pages (panels) needed in Galaxy S8 and S8+. You can then cycle through home screen panels faster.
  • App folders can group apps so that you can find individual apps quickly.
  • You can remove all apps inside the app folder from Galaxy S8 Home screen by deleting the app folder, instead of selecting them individually.
  • You can clear number badges of all apps inside an app folder with one tap.

Please note, app folders in Galaxy S8 and S8+ do not support nested app folders. In other words, you cannot add an app folder to another app folder.

This is similar to other Android devices.

But, the implementation … Read the rest



How to use context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen?

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Although Galaxy S8 and S8+ came with Android Nougat 7.0 pre-installed, the context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen looks similar to the app shortcuts, which is a new feature in Android Nougat 7.1.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide will explain to you what is the context menu in Galaxy S8 home screen and the difference between this context menu and app shortcuts in Nougat 7.1.

We will also show you how to use the context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen to manage apps and app folders in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

What’s context menu in Galaxy S8 home screen?

In Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung revamped their infamous TouchWiz launcher again.

One of the noteworthy new features in the launcher is the context menu in the home screen of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

As shown below, when you tap and hold (long tap) an app icon in Galaxy S8 Home screen, you will get the context menu somewhat related to that app.

If you tap and hold an app folder, you will get a different context menu as shown below.

Of course, you can ignore context menu, and drag the app icon or app folder to other locations or other home screen panels as you did in previous Galaxy phones.

use context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screenuse context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen

What’s the difference between context menu on the home screen of Galaxy S8 and S8+ and App shortcuts in Android Nougat 7.1?

As mentioned, Android Nougat 7.1 introduced app shortcuts, which allows app developers to define shortcuts to specific actions for their apps in supported launchers.

App shortcuts in Android Nougat 7.1 make it possible for users to quickly start common or recommended tasks within the specific app.

For example, as shown below, in Android Nougat 7.1 device, if you tap and hold Google Keep … Read the rest

How to use and customize Galaxy S8 Home screen?

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You cannot skip Galaxy S8 Home screen if you want to use Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+.  Samsung introduced some new features to Home screen in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

This Galaxy S8 how-to  guide explains to you the new features of Galaxy S8 Home screen and the meaning of all items in Galaxy S8 Home screen.

What is Galaxy S8 Home screen?

All Android phones have a home screen, which is usually the default screen after the phone is unlocked.

In addition, all Android phones have a hardware or a software home button which will bring you to the “home” of the home screen if there are more than one home screen page.

Galaxy S8 or S8+ is not an exception.

But in Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung ditched the hardware Home button and used software based navigation buttons as explained in this guide.

Although you can customize the navigation buttons and navigation bar in Galaxy S8 or S8+,  the Home button (as shown in Galaxy S8 layout and S8+ layout) is always in the center (between Recents and Back buttons).

Another new feature in Galaxy S8 and S8+ is the quick switch between Galaxy S8 Home screen and Galaxy S8 Apps screen (aka app drawer).

As explained in this guide, you can quickly switch between Galaxy S8 Home screen and Apps screen by swiping upwards or downwards.

Although Galaxy S8 or S8 was shipped with Android Nougat 7.0, not Android 7.1, Samsung introduced the context menu in Galaxy S8 Home screen. The context menu is similar, and even more powerful than app shortcuts introduced in Android Nougat 7.1.

Components of Galaxy S8 Home screen

To use Galaxy S8 or S8+, you need to understand the meaning and usage of each … Read the rest