Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Use VPN in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

In Samsung Galaxy S4, you're allowed to add VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) and connect to one of them. You'll have some benefits when using VPN, e.g: you can access your business or home network over Internet with more securely anywhere you are, you can have private browsing even when you're in the public network, you can access country-blocked websites by connecting to a VPN located in another country, etc.

How to add a new VPN profile?
Before connecting to a VPN, you have to add the VPN profile first in your phone. You can do so by using the following steps:

1. While your phone 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. Tap Connections tab.
3. Tap More networks.
4. Tap VPN. As a note, if you turn off your lock screen or use swipe as your unlock method, you'll be asked to use another secure screen lock type, e.g: PIN, password or pattern. You just need to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the lock screen configuration.
5. Tap at the top right to add a new VPN profile.
6. Enter the desired name for your VPN profile in the Name field.
7. By default, the VPN uses PPTP as the protocol type. You can change it if your VPN server uses another type.
8. Enter the correct address of your VPN server (IP address or domain) in the Server address field.
9. Tap Save button.
10. The VPN profile has been added.

How to connect to a VPN?
Assuming that you have Internet connection(Wi-Fi or mobile data), you can connect to a VPN by using the following steps:

1. Tap the required VPN profile.
2. Enter your VPN username and password in the provided fields.
3. If you don't want to enter the username and password each time you connect to this VPN profile, check the box in the left side of the "Save account information" option.
4. Tap Connect button. If the username and password are entered correctly, you'll be connected to the selected VPN.
5. Now, you can enjoy private browsing in your phone without you have to worry that there will be the one who know who or where you are.
6. To disconnect your VPN, tap the VPN profile and then tap Disconnect button.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable and Use USB Tethering in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

There are some features in Samsung Galaxy S5 that can be used to share its mobile data connections with other devices, one of which is USB tethering. If you have a Windows computer, you can enable the USB tethering feature in your phone so you can use its mobile data connection in your PC when both these devices are connected using the USB cable.

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Disclaimer: this post is written based on Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900H runs with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and the computer uses Windows 7 Professional 32-bit as the operating system.
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How to enable and use USB tethering?
Assuming that mobile data in your phone is enabled, you can share its connections to your Windows PC by using the following steps:

1. Connect your phone to the computer using the provided USB cable by plugging the micro USB connector to the micro USB port in your device (it's located under the Home key) and the USB connector to a USB port on your PC. If it's the first time for you to connect your phone with the PC, your PC may need a few minutes to install the driver.
2. Now, open your phone's settings menu by swiping 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.
3. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Network connections section and then tap Tethering and Mobile hotspot .
4. Check the box next to USB tethering to enable this option. When the USB tethering is enabled, the tethering icon will be displayed in the status bar.
5. If it's the first time for you using the USB tethering feature with your PC, your PC may need a few minutes to install the driver.
6. Once done, you can automatically use your phone's mobile data connections in your PC.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Quickly Enable the Priority Interruptions Mode via the Quick Settings Panel in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

By default, the interruptions setting is set to Always interrupt which mean all notification sounds and vibrations will be allowed. But, if you want to allow some notifications and mute others, you can set your interruptions setting to priority interruptions mode so you can select the required notifications as your priority interruptions. Once you have configured your priority interruptions mode, you can quickly enable this mode via the quick settings panel. This will save you more time since you can skip some steps compared if you have to enable this mode via the general settings menu.

How to quickly enable the priority interruptions mode via the quick settings panel?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. While your phone is unlocked, swipe down the top of the screen using two fingers to open up the quick settings panel. Here all quick setting buttons will be displayed.
2. Tap Always interrupt button . The button switches to Priority only and this icon is displayed in the status bar as a sign that the priority interruptions mode has been enabled.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Use Priority Interruptions Mode in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

When you have updated your Samsung Galaxy S4 to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, you'll have some new features in your phone, one of which is the interruptions feature that can be used to customize the notification sound settings in your phone. By default, this feature is set to Always interrupt which mean your phone will sound or vibrate for all notifications. However, if needed, you can set this feature to Priority only so you can set your phone to sound or vibrate for the selected notifications only.

How to enable the priority interruptions mode?
You can do so using the following steps:

1. On any screen, 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. Tap My Device tab.
3. Tap Sounds and notifications.
4. Tap Interruptions.
5. Tap When calls and notifications arrive and then select Only allow priority interruptions.
6. Select Indefinitely if you don't want to set timer for the priority interruptions mode, or select the other option(For 8 hours, For 4 hours, For 3 hours, For 2 hours, For one hour, For 45 minutes, For 30 minutes or For 15 minutes) if you want to set timer for the priority interruptions mode. As the example, if you select For 45 minutes, then the priority interruptions mode will be turned off and switched to Always interrupt after it has been activated for 45 minutes .
7. Tap Confirm button.
8. The priority interruptions mode has been enabled and you'll see this icon is displayed in the status bar.

How to set priority interruptions?
When the priority interruptions mode is enabled, you can select the required notifications you want your phone to sound or vibrate for by using the following steps:

1. While you're in the Interruptions menu, scroll down the screen to the Priority interruptions section.
2. Here, you can enable the required options you want to set as priority interruptions:
• Events and reminders: check the box next to this option to allow notification sounds or vibrations for S Planner events and personal reminders.
• Calls: check the box next to this option to allow notification sounds or vibrations for incoming calls.
• Messages: check the box next to this option to allow notification sounds or vibrations for incoming messages.
• Allowed contacts: this option will be available if you have set Calls and/or Messages as priority interruptions. You can use this option to choose whose calls and/or messages will make your phone plays notification sounds or vibrates. You can select All to allow notification sounds or vibrations for all incoming calls and messages, Favourite contacts only to allow notifications sounds or vibrations for incoming calls and messages come from favourite contacts, or Contacts only to allow notification sounds or vibrations for incoming calls and messages come from those listed in your contacts list.

How to set schedule for the priority interruptions mode?
If needed, you can set your phone to automatically turn on and off the priority interruptions mode by using the following steps:

1. While you're in the Interruptions menu, scroll down the screen to the Set priority interruption period section.
2. Set the days:
• Tap Days.
• Select the required days within a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) you want your phone to automatically turn on the priority interruptions mode.
• Tap Done button to save the changes.
3. Set the time:
• Tap Start time to set the time you want your phone to automatically turn on the priority interruptions mode. Tap OK button to save the changes.
• Tap End time to set the time you want your phone to automatically turn off the priority interruptions mode. Tap OK button to save the changes.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use USB Tethering in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with some features that will let you share your phone's mobile data connection with other devices, one of which is the USB tethering feature. If you have a Windows computer, you can enable the USB tethering feature so you can use your phone's mobile data connection in your PC when these both devices are connected using the USB cable.

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Disclaimer: this post is written based on Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 runs with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and the computer uses Windows 7 Professional 32-bit as the operating system.
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How to enable and use the USB tethering feature?
Assuming that you have enabled mobile data in your Samsung Galaxy S4, you can enable the USB tethering feature and then use its Internet connection in your Windows PC by using the following steps:

1. Connect your phone to the computer using the provided USB cable by plugging the micro USB connector to the micro USB port in your phone (it's located under the Home key) and the USB connector to a USB port on your PC. If it's the first time for you to connect your phone with the PC, your PC may need a few minutes to install the driver.
2. Now, open your phone's settings menu by swiping 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.
3. Tap Connections tab.
4. Tap More networks.
5. Tap Tethering and Mobile hotspot.
6. Check the box next to USB tethering to enable this option. When the USB tethering feature is enabled, the tethering icon will be displayed in the status bar.
7. If it's the first time for you to use the USB tethering feature with your PC, your PC may need a few minutes to install the driver.
8. Once done, you can automatically use your phone's mobile data connections in your PC.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Manage Emergency Contacts in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Safety assistance is a life care feature that is designed to help you send emergency messages contain with your location and visual surroundings to your emergency contacts with ease. Given the function, it'd better if your emergency contacts are the ones who can provide a quick respond or help when you're in an emergency situation, e.g: your family member, your closest friend, etc. Fortunately, the safety assistance feature in Samsung Galaxy S4 lets you manage your emergency contacts so that you can easily add or remove your emergency contacts.

How to add or delete an emergency contact?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, 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. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down the screen and then tap Safety assistance.
4. Scroll the screen to the very bottom and then tap Emergency contacts. To add an emergency contact go to the step #5, while to remove an emergency contact go to the step #6.
5. Adding a contact to the emergency contacts list:
• Tap Create primary contact .
• Tap Create contact if you want to create a new contact and then add it to your emergency contacts list, or tap Select from contacts if you want to pick up a contact from your contacts list and then add it to your emergency contacts list.
• The selected contact has been added to your emergency contacts list.
6. Removing a contact from the emergency contacts list:
• Tap at the top right.
• Select the required emergency contact you want to remove.
• Tap Delete button at the top right.
• Tap Delete button to confirm.
• The selected contact has been removed from your emergency contacts list.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Enable and Use Safety Assistance Feature in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Safety assistance is a life care feature available in Samsung Galaxy S4 runs with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop that can be used to help you send emergency messages to your emergency contacts. The message contains with your approximate location and visual surroundings taken using both the front and rear cameras.


How to enable the safety assistance feature?
You can enable and configure this feature by using the following steps:

1. On any screen, 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. Tap My device tab.
3. Scroll down the screen and then tap Safety assistance.
   
   
4. Slide the ON/OFF switch to the right to enable the safety assistance. The switch turns green when it's enabled.
5. If it's the first time, you'll be provided with the terms and conditions screen. Scroll down the screen to read it and then check all checkboxes to agree the terms and conditions, then tap OK button to continue.
   
   
6. Since you have to register at least one emergency contact to make this feature works, you'll be asked to do so. Tap Add button to add your emergency contacts.
   
   
7. Select Create contact if you want to create a new contact and then set it as emergency contact, or select Select from contacts to pick up contacts from your contacts list and then set them as emergency contacts.
   
   
8. Once you have added your emergency contacts, press the Back key to return to the safety assistance menu.
9. If you'd like to include pictures taken with the rear and front-facing cameras within your emergency messages, check the box next to the Send emergency pictures option to enable it.
   
   

How to use the safety assistance feature?
While you're in an emergency situation, tap and hold the Volume Up key and the Volume Down key for 3 seconds, your phone will turn on Wi-Fi, mobile data and GPS automatically and then send an emergency message contains with your current location as well as pictures of your surroundings that are taken using both the rear and front-facing cameras to your emergency contacts.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Edit Tagged Information in a Photo in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

When you have enabled the tag buddy feature in the stock Gallery app, the tagged information(date and time, location, category and tags) will be displayed at the bottom left corner of each photo. If needed, you can easily edit the tagged information, for instance: assign other categories, enter a new tag, etc.

How to edit tagged information in a photo in the stock Gallery app?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. Open Gallery app.
2. Tap an album and then tap the required picture.
3. Tap the tagged information in the bottom left corner, or tap at the top right and then select More info.
4. Tap at the top right to edit the tagged information of the selected picture.
5. Now, you can edit the required information, such as: set/change/remove location, assign or remove categories, add or remove tags. As a note, since the people's faces you have tagged can't be removed from here, if you'd like to remove the tagged name, you can find the complete steps here.
6. Tap Done button to save the changes.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable Tag Buddy Feature in Gallery App in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Tag buddy is a useful feature in the stock Gallery app that can be used to tag your photos with some information, such as: date and time, categories, location and tags. The tagged information will be displayed at the bottom left corner of each photo.

How to enable the tag buddy feature in the stock Gallery app?
You can turn this feature on by using the following steps:

1. Open the stock Gallery app.
2. Tap at the top right corner of the screen or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then select Settings.
3. If needed, scroll down the screen.
4. Tap Tag buddy.
5. Slide the ON/OFF switch to the right to enable the tag buddy feature. The switch turns green when it's enabled.
6. Now, you can enable the following options to tag them in your photos:
• Date: enable this option to let your phone adds the date and time to your photos. Your phone will use the currently set date and time when the picture was taken.
• Location: enable this option to let your phone adds location data to your photos. Your phone will use the currently location where the picture was taken. As a note, this feature works if you have enabled the location tags feature in the stock Camera app before taking the photo.
• Category: enable this option to let your phone assigns categories to your photos automatically. There are 7 default categories available: people, scenery, documents, food, pets, vehicles and flowers.
• Tags: enable this option if you want to be able to add tags to your photos. If you have tagged people's faces within a photo using the face tag feature, the tagged names will automatically be displayed under this option.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable Location Tags Feature in Camera App in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

The stock Camera app comes with several useful features, one of which is the location tags. When you enable this feature, each picture taken with the stock Camera app will be attached with a GPS location tag. But, you have to remember that since these pictures contain with location information, make sure you use caution when you send, share, distribute or copy them.

How to enable the location tags feature in the stock Camera app?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. Open the stock Camera app. If you'd like to speed up the way to access the stock Camera app, you can enable the camera shortcut on the lock screen.
2. Tap at the top left to open up the settings menu of the stock Camera app.
3. Scroll down the menu and then tap Location tags .
4. A pop up window contains with information about the location tags feature is displayed on your screen. Tap OK button to continue.
5. Since the location tags feature works by utilizing the location service, if it's disabled, you'll be brought to the Location menu and asked to enable it. You can enable it by sliding the ON/OFF switch to the right and then tap Agree button if you'd like to improve location accuracy. You will need to press the Back key to return to the Camera app.
6. The location tags feature has been enabled.
7. From now on, each picture taken with the stock Camera app will be attached with the geographical location data.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Use Magnifier in Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Samsung Galaxy S5 comes with set of default widgets, one of which is the magnifier widget. This widget works by utilizing the rear camera to help you magnify text or objects. Before you can use the magnifier widget, you have to add it to your home screen first.

How to add the magnifier widget to the home screen
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. While you're in home screen, long press the Recent apps key or long tap on a blank area of the home screen.
2. Tap the Widgets button at the bottom of the screen. It'll quickly bring you to the widgets list.
3. Find the Magnifier 1x1 widget .
4. Tap and hold the widget and then drag it to the home screen.
5. Release the widget to place it in home screen.
6. The magnifier widget has been added to home screen.

How to use the magnifier widget?
See the following steps as the example of using the magnifier widget:

1. Tap the magnifier widget icon in your home screen to open it.
2. Aim the camera to the desired text or objects.
3. Adjusting the magnification:
• Tap at the bottom of the screen to increase the magnification.
• Tap at the bottom of the screen to decrease the magnification.
4. Adjusting the focus:
• Tap at the top right to focus in the center of the screen.
• To change the focus manually, tap where you want to focus.
5. Using the flashlight:
   While you're viewing text or objects in dark or low light condition, you can tap at the top of the screen to turn on the flash.
6. Taking a photo of text or objects:
• Tap at the top left.
• If needed, you can adjust the magnification by tapping or at the bottom of the screen before saving the image.
• Tap at the top right to save the image.

Samsung Galaxy S4: How to Fix Can't Forward a Text Message

Today, an insider asked me why he couldn't find the "forward" option when long pressing a text message in the stock Messaging app. He just had delete and copy text options. From what I know, the text messages forwarding feature is not available when we are in the easy mode. As we all know that the easy mode has simpler layout and disables some advanced features(including with the text messages forwarding feature) since it is designed for first smartphone users. Thus, if you want to be able to forward text messages, you have to use standard mode by disabling the easy mode.

How to disable the easy mode?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. While you're in the easy mode, swipe down the top of the screen using your finger to open up the notification panel and then tap at the top right to go to the easy settings menu.
2. Tap Home screen mode .
3. Select Standard mode and then tap Apply button.
4. Tap OK button.
5. The easy mode will be disabled and your phone will use the standard mode as the home screen mode.
6. Now, you should find the forward option when long pressing a bubble message within a conversation in the stock Messaging app.