Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Customize the Bottom Shortcuts in the Lock Screen

If you noticed, while you in any Home screen, there are five shortcuts of the favourite apps which are always displayed in the bottom of the screen. The main purpose of the bottom shortcuts list is to speed up the user to access these apps. Luckily, you can choose which apps you want to display there if you don't like these default shortcuts.

See also: How to Customize the Bottom Shortcuts List in the Samsung Galaxy S4 Home Screen

As same as the Home screen, in the lock screen there are also five favourite app shortcuts that you can find in the bottom of the screen while your phone is locked. They are likely the Phone, Messaging, Internet, Camera and Contacts app. And of course you're allowed to customize these bottom shortcuts list, such as add, remove, rearrange or even change the shortcuts in the list per your wish.



How to add, remove, rearrange and change the bottom shortcuts in the lock screen?
FYI, the bottom shortcuts in the lock screen only will be displayed if you use the swipe methods to unlock the screen. Well, here are the complete steps to customize the bottom shortcuts in the lock screen:
  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap My device tab.
  3. Tap Lock screen.
  4. Tap Shortcuts.
  5. Slide the switch next to Shortcuts option at the top of the screen to the right to display the bottom shortcut in the lock screen. When the switch is highlighted means the option is turned on.
  6. Here you can customize the default bottom shortcuts of the lock screen. To remove the existing shortcuts go to the step #6, to add new shortcut go to the step #7, to rearrange the shortcuts position go to the step #8 and to change the existing shortcuts go to the step #9.
  7. How to remove the existing lock screen shortcut:
    • Tap and hold the desired shortcut you wish to remove and then drag it to the Trash can icon located in the bottom of the screen.
    • Release to delete it.
    • The selected shortcut will be deleted.
  8. How to add new shortcut to the lock screen shortcuts:
    • Once you remove one or more shortcuts as listed in the step #6, then you'll see the available spot with the Plus circled icon which will allow you to add the new shortcut.
    • Tap the Plus circled icon to add new shortcut.
    • Select the desired app.
    • The shortcut of the selected app will be added.
  9. How to rearrange position of the lock screen shortcuts:
    • Tap and hold the desired shortcut you wish to change its position and then drag it to the desired position.
    • Release to place the shortcut in the new position.
  10. How to change the lock screen shortcuts:
    • Single tap in the desired shortcut you wish to change.
    • Select the desired app.
    • The selected app will replace the existing one.

Once the phone is locked, you'll see the new customization of the bottom shortcuts in the lock screen that you have made is displayed. And of course, this will also more useful if you place your favourite apps or the most frequently used app in there to allow you accessing them more faster and easier, even when your phone is locked.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Change the Default Home Screen

As one of the customizable part in the Samsung Galaxy SIV, the Home screen in this phone is allowed you to add the new Home screen, remove one or more Home screen or even rearrange its position per your wish to suit your needs. But, use the Home screen as needed is the better choice to prevent an increase of the RAM uses which may led some problems to your phone.

See also: How to Add, Remove and Rearrange Samsung Galaxy S4 Home Screen

If you noticed, in some Home screen available in the phone, one of them will always appear whenever you turn on the phone. This Home screen is the default Home screen which is usually has the clock or weather widget at the top of the screen. Luckily, you're free to assign another Home screen as the default if you don't like the previous one.



How to set a Home screen as the default screen?
Below are the steps to do so:
  1. In the Home screen, tap the Menu key then select Edit page. Or, you can also pinch the Home screen to enter the edit page.
  2. The default Home screen is the one with the highlighted Home icon.
  3. To change the default, tap the Home icon at the top of the desired Home screen you wish to set as the default.
  4. When the Home icon is highlighted means the selected Home screen has been activated as the default.

Now, whenever you turn on the phone, you'll see the new default Home screen appear. FYI, one thing that differentiates between the default Home screen and another additional Home screen is when you remove the default then you'll be presented with the notification to ask you whether you really want to delete or not. So, this will more useful if you choose the Home screen which is contain more important apps or widgets than another because this will be able to help you to prevent accidentally removing the Home screen while you're in the edit page to customise all of your Home screen.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Add, Delete and Rearrange Home Screen

Adding app shortcuts to the Samsung Galaxy SIV Home screen is one of the way that you can do to make you more faster and easier to access your favourite apps or the most frequently used apps. As we all know, by default, all of newly installed apps will automatically add the shortcut to the Home screen, but if you don't want them displayed there, then of course you can easily to remove them from the Home screen.

See also: How to Add or Remove Apps or Widgets in the Samsung Galaxy S4 Home Screen

Aside from the ability to control which the apps or widgets you wish to display in the Home screen, here you're also have the ability to customize the Home screen itself, including add the Home screen up to seven, remove the unused Home screen or even to re-arrange the position of the Home screen.



How to add new Home screen?
By default, you might be seen that there are only five Home screen. Actually, you're allowed to add additional Home screen up to seven Home screen if these five are not enough to meet your need. Well, there are two methods available to add the new Home screen that you can choose which best suit your need:
Method #1
  1. In the Home screen, tap the Menu key then select Edit page. Or, you can also pinch the Home screen to enter the edit page.
  2. Tap the blank page with the Plus (+) sign inside to add a new Home screen.
  3. The new Home screen will be added.
Method #2
  1. Long tap in the Home screen.
  2. On pop up menu select Page.
  3. The new Home screen will be added.

How to delete Home screen?
For any reason, if you want to remove one or more additional Home screen, then you can do so by following the steps listed below:
  1. In the Home screen, tap the Menu key then select Edit page. Or, you can also pinch the Home screen to enter the edit page.
  2. Tap and hold the desired Home screen you wish to delete and then drag it to the Trash can icon located at the top of the screen.
  3. Release to delete it.
  4. The selected Home screen will be deleted.

How to re-arrange Home screen?
If you wish to arrange the Home screen position, then you can do so by following the steps below:
  1. Tap the Menu key then select Edit page. Or, you can also pinch the Home screen to enter the edit page.
  2. Tap and hold the desired Home screen you wish to arrange and then drag it to to the desired position.
  3. Release to change its position.
  4. The selected Home screen will be placed in the new position.

Well, these are the steps that you can use to customize your Home screen to suit with your need. But, it'll be wise if you only use Home screen as needed because use lot of Home screen may increase the RAM uses. But, if you really need to use all of the them, then you're absolutely free to do so.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Change Wallpaper

Home screen is one of the customizable part of the Samsung Galaxy SIV. In here, you can control and decide which the apps or widgets you wish to display, allows you to put the most frequently used apps or widgets here to speed up the way you access them whenever you want. Moreover, the ability to group some apps into a single folder will of course be able to increase the numbers of the apps and widgets you could display in here.

See also: How to Create a New Folder in Samsung Galaxy S4 Home Screen

Another things that you can do to customize the Home screen is by changing its background image, or we used to call it as the Home screen wallpaper. Most of users use this way to give the personal touch to their phone to differ it with others, or even to reflect who's they are. Aside from the Home screen, you can also change the lock screen wallpaper as easy as the way you do with the Home screen.



How to change lock screen wallpaper?
Kindly follow the steps listed below to change the background image displayed when your phone is locked:
  1. In the Home screen, tap the Menu key then select Set wallpaper. Or, long tap in the Home screen then select Set wallpaper.
  2. On pop up menu select Lock screen.
  3. In the Select wallpaper from menu, you'll see some options available such as:
    • Gallery: choose this option to set your own picture in the Gallery as the lock screen wallpaper.
    • Travel Wallpaper: choose this option to use the picture from the TripAdvisor app.
    • Wallpapers: choose this option to pick up the stock Samsung wallpaper as the lock screen wallpaper.
  4. If you choose Gallery go to the step #5, Travel wallpaper go to the step #6 while if you choose Wallpapers go to the step #7.
  5. Set wallpaper from the Gallery:
    • Select your own picture in the Gallery app you wish to use as the lock screen wallpaper.
    • If necessary, you can adjust the blue frame in the picture to the right or to the left to crop the desired part of the picture you wish to display.
    • Tap Done button.
  6. Use the picture from the travel wallpaper:
    • Tap Slideshow interval.
    • Choose the interval you wish to use.
  7. Set wallpaper using the stock Samsung wallpaper:
    • Select the stock wallpaper you wis to use as the lock screen wallpaper.
    • Tap Set wallpaper button.
  8. The selected image will be set as the lock screen wallpaper.

How to change Home screen wallpaper?
Kindly follow the steps listed below to change the background image displayed when your phone is in the standby mode:
  1. In the Home screen, tap the Menu key then select Set wallpaper. Or, long tap in the Home screen then select Set wallpaper.
  2. On pop up menu select Home screen.
  3. In the Select wallpaper from menu, you'll see some options available such as:
    • Gallery: choose this option to set your own picture in the Gallery as the Home screen wallpaper.
    • Live wallpapers: choose this option to pick up the stock Samsung live wallpaper as the Home screen wallpaper.
    • Photos: choose this option to use the picture from the Photos as the Home screen wallpaper.
    • Wallpapers: choose this option to pick up the stock Samsung wallpaper as the Home screen wallpaper.
  4. If you choose Gallery go to the step #5, Live wallpapers go to the step #6, Photos go to the step #7 and Wallpapers go to the step #8.
  5. Set wallpaper from the Gallery:
    • Select your own picture in the Gallery app you wish to use as the Home screen wallpaper.
    • If necessary, you can adjust the blue frame in the picture to the right or to the left to crop the desired part of the picture you wish to display.
    • Tap Done button.
  6. Set live wallpaper as the Home screen wallpaper:
    • Select the desired live wallpaper you wish to use.
    • Tap Set wallpaper button.
  7. Use picture from Photos as the Home screen wallpaper:
    • Select the desired image from the Photos.
    • Adjust the bright part to the top or to the bottom to crop the desired part of the picture you wish to display.
    • Tap Save button.
  8. Set wallpaper using the stock Samsung wallpaper:
    • Select the stock wallpaper you wish to use as the Home screen wallpaper.
    • Tap Set wallpaper button.
  9. The selected image will be set as the Home screen wallpaper.

How to change Lock screen and Home screen wallpaper at once?
If you wish to use the same wallpaper in the lock screen and the Home screen, then kindly to follow the steps below to do so in the same times:
  1. In the Home screen, tap the Menu key then select Set wallpaper. Or, long tap in the Home screen then select Set wallpaper.
  2. On pop up menu select Home and lock screen.
  3. In the Select wallpaper from menu, you'll see some options available such as:
    • Gallery: choose this option to set your own picture in the Gallery as the Home and lock screen wallpaper.
    • Live wallpapers: choose this option to pick up the stock Samsung live wallpaper as the Home and lock screen wallpaper.
    • Wallpapers: choose this option to pick up the stock Samsung wallpaper as the Home and lock screen wallpaper.
  4. If you choose Gallery go to the step #5, Live wallpaper go to the step #6 and Wallpapers go to the step #7.
  5. Set wallpaper from the Gallery:
    • Select your own picture in the Gallery app you wish to use as the Home and lock screen wallpaper.
    • If necessary, you can adjust the blue frame in the picture to the right or to the left to crop the desired part of the picture you wish to display.
    • Tap Done button.
  6. Set live wallpaper as the Home and lock screen wallpaper:
    • Select the desired live wallpaper you wish to use.
    • Tap Set wallpaper button.
  7. Set wallpaper using the stock Samsung wallpaper:
    • Select the stock wallpaper you wis to use as the Home and lock screen wallpaper.
    • Tap Set wallpaper button.
  8. The selected image will be set as the lock screen wallpaper.

Well, these are the available methods to change the image background in the Lock screen and the Home screen that you can chose one of them to personalize your phone. So, what kind of the wallpaper you like best to use in your Samsung Galaxy SIV?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Create a New Folder in the Home Screen

One of the customizable thing in the Samsung Galaxy SIV Home screen is the bottom shortcuts list. You can add, delete or change that five default apps icon in there with those you like to suit your need. And of course, it will more useful if you place your most favourite apps or the most frequently used apps in there to speed up your way to access all of them when you want to use them.

See also: How to Customize the Bottom Shortcut in the Samsung Galaxy S4 Home Screen

Indeed, by default there are only five spots available in the bottom shortcuts list, but by adding the new folder you could increase the numbers of the apps icon that you can place in there. Aside from creating the new folder in the bottom shortcuts list, you can also use this method to organize the apps icon in all of the Home screen by grouping them into a single folder per category you want.



How to add new folder in the bottom shortcuts list?
Below are the steps to do so:
  1. In the Home screen, tap and hold one of the apps icon in the bottom shortcuts list and then drag it to the Create folder icon located at the top of the screen.
  2. Release to create new folder.
  3. Type the name for the new folder and then tap OK button.
  4. The selected apps icon now reside in the new folder you just created.
  5. You can add another apps--either from the bottom shortcuts list or from the Home screen-- into this folder by tapping and holding the apps and then drag it to the folder followed by releasing it to place it into the new folder.


How to add new folder in the Home screen?
There are three methods available to do so which you can choose the one that best suit you.
Method #1
  1. In the Home screen, tap the Menu key and then select Create folder.
  2. Type the name of the new folder.
  3. Tap and hold the desired app--either from the bottom shortcuts list or from the Home screen-- and then drag it to the new folder you just created.
  4. Release to place the app into the new folder.
  5. To add more apps into the new folder, repeat from the step #3.

Method #2
  1. Long tap in the Home screen.
  2. In the pop up menu select Folder.
  3. Type the name of the new folder.
  4. Tap and hold the desired app--either from the bottom shortcuts list or from the Home screen-- and then drag it to the new folder you just created.
  5. Release to place the app into the new folder.
  6. To add more apps into the new folder, repeat from the step #4.

Method #3
  1. Tap and hold one of the app icon in the Home screen and then drag it to the Create folder icon located at the top of the screen.
  2. Release to create new folder.
  3. Type the name for the new folder and then tap OK button.
  4. The selected apps icon now reside in the new folder you just created.
  5. You can add another apps--either from the bottom shortcuts list or from the Home screen-- into this folder by tapping and holding the apps and then drag it to the folder followed by releasing it to place it into the new folder.

Well, if you're like me, organizing some apps which has the similar function (eg. you could create "Browser" folder to group all the browser app you have) into a single folder will help you to manage the app icon in the bottom shortcuts list and in the Home screen as well as to increase the ability to add more apps icon in there. By using the methods mentioned above, now you can add more than five apps icon in the bottom shortcut list and also simplify your Home screen and decreasing the numbers of the additional Home screen by grouping some apps into a single folder. Well, hope this helps :)

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Customize the Bottom Shortcuts in the Home Screen

The common method used by the Samsung Galaxy SIV user to speed up their way to access certain app is by adding the shortcut of that app to the Home screen. That's might be the explanation why the Google Play Store has the default settings to add the newly installed app shortcut to the Home screen--if there's an available room--. You're also free to remove the unused app shortcuts in the Home screen or the one that you don't want to be there, allows you to control which app shortcuts you wish to reside on your Home screen.

See also: How to Add or Remove Apps or Widgets to the Samsung Galaxy S4 Home Screen

While you on the Home screen, you would see the five favourite app shortcuts in the bottom. By default, they are likely the Phone, Contacts, Messaging, Internet and Apps which are the most frequently used apps by most of the users. But, if that default doesn't fit with your needs, then you can easily customize them by adding, removing or changing one of them or more to suit your needs.



How to add, remove or change the favourite shortcuts on Home screen?
You can do so by following the steps listed below:
  1. To add shortcut to the bottom shortcuts list:
    • In order to allow you to add app shortcut to the bottom shortcuts, then the apps should be available in the Home screen. If not, first you need to add the app to the Home screen. If you don't know how to do so, you can see the complete steps in the link mentioned above
    • Add the app shortcut to the bottom shortcuts by tapping and holding the app on your Home screen then drag it to available space in the bottom shortcuts list.
    • Release to placed it.
  2. To remove shortcut from the bottom shortcuts list:
    • Tap and hold the bottom shortcut you wish to remove.
    • If you want the shortcut still remain in the Home screen, drag it to the available space in one of the Home screen and then release to placed it.
    • If you want the shortcut no longer displayed in the Home screen, drag it to the Trash can icon located at the top of the screen and then release to delete it.
  3. To change the shortcut in the bottom shortcuts list:
  4. There two methods that you can choose to change the bottom shortcuts. They are:
    • Remove the bottom shortcut first (see in the step #2) and then add the new shortcut to the bottom shortcuts (see in the step #1).
    • Tap and hold the apps in the Home screen and then drag it to the one of existing bottom shortcut. Release to exchange their position.

Given to the main purpose of the bottom or favourite shortcuts in the Home screen is to speed up the way you access those five apps, then it will be more useful if you place your most favourite apps or your most frequently used apps in there. So, hope this helps :)

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Add or Remove Apps or Widgets in the Home Screen

Indeed, the Samsung Galaxy SIV has comes with the several pre-installed apps to meet the user needs. You can use all of them directly without you need to install it first by yourself. But, in certain case with any reason, you might be not satisfied with them or wants to install another apps to meet your needs. If so, you can easily do that by downloading and install the desired apps from the Google Play Store into your phone.

See also: How to Download and Install Free Apps from the Play Store in Samsung Galaxy S4

By default, the Google Play Store will add the newly installed apps icon to the Home screen in order to make you more easier when you want to access the apps. Moreover, the Samsung Galaxy SIV also supports up to seven Home screen that would be capable enough to accommodate lot of apps or widgets icon.



How to add shortcut of the apps or widgets to the Home screen?
If the apps has no icon in the Home screen or if you wants to add certain app or widget to the Home screen, then you can easily do so by following one of the steps listed below:
Method #1: From the app drawer
Before you do this steps, make sure you have room enough in the Home screen to allow you add new apps or widget icon
  1. Go to Apps through the Home screen.
  2. To add apps go to the step #3, while to add widgets go to the step #4.
  3. Add apps to the Home screen
    • Tap Apps tab.
    • Tap and hold the desired app and then drag it to the Home screen.
    • Release to placed it.
  4. Add Widgets to the Home screen
    • Tap Widgets tab.
    • Swipe the screen to the right or to the left to find the desired widget.
    • Once you find the required one, tap and hold the widget and then drag it to the Home screen.
    • Release to placed it.
    • If necessary, follow the on-screen instruction to complete the steps of adding the widgets.
  5. The selected app or widget will be added to the Home screen.
Method #2: From the Home screen
Before you do this steps, make sure you have room enough in the Home screen to allow you add new apps or widget icon.
  1. In the Home screen, tap the Menu key then select Add apps and widgets. Or, long tap in the Home screen, then in the pop up menu select Apps and widgets.
  2. To add apps go to the step #3, while to add widgets go to the step #4.
  3. Add apps to the Home screen
    • Tap Apps tab.
    • Tap and Hold the desired app and then drag it to the Home screen.
    • Release to placed it.
  4. Add widget to the Home screen
    • Tap Widgets tab.
    • Find the desired widget by swiping the screen to the left or to the right.
    • Once you find the desired widget, tap and hold the widget and then drag it to the Home screen.
    • Release to placed it.
    • If necessary, follow the on-screen instruction to complete the steps of adding the widgets.
  5. The selected app or widget will be added to the Home screen.


How to remove shortcut of the apps or widgets from the Home screen?
If you want to clean up your Home screen or don't want certain apps or widgets icon resides there, then you can easily remove the icon from the Home screen by following the steps below:
  1. Locate the icon you wish to remove from the Home screen.
  2. Once you find the icon, tap and hold the icon and then drag it to the Trash can icon located at the top of the screen.
  3. Release to remove the icon.
  4. The selected icon will be removed from the Home screen.

Adding certain apps or widgets icon to the Home screen is one of the way to speed up you accessing them. But, too much apps or widgets scattered in the Home screen will make the Home screen in a mess and of course this will also increase the RAM uses (especially those with the animation inside). So, it will be wise if you only add the important or the most frequently used apps or widgets to the Home screen and remove the unused apps or widgets from there to keep your Home screen clean and reduce the RAM uses. Well, hope this helps :)