Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Add a Widget to Home Screen in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

A widget is a simple application that is often part of an app that is already installed in your phone. You can place or add a widget to your home screen for quick access to information or feature without you have to open the app that manages this information or feature. As the example, a music widget will let you play music and control the music playback without you have to open the stock Music Player app. If you have updated your Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, you'll notice that the way to access the widgets list is different than when your phone still runs with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or Android 4.4 Kitkat

How to add a widget to the home screen?
Before adding a widget, make sure you have free space enough in your home screen to place the widget. You can use the following steps to add a widget to your home screen:

1. While you're in home screen, tap the Menu key(it's located in the left side of the Home key) or long tap in a blank area in the home screen.
2. Tap the Widgets button at the bottom of the screen. All widgets available in your phone will be displayed here.
3. Swipe the screen to the left or to the right to find the required widget, or you can find the widget with more easily by utilizing the search function by using the following steps:
• Tap the Menu key and then select Search widgets.
• Enter the widget name in the search field and then tap in the keyboard to start searching.
• All widgets match with your search term will be displayed.
4. Tap and hold the required widget and then drag it to an empty area in the home screen.
5. Release to place the widget in the home screen. FYI, for some widgets, you may have to configure some settings before you can use the widgets. You just need to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the configuration.
6. The selected widget has been added in the home screen.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Block Application Notifications in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

For some reason, you'll probably want to block notifications of a certain app so that you won't be disturbed by notifications from this app. As the example, if you block Facebook app notifications, your phone won't show notifications on the status bar and play a sound or vibrate when receiving notifications from this app.


How to block notifications of an app?
Basically, there are some methods available that can be used to block app notifications, but as the example, we'll try to block notifications of the Facebook app by using two different methods: from the app manager menu and from the app notifications menu(you can use this method if your Samsung Galaxy S4 has been updated to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop).

Method #1: From the App manager 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. Tap More tab.
3. Tap Application manager.
4. Swipe the screen from the right to the left to access the All tab. All installed apps will be displayed here.
5. Scroll down the screen to find Facebook app, and then tap it.
6. Clear the checkbox in the left side of the Show notifications option to disable it.
7. A pop up window will appear to tell you that you may miss important alerts or updates if you disable app notifications. Tap OK button to continue.
8. The notifications of the Facebook app has been disabled and all notifications from this app will be blocked.

Method #2: From the App notifications 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. Tap My device tab.
3. Tap Sounds and notifications.
4. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
5. Tap Application notifications.
6. Scroll down the screen to find Facebook, and then tap it.
7. Slide the ON/OFF switch next to Block to the right to enable it. The switch turns green when it's enabled.
8. The notifications of the Facebook app has been disabled and all notifications from this app will be blocked.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Use Lock Screen Notifications in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

After updating your Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 5.0 1 Lollipop, you'll have a new feature named while locked that lets you change notifications behavior when the screen is locked. If you don't set this feature to not show notifications, all notifications will be displayed in the lock screen. You can use lock screen notifications to easily know that you have unread notifications, open a notification in the appropriate app, etc.

How to use notifications in the lock screen?
See the following steps as the example of using lock screen notifications:

1. View notifications in the lock screen:
   When the screen is off, you can turn it on by pressing the Power button. All notifications will be displayed in your lock screen.
2. Expand notifications in the lock screen:
   If you have a lot of notifications, you can expand notifications to view all of them by swiping down the notifications section in the lock screen.
3. Open a notification in the lock screen:
   Tap the required notification in the lock screen 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 a missed call then it'll be opened in the stock Phone app.
4. Remove a notification from the lock screen:
   Swipe away the required notification in the lock screen to remove or delete it from the list.
5. Clear all notifications in the lock screen:
   Tap the Clear button at the bottom side of the notifications list to quickly clear all notifications from the lock screen.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Change Lock Screen Notifications Setting in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

If you have updated your Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, you'll get some new features in your phone, one of which is a feature that will let you to change the notifications behavior when the screen is locked. While the screen is locked, you can set your phone to show notifications with its contents, show notifications without its contents, or not show any notification.

How to change the lock screen notifications behavior?
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 My device tab.
3. Tap Sounds and notifications.
4. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
5. Tap While locked and then select from the following options:
• Show all content: select this option if you want your phone displays notifications and its contents when the screen is locked.
• Hide sensitive content: select this option if you want your phone displays notifications without its contents when the screen is locked.
• Do not show notifications: select this option if you want to completely turn off lock screen notifications, or in other words, your phone won't show any notification when the screen is locked.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Use Quick Settings Panel in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

In the notifications panel, you're provided with 10 quick setting buttons. But, if needed, you can access and use more quick setting buttons to enable or disable an option, access the detailed settings menu of an option, etc., in the quick settings panel. FYI, when you have updated your Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, you'll notice that now the quick settings panel has a transparent background.

How to use the quick settings panel?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. Open the quick settings panel:
   There are two ways that can be done to access the quick settings panel:
• #1: Swipe down the top of the screen(status bar) using two fingers to open up the quick settings panel.
• #2: Swipe down the top of the screen(status bar) using your finger to open up the notifications panel and then tap at the top right corner of the screen to open up the quick settings panel.
2. See the current date and time:
   The current date and time is displayed at the top left corner of the quick settings panel.
3. Enable or disable an option:
   By default, there are 21 quick setting buttons available in the quick settings panel: Wi-Fi, Locations, Sound/Mute/Vibrate, Screen rotation, Bluetooth, Reading mode, Mobile data, Always interrupt/Priority only, Power saving, Multi window, Screen mirroring, Mobile hotspot, S Beam, NFC, Air view, Air gesture, Hands-free mode, Smart stay, Smart pause, Sync and Flight mode. You can easily enable or disable an option simply by single tapping the required quick setting button. As the example, you can easily turn on Bluetooth simply by single tapping the Bluetooth button in the quick settings panel. The button turns green when it's enabled.
4. Access more detailed settings of an option:
   You can quickly access the detailed settings of an option simply by long tapping the required quick setting button. As the example, if you long tap the Bluetooth button in the quick settings panel, the Bluetooth settings menu will be opened shortly.
5. Edit quick setting buttons layout:
   You can rearrange quick setting buttons by using the following steps:
• Tap at the top of the quick settings panel. The notifications panel menu will be opened shortly.
• Scroll the screen to the bottom.
• Tap and hold the required quick setting button(either those in the Notification panel section or in the Available buttons section) and then drag it to another location to change its position.
• If you want to reset the layout back to the default, tap Reset and then tap Reset button to confirm.
6. View or access the notifications panel:
   While you're in the quick settings panel, you can view the notifications panel by tapping at the top right corner of the screen.
7. Close the quick settings panel:
   You can close the quick settings panel by swiping up the bottom of the screen using your finger.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Use Notifications Panel in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

The notifications panel in Samsung Galaxy S4 lets you access alerts, notifications and shortcuts with more quickly. The notifications panel is hidden at the top of the screen and you can easily access it while you're on any screen simply by swiping down the top of the screen(status bar) using your finger. When you have updated your Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, you will notice that the notifications panel gets some visual changes that make it more interactive and useful for users.

How to use notifications panel?
See the following steps as the example of using notifications panel:

1. Open the notifications panel:
   Swipe down the top of the screen (status bar) using your finger to open up the notifications panel.
2. View the current date and time:
   The current date and time is displayed at the top left corner of the notifications panel.
3. Access your device's settings menu:
   You can quickly go to your device's settings menu by tapping at the top right corner of the notifications panel.
4. Access the quick settings panel:
   You can view and use all quick setting buttons by tapping at the top right corner of the notifications panel.
5. Use quick setting buttons:
   By default, there are 10 quick setting buttons in the notifications panel: Wi-Fi, Location, Sound/Vibrate/Mute, Screen rotation, Bluetooth, Reading mode, Mobile data, Always interrupt/Priority only, Power saving and Multi window. Single tap the required quick setting button to enable or disable the option. Long tap the required quick setting button to view more detailed settings.
6. Adjust the screen brightness:
   You can adjust the screen brightness manually by dragging the screen brightness adjustment bar in the notifications panel to the left or to the right, or you can enable auto brightness feature so that your phone will adjust the screen brightness automatically using its sensor.
7. Launch S Finder:
   Tap the S Finder button in the notifications panel to launch S Finder app. You can use this app to find contents on your phone or search more in the search engine.
8. Launch Quick connect:
   Tap the Quick connect button in the notifications panel to launch Quick connect app. You can use this app to search for nearby devices automatically to connect to them quickly and easily.
9. Music playback control:
   The music playback control will be displayed in the notifications panel when you play music using the stock Music Player app. You can use it to easily control (e.g: play/pause/resume/rewind/forward) the music playback.
10. Expand notifications:
    When you have a lot of notifications, you can swipe up the notifications section to expand notifications, or you can swipe down the notifications section to shrink back notifications.
11. Open unread notifications:
    Tap the required notification to open it in the appropriate app.
12. Clear notifications:
    You can easily remove a single notification from the notifications panel by swiping away the required notification, or you can easily clear all notifications by tapping Clear button at the bottom side of the notifications.
13. Close notifications panel:
    You can close notifications panel by swiping up the bottom of the screen using your finger.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Fix No Notification Sound when New Messages Arrive in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Your phone plays a sound(message tone) when receiving a new message to help you easily know that you have a new one. Thus, it could be a big problem if you don't get the sound when receiving messages since you may miss important ones. However, if you're facing no notification sound issue, these are some actions that can be taken to fix this issue:

#1: Make sure to not set "silent" as message tone
You can assign the required sound as message tone by by using the following steps:

1. Open the stock Messaging app.
2. Tap at the top right to open up the additional options.
3. Scroll down the options and then select Settings.
4. Scroll down the screen and then tap Notifications.
5. If Notifications is off, tap the ON/OFF switch to turn it on. The switch turns green when it's enabled.
6. Tap Notification sound.
7. Select the required sound (make sure to not choose "silent").
8. Tap OK button.
9. The selected sound has been set as message tone.

#2: Make sure to not set "silent" as the general notification sound
If you assign "Default notification sound" as message tone in the stock Messaging app settings or for a specific contact, it means that the general notification sound will be used as message tone. Thus, you have to make sure that silent is not set as the general notification sound 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 down to find Notification ringtone, and then tap it.
4. Select the required sound (make sure not to choose "silent").
5. Tap OK button.
6. The selected sound has been set as the general notification sound.

#3: Make sure your phone is not in vibration or silent mode
When your phone is in vibration or silent mode, the notification sound will be muted. Thus, you have to place your phone in sound mode to allow your phone plays a sound when receiving new messages 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. Tap Sound mode and then select Sound.
4. Your phone has been placed in the Sound mode.

#4: Make sure the notifications volume is not muted
You can adjust the notifications volume 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. If needed, you can drag the volume adjustment bar under Notifications to the right to increase the notifications sound volume.

#5: Make sure the notifications of the Messaging app is not disabled or blocked
You can enable notifications of the stock Messaging app to allow your phone plays a sound when receiving new messages 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 Applications section and then tap Application manager .
3. Swipe the screen from the right to the left to view the ALL tab. All installed apps will be displayed here.
4. Scroll down the screen to find Messages, and then tap it.
5. Check the box in the left side of the Show notifications option to enable it.
6. The notifications of the stock Messaging app has been enabled.

#6: If Do not disturb mode is enabled, make sure to set messages as exceptions
When Do not disturb mode is enabled, you have to set messages as exceptions to allow your phone plays a sound when receiving message 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. Tap Allow exceptions.
6. If Allow exceptions is off, tap the ON/OFF switch to turn it on. The switch turns green when it's enabled.
7. Check the box next to Messages to enable this option.
8. If needed, you can choose whose messages will make your phone plays a sound by tapping Calls and/or messages from and then select from the following options:
• All: select this option to allow notification sound for all incoming messages.
• Favourite contacts only: select this option to allow notification sound for incoming messages come from those who are listed in your favourite list.
• Contacts only: select this option to allow notification sound for incoming messages come from those who are listed in your contacts list.