Bixby button

How to use the new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Last updated on: September 8, 2019 · First published on: April 3, 2019 3 Comments

After updating Galaxy S8 or S8+ to Android Pie, you need to spend some time in using the new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

As a major update, Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+ brings many Android Pie features and a brand new One UI.

This Galaxy S8 guide shows you how to use the new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Because Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+ shares almost an identical code base with Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 (and S9+), almost all of the new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 also apply to the Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

What are the new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+?

There are so many new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S8 and S8+ that many owners feel they got a new phone.

The new features arising from two domains:

Android Pie features. Of course, Samsung tweaked some Android Pie features so that they may look different from those in the stock Android.
One UI features. The new One UI was specially built for Android Pie. It is substantially different from Samsung Experience and the older TouchWiz.

In this post, the top 9 new features in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S8 were summarized as:

If you are a Bixby user, you may also be excited about the new Bixby features: remap the Bixby button and Bixby quick commands.

How to update Galaxy S8 or S8+ to Android Pie?

By default, you should get a notification about … Read the rest

How to disable Bixby button in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+?

Last updated on: October 3, 2017 · First published on: October 3, 2017 Leave a Comment

Some Galaxy S8 and S8+ owners hate the Bixby button. With recent updates, you can now disable Bixby button in Galaxy S8 and S8+ (Galaxy Note 8 as well). You can totally disable Bixby button for short press AND long press.

Many Galaxy S8 and S8+ owners are not fans of Samsung’s half-baked Bixby Assistant. One of the most disturbing features of Bixby is the Bixby button in the left side of Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Often you may press the button accidentally when you want to adjust volume. This can be very annoying.

Samsung also quietly blocked the possibility of remapping Bixby button to other features.

Anyway, you can now fully disable Bixby button in Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8. This Galaxy S8 how-to guide will show you how to disable the annoying Bixby button completely.

What is Galaxy S8 and S8+ Bixby button?

As shown in Galaxy S8 layout, Bixby button is located in the left side of the phone, below the volume keys.

The Bixby button have at least two basic functions currently:

1. Press it once (short press) to launch Bixby Home page at any time even after you hide Bixby home from Galaxy S8 home screen. If you are on Bixby Home page already, you can press Bixby button to exit Bixby home. By default, Bixby Home page is in the leftmost panel of Galaxy S8 home screen.

Of course, you can hide or remove Bixby Home from Galaxy S8 home screen as explained in this guide. But this does not disable Bixby Home page. You only hide/remove it from the home screen.

2. Long press (press and hold) Bixby button to launch Bixby voice assistant.

After Bixby voice assistant is activated, you can … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S8 camera quick launch?

Last updated on: May 16, 2017 · First published on: May 9, 2017 6 Comments

You can use Galaxy S8 camera quick launch to open the camera app quickly from any screens.

As Galaxy S8 and S8+ removed the physical Home button, you now have to use power button for Galaxy S8 camera quick launch.

This Galaxy S8 camera guide shows you how to enable, disable and use Galaxy S8 camera quick launch.

What is Galaxy S8 camera quick launch?

There is no physical button for camera app in Galaxy S8 and S8+, as in many other Android phones.

The new physical button below volume rockers in Galaxy S8 and S8+ is for Samsung Bixby, not camera app.

But Samsung does offer a quick way for you to launcher camera app.

In Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, you can press Home button twice consecutively to launch camera app in Galaxy S7 or S7 edge as explained in this guide.

Now, Samsung replaced the physical Home button with software buttons in Galaxy S8 and S8+ as explained in this post.

So, power button was assigned for Galaxy S8 camera quick launch: press the power button twice quickly to launch camera app.

You can use Galaxy S8 camera quick launch to fire camera app at any time and from any screen.

You can start camera app almost instantly even when the screen is turned off and locked.

Please note, you can use camera app without unlocking the Galaxy S8 or S8+ (e.g., in lock screen), but you cannot access any photos taken or saved on the phone before the screen is locked. This is a security measure to protect your private data in case your phone is lost or stolen.

Remember, you need to press the power button twice quickly. If you press power button too slow, you may … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S8 camera app?

Last updated on: May 18, 2017 · First published on: April 16, 2017 2 Comments

Samsung used a new Galaxy S8 camera app in Galaxy S8 and S8+ with an revamped interface, Bixby vision integration, and supports for more gestures.

The interface of Galaxy S8 camera app interface looks similar to that in Galaxy S7 with Android Nougat update.

This Galaxy S8 camera guide will explain to you how to use Galaxy S8 camera app, and how to use touchscreen gestures in Galaxy S8 camera app in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Galaxy S8 camera app preview screen

When you launch Galaxy S8 camera app in Galaxy S8 or S8+, you will first get the Galaxy S8 camera preview screen as shown below.

Please note, you can use Galaxy S8 camera quick launch to get this interface directly without tapping the camera app icon.

Galaxy S8 camera preview screen is the centralized interface for using the camera in Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

1. Shutter button

Tap the shutter button (marked as 1 in the screenshot below) to take a picture.

Please note, in Galaxy S8 camera, you can also enable a floating shutter button in addition to this fixed button.

You can also slide (right and left) the shutter button to zoom in and out.

2. Video recording button

You can start to record a video by tapping the video recording button (marked as 2 in the screenshot below)

Once the recording starts, you can pause or stop.

You can also take photos when recording.

3. Gallery shortcut button

You can access Gallery app directly by tapping this Gallery app shortcut button (marked as 3 in the screenshot below).

By default, the thumbnail of the latest photo will be shown in the preview screen.

4. Animated filters button

Galaxy S8 camera app allows you to choose from 34 stickers and 50 stamps for your … Read the rest

How to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Last updated on: April 15, 2017 · First published on: April 15, 2017 Leave a Comment

As Samsung removed physical Home button in Galaxy S8 and S8+, you may find you cannot use the old method (using Power+Home+ Volume up buttons) to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Then you may wonder how to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

In Galaxy S8 and S8+, you need to use Bixby button +Volume up button + Power button to reboot into Galaxy S8 recovery mode.

Why you need to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

All Android phones should have a special mode called recovery mode, which allows you to perform device maintenance.

You may need to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode when:

you want to clear cache partition.
you want to install updates from SD card.
you want to install update with ADB.
you want to reset Galaxy S8 0r S8+.
you want to reboot the phone into Galaxy S8 download mode (boot loader).
you want to check recovery logs.
you want to mount /system partition.
you want to run graphics test.

Although most Galaxy S8 owners and Galaxy S8+ owners never use the Galaxy S8 recovery mode, you may need to use it one day.

For example, after applying Android a major update to Galaxy S8 or S8+, you may find the phone behaves oddly. In this case, you may just reboot the phone into Galaxy S8 recovery mode and clear the cache partition. It should solve most of the update related problems without resetting Galaxy S8 or S8+.

How to enter Galaxy S8 recovery mode in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Each Android phone manufactures may use different ways to enter recovery mode.

Traditionally, Samsung used Power button+ Home button + Volume up button to reboot Galaxy devices into recovery mode.… Read the rest

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 40 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 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