Galaxy S9 touch screen gesture

How to use Galaxy S9 themes to customize the look and feel of Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Everything you need to know about Galaxy S9 themes

Galaxy S9 themes allow you to customise many aspects of the UI in Galaxy S9 and S9+. It is no longer necessary to customise the colour scheme, wallpaper, icons or always-on display (AOD) screen individually.

You can find many excellent free Galaxy S9 themes in Samsung themes to meet your needs.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains everything you need to know about Galaxy S9 themes: What are they? How to get them? How to access them in Samsung themes? How to install and use them? How to manage or delete Galaxy S9 themes.

What are Galaxy S9 themes?

Galaxy S9 themes are “skins” for your Galaxy S9 and S9+.

You can use Galaxy S9 themes to customise the user interface of Galaxy S9 or S9+. The customisation usually includes:

Colour scheme for the UI. The default white scheme in Galaxy S9 and S9 UI can be annoying when you are using the phone in darkness.
Wallpapers for Galaxy S9 Home screen (including Galaxy S9 Apps screen) and lock screen.
App icon pack for pre-installed Samsung apps to replace the stock icon.
Font, style and background settings for Settings, Phone, Messages, Internet, Contacts, Clock, My Files and a few (about 30 to 40) other Samsung system apps.

Please note, Galaxy S9 themes work with the default launcher. If you are using a third-party launcher, Galaxy S9 themes unlikely will work as expected.

Besides, themes for other Galaxy phones (e.g., Galaxy S8/S8+) will NOT work on Galaxy S9/S9+.

Where to get Galaxy S9 themes?

As a security measure, you should get new themes for Galaxy S9 and S9+ ONLY from Samsung’s Theme store, which is embedded in Galaxy Apps.

You probably should never get any themes from other sources.

How to access Galaxy S9 themes?

You can access Galaxy S9 themes from Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode.

In Galaxy S9 home screen, you can enter the edit mode by:

Pinch gesture.
Long tap (tap and hold) on any blank area.

Once in the edit mode of the Galaxy S9 Home screen, as shown below, tap Themes to access Galaxy S9 themes.

In Galaxy S9 themes page, as shown in the screenshot above, tap Themes to enter themes tab.

Besides, you will get the notification about Galaxy S9 themes in the notification panel when you reboot the phone, if

You first

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How to use Galaxy S9 Apps screen on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Everything you need to know about Galaxy S9 Apps screen

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Galaxy S9 Apps screen is an integral part of Galaxy S9 and S9+. Unless you hide the apps screen, you have to work with it.

Although Galaxy S9 apps screen is just a special version home screen, there are some major differences between Galaxy S9 Home screen and Apps screen.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains what Galaxy S9 apps screen is, how to access it, how to use it and how to manage apps and app folders on it.

What is Galaxy S9 Apps screen?

Galaxy S9 Apps screen is the placeholder for all apps installed on your phone. All other Android phones also have a similar apps screen.

Sometimes, apps screen is referred to as the app drawer. In the old versions of Android, widgets were normally hosted in the apps screen as well.

Galaxy S9 Apps screen actually is a special version of Galaxy S9 Home screen.

You can find apps, hide apps, sort apps, manage apps in Galaxy S9 apps screen.

By default, all apps will be listed in the apps screen unless you hide them.

How to access Galaxy S9 Apps screen?

By default, there are a couple of different ways to access Galaxy S9 Apps screen. These include:

Use the apps screen button (apps button) in the favourite apps tray of Galaxy S9 Home screen, if you did not hide apps screen button on Galaxy S9 or S9+.
Swipe upwards on Galaxy S9 Home screen.
Swipe downwards on Galaxy S9 Home screen, if you did not enable quick-open notification panel.

Of course, if you hide the Galaxy S9 Apps screen, then you are working with Galaxy S9 Home screen only, and the apps screen will not be explicitly available.

How to use Galaxy S9 Apps screen interface?

On Galaxy S9 apps screen, if you tap on any app icons, the app will start. This is similar to that on the home screen.

If you tap and hold (long tap) an app icon without moving your fingers, you will get the context menu as shown in the following two screenshots.

For all apps, there are at least 3 options in the context menu:

Select items. You can then continue to select more app icons in the selection mode. You can use the selected apps to create an app folder. Or you can uninstall them in batch.
Add to home

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How to manage Galaxy S9 Home screen panels on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Add, delete, re-arrange Galaxy S9 home screen panels and assign a new home panel for Galaxy S9 Home screen

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Like other Android phones, Galaxy S9 and S9+ use some Galaxy S9 home screen panels to host apps, app shortcuts, app folders and widgets.

You can add, delete, move, and re-arrange Galaxy S9 home screen panels based on your needs. You can also assign one panel as the home panel for Galaxy S9 Home screen.

This Galaxy S9 guide shows you how to work with and manage Galaxy S9 home screen panels.

What are Galaxy S9 Home screen panels?

Galaxy S9 Home screen, by default, has at least two pages with Bixby Home (you may hide it) on the leftmost and a “home” page, which you access by tap the Home button.

These pages are usually referred to as Galaxy S9 Home screen panels.

As you may know, you can use more Galaxy S9 Home screen panels to accommodate more app icons, app folders, widgets and shortcuts on Galaxy S9 Home screen.

Besides, if you hide apps screen on Galaxy S9 and S9+, more panes will be added automatically so that all apps are added to the Home screen.

How to assign a panel as the home panel for Galaxy S9 Home screen?

Among Galaxy S9 Home screen panels, one and only one panel is always the “home” panel for Galaxy S9 Home screen. When you tap the home button once or twice, you will be directed to this specific panel.

For example, you open an app from one of the home screen panels. If you tap the home button once, you will be brought back to the panel you started the app.

If you tap the home button again, the system should bring you back to the home panel.

By default, the panel next to Bixby Home is assigned as the home panel for Galaxy S9 Home screen.

Of course, you can change the home panel and assign any of the Galaxy S9 home screen panels as the home panel.

To assign a new home panel for Galaxy S9 Home screen, you may follow these steps.

Step 1: Enter Edit mode of Galaxy S9 Home screen

You can tap and hold (long tap) any blank area in Galaxy S9 Home screen to enter the edit mode for Galaxy S9 Home screen.

Step 2: Swipe to the desired panel

In the edit mode, swipe right or left to the desired panel.… Read the rest

How to use quick-open notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+ to check notifications?

Quick-open notification panel allows you to open Galaxy S9 notification panel quickly on the home screen.

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You can use quick-open notification panel to access Galaxy S9 notification panel by swiping downwards on the home screen.

Quick-open notification panel adds an additional way to check notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+ quickly when you are on Galaxy S9 Home screen.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains to you what quick-open notification panel is, how to enable or disable it and its limitations.

Because quick-open notification panel is part of the Samsung Experience 9.0, it works identically on all Samsung Galaxy phones with Android Oreo update. Therefore this guide applies to not only Galaxy S9 and S9+, but also Galaxy S8, S8+, and Galaxy Note 8.

What is quick-open notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

As explained in this guide, you can access Galaxy S9 notification panel by swiping downwards from the status bar (or the top of the screen if status bar is hidden).

This method works in all situations. You can use it when you are on Galaxy S9 home screen or when you are using any apps.

Quick-open notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+, if enabled, allows you to access the same notification panel by swiping downwards on Galaxy S9 home screen.

By default, swiping upwards and downwards on Galaxy S9 home screen was assigned to switching to Galaxy S9 apps screen (if you didn’t hide Galaxy S9 apps screen).

So, after you enable quick-open notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+, you can only swipe upwards to switch to Galaxy S9 apps screen.

Please note quick-open notification panel is included in the Samsung Experience 9.0. In addition to Galaxy S9 and S9+, you can use this feature on other Samsung Galaxy phones with Android Oreo update: Galaxy S8 and S8+, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

How to enable quick-open notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

By default, the feature of quick-open notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+ is disabled.

To enable quick-open notification panel on Galaxy S9 and S9+, you may follow these steps.

Step 1: Enter edit mode for Galaxy S9 Home screen

On Galaxy S9 Home screen, tap and hold (long tap) any blank area to enter the edit mode for Galaxy S9 home screen.

Step 2: Access home screen settings

In the edit mode, tap Home screen settings as shown below.

The alternative … Read the rest

How to hide Galaxy S9 apps screen and how to hide Galaxy Apps button?

You will learn to hide apps screen and hide/show apps screen button on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

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Galaxy S9 and S9+ allow you to hide Galaxy S9 apps screen so that you can use all apps in the home screen if you do not want to use two screens: home screen and apps screen.

If you use Galaxy S9 apps screen, you can hide the apps screen button (apps button) so that you can just swipe up on Galaxy S9 Home screen to access Apps screen.

This Galaxy S9 how-to guide explains to you how to hide/unhide Galaxy S9 apps screen and how to hide/unhide Galaxy S9 apps screen button.

How to hide Galaxy S9 apps screen on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

If you want to use all apps in one central location, you may want to hide Galaxy S9 apps screen.

After you hide Galaxy S9 apps screen, you can then access all apps in Galaxy S9 Home screen. It is not necessary to manually add apps to the home screen.

To hide Galaxy S9 apps screen, you may follow these steps.

Step 1: Enter Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode

You can tap and hold (long tap) any blank area in Galaxy S9 Home screen to enter the edit mode for Galaxy S9 Home screen.

You can also pinch on Galaxy S9 Home screen to enter the edit mode.

Step 2: Access Home screen settings

In the edit mode, tap Home screen settings as shown below.

The home screen settings page should be shown up.

Alternatively, you can access the same home screen settings page through Galaxy S9 Settings: Settings — Display —Home screen.

Step 3: Choose to unhide or hide Galaxy S9 apps screen

In Galaxy S9 Home screen settings page, as shown in the screenshot above, tap Home screen layout.

In Home screen layout page, you can find two options:

Home and Apps screen.
Home screens only.

Option 1 is the default. It means you have both Galaxy S9 Home screen and Apps screen. In other words, the apps screen is not hidden.

Option 2 will let you hide Galaxy S9 apps screen. All apps will be added to the home screen automatically.

So, you can use these two options to hide or unhide Galaxy S9 Apps screen.

Step 4: Apply the settings

After you change the settings (either hide the apps screen or unhide the apps screen), you need to tap Apply as shown above to … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode to customize Galaxy S9 Home screen?

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You can customize the look and feel of Galaxy S9 Home screen after entering Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode.

The default Galaxy S9 Home screen may be OK for most users. But if you want, you can customize almost everything of Galaxy S9 Home screen without leaving the home screen.

You just need to switch to Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode.

This Galaxy S9 how-to guide explains to you the features in Galaxy S9 home screen edit mode and how to enter the edit mode from Galaxy S9 Home screen.

What is Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode?

By default, the Galaxy S9 Home screen is in the “presentation” mode. What you see on the screen, and some behaviours, are the result of home screen settings.

If you want to change anything on the home screen, then you need to leave the normal mode and enter the particular edit mode of Galaxy S9 Home screen.

Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode allows you to customize the home screen of Galaxy S9 and S9+ without leaving the home screen.

Some customization can be done through Galaxy S9 Settings. But some customization can only be done through Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode.

In short, Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode allows you:

To change the wallpapers for Galaxy S9 home screen and Galaxy S9 lock screen.
To add widgets to Galaxy S9 Home screen.
To use a new Galaxy S9 theme for Galaxy S9 or S9+.
To align app icons in the home screen.
To assign home panel for Galaxy S9 Home screen.
To add or delete a panel in Galaxy S9 home screen.
To re-arrange panels in Galaxy S9 Home screen.
To set grids for Galaxy S9 home screen and apps screen.
To enable or disable number badge (app icon badges) on the home screen.
To hide/unhide Bixby Home on Galaxy S9 Home screen.
To customize other Galaxy S9 Home screen settings.

You will need the edit mode of Galaxy S9 Home screen if you want to customize the home screen of Galaxy S9 or S9+ quickly.

How to enter Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode?

To enter Galaxy S9 Home screen edit mode, you can simply tap and hold (aka long tap) any blank area on Galaxy S9 Home screen as shown below.

So, the key points are:

any blank area in the

… Read the rest

5 ways to take screenshots on Galaxy S9 and S9+ without using any apps

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There are at least 5 methods to take screenshots on Galaxy S9 and S9+ without using any apps: hardware buttons (power+volume down), palm swipe, the assistant menu, Bixby voice command and Google Assistant.

This Galaxy S9 how-to guide explains to you how to use them and how to use scroll capture to take screenshots on Galaxy S9 and S9+

Why do you need to take screenshots on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Sometimes, you may need to keep a record of a conversation, to share a webpage, to show some locations on Google maps to others, or to record some transactions when you are using the Galaxy S9 or S9+.

A screenshot is the easiest and the most effective way to keep info and pieces of evidence. The image saved can be read on almost any devices.

Although you can edit them after you take screenshots on Galaxy S9 and S9+, most people give more trust in screenshots than the text you typed.

Sometimes, if you want to report a problem of an app, or request technical services, you may be asked to take some screenshots so that the technical staffs can understand the problem quickly.

How to take screenshots on Galaxy S9 and S9+ without using any apps (and without using your PC)?

There are at least 5 ways to take screenshots on Galaxy S9 and S9+ without using any apps:

Using hardware buttons (volume down + power button).
Palm swipe.
Using the Assistant menu.
Using Bixby voice command.
Using Google Assistant.

This guide will show you the details of these 5 methods in the following sections individually.

Method 1: use hardware buttons to take screenshots on Galaxy S9 and S9+

You can take a screenshot on Galaxy S9 and S9+ by pressing the holding Power button and Volume down button simultaneously, as illustrated below. You should hear a click /shutter sound once screenshot is taken.

This method works on almost all Android phones.

In old Samsung phones with a physical Home button, the physical home button was used with the power button to take screenshots. But this does NOT work on Galaxy S9 and S9+ because the Home button on S9 and S9+ is considered as a software-based button.

The key point of using physical buttons to take screenshots is to press the two buttons simultaneously.

As a human, we always press one button earlier than … 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+.
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.

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 apps, tap the Back button in Galaxy S9 navigation bar to return to Galaxy S9 Home screen eventually. Some apps may require you to tap the back button several times before you get the Home screen. A few apps may ask you to

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How to use quick setting buttons on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

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The most efficient way to change settings of Galaxy S9 and S9+ is to use Galaxy S9 quick setting button.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains everything you need to know about the quick setting buttons on Galaxy S9 and S9+: what are Galaxy S9 quick setting buttons? How to access them, how to use them, and how to customize them.

What are quick setting buttons on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Like other Android phones, Galaxy S9 and S9+ have quick settings buttons on the top of notifications in Galaxy S9 notification panel.

The quick setting buttons allow you to instantly turn on or turn off some features quickly without entering the complicated settings page.

For example, you can turn on or turn off mobile data or Bluetooth using Galaxy S9 quick setting buttons on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Since Android Nougat, stock Android also shows quick settings bar (the first a few quick setting buttons) in the notification panel, in addition to the full list of quick setting buttons.

But Samsung added the quick settings bar in Galaxy phones long time back.

Anyway, quick setting buttons on Galaxy S9 and S9+ were designed to help you use the phone easily and efficiently.

The first 6 Galaxy S9 quick setting buttons (sometimes, it is referred as quick settings bar) are shown above notifications in the notification panel as shown in this guide.

You can expand the list to show all quick settings buttons in Galaxy S9 notification panel.

How to access quick setting buttons on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

There are two methods to access all quick setting buttons on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Method 1: Swipe down from Galaxy S9 notification panel (or swipe down twice from the status bar)

In Galaxy S9 notification panel, you can swipe down, as shown below, to expand the quick setting buttons so that all buttons are shown.

When you are not in the notification panel, you can swipe down from the status bar twice to access the same Galaxy S9 quick setting buttons page.

Method 2: Swipe down from the status bar with two fingers

As shown above, you can swipe down from Galaxy S9 status bar with two fingers to access all quick setting buttons.

These two methods are identical in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

How to use quick setting buttons on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

Galaxy S9 … Read the rest

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.

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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.

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 apps screen.
You can tap Home button to return to

… Read the rest

How to use and customize Galaxy S9 lock screen?

The ultimate guide to Galaxy S9 lock screen

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Galaxy S9 lock screen not only keeps your data safe but also offers some useful features and information to improve your productivity.

This Galaxy S9 how-to guide shows you how to set up, use and customise the lock screen of Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Please note although Galaxy S9 supports landscape mode in Galaxy S9 Home screen, Galaxy S9 lock screen is always in portrait mode.

What is Galaxy S9 lock screen?

Galaxy S9 lock screen likes a door to Galaxy S9 and S9+. You need this door to protect your data and info saved on the phone.

But Galaxy S9 lock screen is also an information centre for you so that you can get some essential info without unlocking the phone or opening any apps.

The information provided through Galaxy S9 lock screen varies depending on your customisation. By default, you can get at least the following info in Galaxy 9 lock screen:

Time and date.
Carrier info.
Media player controller.
Your schedule.
Notifications.
Next alarm.

In addition, Galaxy S9 lock screen allows you to:

Change a few settings (not related to data or privacy) of Galaxy S9 and S9+ through quick setting buttons, for example, turn on/off the blue light filter.
Add up to 2 app shortcuts to lock screen.
Use Galaxy S9 camera without unlocking the phone.
Make emergency calls.

Of course, to protect your data in Galaxy S9 or S9+, most of the settings can only be changed after you unlock the phone.

How to set up Galaxy S9 lock screen security?

By default, when you set up Galaxy S9 or S9+, it will ask you to set up the lock screen security.

If you skip that step, the default lock screen security, swipe, will be used.

Of course, you can change Galaxy S9 lock screen security at any time.

And you should NOT set Galaxy S9 lock screen security to swipe or none.

If you use either of the options, your data in Galaxy S9 or S9+ are at risk. Anyone, including thieves, can access your phone without restrictions. They can impersonate you.

To change Galaxy S9 lock screen security, you may follow these steps.

Step 1: Access Galaxy S9 Settings

There are a couple of ways to access Galaxy S9 settings, for example

Using the Settings app icon in Galaxy S9 Home screen.
Using the Settings app icon in Galaxy

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