Galaxy S8 Apps screen

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

Last updated on: April 13, 2018 · First published on: April 13, 2018 Leave a Comment

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:

Tap the Phone icon;
Tap Recents tab in the Phone app;
Tap the menu key;
Tap calls to show;
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:

Tap and hold (long tap) the Phone app icon;
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

Use notification dots/notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update

Last updated on: April 8, 2018 · First published on: April 9, 2018 46 Comments

The notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update is different from the number badge in previous versions of Android in Samsung phones.

You may find the new notification number badge (aka app icon badges) does not work as what you expected.

This Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update guide explains the new features and behaviours of the n0n Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update. We also show you how to manage and customize notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update.

What’s new in notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update?

One of the prominent new features in Android Oreo is the notification dots, which shows a dot in the app icon for unattended notifications.

You may think this is nothing new because Samsung has the notification number badge for a long time.

But you may not know there are some substantial changes in the notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update.

Compared to the number badge in previous versions of Android in Galaxy phones, the new number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update has the following changes:

It is renamed officially as App icon badges.
You can now customize the notification number badge in Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update.
You can use dots, or numbers for the notification number badge.
You can turn on/off notification number badge for individual apps.
All apps are supported.
Only unattended (not dismissed) notifications are counted.
Unread messages (SMS, MMS, emails) are NOT counted.
If you dismiss the notification in Galaxy S8 notification panel, the notification number badge in the corresponding app icon will be reset (cleared). You should snooze the notification if you need to check it later.
You can turn on/off notification info in Galaxy S8 Home screen and Apps screen

… Read the rest

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

Last updated on: May 27, 2020 · First published on: November 12, 2017 10 Comments

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 Galaxy S8 themes to customize Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Last updated on: August 22, 2017 · First published on: August 22, 2017 Leave a Comment

You can use Galaxy S8 themes to customize the look and feel of Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide shows you how to find, download, install, apply, and manage Galaxy S8 themes. It also shows you how to disable the annoying Samsung themes notification in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Please note, Galaxy S8 themes applies to Galaxy S8 and S8+ only. You cannot use Galaxy S8 themes in Galaxy S7 or any future Galaxy phones either.

What are Galaxy S8 themes?

Since Galaxy S6, Samsung introduced themes for owners to customize the phone systemically.

But at that time, there were very limited support from developers and the choices are very limited for third-party themes.

Now, for Galaxy S8 and S8+, you have so many choices of Galaxy S8 themes.

Galaxy S8 themes allow you:

to change the system color schemes of Galaxy S8 notification panel, Galaxy S8 quick settings panel and Galaxy S8 Settings;
to change wallpapers for Galaxy S8 Home screen, apps screen, and lock screen;
to change app icons of some pre-installed Samsung apps;
to add “effects” of other app icons in Galaxy S8 and S8+.
to change the color scheme of Phone, Contacts and Messages app.
to change the look of Galaxy S8 always-on display (AOD).

For example, some Galaxy S8 owners may not like the default white color scheme. They may prefer a dark theme.

Galaxy S8 themes will solve such issues and demands.

If you are using official Samsung covers (cases), for example, Galaxy S8 clear view cover, you will be prompted to choose a Galaxy S8 theme to match your Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Although Galaxy S8 themes can change the look of your Galaxy S8 and S8+, third-party apps will NOT be changed. … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S8 screen zoom ?

Last updated on: October 22, 2017 · First published on: August 4, 2017 Leave a Comment

You can use Galaxy S8 screen zoom to adjust the display of almost all pages (and all apps) in Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Galaxy S8 screen zoom is a customized Android Nougat feature of display size. But they are different in adjusting the size of app icons in home screen and apps screen, and in controlling the size of the lock screen keypad.

This Galaxy S8 how-to guide explains you what Galaxy S8 screen zoom is, when you need it, and how to use this feature in Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

What is Galaxy S8 screen zoom? Why you need it?

Prior to Android Nougat, you can only adjust the font size for the system display (e.g., text size in Settings page).

And some system display settings are even hard-coded and you cannot change them at all. For example, the notification text does not change with font size in most Android phones.

So, in Android Nougat 7.0, Google added a feature named display size, with which you can adjust all display elements. And it works in all apps.

In Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung, as usual, customized display size and rebrand it as Galaxy S8 screen zoom.

In addition to changing the name from display size to screen zoom, Samsung also changed a few features in display size. For example:

Screen zoom does NOT affect lock screen keypad size in Galaxy S8 and S8+. Samsung hard-coded the keypad in Galaxy S8 lock screen. In stock Android Nougat, you can adjust the keypad size with display size.
Screen zoom does NOT affect app icon size in Galaxy S8 Home screen and Apps screen. In Galaxy S8, you need to use screen grid to adjust the app icon size. In stock Android Nougat, app icon

… Read the rest

Galaxy S8 apps screen guide

Last updated on: August 22, 2017 · First published on: July 21, 2017 4 Comments

Galaxy 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 show and hide Galaxy S8 navigation bar?

Last updated on: July 3, 2017 · First published on: July 3, 2017 16 Comments

With a recent Galaxy S8 and S8+ firmware update in June, you can now show and hide Galaxy S8 navigation bar in any apps in S8 and S8+.

To use this new feature, Samsung added a small dot in Galaxy S8 navigation bar for you to turn on and turn off navigation bar in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

For other customization for Galaxy S8 navigation bar, for example, customize the background color of the navigation bar and navigation button layout, please check this guide.

What is the dot in Galaxy S8 navigation bar?

After you updated your Galaxy S8 and S8+, you may notice there is a dot in Galaxy S8 navigation bar as shown below.

The dot corresponds to a new feature that allows you to turn off (hide) or turn on (show) the Galaxy S8 navigation bar in any apps except home screen and apps screen.

The official name of this dot is show and hide button.

Since Android KitKat (Android 4.4), developers are able to enable immersive full screen mode to hide navigation bar when using the specific app. But most app developers haven’t used this feature in their apps.

Now, Samsung allows Galaxy S8 and S8+ user to hide or show navigation bar in Galaxy S8 and S8+ without relying on individual app developers.

You can tap the dot in the left side of the navigation bar to hide the navigation bar in Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

How to turn on or turn off the show and hide button (dot) in Galaxy S8 navigation bar?

You can turn on and turn off the show and hide button based on your needs and habits.

As shown above, you can go to Settings —Display —Navigation bar to find the option for the … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S8 camera modes?

Last updated on: May 18, 2017 · First published on: May 18, 2017 6 Comments

Everything you need to know on using Galaxy S8 camera modes is explained: access, download, use and manage Galaxy S8 camera modes in Galaxy S8 and S8+.

This Galaxy S8 camera guide also shows you how to add Galaxy S8 camera modes to Home screen so that you can access them directly.

What are Galaxy S8 camera modes? Why you may need them?

By default, when you use Galaxy S8 camera app, you are in Auto mode (for rear camera) or Selfie mode (for front camera).

The default Galaxy S8 camera modes are usually good enough for most scenarios.

But sometimes, you may want to take photos for some special objects, e.g., fast moving objects in sports activities, or take photos with special features, e.g., panorama photo.

In these scenarios, you may have to use some special Galaxy S8 camera modes to get desired photos.

Galaxy S8 camera modes usually are some pre-defined camera settings for special occasions or for special objects. They will help you get perfect pictures if used properly.

In addition, Galaxy S8 and S8+ also include a Pro mode which gives you very detailed control and allows you to save photos as RAW format for further adjustment.

How to access Galaxy S8 camera modes in Galaxy S8 and S8+?

As explained in this guide, there is no button for Galaxy S8 camera modes.

You have to access these camera modes in Galaxy S8 and S8+ with a touch screen gesture.

First, open camera app with any of the following methods:

Tap Camera icon in Galaxy S8 Home screen; or
Tap Camera icon in Galaxy S8 Apps screen; or
Tap Camera icon in Galaxy S8 lock screen; or
Use Galaxy S8 camera quick launch by pressing power button twice and

… Read the rest