Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Hide or Show Hidden Applications in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Though Samsung has decided to remove the "hide and show hidden apps" feature in Samsung Galaxy S4 when it updated to Android 4.4.2 Kitkat, apparently this feature still can be found in the Samsung Galaxy S5 that is running with the same Android version, Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. In case you have not known, this feature will allow you to hide apps from the apps menu without disabling the function so that you and other related apps can continue using this app.

How to hide apps?
As a note, this feature won't remove/hide apps that you have added to the Home screen, thus before you hide an app, make sure you have removed the shortcut of the app in the Home screen. Well, you can use the following steps to hide apps:

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to Apps menu.
2. Long tap the Recent apps key or tap to open up the additional options and then select Hide apps.
3. Select the desired apps you want to hide. The selected apps will be check-marked.
4. Tap Done button.
5. The selected apps has been hidden and won't be displayed in the apps menu.

How to show hidden apps?
For any reason, if you want to re-display the hidden apps in the apps menu, then you can do so by using the following steps:

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to Apps menu.
2. Long tap the Recent apps key or tap to open up the additional options and then select Show hidden apps (this option only available if you have hidden apps before). Now, all hidden apps will be displayed here.
3. Select the desired hidden apps you want to re-display in the apps menu. The selected apps will be check-marked.
4. Tap Done button.
5. The selected apps will be displayed again in the apps menu.

I personally don't feel a significant benefit from this feature and I prefer not to install an app which in turn I have to hide it. But, it may be different if this feature is protected with password so that others won't find and see our hidden apps with ease. So, how about you? Has this feature helped you?

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Disable and Enable the Stock Applications in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

As we all know that Samsung Galaxy S5 is equipped with some stock/default applications that are designed to meet your basic need, such as make a call, send a message, etc. You can use those apps directly without having install them first and of course most of them are ads-free so that you can use them conveniently. However, for some reason, if you don't want some of pre-installed apps are displayed in your apps menu then you can disable them because the default apps can't be uninstalled. Once you disable the app, you or other related-apps won't be able to use or access the app.


How to disable the stock apps?
Before disabling an app in the Samsung Galaxy S5, you have to know that the app may be linked and accessed by other apps. That's why disable an app can cause error for other related-apps. Given to that fact, when your phone encounters any error after an app is disabled, then you have to re-enable the app to fix this problem.

Method #1: From the additional menu in the Apps menu
This method is easier than other method to disable app and it also allows you to disable multiple apps with ease, but not all apps can be disabled by using this method even when the app is listed in the apps menu.

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to apps menu.
2. Long tap the Recent apps key or tap to open up the additional options and then select Uninstall/disable apps. All stock apps that can be disabled will have in their shortcuts.
3. Tap the required stock app you want to disable.
4. Tap Disable button.
5. The selected app has been disabled.
6. To disable more apps, repeat from the step #3.

Method #2: From the Disable icon in the Apps menu
This method allows you to disable apps quickly from the apps menu. But, the disable icon may not available for some apps therefore some apps can't be disabled by using this method.

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to apps menu.
2. Tap and hold the required app you want to disable and then drag it to the Disable icon located at the top of the screen.
3. Tap Disable button.
4. The selected app has been disabled.

Method #3: From the App info icon in the Apps menu
This method allows you to go to the app info for particular app with ease and fast, compared if you have to scroll the screen down and up in the application manager to find the app. Some app that can't be disabled using method #1 or #2 may be able to be disabled by using this method. But, still, there are some apps that can't be disabled by default.

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to apps menu.
2. Tap and hold the required app you want to disable and then drag it to the App info icon located at the top of the screen.
3. In the app info screen, tap Turn off button.
4. Tap OK button to confirm.
5. The selected app has been disabled.

Method #4: From the Settings menu
Since this method will show you all of installed apps in your phone, then make sure only use this method to disable user apps not system apps. Disabling system apps can make you phone doesn't work well.

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap the Settings icon to enter the Settings menu.
3. With the Settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Applications section and then tap Application manager .
4. Swipe the screen from right to the left until you see the All tab. All installed apps in your phone will be displayed here.
5. Tap the required app you want to disable.
6. Tap Turn off button.
7. Tap OK button to confirm.
8. The selected app has been disabled.

How to re-enable disabled apps?
For any reason, if you want to re-enable disabled apps, you can do so either through the apps menu or the settings menu. As a note, both these methods will allow you to re-enable all disabled apps regardless the method you are using to disable that app.

Method #1: From the Apps menu

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to apps menu.
2. Long tap the Recent apps key or tap to open up the additional options and then select Show disabled apps(this option only available if you have disabled apps before).
3. Tap the required app you want to re-enable. The selected apps will be check-marked.
4. Tap Done button.
5. The selected apps will be re-enabled.

Method #2: From the Settings menu

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap the Settings icon to enter the Settings menu.
3. With the Settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Applications section and then tap Application manager .
4. Swipe the screen from right to the left until you see the Turned off tab. All disabled apps will be listed here.
5. Tap the required app you want to re-enable.
6. Tap Turn on button.
7. The selected app will be re-enabled.

As a note, the shortcut of an app will be removed from Home screen and the apps menu when you disable the app. Then when you re-enable it, only the shortcut in the apps menu will be displayed again, thus if you want the shortcut of the app is displayed again in Home screen, then you have to add the app to the Home screen manually.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Install Free Applications from Google Play Store in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Google Play Store is the official market for all Android phones including with the Samsung Galaxy S5. Google Play Store is also a pre-installed app that can be found in this phone. You can use this app to download or install third-party apps, either free or paid apps, into your phone. You have to activate your existing Google account or create a new one in order to be able to use Google Play Store app and other Google-related apps.

How to install free apps from the Play Store?
Assuming that you have added a Google account and connected with Internet, then you can install apps from the Play Store app by using the following steps:

1. Open Play Store app.
2. If this the first time for you using this app, you'll be presented with the "Google Play Terms or Service" window. Tap Accept button to continue.
3. In the main page of the Play Store app, you can see some categories of apps. You can either browse apps by category or use search function to help you find a specific app with ease by using the following steps:
• Tap the Search icon located at the top right corner of the screen.
• Type the app name in the search bar and then tap in the keyboard to start searching.
• All apps related with your keyword will be displayed on the screen.
• Tap the required app.
• Before installing the app, you can read first the app detail (description, review, etc) to make sure that this app has a feature that you're looking for and has a good reputation(has few complaints from their users). It's need to be done so that you don't end up installing the wrong app or installing app that will bring some problems for your phone.
• Tap Install button.
• Tap Accept button.
• Once the installation process is completed, tap Open button to launch the app. FYI, you can find the shortcut of the newly installed app in the Home screen (if it still has free space to place the shortcut) and in the Apps menu.

In some cases, the users may not find the feature they need in the pre-installed apps or the apps are not working as expected. Thus, if you're experiencing these situations, then you can utilize the Play Store to find the required app that suit your need and then install it into your phone.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable, Edit or Disable Recommended Apps when Earphone is Connected in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

If you notice, you'll see a list of recommended apps are displayed in the notifications panel when you connect an earphone into your Samsung Galaxy S5. It's done to facilitate the users accessing up to 5 favourite apps that are often used with earphone (my phone has Music player app, Video player app, Youtube app, Phone app and Smart Remote app). You can set your phone to show or hide those apps according to your need. You're even allowed to choose which apps you want to be displayed in the notifications panel when your earphone is connected to the phone.

How to enable, edit or disable recommended apps while using earphone?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap the Settings icon to enter the Settings menu.
3. With the Settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the "Sound and display" section and then tap Notification panel .
4. Tap Recommended apps.
5. Depending on your current settings, you can enable or disable the recommended apps menu by tapping the ON/OFF switch located at the top right corner of the screen. When the switch is on the right side or shows green means this option is enabled.
6. Since everyone has their own favourite apps, then if you don't like those default apps you can edit them while the recommended apps menu is enabled by using the following steps:
• Tap Edit.
• Here you'll see all of installed apps. The check-marked apps will be displayed in the list of recommended apps in the notifications panel when earphone is connected.
• Clear the checkbox to remove the app from the list.
• Tick the checkbox to add the app to the list.
• Tap Done button to save the changes.

As a note, if the recommended apps menu is disabled, you won't see the earphone icon on the status bar when you connect earphone into your phone, but your earphone still can be used normally. So, if you don't see the icon on the status bar when earphone is plugged in into your phone, then before you judge your earphone is broken, it'd better if you check the recommended apps menu and make sure it is enabled.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Use and Customize S Finder App in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Have you ever felt that you often wasted a lot of time to find a file you saved on your phone? Or, have you ever spent a lot of time digging into the Settings menu just to find a menu or feature? These situations will be worse if you have a lot of contents on your phone but you forget when or where you save that file, or if the menu you're looking for is located in the deep side of the settings menu. If you have ever been in those situations, then you can save yourself and your times by using the S Finder app.

S Finder app will help you to find content on your phone or search more about the keyword you have entered in the search bar in the search engine with more easily and fast. In this app, you can also apply various filters to refine the search results and give you a better result. Therefore you can rely on S Finder instead of search function in each app to help you easily find a file or menu you're looking for in a few seconds.

How to use S Finder app?
You can use S Finder app to browse content on your phone or find more information for certain keyword in search engine by using the following steps:

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap S Finder button .
3. If this is the first time for you using this app, you'll be presented with the short introduction of this app. Feel free to check Do not show again option if you don't want to be presented with this window again in the future. Tap OK button.
4. Tap the search bar and then type anything you want to find. Tap to start searching.
5. The search result will be displayed on the screen. By default, S Finder will find all content related with your keyword in all categories unless you set filter for it.
6. If necessary, you can update the search results by tapping and then select Refresh.
7. If you want to refine your search result for certain parameter, you can set filter for your search by using the following steps:
• Filtering the categories
• Tap .
• In the category filter row , tap the required categories you want to use (they are likely: Notes, Conversations, Settings, Images, Music, Videos). The selected filters will turn blue.
• The search results will be displayed based on the selected categories.
• For instance, if you want to search "flash" in the settings menu, then you can type flash in the search bar and then select Settings for your filter.
• Filtering the time
• Tap .
• In the time filter row , tap the required time you want to use (they are likely: Past 30 days, Past 7 days, Yesterday, Today, Next 7 days). The selected filters will turn blue.
• The search results will be displayed based on the selected time.
• For instance, if you want to search "schedule.pdf" you created in the 3 days ago, then you can type schedule.pdf in the search bar and then select Past 7 days for your filter.
• Filtering the tag
  If previously you've tagged your contacts in the pictures, then you can select the tagged contact as the filter and the S Finder app will display all tagged-contact-related contents.
• Filtering the location
  If previously you've tagged locations in the pictures, events or else, then you can select the tagged location and the S Finder app will display all tagged-location-related contents.
8. Some search results (e.g: picture, contact, music, url) can be shared to others by using the following steps:
• Tap and then tap Select.
• All share-able search results will have a checkbox in their left sides.
• Tick the checkbox in the desired search results you want to share.
• Tap Share button .
• Select the required share method you want to use (e.g: Email, Gmail, Messages, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, etc).
• Follow the on-screen instruction to complete sharing the selected search results.

How to customize S Finder app?
You can customize the settings menu of the S Finder app to suit your need by using the following steps:

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap S Finder button .
3. Long tap the Recent apps key or tap to display additional options and then select Settings.
4. Change the order of the search results
You can change the order of the search results by using the following steps:
• Tap Result display order.
• You'll see 4 options available, they are:
• Frequently used category first: select this option if the search results are ordered by frequently used category. For instance, if the Music is the most often used category, then S Finder will display search results for music at the first place.
• Currently used category: select this option if you want the search results are ordered by the currently used category/app. For instance, if the Internet app is the currently used app, then S Finder will display search results for Internet/web history at the first place.
• Alphabetical: select this option if you want the search result categories are ordered alphabetically.
• Custom: Select this option if you want the search results are ordered by your own setting. Choosing this option will enable the "Category order" option. Tap Category order and then re-arrange category positions per you need by dragging the in the required category to the required place.
5. Select search category
By default, all categories in S Finder are selected. In case you want to select or deselect some of categories, then you can do so by using the following steps:
• Tap Select search category to see all available categories.
• To activate the categories, tick the checkbox in the left side of the desired categories. Or, you can check the box besides Select all to activate all categories.
• To deactivate the categories, clear the checkbox in the left side of the desired categories.
6. Enable or disable save search history
If necessary, you can save all search histories you have made in S Finder app by checking the box next to Save search history.
7. Delete saved search history
If previously you have enabled save search history, then S Finder app will save all search histories you have made before. In case you want to delete some saved search histories, you can do so by using the following steps:
• Tap Delete history.
• All saved search history will be displayed.
• Select the desired search histories you want to delete. Or select Select all to select all saved searcg histories.
• Tap Done button.
• Tap OK button to confirm.
• The selected search histories will be deleted.
8. Show or hide filters:
By default, S Finder app displays all filter options. In case you want to show or hide some of filters, then you can do so by using the following steps:
• Tap Select filters.
• You'll see 4 filter options (they are likely: Category filter, Time filter, Tag filter, Location filter).
• To show the filter options, tick the checkbox next to the desired filter options you want to show in the S Finder app.
• To hide the filter options, clear the checkbox next to the desired filter options you want to hide in the S Finder app.
• Tap OK button.

Given to its function, using S Finder will be able to help you save your time and find files or menus you're looking for with more easily and fast. So, how about you? Has this app helped you?

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable and Use Android Beam in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Maybe some of us are confused about the differences between S Beam and Android Beam. FYI, S Beam can be used to transfer files between NFC capable devices which connected in the same Wi-Fi network. While Android Beam can be used to transfer files between NFC capable devices which have Bluetooth feature. Given to this fact, now you can conclude by yourself what the similarities and differences between S Beam and Android Beam.

See also: How to Enable and Use S Beam in the Samsung Galaxy S5 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

If both S Beam and Android Beam features are available in the devices, I do believe that you will choose to use S Beam because it has faster transfer speed than Android Beam. Without intending to compare them or saying which better or worse, I write this post just to share you about Android Beam, which in some cases can be used as an alternative share method when you want to share files to other NFC capable devices but don't have Wi-Fi network to connect together with.


How to enable Android Beam?
Before using this feature, you have to enable it first in both the devices. To make it easier, we'll use Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 as the example.

Enable Android Beam in Samsung Galaxy S5 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap the Settings icon to enter the Settings menu.
3. With the Settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the "Connect and share" section and then tap NFC .
4. Enable NFC by sliding the ON/OFF switch located at the top right corner of the screen to the right.
5. Tap Android Beam.
6. Enable Android Beam by sliding the ON/OFF switch located at the top right corner of the screen to the right.

Enable Android Beam in Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap the Settings icon to enter the Settings menu.
3. Tap Connections tab.
4. Slide the ON/OFF switch next to NFC to the right to enable this option.
5. Tap NFC.
6. Slide the ON/OFF switch next Android Beam to the right to enable this option.

How to use Android Beam to transfer files?
Once Android Beam in both devices are enabled, then you can use it to beam app content between the devices. As the example, we'll try to send picture, video and contact using Android Beam from the Samsung Galaxy S5 to the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Send picture using Android Beam

1. In the Samsung Galaxy S5, open Gallery app.
2. Tap an album and then tap the required picture to view it.
3. Now, hold Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 together back to back.
4. When you see "Touch to beam" is displayed in your Samsung Galaxy S5 screen, tap everywhere on the screen to start transferring the picture. You're free to separate the devices or not when the Samsung Galaxy S5 is ready to transfer the picture.
5. Bluetooth in both devices will be enabled automatically and the picture will be sent.
6. In the Samsung Galaxy S4, you'll see the notification on the status bar when the picture is completely transferred.

Send video using Android Beam

1. In the Samsung Galaxy S5, open Video player app.
2. Tap the required video to view it.
3. Now, hold Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 together back to back.
4. When you see "Touch to beam" is displayed in your Samsung Galaxy S5 screen, tap everywhere on the screen to start transferring the video. You're free to separate the devices or not when the Samsung Galaxy S5 is ready to transfer the video.
5. Bluetooth in both devices will be enabled automatically and the video will be sent. FYI, it may take more times when you send large sized video.
6. In the Samsung Galaxy S4, you'll see the notification on the status bar when the video is completely transferred.

Send contact using Android Beam

1. In the Samsung Galaxy S5, open Contacts app.
2. Tap the required contact to view its detail.
3. Now, hold Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 together back to back.
4. When you see "Touch to beam" is displayed in your Samsung Galaxy S5 screen, tap everywhere on the screen to start transferring the contact. You're free to separate the devices or not when the Samsung Galaxy S5 is ready to transfer the contact.
5. Bluetooth in both devices will be enabled automatically and the contact will be sent.
6. In the Samsung Galaxy S4, you'll be asked to choose a place to save the contact (They are likely: Device, your active Samsung account, your active Google account).
7. The Contact detail will be displayed in Contacts app in the Samsung Galaxy S4.

As same as S Beam, you can't use Android Beam to beam music due to software limitation. Thus, if you want to share music file on your Samsung Galaxy S5 to other NFC capable devices but you don't have Wi-Fi network to connect together with, then you can do so by using other share method, for instance share the music via Bluetooth.