Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Block Unwanted or Unknown Text Messages in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat or in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Two days back, an insider named Kelly told me via email that she tried blocking messages by following my post about how to block unwanted text messages here but she couldn't find the spam settings in her stock Messaging app. Apparently, her phone runs with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat while that post is written based on my Samsung Galaxy S4 when it's still using Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. FYI, the settings menu for the stock Messaging app changes when this phone is updated to Android 4.4.2 Kitkat, but it's not when it's updated to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. So, I write this post for those of you who have updated your Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 4.4.2 Kitkat or to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and want to block text messages.

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Disclaimer: I write this post (the steps and screenshots) based on my Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. Since the settings menu of the stock Messaging app in Samsung Galaxy S4 runs with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat or Android 5.0.1 Lollipop has the same appearance, this post can be used to block text messages in Samsung Galaxy S4 runs with one of those Android versions.
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How to block unwanted or unknown text messages in Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat or Android 5.0.1 Lollipop?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. Open the stock Messaging app.
2. Tap the Menu key(it's located at the left side of the Home key) and then select Settings.
3. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
4. Tap Spam filter.
5. If Spam filter is off, tap the ON/OFF switch to turn it on.
6. Block messages come from a specific phone number:
• Tap Add to spam numbers.
• Tap + at the top of the screen to register a phone number as spam.
• Enter the required phone number you want to block its messages or tap to pick up the required contact from your contacts list.
• Tap Save button.
• The phone number has been added to the spam list and all messages from this phone number will be blocked.
7. Block messages contain with a specific phrase:
• Tap Add to spam phrases.
• Tap + at the top of the screen to register a phrase as spam.
• Enter the required phrase you want to block.
• Tap Save button.
• The phrase has been added to the spam list and all messages contain with this phrase will be blocked.
8. Block messages come from unknown numbers or senders:
• Check the box next to Block unknown senders to enable this option.
• Now, all messages come from phone numbers that have not been added to your contacts list will be blocked.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Manually Turn Off Do Not Disturb Feature in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Do not disturb is a new feature brought by Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. This feature lets you set your phone to mute all calls and alerts, except for your selected exceptions. If you have set a schedule for this feature, it will turn on and off automatically at the scheduled times. But, if needed, you can also turn this feature off manually by using several methods available with ease.


How to disable Do not disturb feature manually?
There several methods available that can be used to manually disable this mode. As the example, we'll try to do so by using four different methods: from the notifications panel, from the quick settings panel, from the lock screen and from the settings menu.

Method #1: From the notifications panel

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap DISABLE in the Do not disturb notification to disable this feature.
3. Do not disturb mode has been disabled.

Method #2: From the quick settings panel

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen using two fingers to open up the quick settings panel.
2. Tap Do not disturb button to disable it. The button turns gray when it's disabled.
3. Do not disturb mode has been disabled.

Method #3: From the lock screen

1. When the screen is locked, swipe down the notifications section to expand them.
2. Tap DISABLE in the Do not disturb notification to disable this feature.
3. Do not disturb mode has been disabled.

Method #4: From the settings menu

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel and then tap at the top right 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 Sounds and notifications .
3. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
4. Tap Do not disturb.
5. Slide the ON/OFF switch to the left to disable this feature.
6. Do not disturb mode has been disabled.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Use Do Not Disturb Feature in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

If you have updated your Samsung Galaxy S5 to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, you will have a new feature named Do not disturb that can be used to mute all calls and alerts, except for your selected exceptions. By enabling this feature, you can keep your phone silent so that you won't be interrupted by notification sounds and vibrations of unwanted calls and alerts while you're sleeping, during meetings, or during other situations. For flexibility reason, aside from letting you turn this feature on at anytime, this feature also has the scheduling options to let you turn this feature on and off automatically at scheduled times.

How to enable Do not disturb feature?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel and then tap at the top right 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 Sounds and notifications .
3. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
4. Tap Do not disturb.
5. If Do not disturb is off, tap the ON/OFF switch at the top right to turn it on. This icon will be displayed on the status bar as a sign that Do not disturb mode is enabled.

How to set up exceptions when Do not disturb feature is enabled?
You can set up exceptions so that you can still receive notification sounds and vibrations for your selections when Do not disturb mode is enabled. You can do so by using the following steps:

1. While you're in Do not disturb menu, tap Allow exceptions.
2. Use these options to set up exceptions when Do not disturb mode is enabled:
• Alarms: check the box next to this option to allow notification sounds and vibrations for alarms.
• Calls: check the box next to this option to allow notification sounds and vibrations for incoming calls.
• Messages: check the box next to this option to allow notification sounds and vibrations for incoming messages.
• Calls and/or messages from: this option will be available if you have set Calls and/or Messages as exceptions. You can use this option to choose whose calls and/or messages will make your phone plays notification sounds and vibrates. You can select All to allow notification sounds and vibrations for all incoming calls and messages, Favourite contacts only to allow notifications sounds and vibrations for incoming calls and messages come from favourite contacts, or Contacts only to allow notification sounds and vibrations for incoming calls and messages come from those listed in your contacts list.
• Events and reminders: check the box next to this option to allow notification sounds and vibrations for S Planner events and personal reminders.

How to set up schedule for Do not disturb feature?
If needed, you can set a schedule so that Do not disturb mode will turn on or off automatically at scheduled times. You can do so by using the following steps:

1. While you're in Do not disturb menu, check the box next to Set schedule.
2. Set days:
• Tap Days.
• Select the required days within a week you want Do not disturb mode to turn on automatically.
• Tap Done button to save the changes.
3. Set time:
• Tap Start time to adjust the time when Do not disturb mode will turn on automatically and then tap OK button to save the changes.
• Tap End time to adjust the time when Do not disturb mode will turn off automatically and then tap OK button to save the changes.

As a note, if Do not disturb mode turns off automatically at a scheduled time, don't turn this feature on manually if you still want your schedule settings keep working, otherwise this feature won't turn off automatically at the previously scheduled time.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Use Notifications in Lock Screen in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

When you have updated your Samsung Galaxy S5 to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, you'll have a new feature that will let you to change the notifications behavior when the screen is locked. Your phone will display notifications in lock screen, in condition that you have set your phone to show the lock screen notifications either with its contents or not. The notifications in lock screen will help you to easily know that you have unread notifications so that you won't miss any important one.

How to use notifications in lock screen?
In Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, notifications in lock screen gets some improvements so that it's now more useful and interactive for the users. You can use the following steps as the example of using notifications in lock screen:

1. When the screen is locked, notifications will be displayed in lock screen.
2. If you have a lot of notifications, you can expand notifications to view all of them by swiping down the notifications section in lock screen. If needed, you can swipe up the bottom of the lock screen to shrink the notifications.
3. To open a notification, tap the required notification and then perform your unlock method (e.g: swipe, pattern, PIN, etc). The notification will be opened in the appropriate app. As the example, if the notification is an unread text message then it'll be opened in the stock Messaging app.
4. To remove a notification from lock screen, swipe away the required notification.
5. To quickly clear all notifications in lock screen, tap CLEAR button at the bottom side of the notifications list.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Change the Lock Screen Notifications in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Android 5.0.1 Lollipop brings some new features for your Samsung Galaxy S5, one of which is a feature that will let you change the way your phone shows notifications in lock screen. By default, your phone will only show notifications without displaying its contents in lock screen. But, if needed you can set your phone so that it will show notifications along with its contents in lock screen or not show any notification in lock screen.

How to change the lock screen notifications?
You can change the notifications behavior when the screen is locked by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel and then tap at the top right 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 Sounds and notifications .
3. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
4. Tap While locked and then select from the following options:
• Show all content: select this option if you want your phone shows notifications and its contents when the screen is locked.
• Hide sensitive content: select this option if you want your phone only shows notifications without displaying its contents when the screen is locked.
• Do not show notifications: select this option if you want to completely turn off notifications in lock screen, or in other words, your phone won't show any notification when the screen is locked.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Fix S Voice Hands Free Mode Turn On Automatically By Itself in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

A couple days back, an insider named Francois sent me an email to ask me why S Voice hands free mode in his Samsung Galaxy S4 ran with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat automatically turned on by itself. It's quite annoying for him since he had to turn off S Voice hands free mode manually several times a day. After some further investigations, I figure out that S Voice hands free mode will be turned on automatically if we are connected to the Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth device that we, may have accidentally, set as the method to recognize location for the car profile within My places menu. Given to that fact, to stop S Voice hands free mode automatically turn on by itself, we have to set none as the method for the car profile within My places menu.

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Disclaimer: the steps and the screenshot within this post are written or taken based on my Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. But, I can confirm that it can also be used to fix the same problem in Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat.
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How to turn off method for the car profile within My places menu?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
2. Tap More tab.
3. Tap Location.
4. If needed, scroll the screen to the very bottom and then tap My places.
5. Tap Car.
6. Tap Wi-Fi (in case you have set a Wi-Fi network as the method for car profile in My places menu).
7. Tap None and then tap OK button.
8. Tap Save button to save the changes.
9. Done. Now, S Voice hands free mode won't turn on automatically by itself.

Samsung Galaxy S4: Changes and New Features in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Samsung Galaxy S4 supports Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. I myself updated my Samsung Galaxy S4 to this latest Android version a week ago. As same as other updates, this update brings some changes (new looks and features) and also eliminates some old features.

New looks
Some visual changes have been brought by this update to provide a new look and improve your experience while using your Samsung Galaxy S4. Here's the list:

1. The notifications panel is now more interactive.
   The notifications panel gets the following changes to make it more useful and interactive for users:
• Transparent background.
• New S Finder and Quick connect apps. S Finder app can be used to find contents on your phone or search more in the search engine with more easily and fast. While, Quick connect app can be used to search for nearby devices automatically to connect to them quickly and easily.
• Brighter colour is used for the background of the quick setting buttons section.
• Separated sections. Each section in the notifications panel (e.g: notifications, recommended apps, quick settings buttons, etc) is now separated in a different row. It's also applied for notifications in lock screen.
• Expandable notifications. When you have a lot of unread notifications, you can slide down or up the screen to expand them. It's also applied for notifications in lock screen.
• A new Clear button to quickly clear all notifications. This button will not be available if you don't have any notification.
2. The settings menu and other pre-installed apps (e,g: Phone app, Messaging app, Contacts app, etc) are now using white and other bright colours for background.
3. Some new icons.
   Now, you have some circle icons (contacts icon, icons in settings menu, etc) and some floating icons in some pre-installed apps (e.g: create a new text message icon in Messaging app, create a new event icon in S Planner app, etc).
4. Neat animation when you tap buttons or icons, as well as when you scroll the screen up or down.
5. A new card-style UI when viewing recent apps.
6. Widgets list is no longer in the apps menu. You can simply access the list by single pressing the Menu key while you're in home screen.

New features and options
Some new features and options have also been brought by this update to improve functionality, performance and your experience while using your Samsung Galaxy S4. Here's the list:

1. Interruptions
   It's an improved blocking mode feature. You can use this feature to set up your interruptions settings. You can either set your phone to always interrupt or only allow priority interruptions when calls and notifications arrive.
2. While locked
   This feature lets you to show all content, hide sensitive content or even don't show any notification when your phone is locked.
3. Switch access
   This feature lets you control your phone using configurable key combinations.
4. New Easter egg animations
   Easter egg animations in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop contains with an animation game that is similar with a popular game named Flappy Bird. You can play this game and make score as high as possible.

Missing features and options
For whatever reason, the following features and options are no longer available in Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop:

1. Smart scroll feature
   The feature that can be used to scroll down or up the webpages or email messages by tilting your head or the device is now no longer available.
2. Air browse feature (in the stock Internet app)
   The feature that can be used to move between pages by moving your hand to the left or to the right above the sensor in now no longer available in the stock Internet app.
3. Air jump feature
   The feature that can be used to scroll through the webpages and the body of emails by moving your hand up or down above the sensor is now no longer available.
4. No settings icons for installed keyboards.
   Now, you can access detailed settings menu for each installed keyboard simply by tapping the keyboard name in the Language and input setting.

Well, this is a short resume for Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. If you find any new change or feature that has not been listed in this post, feel free to share with us through the comment section below. I'll really appreciate it :)