Samsung Galaxy S6: How to Setup and Use Direction Lock in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Direction lock is a new screen lock type that you can find in your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. When it's enabled, you have to draw the direction combination that you set in advance to unlock the screen. However, since the direction lock feature is not located in the lock screen menu, you have to enable it first in the accessibility menu before you can set it as the screen lock type.


How to setup direction lock?
You can use the following steps to enable the direction lock and then set it as the screen lock type:
  1. While the screen is unlocked, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
  2. Scroll down the screen to the Personal section and then tap Accessibility.
  3. Tap Direction lock.
  4. Slide the ON/OFF switch to the right to enable the direction lock.
  5. Now, draw a series of four to eight directions(left, right, up or down) and then tap Continue button.
  6. Draw the direction combination again to verify it and then tap Confirm button.
  7. Enter a backup PIN and then tap Continue button. FYI, you can use this PIN as the alternative way to unlock the screen when you forget the combination.
  8. Enter the backup PIN again to verify it and then tap OK button.
  9. Select the required display option for the lock screen notifications. There are three options available: Show content, Hide content or Do not show notifications. As the example, if you select Show content then your phone will display notifications and its contents while the screen is locked. Tap Done button to save the changes. The direction lock has been set as the screen lock type.
  10. When needed, while you're in the direction lock menu, you can enable or disable the following options:
    • Vibration feedback: enable this option to have your phone vibrates when you draw the direction combination to unlock the screen.
    • Sound feedback: enable this option to have your phone plays a sound when you draw the direction combination to unlock the screen.
    • Show directions: enable this option to have your phone shows the direction arrows when you draw the direction combination to unlock the screen.
    • Read drawn directions aloud: enable this option to have your phone reads aloud the direction when you draw the direction combination to unlock the screen.


How to use direction lock to unlock the screen?
While the screen is off and locked, press the Power key to turn it on. Draw series of directions that you have set before to unlock the screen. When you draw incorrect combination 5 times, you'll be provided with an option to enter the backup PIN to unlock the screen. If that so, tap Backup PIN and then enter the backup PIN to unlock the screen. As a note, unlocking the screen using the backup PIN will reset the screen lock type back to swipe. If you'd like to use the direction lock, you have to set it as the screen lock type and then create a new direction combination again.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: How to Remove Existing Fingerprints in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

In Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, you can register up to 4 fingerprints and then use them to unlock the screen, login to the Samsung websites and verify your Samsung account when purchasing content in Samsung services. When needed, you can also delete or deregister some or all registered fingerprints, e.g: when you want to delete unused fingerprints so you can register the new ones.


How to delete existing fingerprints?
You can do so by using the following steps:
  1. While the screen is unlocked, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
  2. Scroll down the screen to the Personal section and then tap Lock screen and security.
  3. Tap Fingerprints.
  4. Place the finger that you have registered before on the Home key to verify your identity so you can manage your fingerprints. Alternatively, you can tap Backup password and then enter the backup password.
  5. Tap Edit button at the top right.
  6. Select the required fingerprints you want to delete and then tap Remove button at the top right.
  7. Tap Remove button to confirm deleting the selected fingerprints.
  8. The selected fingerprints have been removed. FYI, if you remove all fingerprints, your phone will automatically set swipe as the screen lock type.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: How to Change Screen Lock Effect in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

By default, your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge uses swipe as the screen lock type. It's the simplest screen lock type since you just need to swipe the screen with your finger in any direction to unlock it. When swipe is set as the screen lock type, you can set your phone to play an effect when you unlock the screen.


How to change the screen lock effect?
You can do so by using the following steps:
  1. While the screen is unlocked, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
  2. Scroll down the screen to the Personal section and then tap Lock screen and security.
  3. Tap Unlock effect and then select from the following options:
    • None: select this option to turn off unlock effect so your phone won't play any effect when you unlock the screen.
    • Water droplet: select this option to have your phone plays water droplet effect when you unlock the screen.
    • Sparkling bubbles: select this option to have your phone plays sparkling bubbles effect when you unlock the screen.
  4. The unlock effect has been changed.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: How to Register Fingerprints in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge has a fingerprint sensor that is located at the Home key. You have to register your fingerprints first so the sensor can recognize it. You can register up to 4 fingerprints in your phone and then use it to unlock the screen, sign in to the Samsung website and verify your Samsung account when purchasing content in Samsung services.


How to add or register a new fingerprint?
Assuming that you have added a fingerprint before,e.g: when changing the default screen lock type(swipe) to fingerprints, you can add more fingerprints by using the following steps:
  1. While the screen is unlocked, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
  2. Scroll down the screen to the Personal section and then tap Lock screen and security.
  3. Tap Fingerprints.
  4. Place your finger that you register in advance on the home key to verify your identify so you can manage your fingerprints.
  5. Tap Add fingerprint to add or register a new fingerprint.
  6. Place your finger that you want to register on the Home key.
  7. Lift your finger when your phone vibrates, and then place it on the Home key again. Repeat this action using the same finger until the fingerprint is completely registered.
  8. If you are not using fingerprints as screen lock method, a pop up window will appear to ask you whether you want to use this screen lock method. Tap OK button to set fingerprints as the screen lock method.
  9. The new fingerprint has been successfully added. If you'd like to add more fingerprints, repeat from the step #5.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: How to Use Fingerprints as Screen Lock Method in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

By default, your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge uses swipe as the screen lock method. It's the simplest screen lock method since you just need to swipe the screen in any direction to unlock the screen. But, if you need to set your phone to be more secure so you can avoid unauthorized people from accessing your personal files or information, you can use more secure method to unlock the screen, one of which is by using your fingerprints. It's more secure than swipe or pattern but simpler than PIN or password because you just need to place your finger that you register in advance on the Home key to unlock the screen.


How to set fingerprints as the screen lock method?
You can use the following steps to change the default screen lock method(swipe) to fingerprints:
  1. While the screen is unlocked, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
  2. Scroll down the screen to the Personal section and then tap Lock screen and security.
  3. Tap Screen lock type.
  4. Tap Fingerprints.
  5. Place your finger on the Home key.
  6. Lift your finger when your phone vibrates, and then place it on the Home key again. Repeat this action using the same finger until the fingerprint is completely registered.
  7. Enter your alternative password and then tap Continue button. FYI, you can use this password as the alternative way to unlock the screen instead of using your fingerprints.
  8. Re-enter the alternative password to verify it and then tap OK button.
  9. Now, you have to set the way your phone shows notifications on the lock screen. There are three options available: Show content, Hide content and Do not show notifications. Select the required option, e.g: Show content if you want your phone shows notifications and its contents when the screen is locked. Tap Done button to save the changes.
  10. You have successfully set fingerprints as the screen lock method.



How to unlock the screen using fingerprints?
When the screen is off and locked, press the Power key or the Home key to turn on the screen. Place your finger that you have registered before on the Home key. When your phone recognizes your fingerprint, the screen will be unlocked and you can use your phone.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: How to Display Battery Percentage in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge comes with a non-removable Li-Ion 2600 mAh battery. Since this battery is rechargeable, you can recharge the battery by using the provided USB cable and USB power adaptor when the battery is low so you can keep using your phone. You can see the battery icon on the status bar if you need to know how much charge is left in your battery. But, if you want to easily know the exact amount of battery left in your phone, you can set your phone to show the battery level in terms of percentage.


How to show the battery percentage on the status bar?
You can do so by using the following steps:
  1. While the screen is unlocked, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
  2. Scroll down the screen to the System section and then tap Battery.
  3. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
  4. Slide the ON/OFF switch next to Show power on status bar to the right to enable this option. The switch turns green when it's enabled and the battery percentage will be displayed on the status bar.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: How to Add Google Account in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Before you can install any third-party app from the Google Play Store or use other Google-related apps(e.g: Gmail, Youtube, Maps, etc.), you have to add a Google account to your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge first.


How to add a Google account to Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge?
You can create a new Google account or use an existing one. As the example, we'll try adding an existing Google account by using two different methods: from the settings menu and from a Google-related app.

Method #1: From the settings menu
You can add an existing Google account via the settings menu by using the following steps:
  1. While the screen is unlocked, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the settings menu.
  2. Scroll down the screen to the Personal section and then tap Accounts.
  3. Tap Add account.
  4. Tap Google.
  5. Enter your existing Google email address and then tap Next button.
  6. Enter your Gmail password and then tap Next button.
  7. In the Term of Services and Privacy Policy screen, tap Accept button to continue.
  8. In the Google services screen, the backup feature is enabled by default. You need to scroll down the screen and then tap Next button to continue.
  9. In the Set up payment info screen, you can set up the desired payment method, but if you'd like to set it up later, you can select No thanks and then tap Continue button.
  10. Your existing Google account has been successfully added to your phone.

Method #2: From a Google-related app
As the example, we'll add an existing Google account via Gmail app by using the following steps:
  1. Open Gmail app. If you have not added a Google account yet, you'll see a Welcome to Gmail screen. Tap Skip button at the bottom left corner.
  2. Tap Add an email address.
  3. Select Google and then tap Next button.
  4. Enter your existing Google email address and then tap Next button.
  5. Enter your Gmail password and then tap Next button.
  6. In the Term of Services and Privacy Policy screen, tap Accept button to continue.
  7. In the Google services screen, the backup feature is enabled by default. You need to scroll down the screen and then tap Next button to continue.
  8. In the Set up payment info screen, you can set up the desired payment method, but if you'd like to set it up later, you can select No thanks and then tap Continue button.
  9. Your existing Google account has been successfully added to your phone.