Inside Galaxy

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Block Unwanted or Unknown Incoming Calls

Most of smartphone available today has equipped with lot of advanced features which will allow the user to do more activities with their phone. However, basic activities such as making calls remains one of the most frequently done by the users. It's probably the reason why most of them--including with the Samsung Galaxy SIV--provide the stock Phone app and Contacts app inside them. Both of these apps of course will be able to facilitate the users when they want to make a call.

See also: How to Make a calls in Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from make a call, you can also receive incoming calls in this phone. Even by utilizing the auto reject call feature, you're able to set your phone to block incoming calls from unwanted or unknown contacts or from contacts that match with the criteria that you have previously set in the auto reject list.

How to enable and set up auto reject call feature?
As a note, it will not work to block calls from private numbers or from internet/VoIP calls. Well, here are the steps to do so:

Go to Settings> tap My Device tab> tap Call. Or, Open Phone app> tap the Menu key> tap Call settings.
Tap Call rejection.
Tap Auto reject mode. Here you'll see 3 options available, they are:

Off: select this option to turn off auto reject call feature.
All numbers: select this options if you wish to block incoming calls from all contacts listed in the Contacts app.
Auto reject numbers: select this option if you wish to block incoming calls from contacts or contacts that match with the criteria you have added in the auto reject list.

In this case, select Auto reject numbers.
Tap Auto reject list.
Tick the box next to Unknown option to block incoming calls from contacts that not listed in the Contacts app.
Tap Create to add number or criteria to the auto reject list.
Tap Match criteria. Here you'll see 4 options available, they're:

Exactly the same as: select this option if you wish to block call from the contact which is exactly the same as the contact you have added in the reject list. To see the complete steps, go to the step #9.
Starts with: select this option if you wish to block call from contact that start with the number you have added in the reject list. To see the complete steps, go to the step #10.
Ends with: select this option if you wish to block call from contact that end with the number you have added in the reject list. To see the complete steps, go to the step #11.
Includes: select this option if you wish to block call from contact containing with the number you have added in the reject list. To see the complete steps, go to the step #12.

To block call from certain phone number:

Select Exactly the same as.
Enter a full phone number in the Enter number field or you can also tap the Contact icon to pick up the desired contact you wish to block, either from Logs or Contacts app.
Tap Save button to add the phone number or contact to the reject list.
Incoming call from this number or contact will be rejected.

To block call from contact which start with certain number:

Select Starts with.
Enter the number, eg: 0034
Tap Save button to add the criteria to the reject list.
All incoming call from the contact which is start with 0034 will be rejected.

To block call from contact which is end with certain number:

Select Ends with.
Enter the number, eg: 1166
Tap Save button to add the criteria to the reject list.

To block call from contact which is contain certain number:

Select Includes.
Enter the number, eg: 5678
Tap Save button to add the criteria to the reject list.
All incoming call from the contact which is contain with 0034 will be rejected.

You can see all blocked phone numbers or contacts as well as the criteria you have made in the auto reject call list.

After activating the auto reject mode and adding contacts in the auto reject list as well as making criteria for contacts you wish to block, all incoming call from them will be blocked or redirected to your voice mail if you activate it. FYI, You still be able to see the call log from the blocked contact in the call logs and they will be labelled with the rejected call icon

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Make a Call

Make a call is the most common method used by the users to communicate with others. That's why most of smartphone available today--including with the Samsung Galaxy SIV-- provide a Phone app as one of stock app to facilitate the user when they want to make a call. In this phone, you can also make a call with several methods available.

Six methods to make a call
Well, there are 6 methods available that the user can do to make a call, either with or without using the existing features. You can see them below:
Method #1: Make a call from Phone app
This is the basic method usually used by the user to make a call. Here are the steps:

Open Phone app.
Enter the phone number using the on-screen keypad. While you're entering the phone number, all the matching contacts will be displayed above the keypad. Tap the contact to display the complete phone number.
Tap Call icon.
Tap End call icon to end the call.

Method #2: Make a call from call log/call history
This method is best used to call back the recent calls or missed calls. Here are the steps:

Open Phone app.
Tap Logs tab. All your call histories will be displayed here.
Tap the desired contact you wish to call.
Tap Call icon.
Tap End call icon to end the call.

Method #3: Make a call from Contacts app
This method will allow you to easily call a contact that has been added in the Contacts app. Here are the steps:

Open Contacts app.
Tap the desired contact you wish to call, or you can also search for certain contact by entering the contact's name or number in the Search field. All the matching contacts will be displayed. Tap the contact to display the contact details.
Tap Call icon.
Tap End call icon to end the call.

Method #4: Make a call using easy call feature
This feature will allow you to easily call a contact in Contact app simply by using a single gesture. Here are the steps:

Open Contacts app.
Swipe the desired contact from left to the right.
The phone will automatically dial the contact.
Tap End call icon to end the call.

Method #5: Make a call using direct call feature
This feature will allow you to make a call to the contact detail currently displayed in the screen (in the message, call log, favourites, groups or Contacts app) by holding the phone near to your ear. First, you need to enable the direct call feature to be able to use this method. Here are the steps:

Go to Settings.
Tap My device tab.
Tap Motions and gestures.
Enable Motion by sliding the switch next to the option to the right.
Tap Motion.
Enable Direct call by sliding the switch next to the option to the right.
Now open a detail call log, or open a message or open a contact detail which will display the phone number of certain contact.
Hold the phone near your ear. The phone will automatically dialed the number currently displayed in the screen.
Tap End call icon to end the call.

Method #6: Make a call using speed dial feature
This feature will allow you to assign up to 8 contacts to the speed dial key which will make you more easier and faster when you want to call them later. Long press the desired speed dial key and the phone will automatically dial the contact which you have set previously in the speed dial key.
See also: How to Assign, Edit and Use Speed Dial in Samsung Galaxy S4

By knowing all of methods mentioned above, now you can make calls using the method that best suits your needs.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Set Up, Edit and Use Speed Dial Contacts

One of the reason why the Samsung Galaxy SIV users add their contacts to the Contacts app is to facilitate them when they want to use certain contact later, for instance when they want to make a call.

See also: How to Add New Contact in Contacts App in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Well, you may have lot of contacts stored in the Contacts app, but generally you have some favourite contacts or the most frequently dialed contacts. Instead of do search for certain contact in Contacts app or enter the phone number in Phone app, you can assign up to 8 contacts for speed dial so you can call them more faster and easier.

How to assign a contact to a speed dial key?
Below are the steps to do so:

Open Phone app then tap Keypad tab.
Tap the Menu key then select Speed dial setting.
Here you'll see 9 speed dial keys which you can assign for the speed dial number(except the number 1 key because it's usually have assigned by default for the voice mail).
Tap the speed dial key you wish to use.
Select the desired contact.
The selected contact will be assigned in the selected speed dial key.
To assign another available speed dial key, repeat from the step #4.

How to edit speed dial key?
If you have accidentally made a mistake when assigning certain contact on speed dial setting and want to replace with the correct one or even want to remove them, then you can do so by following the steps below:

Open Phone app then tap Keypad tab.
Tap the Menu key then select Speed dial setting.
Long tap the desired speed dial key you wish to edit.
You'll see two options available in the pop up menu, they are:

Replace: select this option if you wish to replace current contact in the speed dial key with the new one.
Remove: select this option if you wish to remove current contact from the speed dial key.

How to use speed dial?
After assigning certain contact in the speed dial key, now you can call them easily by following the steps below:

Open Phone app.
Tap the Keypad tab.
Tap and hold the required speed dial key until the contact number you've set previously dialed.

Given the advantage of this feature, then it'll more useful if you assign the important or favourite contacts in the speed dial setting so you'll be much more easier and faster when you want to call them.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Delete Contact in Contacts App

Nowadays, almost every one has their own phones to communicate with others, either by making a call or sending a message. Due to that reason, save all of your contacts are a needed thing that you should do to facilitate you when you want to use them later. Luckily, Samsung Galaxy SIV has provided the stock Contacts app which will allow you to easily add all of your contacts and do some customizations on them.

See also: How to Add New Contact in Contacts App in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Nevertheless, in certain condition you may want to delete a single or multiple contacts when you no longer want to keep them or even deleting all of your contact list when you want to sell the phone or send the phone back to the service center to get a fix or replacement.

How to remove contact?
To do so, kindly follow the steps listed below:

Open Contacts app. All your contact list will be displayed.
To delete a single contact go to the step #3, to delete multiple contacts go to the step #4, while to delete all contacts go to the step #5.
Delete a single contact:

Long tap the desired contact you wish to delete.
In pop up menu select Delete.
Tap OK button.
The selected contact will be deleted.

Delete multiple contacts:

Tap the Menu key then select Delete.
Tick the box next to the desired contacts you wish to delete.
Tap Delete button.
Tap OK button.
All selected contacts will be deleted.

Delete all contacts:

Tap the Menu key then select Delete.
Tick the box next to the Select all option to select all of your contacts.
Tap Delete button.
Tap OK button.
All of your contact list will be deleted.

By knowing how to remove contact in Contacts app, now you can easily delete a single, multiple or even all of your contacts according to your situation and need.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Import or Export Contacts in Contacts App

Add all of your contacts in the Contacts app is the best way to facilitate you to organize them and make you more easier when you want to use them later, such as make a call or send a message. No more worries about forgetting phone number of the certain person you wish to call/text with. Moreover, if you add the new contacts to the phone memory, you'll be provided with more options to customize them, such as add photo to contact, assign different ringtone for each contact, add multiple phone numbers, etc.

See also: How to Add New Contact in the Contacts App in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from add the new contacts, the Contacts app also lets you easily copy contacts by utilizing the import/export option available in this app. Here, you're allowed to import contact file you saved in the internal storage or SD card as well as to import the SIM card contact to the phonebook. And, you're also allowed to export your contact list to the internal storage or SD card as contact file as well as to export the contact list to the SIM card.

How to import or export contacts?
Below are the steps to do so:

Open Contacts app.
Tap the Menu key and then select Import/Export.
Here you can see some import/export options available. They are:

Import from USB storage: Select this option to import contact file (.vcf) you saved in the internal storage to the phonebook. To see the detail steps, go to the step #4.
Export to USB storage: Select this option to export contact list as .vcf file and then save it to the internal storage. To see the detail steps, go to the step #5.
Import from SD card: This option will available if you attach a SD card on your phone. Select this option to import contact file (.vcf) you saved in the SD card to the phonebook. To see the detail steps, go to the step #6.
Export to SD card: This option will available if you attach a SD card on your phone. Select this option to export contact list as .vcf file and then save it to the SD card. To see the detail steps, go to the step #7.
Import from SIM card: This option will available if you attach a SIM card on your phone. Select this option to import SIM card contacts to the phonebook. To see the detail steps, go to the step #8.
Export to SIM card: This option will available if you attach a SIM card on your phone. Select this option to export contacts to the SIM card. To see the detail steps, go to the step #9.

Import contact from internal storage:

Select Import from USB storage.
Tap Device.
Here you'll see three option available which you can choose the best one suit your needs: Import one vCard file to import a single .vcf file, Import multiple vCard files to import some .vcf files and Import all vCard files to import all .vcf files available in the internal storage.
Tap OK button.
Select vCard file you wish to import.
Tap OK button.
The selected .vcf file will be imported shortly.

Export contact to internal storage:

Select Export to USB storage.
Tap OK button.
Your contact list will be exported as .vcf file and will be saved into the "/storage/emulated/0/Contacts_xxx.vcf".

Import contact from SD card:

Select Import from SD card.
Tap Device.
Here you'll see three option available which you can choose the best one suit your needs: Import one vCard file to import a single .vcf file, Import multiple vCard files to import some .vcf files and Import all vCard files to import all .vcf files available in the SD card.
Tap OK button.
Select vCard file you wish to import.
Tap OK button.
The selected .vcf file will be imported shortly.

Export contact to SD card:

Select Export to SD card.
Tap OK button.
Your contact list will be exported as .vcf file and will be saved into the "/storage/extSdcard/Contacts_xxx.vcf".

Import contact from SIM card:

Select Import from SIM card.
Tap Device.
Select the desired SIM card contact you wish to import by ticking the box in the left side of each contact, or tick the box in the left side of Select all option to import all of your SIM card contacts to the phonebook.
Tap Done button.
The selected contacts will be imported shortly.

Export contact to SIM card:

Select Export to SIM card.
Select the desired contact you wish to import by ticking the box in the left side of each contact, or tick the box in the left side of Select all option to import all of your contacts to the SIM card.
Tap Done button.
Tap OK button.
The selected contacts will be exported shortly to the SIM card.
FYI, due to the limitation of the SIM card, only the contact's name and the default phone number which will be saved in the SIM card.

The available options under the import and export menu in the Contacts app of course will be able to help you to manage, backup or copy contacts. If you wish to add contact from another sources, you can utilize the import option. While, if you wish to backup or want to copy your contact list to another phone, you can utilize the export option. Well, hope this helps :)

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Add New Contact in the Contacts App

Contacts app is one of pre-installed apps in the Samsung Galaxy SIV that you can use to organize all your contacts. This app will allow you to add new contact to make you more easier if you want to use them later, such as when you want to make a call or send a message. In addition, the contact's information you have entered will also be used by other applications to facilitate your activities, such as the Messaging app will use the contact info to identify incoming text messages or the Phone app will use the contact information to identify incoming calls, etc..

How to add new contact in the Contacts App?
As the example, we'll save the new contact to the phone memory because it'll provide more option to customize contact. Well, here are the steps to do so:

Open Contacts app.
Tap the Plus button in the right side of the search field to add new contact.
Tap the Name field and then type the contact's name.
To add photo to contact:

Tap the contact's picture box in the left side of the Name field.
You'll see some options available which you can use to select from where you wish to pick up the picture you wish to use as contact's picture, they are: Image(Gallery app), Pictures by people(tagged people in pictures), Take picture(take the picture using Camera app), or S Memo.
If necessary, you can crop the picture.
Tap the Done button.
The selected picture will be applied as the contact's picture.

Tap the Phone number field and then type the contact's phone number.
If necessary, tap the Email address field and then type the contact's email address.
If necessary, tap Groups to add this contact into the existing group or to the new group.
To assign ringtone:

Tap Ringtone.
Select the desired ringtone you wish to use.
Tap OK button.

To assign message tone:

Tap Message alert.
Select the desired message alert you wish to use.
Tap OK button.

To change vibration pattern:

Tap Vibration pattern.
Select vibration pattern you wish to use.
Tap OK button.

If necessary, you may also add additional information for the contact by tapping the Add another field button, such as Phonetic name, Organisation, etc.
Tap Save button to save the contact.

After you add all of your contacts into the Contacts app, now you can make a call or send a message to the desired contact easily without having to worry about forgetting a phone number or other contact info.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Change Home Screen Mode

Home screen is one of the most customizable part in the Samsung Galaxy SIV. In the first time, there are five Home screens displayed in this phone, but if they're not enough for you, you're allowed to add them up to seven. In another case, you're also allowed to re-arrange the Home screen position as well as deleting unused Home screen if you're tight with the RAM use issue.

See also: How to Add, Delete and Rearrange Home Screen in the Samsung Galaxy S4

By default, the Home screen in your phone are displayed with the conventional layout with the small icons and more complex settings which will allow you to customize them as mentioned above. But, for some users, especially for those of new smartphone user, the default layout is quite irritating. Fortunately, this phone has an option which will allow the user to change the home screen mode from the default standard mode to the easy home screen mode which will provide a simpler layout with more bigger icons and vice versa.

How to switch between standard mode and easy mode?
Below are the steps to do so:

Swipe your finger from the top of the screen to the bottom to display the notification panel.
Tap Cogwheel icon at the top of the screen to enter the Settings menu.
Tap My device tab.
Tap Home screen mode.
You'll see two home screen mode options available displayed here. They are:

Standard mode: this is the default home screen mode used by the phone. This home screen mode will provide you the conventional layout for the apps and widgets on your Home screens.
Easy mode: this mode will be useful for the first time smartphone users because this mode will provide more easier experience compared with the standard mode by displaying a simpler layout and bigger icons.

Tap the desired home screen mode option you wish to use.
Tap Apply button to save the changes.
The selected home screen mode will be applied.

For the record, each home screen mode has their own advantage. If you have been using smartphone for a long time, then it'll be better if you use the standard mode which will allow you to customize the phone and do more settings. While if you're the new smartphone user, then the easy mode is a better choice for you to learn and adapted with the smartphone. Well, hope this helps :)