Galaxy S9 SIM card

How to use micro SD card on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Galaxy S9 and S9+, together with other Galaxy S devices (except Galaxy S6, S6 edge and S6 edge+), support SD card. You can use a micro SD card on Galaxy S9 or S9+ to expand phone storage.

In addition to media files and documents, you can move some apps to the SD card on Galaxy S9 or S9 to free up some internal storage space.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains how to use SIM card on single SIM or dual-SIM versions of Galaxy S9 and S9+, how to move apps to SD card, how to manage SD card with the device maintenance utility, how to encrypt and decrypt SD card on Galaxy S9, and how to save photos to SD card or phone storage for Galaxy S9 camera.

For using a USB flash drive on Galaxy S9 or S9+, please check this guide.

How to insert micro SD card on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

There are two major variants (versions) of Galaxy S9 and S9+: single SIM version, and the dual-SIM version, depending on the market.

Both of these two variants of Galaxy S9 (and S9+) supports the micro SD card to expand the phone storage.

For the single SIM version of Galaxy S9, it is simple. The SIM card tray, as shown below, has two slots: slot 1 for the SIM card, and the slot 2 for the micro SD card.

But for the dual-SIM version of Galaxy S9 (and S9+), it is a bit complicated.

The SIM card tray, as shown below, also has only two slots. You can only fit a SIM card in the slot 1. The slot 2 can hold a SIM card OR a micro SD card, but not both simultaneously.

As explained in this guide:

If you want to use two SIM cards on Galaxy S9 or S9+, then you cannot use the micro SD card.
If you want to use a micro SD card, then you cannot use two SIM cards. You can only use one SIM card.

When you place the micro SD card on the SIM card tray, you need to make sure it is secured. The metal contact part should face downwards, same as the SIM card as explained in this guide.

What are the limitations of using micro SD card on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Although a micro SD card can expand the storage … Read the rest

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

simon · 21 Comments

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 … Read the rest

How to use two SIM cards on Galaxy S9, S10, and S20?

A complete guide to using two SIM cards on dual-SIM version of Galaxy S9, S9+, S10, S10+, S10e, S10 Lite, S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra

simon · 41 Comments

You can use two SIM cards on Galaxy S9, S9+, S10, S10+, S10e, S10 Lite, S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra, if your phone is the dual-SIM version of Galaxy S9/S10/S20.

However, the dual-SIM version of Galaxy S9 and S9+ is dual standby only, not dual active. Therefore, you may encounter some limitations when you use two SIM cards in the Galaxy S9 and S9+.

This Galaxy S9 guide answers all questions you may have on using two SIM cards on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

As the dual SIM features in Galaxy phones are similar, this guide applies to the dual SIM version of Galaxy S10 (all models) and the dual SIM version of Galaxy S20 (all models).

Is your Galaxy S9/S9+ capable of using two SIM cards?

Only the dual-SIM version Galaxy S9/S9+ can use two SIM cards. Don’t waste time or money to use two SIM cards if you got a single SIM version of Galaxy S9 or S9+.

If you bought your Galaxy S9 or S9+ in the US, very likely, it is a single SIM phone only. You cannot use two SIM cards on these phones sold in the US (through carriers and official distributors).

In most international markets, your Galaxy S9 or S9+ is very likely a dual-SIM version. And therefore, you may use up to two SIM cards on the phone.

You should always check with the seller on whether you can use two SIM cards on the phone you want to buy.

You can also check the Galaxy S9 box to see whether the Galaxy S9 or S9+ is dual SIM or single SIM version.

In most regions, the dual-SIM capability is usually marked as “duos” on the left side of the official Galaxy S9 box as shown below.

What are the limitations of using two SIM cards on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

The dual-SIM Galaxy S9 and S9+ are dual standby only, not dual active. This means both SIM cards are reachable when in the standby mode.

When you are talking through one SIM card, the other SIM card, by default, will be unreachable unless you enable dual SIM always on.

For the explanation of the differences between dual standby and dual active dual SIM phones, you may check this guide.

The limitations of using two SIM cards on Galaxy S9 and S9+ include:

When you are talking

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Meaning of Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons in Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

simon · 80 Comments

Understanding the meaning of Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons in Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ will help you to use the phone efficiently.

You can get quick system info and new notifications by checking Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons in the status bar.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains the differences between Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons, and the meaning of these icons in the status bar in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

What is the difference between Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons?

Android uses the top of the screen as the status bar, where Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons are shown. It applies to Galaxy S9 Home screen, lock screen and all apps.

The following screenshot is an example of the Galaxy S9 status bar with notification icons on the left and status icons on the right. When you use Galaxy S9 home screen landscape mode or any apps in landscape mode, the status bar is also in the top of the screen.

Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons give you quick info about the system status (e.g., mobile network signal strength) and notifications from apps or the system.

When an app is in the immersive full-screen mode, the status bar will be hidden temporally. In this case, you can swipe down from the top of the screen to bring up Galaxy S9 status bar (and Galaxy S9 navigation bar as well)

The differences between Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons include:

Galaxy S9 status icons are always related to the system; while Galaxy S9 notification icons are always linked to specific apps (including a few system apps and third-party apps).
Galaxy S9 status icons are normally shown on the right side of the status bar; while Galaxy S9 notification icons always appear on the left side of the status bar.
Galaxy S9 status icons are more or less universal in all regions; while Galaxy S9 notification icons depend on individual apps, whose developers can use whatever they want.

Typically, when you see an icon on the left side of the status bar in Galaxy S9 or S9+, there are usually at least one or more corresponding notifications in Galaxy S9 notification panel.

But if you see a Galaxy S9 status icon, there is seldom a corresponding notification.

Meaning of Galaxy S9 status icons

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Galaxy S9 SIM card guide

Everything you need to know about Galaxy S9 SIM card, mobile network settings and mobile network status

simon · 46 Comments

In almost all regions, you still need a physic SIM card in Galaxy S9 0r S9+ to make calls or use mobile data connections.

Galaxy S9 SIM card guide will help you understand everything about using a SIM card in Galaxy S9 and S9+

The guide will cover the correct size of Galaxy S9 SIM card, how to use the two slots in Galaxy SIM card tray, insert or change SIM card for Galaxy S9 and S9+, change mobile network settings in Galaxy S9 and S9+, and check mobile network connection and signal strength in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Some questions related to using Galaxy SIM card are also answered.

What is the correct size of Galaxy S9 SIM card?

Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 and S9+ use nano-SIM cards, which is the smallest SIM card you can get from your phone company.

So, if you migrated to Galaxy S9 or S9+ from any of the following phones, you can use the existing SIM card for Galaxy S9 and S9+:

Samsung Galaxy S6, S7 and S8 and all their variants (e.g., S8+, S7 edge, S6 edge and S6 edge+).
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Note 8.
Any of Samsung Galaxy A series: Galaxy A3, A5, A7, A8 and A9.
Galaxy J3 2017 and later, Galaxy J5 2017 and later, Galaxy J7 and later.
iPhone 5, 6, 7, 8 and X (and all variants).
Moto X (all generations).
Pixel and Pixel XL (all generations).
LG G5, G6 (all variants), V10, V20 and V30.
many others phones released after 2016

If you are not sure whether your existing SIM card can be used in Galaxy S9 and S9+, please post your question in the comments box below.

We will check it for you.

You MUST use the correct size of Galaxy S9 SIM card because the slot in the Galaxy S9 SIM card tray can only hold nano-SIM cards.

In theory, there are four possible sizes of SIM cards:

Full-sizeSIM (1FF). Full-size SIM is “giant” in size: 85.60 mm × 53.98 mm × 0.76 mm. No Android phones used it.
Mini-SIM (2FF). Mini-SIM usually is now often referred as “big” or “normal” or “standard” SIM card in some countries. Most carriers and phone manufacturers phased out mini-SIM a few years ago. Very few Android phones in the market now use this big SIM card.
Micro-SIM

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Unbox Galaxy S9: understand package contents in Galaxy S9 box and S9+ box

simon · 10 Comments

Unbox Galaxy S9: understand package contents in Galaxy S9 box and S9+ box After unboxing Galaxy S9 or S9+, you need to understand the package contents in your Galaxy S9 box or S9+ box so that you can properly use them when needed.

The package contents in Galaxy S9 box, and in Galaxy S9+ box are identical except the phone.

Also, the Galaxy S9 package contents may slightly vary in different regions.

This Galaxy S9 guide shows you the contents of Galaxy S9 box and Galaxy S9+ box. It also explains how to use these items in the Galaxy S9 box.

What are the Galaxy S9 package contents in Galaxy S9 box and S9+ box?

You can find Galaxy S9 package contents in Galaxy S9 box and S9+ box as shown in the picture below.

They include (corresponding to the numbers marked in the picture):

The sealed box.
The phone.
Wall charger (adaptive charger, aka fast charger).
USB cable (USB-A to USB-C).
USB connector.
SIM card ejection pin.
AKG earphone.
Additional earbud cups (large and small).

There is also a getting-started booklet (leaflet) together with a safety manual (not shown in the picture below).

In some regions, printed stickers with IMEI number and serial number may also be included in the box.

For the official Galaxy S9 user manual, you may check and download it in your language in the official Samsung Galaxy S9 user guides page.

You can also get the online version of the user manual from Settings – User manual. This service may be unavailable in some regions.

Galaxy S9 package contents in Galaxy S9 box and S9+ box

How to use the items included in Galaxy S9 package contents?

Galaxy S9 box (or Galaxy S9+ box)

Everything is in the box.

Some vendors in some regions may offer additional free accessories. But they should be not in the box.

You need to check and make sure the seal is not broken.

Galaxy S9 phone or S9+ phone

The phone should have some protective plastic films on all sides. You should remove them before using the phone.

In almost all regions, the camera lenses are also covered by the plastic film, which must be removed before you take any photos.

In some regions, Samsung does not offer a 1-to-1 exchange if the new phone has any problems. They only offer repair services under warranty.

If this is the case in your region, you should power on the phone to test it before leaving the counter.

The … Read the rest