Samsung Galaxy S8: How to Enable and Use Unlock with Home Button Feature in Android 7.0 Nougat

Lock screen is basically designed for security reason, such as to prevent unauthorised people from accessing your phone or accidental screen touching that can make an unwanted call or open an app while your phone is in your pocket or bag. If needed, you can simplify the way you use your phone without you have to lose those lock screen functions by using the unlock with home button feature in your Samsung Galaxy S8. When this feature is enabled, you can skip the lock screen and go directly to the home screen by hard pressing the home button while the screen is off.


How to enable the unlock with home button feature?
You have to enable this feature first before you can use the home button to unlock the screen by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap to go to the settings menu.
   
   
2. Tap Display.
   
   
3. Scroll down the screen to find Navigation bar and then tap it.
   
   
4. Tap the ON/OFF switch next to Unlock with Home button to enable or disable this option. The switch turns when it's enabled.
   
   

How to use the unlock with home button feature?
You can use this feature to simplify your way to unlock the screen by using the following steps:

1. While the screen is off, hard press(tap and hold) the home button.
2. If your screen lock type is set to swipe, the lock screen will be skipped and you'll go directly to the home screen.
   
   
3. If your screen lock type is set to one of those with secure lock settings, such as pattern or PIN, the lock screen will be skipped but you have to perform your current screen lock first before you can go directly to the home screen.
   
   

Samsung Galaxy S8: How to Use Fingerprints as Alternative Screen Lock in Android 7.0 Nougat

If you have registered fingerprints in your Samsung Galaxy S8, you can set it as an alternative screen lock so you can use your fingerprints to unlock the screen instead of your current screen lock. Fingerprint unlock is a relatively secure screen lock method because it uses the unique characteristics of each fingerprint but simple because you just need to place your finger that you have registered before on the sensor to unlock the screen.


How to use fingerprints as an alternative screen lock?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap to go to the settings menu.
   
   
2. Tap Lock screen and security.
   
   
3. Tap Screen lock type.
   
   
4. Perform your current screen lock. As the example, if your current screen lock is set to pattern, draw the pattern to confirm your identity.
   
   
5. Tap the ON/OFF switch next to Fingerprints to enable or disable it. When the switch turns means the fingerprint unlock feature is enabled.
   
   
6. Press the Power key twice to go to the lock screen.
7. Instead of your current screen lock, you can use fingerprints to unlock the screen by placing your finger that you have registered before on the fingerprint sensor(it's located in the right side of the rear camera). When your phone recognises your fingerprint, the screen will be unlocked.
   
   

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: How to Use Private Mode in Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Private mode is one of privacy features in Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge that you can use to hide content in the Gallery app, Video app, Music app, Voice recorder app, and My Files app, that you want to keep private. All contents that you have moved to Private can only be seen while the private mode is enabled. You can use this feature if you often use your phone to store your personal files but don't want others see those files without your permission.


How to enable private mode?
As the example, we'll enable this feature when the screen lock type is set to PIN and fingerprints by using the following steps:

1. While the screen is unlocked, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
   
   
2. Scroll down the screen to find Privacy and safety, and then tap it.
   
   
3. Tap Private Mode.
   
   
4. Tap the ON/OFF switch to enable the private mode.
   
   
5. Place your finger on the fingerprint sensor on the Home key to verify your identity to enable the private mode. If the phone recognises it, the private mode will be enabled and this icon will be displayed on the status bar.
   
   
6. If needed, you can change the access type you want to use to access private mode by using these steps:
   
   • Tap Private mode access type.
     
     
   • Place your finger on the fingerprint sensor on the Home key to verify your identity so you can change this setting.
     
     
   • Select the required access type you want to use. You can select from: Pattern, PIN, or Password.
     
     
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the steps.
7. If you're tight with the security issue, you can set your phone to automatically disable the private mode when the screen is turned off by sliding the ON/OFF switch next to Auto disable to the right. The switch turns when it's enabled.
   
   

How to move or hide contents to Private?
As the example, we'll hide some photos in the Gallery app to Private by using the following steps:

1. While the private mode is disabled, open the Gallery app.
2. Open an album and then select some photos you want to move to Private.
3. Tap More at the top right and then select Move to Private.
   
   
4. Place your finger on the fingerprint sensor on the Home key to verify your identity to move the selected photos to Private.
   
   
5. When your phone recognises your fingerprint, the selected photos will be moved to Private so it can only be seen when private mode is enabled.

How to view hidden or private contents?
As the example, we'll view photos that have been hidden or moved to Private in the Gallery app by using the following steps:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. If the Private mode is disabled, you can quickly enable it by swiping down the top of the screen using two fingers to open up the quick settings panel and then tap Private mode button .
   
   
3. Place your finger on the fingerprint sensor on the Home key to verify your identity to enable the private mode. If the phone recognises it, the private mode will be enabled and this icon will be displayed on the status bar.
   
   
4. Now, open Private folder. All photos you have moved to Private will be displayed here.
   
   
5. When you're finished accessing your private content, you can disable the private mode to keep those contents private by swiping down the top of the screen using two fingers to open up the quick settings panel and then tap Private mode button . However, if the auto disable feature is enabled, the private mode will be disabled automatically when the screen is turned off.
   
   

How to unhide hidden or private contents?
As the example, we'll remove some hidden photos from Private in the Gallery app by using the following steps:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. If the Private mode is disabled, you can quickly enable it by swiping down the top of the screen using two fingers to open up the quick settings panel and then tap Private mode button .
   
   
3. Place your finger on the fingerprint sensor on the Home key to verify your identity to enable the private mode. If the phone recognises it, the private mode will be enabled and this icon will be displayed on the status bar.
   
   
4. Open Private folder.
   
   
5. Select photos you want to unhide.
6. Tap More at the top right and then select Remove from Private.
   
   
7. Select the required album you want to use to place the selected photos removed from Private so it can be seen when private mode is disabled.
   
   
8. When you're finished accessing your private content, you can disable the private mode to keep those contents private by swiping down the top of the screen using two fingers to open up the quick settings panel and then tap Private mode button . However, if the auto disable feature is enabled, the private mode will be disabled automatically when the screen is turned off.
   
   

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: 7 Ways to Access Camera App in Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Camera is now become an important part on smartphone because people today love to capture any moment with their phones anytime and anywhere to be their personal collections, to be shared via social media services and websites, etc. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge itself has 5MP front camera and 12MP rear camera with a set of useful features to help you take a better photo and record a better video. You're also provided with some features that will help you easily and quickly launch the Camera app in any condition.


Here's some ways available that you can use to launch the Camera app:
1. From the apps menu
It's the common method to access all installed apps in your phone, including with the Camera app. Go to the apps menu and find the Camera app to launch it.

2. From the home screen
By default, your phone sets the Camera app as one of the app shortcuts in the home screen, which means you can use it to easily launch the Camera app from the home screen.

3. From the lock screen
By default, your phone sets the Camera app as one of the lock screen apps, which means you can use it to easily launch the Camera app when your phone's screen is locked.

4. From the edge screen panel
You can easily launch the Camera app from the edge screen panel if you have added the Camera app in the apps edge panel or added the specific function of the Camera app in the tasks edge panel. However, if you access the edge screen panel from the lock screen while the it's locked with a secure screen lock type, such as PIN or fingerprint, you have to perform the screen lock first before the Camera app is opened.

5. By using the quick launch camera feature
If you have enabled the quick launch camera feature, you can quickly launch the Camera app from any screen simply by pressing the Home key twice in quick succession.

6. By using S Voice command
If you have activated your S voice wake up command, you can easily launch the Camera app from any screen simply by saying "Hi Galaxy, open Camera". Your phone has to be connected to the Internet to make it works.

7. By using voice search"OK Google" detection
While you're using the Google voice search, you can say "OK Google, open Camera" to launch the Camera app. You can also use this voice command in any screen to launch the Camera app in condition that you have activated your voice search"OK Google" detection in the Google settings. Your phone has to be connected to the Internet to make it works.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: How to Enable and Use Preview Message Feature in Messages App in Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

If you often use your Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge to communicate with others using text messages, you can set your phone to show you the sender and a preview of the received message on the lock screen, notification panel, and pop-up to help you easily know if it's an important message so you can quickly take the required action as soon as you read the preview, such as calling the sender or reply the message.


How to enable or disable the preview message feature in the Messages app?
You can turn on or off this feature by using the following steps:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap More at the top right and then select Settings.
   
   
3. Tap Notifications.
   
   

   If the notifications is off, tap the ON/OFF switch to turn it on. The switch turns when it's enabled.

4. Tap the ON/OFF switch next to Preview message to enable or disable this option. When the switch turns means the preview message feature is enabled.
   
   

How to use the preview message feature?
See the following steps as the example of using this feature:

1. When the screen is locked(please note that this feature works if you set the notifications on lock screen setting to show content).
   When a text message arrives, your phone will display the sender and a short preview of the received message on the lock screen. If needed, you can take further actions with these steps:
   
   • Swipe down the message preview on the lock screen.
     
     
   • Tap Call to call the sender or tap Reply to reply the message in the Messages app.
     
     

     If you're using a screen lock type with secure lock settings, e.g., PIN, password, pattern, fingerprints, or direction lock, you need to perform your current screen lock method before the selected action can be done.

2. When the screen is not locked and pop-up display feature is enabled.
   When a text message arrives while you're on any outside the Messages app, your phone will display the sender and a short preview of the received message in pop-ups. If needed, you can take further actions with these steps:
   
   • To read the whole message in pop-up, scroll down the message in the pop-up. Or, you can tap View to read the message with more conveniently in the Messages app.
     
     
   • To reply the message, tap Reply button. Enter your message and then tap Send button.
     
     
   • To close the pop-up, tap Close button.
     
     
3. When the screen is not locked and pop-ups display feature is disabled.
   When a text message arrives, your phone will display the sender and a preview of the received message on the notification panel. If needed, you can take further actions with these steps:
   
   • Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel.
     
     
   • Tap Call to call the sender or tap Reply to reply the message in the Messages app.