Galaxy S9 navigation button

How to use the new navigation gestures in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+?

In Android update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, Samsung did not implement the stock Android Pie navigation gestures. Instead, they added their own new navigation gestures as one of the new features in the One UI.

Some owners may get confused on the new navigation gestures in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, especially those who tried the navigation gestures in the stock Android Pie.

This Galaxy S9 Android Pie update guide explains the details of the new navigation gestures in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, the difference between the Android Pie navigation gestures and the full-screen navigation gestures in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, and show you how to enable and use them.

What are the new navigation gestures in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+?

In Android Pie (Android 9), Google introduced a set of gestures for the home buttons, Android Pie navigation gestures, to help users to navigate and switch apps very quickly.

Essentially, in stock Android Pie, if the navigation gestures are enabled, the Recents/Overview button will be removed. The back button appears only if it is needed. This creates a very clean UI with one Home button as explained in this page.

Of course, Samsung thought they have a better solution.

In the Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, Samsung chooses to collapse the 3 navigation buttons into 3 lines on the bottom of the screen. You then just swipe up from these 3 lines to replace the function of pressing the buttons.

So, you will find the new navigation gestures in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+ are substantially different from the Android Pie navigation gestures.

The major differences between Android Pie navigation gestures and the new navigation gestures in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+ include:

In the stock Android Pie, all navigation gestures are based on the home button. In Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, there are 3 lines for the gestures.
In the stock Android Pie, you have 5 touch screen gestures for the home button: press (tap), long press (long tap), swipe upwards, slow swipe upwards (or double swipe upwards), swipe to the right, swipe to the right and hold. But in Galaxy S9 and S9+, swipe upwards is the only

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How to use Multi Window on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

The ultimate guide of Multi Window on Galaxy phones: how to use split screen view, pop-up view and snap window.

simon · 2 Comments

Galaxy S9 Multi Window allows you to use two or more apps simultaneously on Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+ to improve your productivity.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains what Multi Window can do for you, how to use split-screen view, how to use the pop-up view, and how to use the snap window on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Update: a new section of Changes of Multi-Window in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+ was added. In Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, many Multi Window features were removed. Please check this section and Android Pie update guide for details. You may also check this guide for using the Multi Window on Galaxy S9 and S8 with Android Pie.

As Multi Window is available in many other Galaxy phones, this guide also applies to many other Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets including Galaxy S8, S8+, Note 8 and Note 9.

What is Multi Window on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Multi Window on Galaxy S9 and S9+ allows you to use two apps side-by-side in the split-screen view, or simultaneously use two or more apps in the pop-up view.

For example, you may want to browse the info of a product in the Amazon app and share some key info with your friends in the Messages app.

Or you may want to get some numbers from a spreadsheet in Google Sheets for an email.

Without the Multi Window, you will have to switch between apps several times.

If you are familiar with Multi Window on Galaxy S9 and S9+, you can greatly improve your productivity, and therefore get a better ROI of your Galaxy S9 or S9+.

Samsung introduced Multi Window many years in Galaxy Note 2 in 2012, which is 4 years earlier than the stock multiwindow feature introduced in Android Nougat.

Over the years, Samsung has improved and polished the multiwindow feature and made it one of the best features in Galaxy phones.

Basically, if you need to switch apps a few times for a task, you very likely will benefit from the Multi Window feature once you get used to it.

What are the two Multi Window modes on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

There are two screen modes of Multi Window on Galaxy S9 and S9+:

Split-screen view.
Pop-up view.

In the split-screen view, two apps share the whole … Read the rest

Understand and Use Galaxy S9 Home screen

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You can not bypass or hide Galaxy S9 Home screen on your Galaxy S9 or S9+. You have to use the home screen unless you power off the phone.

Although it is not complicated, many Galaxy S9 and S9+ owners are not fully aware of all functions and features of Galaxy S9 Home screen.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains the meaning and usage of all components you may find in the Home screen of Galaxy S9 and S9+. The differences between apps screen and home screen were also detailed.

What is Galaxy S9 Home screen?

Like all other Android phones, Galaxy S9 home screen, by default, is the first screen after you unlock Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+.

You can start apps, access notifications, check the phone status, use widgets, open edge screen in Galaxy S9 Home screen, which is the centre (home) of your Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Generally speaking, in Galaxy S9 and S9+, you have 4 types of pages:

Lock screen. You need to unlock the phone before you can use Galaxy S9 ort S9+. Always-on display screen usually is considered as a special lock screen overlayed over Galaxy S9 lock screen.
Home screen. The centre or starting screen of Galaxy S9 and S9+. It is the home of select apps and widgets.
Apps screen. Galaxy S9 apps screen is a special home screen. It is an app drawer for all apps on Galaxy S9 and S9+.
Individual apps.

Besides, edge screen on Galaxy S9 and S9+ is enabled by default. You may check this guide on how to use Galaxy S9 edge screen.

You will have to use Galaxy S9 Home screen if you use Galaxy S9 or S9+. There are no alternatives. You cannot bypass it.

How to access Galaxy S9 Home screen?

Galaxy S9 and S9+ are protected by Galaxy S9 lock screen to prevent unauthorized access to your apps and data. Galaxy S9 home screen is always “behind” the lock screen.

In other words, you can access Galaxy S9 Home screen only after you unlock the phone.

You can access Galaxy S9 Home screen in many ways:

After unlocking Galaxy S9 or S9+, you should get Galaxy S9 home screen directly.
When you are using any apps, tap the Home button in Galaxy S9 navigation bar to access the Home screen directly.
When you are using any

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How to use Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures?

Seven Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures: tap, double tap (and triple-tap), long tap, swipe, drag, pinch and spread, are explained and illustrated.

simon · 2 Comments

You have to use some Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures if you want Galaxy S9 or S9+ to do anything for you.

Although most Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures work on all other Android phones, you may not be aware of some gestures that help you use Galaxy S9 and S9+ effectively.

This Galaxy S9 how-to guide illustrates the 7 Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures with animations, explains the features of these gestures and gives examples of using these gestures.

What are Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures?

As Galaxy S9 and S9+ do not have a physical keyboard or other input devices, you have to interact with the phone either through the touchscreen or voice (e.g., Bixby or Google Assistant).

In addition to the on-screen keyboard or keypad, Galaxy S9 and S9+ also accept some touchscreen gestures.

When your finger(s) or other capacitive pens (please note S Pen on Galaxy Note devices does NOT work with Galaxy S9 or S9+ screen) move on the screen, Galaxy S9 and S9 can recognize certain patterns and therefore responds accordingly.

These moving patterns are usually referred to as Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures.

So, understanding and correctly using Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures are essential if you want to use the phone efficiently.

Similar to other Android phones, there is nothing special in Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures. These gestures can be used in almost all other Android phones.

Although most of Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures are used on the screen, some can also be used on the physical buttons. e.g., the power button accepts press, double press and long press gestures.

List of Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures in Galaxy S9 and S9+

You can use the following 7 Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures on Galaxy S9 and S9+ for various operations.

1. Tap gesture (press)

Tap is one of the most used Galaxy S9 touchscreen gestures.

As shown in the animation below, you need to tap an icon or a specific area to activate something, for example, to start an app, or to open a menu item.

The tap gesture actually mimics “click” of a mouse (e.g., when using Samsung DeX with Galaxy S9 or S9+).

Of course, the action or response of the tap gesture depends on what was tapped, or where you tapped.

Some example of using tap gesture includes:

You can open an app by tapping an app icon in Galaxy S9 home screen or

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How to use and customize Galaxy S9 navigation bar and navigation buttons?

Learn to hide and unhide Galaxy S9 navigation bar, to customize Galaxy S9 navigation button layout, and to use Galaxy S9 Home button when the screen is off.

simon · 37 Comments

Similar to Galaxy S8, Galaxy S9 features software navigation buttons. And Samsung allows you to hide and customize the Galaxy S9 navigation bar and navigation buttons in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

You can also use the software home button even when the screen is off.

This Galaxy S9 guide shows you how to hide and unhide Galaxy S9 navigation bar, customize the background colour of Galaxy S9 navigation bar, customize the Galaxy S9 navigation button layout, and how to use Galaxy S9 Home button when the screen is off.

Update: after updating Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus to Android Pie, you will get the new navigation gestures. You can choose to use the navigation bar with navigation buttons (Home, Back, and Recents) or use the new navigation gesture. But you will not be able to hide the navigation bar if you choose to use the navigation bar/buttons. If you want to use these features and other navigation button customizations, you can use the NavStar app to customize the Galaxy S9 navigation bar and navigation buttons.

Please check this guide for the details about the navigation gestures on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update.

How to lock Galaxy S9 navigation bar?

By default, when you get the new Galaxy S9 or S9+, the navigation bar is shown, but not locked.

The dot (official name: show and hide button) on the left side of the Galaxy S9 navigation bar indicates you can hide the status bar if you want.

Sometimes, you may not want to use the feature of hiding and unhiding the navigation bar, i.e., you may want to lock Galaxy S9 navigation bar.

Please note, when using an app in the split screen view, the Recents button changes to the multiwindow button. You may refer to this guide on how to use apps in Multi Window mode on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

To lock the Galaxy S9 navigation bar, you may go to Galaxy S9 Setting, tap Display as shown below.

Then in the Display settings page, tap the Navigation bar as shown above.

In the Navigation bar settings page, tap the Show and hide button (marked as 1 in the screenshot below).

After you hide the button, then you lock the navigation bar in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

If you want to hide Galaxy S9 navigation bar, then you need to enable … Read the rest

Galaxy S9 layout (and layout of Galaxy S9+)

get to know the layout of Galaxy S9 and S9+

simon · 8 Comments

To effectively use your new phone, you need to know and understand the Galaxy S9 layout and Galaxy S9+ layout.

Sometimes, common sense works; sometimes it may not.

This Galaxy S9 how-to guide explains the layout of Galaxy S9 and S9+, the difference between the Galaxy S9 layout and Galaxy S9+ layout, and the meaning of essential parts in the layouts of Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Why do you need to know Galaxy S9 layout and Galaxy S9+ layout?

Although Galaxy S9 and S9+ are not a revolutionary product, the layout of Galaxy S9 and S9+ is substantially different from Android phones from other Android manufacturers.

Even compared to Galaxy S8 and S8+ layout, there are a few changes in the Galaxy S9 layout and Galaxy S9+ layout.

You need to know and understand Galaxy S9 layout when you want to know the functions of all buttons in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ layout can also help you find the locations of some parts. For example, a few Galaxy S9 and S9+ owners accidentally inserted the SIM card ejection pin into the top microphone hole. They may spoil the microphone. Had they known the layout of Galaxy S9 and S9+, they wouldn’t have made this mistake.

Besides, it is also beneficial to know the location of antennas and wireless charging coils when using some Galaxy S9 accessories.

Anyway, before using your Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+, you should spend a few minutes to learn and understand the layout of S9 and S9+ even if you are a seasoned Samsung phone user.

The difference between Galaxy S9 layout and Galaxy S9+ layout

Unlike Galaxy S8 and S8+, which differ only in size, Galaxy S9 and S9+ have a few considerable differences in the hardware configuration.

Due to dual rear camera configuration in Galaxy S9+, the back of Galaxy S9+ layout is different from that of Galaxy S9.

The second rear camera is the only difference between Galaxy S9 layout and Galaxy S9+ layout.

Galaxy S9 and S9+ layout: front view

The front view of Galaxy S9 layout is illustrated in the picture below. The front view of Galaxy S9+ is identical except the screen size.

As shown below, you can find in the front of Galaxy S9 and S9+:

touchscreen;
edge screens;
front camera;
LED indicator;
top speaker (earpiece);
proximity/light sensor;
iris recognition camera;

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