Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable, Configure and Use Assistant Menu in Android 4.4 Kitkat

If you've had updated your Samsung Galaxy SIV to Android 4.4 Kitkat, you may noticed that now there are some new features available in your phone. One of which is called Assistant menu. This feature will allow you to move quickly to frequently used options or actions. Theoretically, this feature is designed to assist users with reduced dexterity.

How to enable or disable Assistant menu in Android 4.4 Kitkat?
below are the steps to do so:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Accessibility, then tap it.
4. Scroll down to find Assistant menu, then tap the OFF/ON switch next to the option to enable or disable Assistant menu. When the switch is in the right side or shows green means the option is turned on.

How to configure settings of the Assistant menu in Android 4.4 Kitkat?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Wherever you are, tap Assistant menu icon and then tap Settings button.
2. Tap Dominant hand option to optimize the Assistant menu button for use on the left side of the screen for users who dominant with the left hand and right side of the screen for users who dominant with the right hand.
3. Tap Edit option to rearrange, remove or add icons of the Assistant menu.
• Tap and hold an icon then drag it to rearrange its position.
• Tapicon to remove icon from the Assistant menu.
• Tapicon to add icon to the Assistant menu.

How to use Assistant menu in Android 4.4 Kitkat?
Once you activated Assistant menu, then the Assistant menu icon will be displayed and always stays on top in the Home screen, lock screen or app. Below are the steps to use this feature:

1. Wherever you are, tap Assistant menu icon to display the menu buttons, by default they are:
• Menu : tap this option to open the context-menu or in other word you can use this option to replace the Menu button function.
• Open notifications : tap this option to open the notification panel.
• Home : tap this option to return to the Home screen or in other word you can use this option to replace the Home button function.
• Back : tap this option to return to the previous screen or undo your last action or in other word you can use this option to replace the Back button function.
• Set volume : tap this option to adjust volume and switch between Mute/Vibrate/Sound mode or in other word you can use this option to replace the Volume button function.
• Lock screen : tap this option to lock the screen or in other word you can use this option to replace the Power button function. But, to unlock the screen remains using the Power button.
• Restart : tap this option to restart the phone.
• Power off : tap this option to turn off the phone.
• Open device option : tap this option to open the device options menu.
• Capture screen : tap this option to screenshot the current screen.
• Zoom : tap this option to zoom in or out the current screen. Please note, that some apps don't support this option.
• Settings : tap this option to open the settings menu for Assistant menu.
2. Aside from those default menu buttons as mentioned in the step #1, there are three additional buttons you may be added from settings menu, they are:
• Recent apps : tap this option to display all recent apps.
• Rotate screen : if you add this button to Assistant menu, then it will disable auto rotate option. Later, you can tap this option to manually rotate the screen to Portrait or Landscape(with the Home key in the left or the right side).
• Set brightness : tap this option to enable or disable auto brightness as well as to adjust the screen brightness.

Given with its options and functions, I can conclude that this feature will not only useful for users with reduced dexterity but also for those who want to navigate their phones using one hand with on-screen button instead of physical button. So, how about you? Have you tried this option?