How to use Galaxy S9 notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Galaxy S9 notification panel allows you to check, snooze, dismiss and manage all notifications on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Without Android Oreo preloaded, Galaxy S9 and S9+ come with some new Android  Oreo notification features like notification channels and notification snooze.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains to you what Galaxy S9 notification panel is, how to access it, the layout of the notification panel and how to use notification panel in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

What is Galaxy S9 notification panel?

Like other Android phones, Galaxy S9 notification panel is an integrated part of Galaxy S9 and S9+.

There is no way to avoid it. You can access Galaxy S9 notification panel regardless what you are doing on the phone.

Galaxy S9 notification panel is a centralized location for all app notifications in Galaxy S9 and S9+.  In other words, all apps  “post” or push their notifications to the notification panel.

Apps can send or push notifications even when you do not use the app in the foreground.

In short, Galaxy S9 notification panel is a special panel for you to check, dismiss, snooze and manage all notifications in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

How to access Galaxy S9 notification panel?

You can swipe down from the status bar to access Galaxy S9 notification panel, as illustrated below.

If the status bar is hidden (e.g., when you are in full-screen mode), you can just swipe down from the top of the screen.

You can access Galaxy S9 notification panel even when the screen is locked. Of course, in Galaxy S9 lock screen settings, you can choose how notifications are shown.

In Galaxy S9 and S9+, there is another way to access Galaxy S9 notification panel quickly on Galaxy S9 Home screen.   The feature was named as quick-open notification panel.

You can swipe down on Galaxy S9 Home screen to access Galaxy S9 notification panel. This method, however, is turned off by default. You need to enable it.

In fact, by default, when you swipe up or swipe down in Galaxy S9 Home screen, you will access Galaxy S9 Apps screen.

To use the swipe down gesture for Galaxy S9 notification panel, you need to enable it Galaxy S9 Settings.

As shown below, in Galaxy S9 settings, tap Display.

In the Display page, tap Home screen, as shown in the screenshot above.

In Home screen page, as shown below, you can find the option of “Quick-open notification panel“.

It also offers a short description: Swipe down to open the notification panel on the Home screen.

Tap Quick-open notification panel to enable it.

Alternatively, you can just tap the switch to enable this feature.

As shown above, once the switch for quick-open notification panel is on (on the right side), you are ready to use this gesture (swipe down) to access Galaxy S9 notification panel.

Please note:

• Quick-open notification panel only works on Galaxy S9 Home screen. It will not work on Galaxy S9 Apps screen or any apps in your Galaxy S9 and S9+.
• Quick-open notification panel will disable this gesture for switching to Galaxy S9 Apps screen. You now have to swipe up to access Galaxy S9 Apps screen on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Understanding the layout of Galaxy S9 notification panel

In addition to notifications, Galaxy S9 notification panel has multiple sections and buttons.

As shown below, a typical Galaxy S9 notification panel has the following seven components.

1. Settings icon

The Settings icon (gear icon) can bring you to Galaxy S9 Settings page.

2. Quick Setting buttons

The first 6 quick setting buttons are always shown in Galaxy S9 notification panel.

You can access more quick setting buttons by swiping down again.

Of course, you can re-order, add and remove any quick setting buttons as well.

Please refer to this guide on how to use and customize quick setting buttons.

3. Brightness control bar

You can manually adjust the brightness of the screen.

You can choose to show this Galaxy S9 brightness bar in the top of the notifications or hide it.

Tap the down arrow to customize it.

4. Preferred  (default) SIM cards notification

This section appears only when you are using two SIM cards on your dual-SIM version of Galaxy S9 or S9+.

The default (preferred) SIM cards for calls, messages and mobile data are shown here.

You can tap this section to access SIM card manager directly.

5.  Notifications

All app notifications and system notifications will be shown in this section.

For most notifications, there are corresponding notification icons in the status bar.

Besides, if notification number badge (app icon badges) is not turned off, you will see the number badge (or dots) in corresponding app icons.

You can check, dismiss, snooze and manage notifications here. You may check this guide on how to snooze notifications on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

6. Notification settings

This button is a shortcut to Settings — Notifications.

7. Clear all notifications

You can tap this button to clear all notifications (except some system notifications).

Please note, when you clear (dismiss) notifications, the notification number badge (app icon badges) will be cleared automatically.

How to use Galaxy S9 notification panel?

In Galaxy S9 notification panel, you can swipe right (or left) to dismiss the notification as shown below.

Once the notification is dismissed, the notification number badge (app icon badges) will be cleared simultaneously.

Dismissing notifications in Galaxy S9 or S9+ is not reversible.  You cannot undo it, or retrieve the notification after it is dismissed, by default.

Of course, there are a few third-party apps can keep a record of all notifications.

For long notifications or notification with direct action options, you can tap the down-arrow icon to expand the view of the notification.

Once the notification is expanded, the down-arrow button changes to up-arrow (^) as shown below.

You can also tap and hold (long press) a notification to see more options as shown below.

For example, for the Google Play store notification, you have 3 options:

• Use the switch to turn off such notifications from this app.  Actually, it will turn off notification from this specific notification channel (category) if the app supports notification channels.
• Use the Details button to manage the notification settings for this app.
• Use the Done button to return.  The Done button only brings you back to standard notification view without dismissing the notification.

Some other apps may have more or fewer options depending on the app and notification.

Can you use Galaxy S9 notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+ now?

If you have any questions or encounter any problems with Galaxy S9 notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will help you find the answer

For the user guide for new features of Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, please check Galaxy S9 new features guides page.

For using Galaxy S9 and S9+, please check Galaxy S9 how-to guides page.

For using Galaxy S9 camera, please check Galaxy S9 camera guides page.

For accessories for Galaxy S9 and S9+, please check Galaxy S9 accessories guides page.

For the official Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ user guides (in PDF format), please check Galaxy S9 user guides page.