Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Add a Samsung Account in Android 4.4 Kitkat

As we all know that Google Play Store is the official market for all Android phones, including with the Samsung Galaxy SIV. From here you can find various apps and then install them into your phone. In order to be able to access the Play Store, you have to add your Google account on your phone, either by activating the existing Google account or creating a new one.

See also: How to Activate an Existing Google Account in the Samsung Galaxy S4

Aside from installing apps from the Play Store, Samsung phone users can also install apps from the Samsung apps. As same as the Play Store, you can find various apps in here both free or paid version and then install them into your phone. While you're browsing apps, you may notice that some apps in the Samsung apps can't be found in the Play Store. Well, to be able to access Samsung apps and other Samsung-related apps/services, first you have to add a Samsung account on your phone, either by activating the existing Samsung account or creating a new one.

How to add a Samsung account?
If you have not added a Samsung account in your phone yet, usually you'll be asked to either activate your existing Samsung account or create a new one when you open any Samsung-related apps/services. But, as the example, we'll try adding a Samsung account through the settings menu. Here they are:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Accounts tab.
3. Tap Add account.
4. Tap Samsung account.
5. To activate the existing Samsung account go to the step #6, while to create a new Samsung account go to the step #7.
6. Activating the existing Samsung account:
• Tap Sign in button.
• Enter your Samsung username and password.
• Tap Sign-in button.
• Tap OK button to accept the terms and conditions and the privacy policy.
• Mark the checkboxes in the terms and conditions page and then tap Agree button.
7. Creating a new Samsung account:
• Tap Create account button.
• Fill the form with the required information(e.g: email address, password, first name, etc).
• Tap Sign up button and then follow the on-screen instructions.
8. Once done, your Samsung account will be listed in the accounts tab in the settings menu.

Please note that it doesn't same with Google account that will allow you to add more than one accounts in a single device, you're only allowed to add a single Samsung account in a single device.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Cover to Mute/Pause in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Samsung has provided some motion features to their users in order to help them controlling and interacting with their phone easier and faster. One of the motion features available is the turn over to mute/pause that you can use to mute incoming calls, alarms and to pause media playback by turning over the phone so that the screen will face downward.

See also: How to Enable and Use Turn Over to Mute/Pause in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

If you notice, there's also a motion called cover to mute/pause that has the similar function with turn over to mute/pause. You can use both of them to mute incoming calls and alarms as well as to pause the media playback. The difference is turn over to mute/pause works when you turn the device over, while cover to mute/pause works when you cover the screen with your palm. Since this option is not enabled by default, then you have to enable it first if you want to use it on your phone.

How to enable or disable cover to mute/pause feature?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Motions and gestures, and then tap it.
4. Swipe the ON/OFF switch next to Palm motion to the right to enable this option.
5. Tap Palm motion.
6. Depending on your current settings, tap the ON/OFF switch next to Mute/Pause to enable or disable this option. When the switch is on the right side or turns green means this option is enabled. When this option is enabled, you can tap this option and then tap Try it button to try this feature on the short tutorial given by this phone.

How to use cover to mute/pause feature?
Generally you can use this feature to mute sound or pause the playback without putting the phone into the silent mode. Here's the example:

1. Muting the sound
   While your phone is playing sound for an incoming call or an alarm, cover the screen using your palm to mute the sound.
2. Pausing the media playback
   While your phone is playing video or music, on any screen, cover the screen using your palm to pause the playback. FYI, this function also works while the video is being viewed in the pop up window.

Please note that you can't use this feature to pause media playback if the screen is off or while you're using headsets. I personally prefer to use cover to mute/pause to mute sound or to pause playback than turn over to mute/pause, because this motion is simpler to be used. So, how about you? Which mute/pause motion do you like best?

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Smart Stay in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Samsung Galaxy SIV comes with some advanced features that will surely be able to improve your experience while using this phone, one of which is the smart stay feature. Turning on this feature will allow your phone to detect your face by using the front camera so that the screen will remain on as long as you're looking at it.


How to enable or disable the smart stay feature?
By default, this feature is disabled therefor if you want to use it then you have to enable it first. You can enable or disable this feature either from the quick settings panel or the Settings menu.

Method #1: From the quick settings panel

1. Swipe down the top of the screen with two fingers to open up the quick settings panel.
2. Depending on your current settings, tap the Smart stay button to enable or disable this option. When the button turns green means the option is enabled.

Method #1: From the Settings menu

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down to find Smart screen and then tap it.
4. Depending on your current settings, tap Smart stay to enable or disable this option. When the checkbox besides this option is checked means the option is enabled.

How to use the smart stay feature?
Once the smart stay feature is activated, when it comes the time to turn off the screen then you'll see the smart stay icon is displayed on the status bar to detect your face by utilizing the front camera. If the camera detects your face then the screen will stay on, if not then the screen will be turned off.
FYI, I've tested this feature on my phone and it only worked if all of the following conditions are fulfilled:

• The phone is held steady and upright.
• You have to use this feature in well lit conditions but the screen is not in direct light so that the front camera won't have difficulty to detect your face. If there's a source of bright light(e.g: sunlight), you have to place it behind the phone.
• The front camera is not being used by other apps.

Tips:
Since this feature is related with the screen timeout value you're currently using, to avoid your battery drained fast whilst this feature is on then you'd better to set the screen timeout value to the longest interval. Prolong the screen timeout interval while using the smart stay feature means prolong the interval of the front camera to detect your face which also means more battery are saved for you.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Fix Can't Find Hidden Pictures in Gallery app in Android 4.4 Kitkat

Today an insider told me that she couldn't find some pictures that have been hidden by her using the hide items options in the Gallery app. Normally, when you hide a picture in the Gallery app by using the hide items option, then you can find/unhide them easily by using the show hidden items option in the Gallery app. Sadly to say that in some cases, some of hidden pictures are suddenly missing and can't be found both in the show hidden items option in Gallery app or in the default folder where you save the picture files in the My Files app.

See also: How to Hide or Show Hidden Pictures in the Gallery app in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

I've read somewhere out there and found that in the Android 4.4 Kitkat, all hidden files using that method will be moved to the another hidden folder in the internal storage. That's why you can't find them in their default folder. You have to move them to another unhide folder manually to display them back in the Gallery app.

How to find hidden pictures in Android 4.4 Kitkat?
I realize, a picture can be so meaningful for someone therefor I summarize this method here to help those of you who may be experiencing this problem and want to get those hidden-then-lost pictures back. I've tested this method and it worked. So, here they are:

1. Open My Files app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
3. Check the box besides the Show hidden files option to enable this option.
4. Tap the Back key.
5. Tap All files.
6. Tap Device storage.
7. Scroll down to find the folder named .hide and then tap it to open it.
8. Tap Island (I don't know why Samsung used it as the folder name. I think it may be different in other phones so please let me know if your phone has another folder name).
9. Now you should see all pictures you have hidden by using the hide items option in the Gallery app are displayed here.
10. Copy/move and then paste the desired hidden pictures to another folder. Use the following steps if you don't know how to do so:
• Select the desired pictures you want to copy/move.
• Tap the three horizontal line icon located at the top right corner of the screen and then tap Copy to copy the selected files or tap Move to cut the selected files.
• Navigate to the required folder you want to paste the files.
• Tap Paste here.
11. Once the selected files are copied or moved to another folder, they should be displayed again in the Gallery app.

As a note, this method also can be applied to retrieve hidden video files that you have hidden using the same way from the Gallery app. You can also perform this method by using another third-party File Manager app (e.g: ES File explorer, Astro File Manager, etc).

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Fix Can't Remove Facebook Photo Albums in the Gallery App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

By default, you'll be presented with some sync options while you're installing the Facebook app in your phone, one of which is the sync Gallery option that will allow you to sync your Facebook photo albums with your phone so that you can view them directly from the Gallery app. If you chose to skip/disable this option at that time, then you can enable/activate the sync option by adding your Facebook account to the Gallery app.

See also: How to Sync Facebook Photo Albums with Gallery App in the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Android 4.4 Kitkat

As with other sync processes, the sync process between your Facebook photo albums and Gallery app can cause your phone becomes slower than before, and it'll be worse if you have a ton of photos on your Facebook account. In some cases, the sync process may cause the Gallery app crashes or slows or doesn't work properly. If the problem start irritating you, then you can fix them by stopping sync process or removing the Facebook account from the Gallery app.

How to remove Facebook photo albums in Gallery app temporarily?
FYI, these steps only stop syncing process and hide the Facebook photo albums in the Gallery app without removing the Facebook account from the Gallery app. These steps work best if the synced photos are only in a small amount. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
3. Under the Accounts section, tap your Facebook account.
4. Clear the checkbox next to Sync Gallery to stop syncing process.
5. You can also hide the Facebook photo albums temporarily by using the following steps:
• While you're in the Gallery app, tap the Menu key and then select Content to display.
• Clear the checkbox next to Content in Facebook.
• Tap OK button.
• Now, the Facebook photo albums shouldn't be displayed in the Gallery app.

How to remove Facebook photo albums in Gallery app permanently?
These steps will remove your Facebook account from the Gallery app, but it won't remove your Facebook account in the Facebook app. These steps work best if you have a lot of photos in your Facebook account. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
3. Under the Accounts section, tap your Facebook account.
4. Tap Remove account button located at the top right corner of the screen.
5. Tap Remove account button to confirm removing the account.
6. Now, the Facebook photo albums will be removed from the Gallery app permanently unless you sync them again with the Gallery app.

Each method mentioned above has their own advantages. Removing the Facebook photo albums temporarily will keep the synced photos and will allow you to sync with them again with ease as well as speed up the Gallery load times as long as the synced photos are only in a small amount, while removing the Facebook photo albums permanently will be able to speed up the Gallery load times and avoid crashes especially if you have a lot of photos in your account.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Sync Facebook Photo Albums with Gallery App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

As we all know that Facebook has been being one of the most popular social media since a couple years back. Having a Facebook account allows you to stay connected with others' users, create status, share picture, etc. Even though this app is quite popular but the Samsung Galaxy SIV didn't include it as one of the pre-installed apps therefore you have to install this app by yourself through the Google Play Store if you want to use this app in your phone.

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

So, if you already have a Facebook account and often upload your photos to your account from various devices, then you can sync your Facebook photo albums with your phone so that you can view them directly from the Gallery app and use all available options in this app, for instance set a Facebook photo as the wallpaper, contact photo, etc or share the photo to your contacts easily from the Gallery app.

How to sync Facebook photo albums with Gallery app?
FYI, these steps only allow you to view the Facebook photo albums and use the available options in the Gallery app, but it won't allow you to edit or delete the photos. Well, assuming that you already have the Facebook app in your phone, then here are the steps to sync:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Tap the Menu key and then select Settings.
3. Tap located at the top right corner of the screen and then select Sync apps with Facebook.
4. Enter your Facebook username and password and then tap Log in button.
5. You'll be asked whether you want your phone to post to Facebook for you. Tap OK button if you want or tap Not now button if you don't. I personally prefer to choose Not now button.
6. Mark the checkbox besides the Sync Gallery option to allow your phone synchronizes your Facebook photo albums with Gallery app.
7. Tap Done button. Your Facebook account will be added in the Accounts section in the Gallery app settings and the phone will start syncing. The sync process may take a few minutes or so, depending on how many photos on your Facebook account.
8. To avoid large data for syncing process, you can set your phone only sync your Facebook photo albums when you're connected with the Wi-Fi network by turning on the Sync only via Wi-Fi option.
9. Once the sync process is completed, you'll see all your Facebook photo albums are displayed and labelled with the Facebook icon in the Gallery app.

Please note that your phone may become slower than before because it must load the Facebook photo albums, especially if you have a lot of photos on your Facebook account.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Use Buddy Photo Share in the Gallery App in Android 4.4 Kitkat

If you like taking picture with your friends and then want to share the picture with them, then you can do that thing easily in this phone by utilizing the buddy photo share feature that you can find in the Gallery app. In order to be able to use this feature, first you have to enable the face tag feature in the Gallery app and then tag your contacts to the recognized faces on the pictures. Once done, you can easily share the picture to the tagged contacts through the email message or multimedia message.

How to share a picture using buddy photo share?
Below are the steps to do so:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Tap an album and then tap the required picture to view it.
3. If you have not tagged your contacts on the picture yet, then you have to tag them first. If you don't know how to do so, you can see the complete steps here.
4. If you have already tagged your contacts on the picture then you can share the picture easily to the tagged contacts by tapping the Menu key and then select Buddy photo share.
5. On the "Send picture to" menu, check the box next to the tagged contacts you want to share the picture with. FYI, by default this feature uses the email message as the share method, but if the tagged contacts has no email message then this feature will use the multimedia text as the share method. If the contact has email address and phone number, then you can change the share method by tapping the contact name and then select which email or phone number(if the contact has more than one email addresses or phone numbers) you want to use to share the picture.
6. Tap OK button.
7. The picture will be sent to the selected contacts by using the selected share method.

Basically, you can share any picture you have in your phone by utilizing the share menu, but by using the buddy photo share feature you will be easier and faster to share the picture to the contacts you have tagged on the photos.