Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Fix Can't Send Text Messages to Premium Numbers, Short Numbers or Short Codes in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

A couple days back, an insider named Amber sent me an email and told me that she had accidentally chosen the "never" button when trying to send a premium or short code text message to get a store discount. Afterwards, she couldn't send that message anymore. Well, if you're also experiencing the same problem where you can't send text messages to premium numbers, short numbers or short codes using the stock Messaging app, you can fix this issue by changing the Messaging app permission.


How to set Messaging app to allow you sending a text message to a premium number, short number or short code?
There are two methods available that can be used to change the Messaging app permission so that you'll be able to send text messages to premium numbers, short numbers or short codes: from the apps menu and from the app manager.

Method #1: From the applications menu

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to the apps menu.
2. Tap and hold Messages and then drag it to the App info icon located at the top of the screen.
3. In the App info screen, scroll down the screen to the Permissions section.
4. Tap the box below the "This app may charge you money: Send premium SMS" and then select Ask if you want to be asked each time you send a premium SMS or select Always allow if you want to directly send premium SMS without having to be asked first.

Method #2: From the application manager

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. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Applications section and then tap Application manager .
3. Swipe the screen from the right to the left to access the ALL screen. All installed apps in your phone will be listed here.
4. Scroll down the screen to find Messages, and then tap it.
5. In the App info screen, scroll down the screen to the Permissions section.
6. Tap the Box below the "This app may charge you money: Send premium SMS" and then select Ask if you want to be asked each time you send a premium SMS or select Always allow  if you want to directly send premium SMS without having to be asked first.

As a note, I do believe that these steps can be used to fix the same problem in other Samsung Galaxy S phones since I can also use these steps in my Samsung Galaxy S4.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Fix No Backlight When Pressing the Recent Apps or Back Keys in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

By default, Samsung Galaxy S5 sets the Recent apps and Back keys' backlight to remain on for certain period after one of these keys is pressed. If the backlights don't light up even when you have pressed the Recent apps key or the Back key then there are two possibilities that may cause this problem: 1) the touch key light duration is set to always off, 2) the option to turn off key light within power saving mode is enabled.


How to fix no backlight when pressing the Recent apps or Back keys?
If you're also experiencing this issue on your phone, you can fix it by doing the following actions:

First: Make sure the touch key light duration is not set to always off
To do so, kindly do as follows:

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. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Display .
3. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
4. Tap Touch key light duration and then select 1,5 seconds or 6 seconds or Always on.
5. If needed, you can restart your phone. Once the phone is on, you can try pressing the Recent apps key or the Back key and the backlights should be light up.

Second: Make sure the option to turn off touch key light within power saving mode is off
If you still don't have the backlight when pressing the Recent apps or Back keys even when you have set the touch key light duration to 1,5 seconds or anything except always off, then make sure the option to turn off touch key light within power saving mode is disabled. 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. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the System section and then tap Power saving.
3. Tap Power saving mode .
4. Tap Restrict performance.
5. Clear the check box next to Turn off touch key light to disable this option.
6. Now, you can try pressing the Recent apps key or the Back key and the backlights should be light up.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Adjust Touch Key Light Duration in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Samsung Galaxy S5 allows you to adjust the touch key light duration so that you can set how long should the Recent apps and Back keys' backlight remains on be. You can set these keys to remain on for certain period after one of them is pressed, or set them to always on even though none of them is pressed. If needed, you can also turn off these keys' backlight so that they won't light up even when you press them.

How to adjust the touch key light duration?
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. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Display .
3. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
4. Tap Touch key light duration and then select from the following options:
• 1,5 seconds: select this option to set the Recent apps and Back keys's backlight remains on for 1,5 seconds after one of them is pressed.
• 6 seconds: select this option to set the Recent apps and Back keys's backlight remains on for 6 seconds after one of them is pressed.
• Always off: select this option to set the Recent apps and Back keys's backlight always off even when you press the key.
• Always on: select this option to set the Recent apps and Back keys's backlight always on even though none of them is pressed.
5. The touch key light duration has been adjusted.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Change Font Style and Size in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Samsung Galaxy S5 allows you to customize the font used by the device. You can either change the device font style from the default font style to the desired one to make your phone looks different and more personal or, if needed, you can also adjust the font size to make the font smaller or bigger. When you have customized the device font, it will be applied to the device except for the body of the email messages and the webpages since they will remain using the default font style and have their own settings to adjust the font size.

How to change font style and size?
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. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Display .
3. Tap Font.
4. Change the font style:
• Tap Font style and then select the desired font style from the following options: Default, Choco Cooky, Cool Jazz, Rosemary or Samsung Sans.
• Tap Yes button to confirm.
• The selected font style will be applied.
5. Adjust the font size:
• Tap Font size and then select the desired font size from the following options: Tiny, Extra small, Small, Medium, Large, Extra large or Huge.
• The device font will be adjusted to the selected size.

As a note, there are some apps that can't support the huge font size. So, if you have adjusted the font to this size, the font within those apps will automatically be displayed in the large font size.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Set Owner Information on Lock Screen in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

I do believe that there are still many good people out there who will be happily to return your phone in case it's lost and they find it. It may be one of the reason why Samsung puts the owner info feature on their phones, including with Samsung Galaxy S5. The owner info feature lets you display your personal information or message up to 65 characters on your lock screen. To optimize the function of this feature, it'd better if you set the owner info to display information that will help the one who finds your lost phone to easily reach you, e.g: your name, your alternative phone number, your email address, etc.

How to set owner info on lock screen?
As long as the screen lock is not turned off, you can display your personal info on lock 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. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Lock screen .
3. Regardless the screen lock that is being used by you(swipe/pattern/PIN/password/fingerprint), tap Owner information.
4. Check the box in the left side of the "Show owner info on lock screen" option to let you set your owner info and display it on lock screen.
5. Enter the required information you want to display on lock screen. As the example: this phone belongs to: Rehan, 9028770000, rehanp2001@gmail.com
6. Tap OK Button to save the changes.
7. Press the power key twice to go to the lock screen and you'll see the owner info is displayed below the date.

As a note, if your owner info length is more than 33 characters then your owner info will be displayed as a running text on lock screen.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Make Phone Vibrates When You Draw a Wrong Pattern on Lock Screen in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Aside from using a more complex pattern, hide pattern on lock screen can also be used to make your phone to be more secure while you're using pattern as the screen lock. However, since hiding pattern will make you unable to see the pattern on lock screen, if needed, you can set your phone to vibrate for wrong pattern so that you'll be easier to know that you have drawn a wrong pattern.

How to make phone vibrates when you draw a wrong pattern on lock screen?
Assuming that you have selected pattern as the screen lock, you can set your phone to vibrate when the pattern you have drawn on lock screen is incorrect 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. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Lock screen .
3. Scroll the screen to the very bottom and then check the box next to Vibration feedback to enable this option.
4. Now, the phone will vibrate when you have drawn a wrong pattern on lock screen.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Show or Hide Pattern on Lock Screen in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Pattern is a screen lock with security lock feature that can be found in Samsung Galaxy S5. When you have set pattern as the screen lock, you have to draw the specified pattern on the pattern grid on lock screen when you want to access your phone. If needed, you can set the pattern to be invisible to prevent it from displaying when it's being drawn on lock screen so that the chance of the unauthorized people for easily accessing your phone can be decreased. Even so, you can also set your pattern to be visible so that it'll be displayed when it's being drawn on lock screen in case you don't need a complex security and need to be able to see the pattern to make sure that it has been drawn correctly.

How to show or hide pattern on lock screen?
Assuming that you have selected pattern as your screen lock, then you can either show or hide pattern on lock 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. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Lock screen .
3. With pattern has been selected as the screen lock, scroll down the screen to find the option to show or hide pattern on lock screen.
4. Show pattern on lock screen:
• Check the box next to Make pattern visible to enable this option.
• Now, the pattern will be displayed when it's being drawn on lock screen.
5. Hide pattern on lock screen:
• Clear the checkbox next to Make pattern visible to disable this option.
• Now, the pattern will not be displayed when it's being drawn on lock screen.

Given the function, it'd better to hide the pattern if you're tight with your phone security, but it'd better to show the pattern if you want to easily make sure that you have drawn the correct pattern.