Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable SMS Messages in Hangouts App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

If you notice, Hangouts app replaces Talk app. If you use this app in Samsung Galaxy SIV with Android 4.4 Kitkat, then you're not only allowed to use this app to chat or video chat with other users, but you're also allowed to use this app to send or receive messages, photos or videos. Since this feature is not activated by default, then you have to enable it manually if you want to use the SMS feature on this app and make it as your default messaging app in your phone. Though this app is a Google-related app, you don't have to sign in to your Google account to be able to use this app to send or receive SMS.


How to set Hangouts app as the default messaging app?
Please note that when you set Hangouts app as default messaging app, some messaging features of Samsung application are prevented to be used and SMS rate from your provider still apply while you're using this app.

Method #1: From Hangouts app

1. If this the first time for you use Hangouts app, you'll be presented with a page that ask you whether you want to turn on SMS on this app. Tap Turn on SMS button to enable SMS messages in Hangouts and then tap Yes button to confirm.
2. If you didn't turn on SMS at the first time you use this app, you can turn on SMS messages in this app manually by using the following the steps:
• While you're in Hangouts app, tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
• Tap SMS.
• Tap SMS Disabled.
• Tap Yes button to set Hangouts as default messaging app. The option turns into SMS Enabled as a sign that SMS in Hangouts has been enabled.
3. All of your existing messages will be imported to Hangouts app and you're ready to use this app to send or receive messages.

Method #2: From the more networks in the settings menu

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Connections tab.
3. Tap More networks.
4. Tap Default messaging app and then select Hangouts.
5. Tap OK button to confirm.
6. Once done, when you open Hangouts app, you'll see all of your existing messages will be imported to this app and you're ready to use this app to send or receive messages. You may be asked to confirm your phone number, if you want to confirm tap OK button, if you don't tap Skip button.

Method #3: From the default applications in the settings menu

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap More tab.
3. Tap Default applications.
4. Tap Message and then select Hangouts.
5. Tap OK button to confirm.
6. Once done, when you open Hangouts app, you'll see all of your existing messages will be imported to this app and you're ready to use this app to send or receive messages. You may be asked to confirm your phone number, if you want to confirm tap OK button, if you don't tap Skip button.

This app is worth a try if you want to use other messaging app than the stock one without installing any third-party messaging app from the Play Store or other sources. And, other good news is that when this app is set as default messaging app in Android 4.4, you'll only get a single notification when receiving a message.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Download and Install Free Applications from Samsung Apps in Android 4.4 Kitkat

If all Android phone users can install apps from the Android official market Google Play Store, then for the Samsung phone users aside from installing apps from the Play Store they can also install apps from the Samsung Apps which is the official market for Samsung phones. As same as the Play Store, in Samsung Apps you can find various apps both free or paid apps. In this market, even you can find some apps which is specially created for your Samsung phones that you can't find in the Play Store.

How to download and install free applications from Samsung Apps?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Tap Apps in Home screen.
2. Swipe the screen to the right or left to find Samsung Apps, and then tap it.
3. If this the first time for you use the Samsung Apps and you have not added a Samsung account on your phone yet, then you'll be asked to either activate your existing Samsung account or add a new one by following the on-screen instructions. Other way, you can also add a Samsung account through the Settings menu.
4. In the Samsung Apps main page you'll see three tabs:
• Staff picks: tap this tab to see the apps that have been chosen by Samsung. Here the apps are categorized into Premium choice apps and Featured collection apps.
• Chart: tap this tab to see the most widely used/popular apps. Here the apps are categorized into Top game, Top paid, Top free and Top new.
• Category: tap this tab to see the apps based on the available categories(e.g: GALAXY Essentials, Business, Font, etc).
5. If you find the app you like, tap the app to see the app detail. Or if you have difficulty to find certain app then you can use the search function to make you easier to find the app you want by following the steps:
• Tap the Search icon located at the top of the Samsung Apps page.
• Enter the app name in the search field and by default you'll see some related-apps names appear below the search field. Tap one of them to start searching.
• In search result page, tap the desired app to see the app detail.
6. Tap Free button.
7. Tap Accept and download button to start installing.
8. Once the installation process is completed, tap Open button to open the app.

By knowing how to install apps from the Samsung apps, now you can easily install free apps or other Samsung applications that -probably- you can't find in the Play Store.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Add a Samsung Account in Android 4.4 Kitkat

As we all know that Google Play Store is the official market for all Android phones, including with the Samsung Galaxy SIV. From here you can find various apps and then install them into your phone. In order to be able to access the Play Store, you have to add your Google account on your phone, either by activating the existing Google account or creating a new one.

See also: How to Activate an Existing Google Account in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from installing apps from the Play Store, Samsung phone users can also install apps from the Samsung apps. As same as the Play Store, you can find various apps in here both free or paid version and then install them into your phone. While you're browsing apps, you may notice that some apps in the Samsung apps can't be found in the Play Store. Well, to be able to access Samsung apps and other Samsung-related apps/services, first you have to add a Samsung account on your phone, either by activating the existing Samsung account or creating a new one.

How to add a Samsung account?
If you have not added a Samsung account in your phone yet, usually you'll be asked to either activate your existing Samsung account or create a new one when you open any Samsung-related apps/services. But, as the example, we'll try adding a Samsung account through the settings menu. Here they are:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Accounts tab.
3. Tap Add account.
4. Tap Samsung account.
5. To activate the existing Samsung account go to the step #6, while to create a new Samsung account go to the step #7.
6. Activating the existing Samsung account:
• Tap Sign in button.
• Enter your Samsung username and password.
• Tap Sign-in button.
• Tap OK button to accept the terms and conditions and the privacy policy.
• Mark the checkboxes in the terms and conditions page and then tap Agree button.
7. Creating a new Samsung account:
• Tap Create account button.
• Fill the form with the required information(e.g: email address, password, first name, etc).
• Tap Sign up button and then follow the on-screen instructions.
8. Once done, your Samsung account will be listed in the accounts tab in the settings menu.

Please note that it doesn't same with Google account that will allow you to add more than one accounts in a single device, you're only allowed to add a single Samsung account in a single device.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Cover to Mute/Pause in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Samsung has provided some motion features to their users in order to help them controlling and interacting with their phone easier and faster. One of the motion features available is the turn over to mute/pause that you can use to mute incoming calls, alarms and to pause media playback by turning over the phone so that the screen will face downward.

See also: How to Enable and Use Turn Over to Mute/Pause in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

If you notice, there's also a motion called cover to mute/pause that has the similar function with turn over to mute/pause. You can use both of them to mute incoming calls and alarms as well as to pause the media playback. The difference is turn over to mute/pause works when you turn the device over, while cover to mute/pause works when you cover the screen with your palm. Since this option is not enabled by default, then you have to enable it first if you want to use it on your phone.

How to enable or disable cover to mute/pause feature?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Motions and gestures, and then tap it.
4. Swipe the ON/OFF switch next to Palm motion to the right to enable this option.
5. Tap Palm motion.
6. Depending on your current settings, tap the ON/OFF switch next to Mute/Pause to enable or disable this option. When the switch is on the right side or turns green means this option is enabled. When this option is enabled, you can tap this option and then tap Try it button to try this feature on the short tutorial given by this phone.

How to use cover to mute/pause feature?
Generally you can use this feature to mute sound or pause the playback without putting the phone into the silent mode. Here's the example:

1. Muting the sound
   While your phone is playing sound for an incoming call or an alarm, cover the screen using your palm to mute the sound.
2. Pausing the media playback
   While your phone is playing video or music, on any screen, cover the screen using your palm to pause the playback. FYI, this function also works while the video is being viewed in the pop up window.

Please note that you can't use this feature to pause media playback if the screen is off or while you're using headsets. I personally prefer to use cover to mute/pause to mute sound or to pause playback than turn over to mute/pause, because this motion is simpler to be used. So, how about you? Which mute/pause motion do you like best?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Smart Stay in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Samsung Galaxy SIV comes with some advanced features that will surely be able to improve your experience while using this phone, one of which is the smart stay feature. Turning on this feature will allow your phone to detect your face by using the front camera so that the screen will remain on as long as you're looking at it.


How to enable or disable the smart stay feature?
By default, this feature is disabled therefor if you want to use it then you have to enable it first. You can enable or disable this feature either from the quick settings panel or the Settings menu.

Method #1: From the quick settings panel

1. Swipe down the top of the screen with two fingers to open up the quick settings panel.
2. Depending on your current settings, tap the Smart stay button to enable or disable this option. When the button turns green means the option is enabled.

Method #1: From the Settings menu

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Smart screen and then tap it.
4. Depending on your current settings, tap Smart stay to enable or disable this option. When the checkbox besides this option is checked means the option is enabled.

How to use the smart stay feature?
Once the smart stay feature is activated, when it comes the time to turn off the screen then you'll see the smart stay icon is displayed on the status bar to detect your face by utilizing the front camera. If the camera detects your face then the screen will stay on, if not then the screen will be turned off.
FYI, I've tested this feature on my phone and it only worked if all of the following conditions are fulfilled:

• The phone is held steady and upright.
• You have to use this feature in well lit conditions but the screen is not in direct light so that the front camera won't have difficulty to detect your face. If there's a source of bright light(e.g: sunlight), you have to place it behind the phone.
• The front camera is not being used by other apps.

Tips:
Since this feature is related with the screen timeout value you're currently using, to avoid your battery drained fast whilst this feature is on then you'd better to set the screen timeout value to the longest interval. Prolong the screen timeout interval while using the smart stay feature means prolong the interval of the front camera to detect your face which also means more battery are saved for you.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Fix Can't Find Hidden Pictures in Gallery app in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Today an insider told me that she couldn't find some pictures that have been hidden by her using the hide items options in the Gallery app. Normally, when you hide a picture in the Gallery app by using the hide items option, then you can find/unhide them easily by using the show hidden items option in the Gallery app. Sadly to say that in some cases, some of hidden pictures are suddenly missing and can't be found both in the show hidden items option in Gallery app or in the default folder where you save the picture files in the My Files app.

See also: How to Hide or Show Hidden Pictures in the Gallery app in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

I've read somewhere out there and found that in the Android 4.4 Kitkat, all hidden files using that method will be moved to the another hidden folder in the internal storage. That's why you can't find them in their default folder. You have to move them to another unhide folder manually to display them back in the Gallery app.

How to find hidden pictures in Android 4.4 Kitkat?
I realize, a picture can be so meaningful for someone therefor I summarize this method here to help those of you who may be experiencing this problem and want to get those hidden-then-lost pictures back. I've tested this method and it worked. So, here they are:

1. Open My Files app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
3. Check the box besides the Show hidden files option to enable this option.
4. Tap the Back key.
5. Tap All files.
6. Tap Device storage.
7. Scroll down to find the folder named .hide and then tap it to open it.
8. Tap Island (I don't know why Samsung used it as the folder name. I think it may be different in other phones so please let me know if your phone has another folder name).
9. Now you should see all pictures you have hidden by using the hide items option in the Gallery app are displayed here.
10. Copy/move and then paste the desired hidden pictures to another folder. Use the following steps if you don't know how to do so:
• Select the desired pictures you want to copy/move.
• Tap the three horizontal line icon located at the top right corner of the screen and then tap Copy to copy the selected files or tap Move to cut the selected files.
• Navigate to the required folder you want to paste the files.
• Tap Paste here.
11. Once the selected files are copied or moved to another folder, they should be displayed again in the Gallery app.

As a note, this method also can be applied to retrieve hidden video files that you have hidden using the same way from the Gallery app. You can also perform this method by using another third-party File Manager app (e.g: ES File explorer, Astro File Manager, etc).

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Fix Can't Remove Facebook Photo Albums in the Gallery App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

By default, you'll be presented with some sync options while you're installing the Facebook app in your phone, one of which is the sync Gallery option that will allow you to sync your Facebook photo albums with your phone so that you can view them directly from the Gallery app. If you chose to skip/disable this option at that time, then you can enable/activate the sync option by adding your Facebook account to the Gallery app.

See also: How to Sync Facebook Photo Albums with Gallery App in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

As with other sync processes, the sync process between your Facebook photo albums and Gallery app can cause your phone becomes slower than before, and it'll be worse if you have a ton of photos on your Facebook account. In some cases, the sync process may cause the Gallery app crashes or slows or doesn't work properly. If the problem start irritating you, then you can fix them by stopping sync process or removing the Facebook account from the Gallery app.

How to remove Facebook photo albums in Gallery app temporarily?
FYI, these steps only stop syncing process and hide the Facebook photo albums in the Gallery app without removing the Facebook account from the Gallery app. These steps work best if the synced photos are only in a small amount. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
3. Under the Accounts section, tap your Facebook account.
4. Clear the checkbox next to Sync Gallery to stop syncing process.
5. You can also hide the Facebook photo albums temporarily by using the following steps:
• While you're in the Gallery app, tap the Menu key and then select Content to display.
• Clear the checkbox next to Content in Facebook.
• Tap OK button.
• Now, the Facebook photo albums shouldn't be displayed in the Gallery app.

How to remove Facebook photo albums in Gallery app permanently?
These steps will remove your Facebook account from the Gallery app, but it won't remove your Facebook account in the Facebook app. These steps work best if you have a lot of photos in your Facebook account. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
3. Under the Accounts section, tap your Facebook account.
4. Tap Remove account button located at the top right corner of the screen.
5. Tap Remove account button to confirm removing the account.
6. Now, the Facebook photo albums will be removed from the Gallery app permanently unless you sync them again with the Gallery app.

Each method mentioned above has their own advantages. Removing the Facebook photo albums temporarily will keep the synced photos and will allow you to sync with them again with ease as well as speed up the Gallery load times as long as the synced photos are only in a small amount, while removing the Facebook photo albums permanently will be able to speed up the Gallery load times and avoid crashes especially if you have a lot of photos in your account.