Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Disable or Enable Apps

One of causes an error occurs in the Samsung Galaxy SIV is an installed third-party app in the phone. No wonder if most of users use this reason to uninstall particular third-party app in their phones to fix the problem. In addition, uninstalling some unused apps also will help you to keep your phone clean and neat as well as to free up some spaces in your phone. One thing that you should remember that you're only allowed to uninstall third-party apps, not with the stock apps.

See also: How to Uninstall Apps in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Well, given the stock apps can't be uninstalled, then you can disable one or more of them when you don't want to use them. But, make sure that you only disable the user apps, not the system apps because it will be able to make another stock app that connected to the disabled app not works properly and will make your phone experiences some errors.

How to disable a stock app?
I noticed that some of stock apps have a grayed out Disable button which mean they can't be disabled. Anyway, if you wish to disable allowed-to-be-disabled stock app, you can do so by following the steps listed below:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap More tab.
3. Tap Application manager.
4. Swipe the screen to the right until you see the All tab. All installed apps will be displayed here, either the stock apps or the third-party apps.
5. Tap the desired a stock app you wish to disable.
6. Tap Disable button.
7. If you ever update the selected app, you will be presented with the notification to confirm you to replace the app with the factory version(uninstall updates). Tap OK button to uninstall updates and continue to disable app, and then tap Disable button again.
8. Tap OK button to confirm.
9. The selected app will be disabled. It will remove the app from Home screen and app drawer.

How to enable a disabled stock app?
Aside to enable a stock app that you have disabled before, you can also use this step to find a missing stock app after did update to Android 4.3. Here are the steps to do so:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap More tab.
3. Tap Application manager.
4. Swipe the screen to the right until you see the Disabled tab. All your disabled apps will be displayed here.
5. Tap the desired disabled app you wish to enable.
6. Tap Enable button.
7. The selected app will be enabled. It will bring back the app to the app drawer.

From my own experience, I never disable stock app in my phone because I love to use them and will keep them alive. But, I ever enable some disabled apps after did update to the Android 4.3 which has had disable them for no reason. Well, hope it helps :)

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Uninstall Apps

Though Samsung Galaxy SIV has provided some basic apps as the stock apps, you're allowed to install third-party apps from other sources or from the official Android market, Google Play Store. This of course will benefit you because you can install another app that you need into your phone.

See also: How to Install Free Apps from Google Play Store in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from the easiness to install apps, in this phone you're also allowed to uninstall installed apps. There are some reasons why you should uninstall apps, for instance when the app has triggered some problem in your phone or when you no longer want to use certain app so you want to uninstall it to tidy up your phone as well as to free up some spaces, etc.


How to uninstall app with 4 easy ways?
FYI, these methods are only applied for downloaded apps, or in other words you can't use these methods to uninstall the stock apps. Well, generally there are 4 methods available to uninstall app. Here they are:

Method #1: From App drawer use the App info icon
This is one of my favourite method that I often use to uninstall app because it allows me to clear cache and data of the selected apps.

1. Go to Apps from Home screen.
2. Long tap the desired app you wish to uninstall and then drag it to the App info icon located at the top of the screen.
3. Before uninstalling the app, better if you clear its cache and data by tapping the Clear cache button and the Clear data button.
4. Tap Uninstall button.
5. Tap OK button to confirm.
6. The selected app will be uninstalled shortly.

Method #2: From App drawer use the option in Menu key
This method allows you to uninstall some apps more easier directly from the app menu. Unfortunately, this method doesn't allow you to clear cache and data of the selected app.

1. Go to Apps from Home screen.
2. Tap the Menu key then select Uninstall.
3. All uninstallable apps will be labeled with the red minus circled icon.
4. Tap the desired app you wish to uninstall.
5. Tap OK button to confirm.
6. The selected app will be uninstalled shortly.

Method #3: From the Settings menu
This is my second favourite method to uninstall app. This method is the same with the method #1, but with more longer steps.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap More tab.
3. Tap Application manager.
4. In the Downloaded tab, tap the desired app you wish to uninstall.
5. Before uninstalling the app, better if you clear its cache and data by tapping the Clear cache button and the Clear data button.
6. Tap Uninstall button.
7. Tap OK button to confirm.
8. The selected app will be uninstalled shortly.

Method #4: From Google Play Store
This method allows you to uninstall app while you're in the Google Play Store. I ever use this method when I installed incorrect app from Google Play Store. So before I forgot it, I had uninstalled this app while I'm still in the Google Play Store.

1. Open Play Store app.
2. Swipe the screen from the left to the right.
3. Tap My apps.
4. In the Installed tab, tap the desired app you wish to uninstall.
5. Tap Uninstall button.
6. Tap OK button to confirm.
7. The selected app will be uninstalled shortly.

Well. each method has their own advantage. So, by knowing all available methods to uninstall app, now you can uninstall the desired app by using a method that best suit your need. Well, hope it helps :)

Samsung Galaxy S4: 4 Methods to Send a Message

Given send a message is one of the most common method used by the users to communicate with others, no wonder if Samsung Galaxy SIV has provided the stock Messaging app to facilitate their user when they want to send a message. In this phone, you're also presented with some methods to send a message which you can choose the best one suit your need.


4 Methods to send a message
From what I've known, there are four methods available that you can use to send a message. You can see them below:

Method #1: Send a message from Messaging app
This is the basic method usually used by the user to send a message. You can compose a new message directly from the stock Messaging app.
See also: How to Create and Send SMS or MMS in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Method #2: Send a message from Call Log
Best use this method to send a message to a contact in the recent call or missed call. Here are the steps:

1. Open Phone app.
2. Tap Logs tab. All of your call histories will be displayed here.
3. Tap the desired contact you wish to send a message with.
4. Tap the Yellow closed-envelope icon to create new message to the selected contact.
5. Type your message in the Enter message field.
6. If necessary, you can also attach file into your message by tapping the Attachment button and then select a file type and select the desired file you wish to attach.
7. Tap Send button to send the message.

Method #3: Send a message from Contacts app
This method will facilitate you to send a message to a contact you've added to the Contacts app. Here are the steps:

1. Open Contacts app.
2. Tap the desired contact you wish to send a message with, or you can also search for certain contact by entering the contact's name or number in the Search field. All matching contacts will be displayed. Tap the desired contact to display the contact details.
3. Tap the Yellow closed-envelope icon to send message to the selected contact.
4. Type your message in the Enter message field.
5. If necessary, you can also attach file into your message by tapping the Attachment button and then select a file type and select the desired file you wish to attach.
6. Tap Send button to send the message.

Method #4: Send a message using easy text feature
This method will allow you to access the create new message screen by using a single gesture in any contact list(call log, Contact app, favourite contact). Here are the steps:

1. Open Contacts app or Call log or Favourite contact list where you can see the contact list.
2. Swipe the desired contact from right to the left.
3. You'll be automatically redirected to the create new message screen.
4. Type your message in the Enter message field.
5. If necessary, you can also attach file into your message by tapping the Attachment button and then select a file type and select the desired file you wish to attach.
6. Tap Send button to send the message.

Each method has their own advantage, so by knowing all available methods to send a message, now you can choose which one that best suit your need in order to help you to be able to send a message more faster and easier.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Block Unwanted or Unknown Text Messages

I believe most of phone's users have been choosing a message as one of their favourite method to communicate with others. That's why no wonder if most of smartphones available today--including with the Samsung Galaxy SIV--have provided the stock Messaging app for their users, so the user will be more easier if they want to send or receive a message in their phone without having to install the app first.

See also: How to Create and Send SMS or MMS in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from sending and receiving a message, the stock Messaging app also allows you to block text messages from certain contact matches with the criteria you've specified before, block text messages contain with certain phrase as well as block text messages from unknown senders. This of course will help you to keep your inbox clean from those unwanted or unknown text messages.

How to add or remove a contact in the spam number list?
If you wish to block or unblock text message from certain contact, you can do so by following the step below:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the Menu key then select Settings.
3. Scroll down to the Spam message settings section.
4. Tick the box next to Spam settings to enable block text message feature.
5. Tap Add to spam numbers.
6. Tap Add button.
7. Tap Match criteria. Here you'll see four options available, they are:
• Exactly the same as: this option allows you to enter the full phone number you wish to block.
• Starts with: this option allows you to enter the beginning of the phone number you wish to block.
• Ends with: this option allows you to enter the end of the phone number you wish to block.
• Includes: this option allows you to enter a part of the phone number you wish to block.
8. Type the phone number in the Enter number field according to the match criteria you've just selected. Or, tap the Contact icon to pick up the desired contact you wish to block from Logs or Contacts app.
9. Tap Save button.
10. All phone numbers and criteria you have added will be listed below the Add button.
11. To unblock blocked phone number or criteria, long tap the desired phone number or criteria and then select Delete. This will remove the selected blocked number or criteria from the spam number list.

How to add or remove a phrases in the spam phrase list?
If you wish to block text messages contain certain phrase, you can do so by following the step below:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the Menu key then select Settings.
3. Scroll down to the Spam message settings section.
4. Tick the box next to Spam settings to enable block text message feature.
5. Tap Add to spam phrases.
6. Tap Add button.
7. Enter a phrase you wish to block in the Enter text field. FYI, it's a case sensitive so it'll different if you type "Dear" with "dear".
8. Tap Save button followed by tapping OK button to confirm.
9. All blocked phrases will be listed below the Add button.
10. To unblock blocked phrase, long tap the desired phrase and then select Delete. This will remove the selected phrase from the spam phrase list.

How to block text message from unknown sender?
If you wish to block text message from contacts you haven't added to your Contacts app, you can do so by following the step below:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the Menu key then select Settings.
3. Scroll down to the Spam message settings section.
4. Tick the box next to Spam settings to enable block text message feature.
5. Tick the box next to Block unknown senders.

How to see all blocked messages?
Below are the step to do so:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the Menu key then select Spam messages. All blocked messages will be displayed here.

FYI, you won't receive a notification or message tone when a blocked message is received. They will be redirected to the spam message folder so your inbox will stay clean and you won't lose any received message. But, if you wish to block text messages without log, I believe that there's should be an app available in the Google Play Store which has a feature to do so.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Delete Old Messages Automatically

For those of you who often communicate with others using text or multimedia messages surely ever find your inbox is fully loaded and it brings you some difficulties to organize them. This situation often be the reason of the Samsung Galaxy SIV users to delete their old messages to tidy up their inbox as well as to free up some spaces in their phone. In the stock Messaging app, you're allowed to delete messages under particular thread or even deleting the threads itself.

See also: How to Delete Messages in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from deleting messages manually, you can also set this app to automatically delete the old messages when they reach the limit you have specified before. This of course will be able to help you manage your messages and keep your inbox contains with the newest messages.

How to auto-delete old SMS or MMS?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the Menu key then select Settings.
3. Check the box next to Delete old messages option to enable auto-delete old messages feature.
4. To set a limit for text message go to the step #5, while to set a limit for multimedia message go to the step #6.
5. Set a limit for SMS:
• Tap Text message limit.
• By default, the stock Messaging app limits the text message up to 200 messages per conversation. If you wish to adjust the limit to suit your need, you can do so by tapping the Up arrow icon to increase the limit or tap the Down arrow icon to decrease the limit.
• Tap OK button.
• Now, the Messaging app will delete old messages automatically if the messages in the particular thread reaches a specified limit. For instance, when you set text message limit to 250, then when a thread has more than 250 text messages, the old message will be deleted automatically or in other word a single thread only allowed contains 250 new text messages.
6. Set limit for MMS:
• Tap Multimedia message limit.
• By default, the stock Messaging app limits the multimedia message up to 20 messages per conversation. If you wish to adjust the limit to suit your need, you can do so by tapping the Up arrow icon to increase the limit or tap the Down arrow icon to decrease the limit.
• Tap OK button.
• Now, the Messaging app will delete old messages automatically if the multimedia messages in the particular thread reaches a specified limit. For instance, when you set multimedia message limit to 30, then when a thread has more than 30 multimedia messages, the old message will be deleted automatically or in other word a single thread only allowed contains 30 new multimedia messages.

As a note, if you often receive important messages, that will be better if you periodically backup your messages to avoid losing your important messages. Well, hope this helps :)

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to View, Reply and Forward Text Messages

The stock Messaging app is one of pre-installed app which has provided in the Samsung Galaxy SIV to facilitate their users to communicate with others by using text messages or multimedia messages. Despite of the flaws of this app, I personally prefer to use the stock Messaging app--and the other stock apps--because they usually ads-free and we can directly use them without having to install them first.

See also: How to Create and Send SMS or MMS in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from sending messages, you can also receive text messages or multimedia messages by using Messaging app. You'll be informed if you have an incoming message with a new message icon (closed envelope icon) displayed in the status bar. Well, there are some options available when you have an incoming text message, such as read the message, reply the message to the original sender or forward the message to another contacts.

How to view a text message?
There are 2 ways that you can do to open your new incoming text message:

1. From the notification panel.
   Swipe the top of the screen to the bottom and then tap the notification of a new text message to open it.
2. From Messaging app.
• Open Messaging app.
• A new incoming text message from certain contact will be displayed at the top of the conversation list and labelled with number of new incoming messages.
• Tap the conversation to open it.
• The newest text message from the selected sender will be displayed at the bottom of the conversation.

How to reply a text message?
If you want to reply the message to the original sender, then you can do so by following the steps below:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the desired text message you wish to reply.
3. Enter your message in the Enter message field.
4. If necessary, you can attach file into your message by tapping the Attachment button, select file type and select the file you wish to attach.
5. Tap Send button to send your reply.

How to forward a text message?
To forward a text message to another contact, kindly follow the steps below:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap the desired text message you wish to forward.
3. Long tap the desired bubble text message you wish to forward.
4. In the Message options menu select Forward.
5. Enter the contact's name or number in the Enter recipient field. All matching contacts will be show up, tap the desired one. Or, tap Contact icon to pick up the desired contact you wish to send a message with from Contact app.
6. If necessary, you can add your own message by typing it in the Enter message field.
7. If necessary, you can also attach files into your message by tapping the Attachment button, select file type and select the file you wish to attach.
8. Tap Send button to forward the message.

By knowing the available options when you have an incoming text message, now you can easily read the message then if necessary you can reply it or even forward it to the desired contact as your wish.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Send, View and Customize Scheduled Messages

I believe that most of us are agree that sending messages uses the stock Messaging app is the favourite method commonly used by the Samsung Galaxy SIV users to communicate with others because they're able to use it directly without having to install it first. By using this app, you're allowed to send or receive text or multimedia messages.

See also: How to Create and Send SMS or MMS in the Samsung Galaxy S4

With this app, you're even allowed to schedule the message. If you like me, this feature has helped me a lot to send a "happy birthday" message to my friends right in the middle of the night when I was sleeping tight. I can create the message and then schedule it to be sent at certain date/time as I wish.

How to create and send a scheduled message?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open Messaging app.
2. Tap Create new message icon to compose new message.
3. Enter the contact's name or number in the Enter recipient field. All matching contacts will be show up, tap the desired one. Or, tap Contact icon to pick up the desired contact you wish to send a message with from Contacts app.
4. Type your message in the Enter message field.
5. If necessary, you can also attach files into your message by tapping the Attachment button , select a file type and then select the file you wish to attach.
6. Tap the Menu key then select Scheduling.
7. Tap the Date box and then tap the Up or Down arrow icon to adjust the date and then tap Set button.
8. Tap the Time box and then tap the Up or Down arrow icon to adjust the time and then tap Set button.
9. Tap Done button.
10. Tap Send scheduling message button.
11. The message will be labelled as scheduled message and will be sent at the date and time you have specified before.

How to view and customize a scheduled message?
Below are the steps to view all scheduled messages and see the available options to customize them:

1. To view all of your scheduled messages, while you're in the Messaging app, tap the Menu key then select Scheduled messages. All of your scheduled messages will be displayed here.
2. Long tap the desired scheduled message to bring up the options, such as:
• Send now: select this option to send the selected scheduled message right now.
• Cancel message: select this option to cancel and delete the selected scheduled message.
• Copy: select this option to copy scheduled message to the clipboard.
• Forward: select this option to forward the selected scheduled message.
• Lock: select this option to lock the selected scheduled message.
• Edit message: select this option to edit the selected scheduled message.
• View message details: select this option to see the details of a message, such as type, recipient number, and sent date/time.

By using scheduled message feature, now you can create a message and set the phone to send it to the certain contact at the specified date/time.