On most recent Samsung Galaxy phones, open Settings > Advanced features > Side button. Choose what Double press does, then choose what Press and hold (called Long press on some models) does. Select Power off menu if you want a long press to show shutdown controls. If holding the button opens an assistant instead, press Side button + Volume down together for a few seconds, or open Quick settings and tap the Power icon. Labels and available shortcuts vary by model, software version, region and carrier.
What the Galaxy Side button controls
Samsung uses the Side button for two configurable gestures and for power controls. The exact menu is device-dependent, but the current Samsung support path is Settings > Advanced features > Side button.
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| Gesture or control | What you can configure or do | Important variation |
|---|---|---|
| Double press | Launch Camera, an installed app, or another listed shortcut such as Flashlight, Magnifier, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes, Samsung Capture, Modes and Routines, or Apps. | The list differs by Galaxy model and software. Some newer devices can trigger a particular feature inside an app, such as starting a voice recording. |
| Press and hold or Long press | Open an assistant such as Bixby or another digital assistant, or show the Power off menu. | Samsung may use either label, and not every phone offers the same choices. |
| Power controls | Power off, Restart, and, where supported, quick access to emergency calling and medical information. | You can reach these controls with the button combination or Quick settings even when the Side button is assigned to an assistant. |
How to change Side button settings
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Advanced features.
- Tap Side button. On some software versions the page may use slightly different wording, but it remains under Advanced features.
- Under Double press, turn the feature on if necessary and select the action you want.
- Under Press and hold or Long press, select the action you want for a sustained press.
- Leave Settings and test each gesture once. A double press should be two deliberate clicks; a hold should last until the selected action appears.
Samsung’s US guidance lists Camera and app launching among the common double-press choices. Depending on your phone, you may also see Flashlight, Magnifier, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes, Samsung Capture, Modes and Routines, or Apps. Samsung Ireland documents newer function-level shortcuts, such as starting a recording inside an app. Treat that deeper shortcut as optional and device-dependent rather than a feature every Galaxy phone has.
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Open the Side button page and tap the Double press row. Pick the shortcut that saves you the most time. Camera is useful for a fast launch from the lock screen; an app shortcut is better when you repeatedly open one specific tool. If your list contains a feature rather than an app, read the description carefully: it may perform one action inside the app instead of merely opening the app.
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If double press appears to do nothing, return to this page and verify that the toggle is enabled. Try two distinct presses with a short pause rather than one long press. A case that makes the button stiff can also prevent the phone from registering two separate clicks; remove the case briefly while testing.
Choose what a press and hold does
Tap Press and hold or Long press. Select Power off menu when you want the Side button to open shutdown controls. Select an assistant when you prefer voice commands or assistant features. The setting is independent from Double press, so changing one does not automatically change the other.
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How to open the power menu
Assign the Side button to Power off menu
For a one-button route, go to Settings > Advanced features > Side button > Press and hold (or Long press) and choose Power off menu. Press and hold the Side button until the menu appears. From there, choose Power off or Restart, then confirm on-screen if your model asks you to.
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Use Side button plus Volume down
If the hold gesture launches Bixby or another assistant, press and hold the Side button and Volume down together for a few seconds. Samsung documents this as an alternate way to display the power controls on supported Galaxy phones. Press both buttons at the same time and keep them held until the menu appears; pressing only the Side button will continue to invoke whichever hold action you selected.
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Use Quick settings
Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick settings. On many Galaxy versions you may need a second swipe to expand the panel. Tap the Power icon, then choose Power off or Restart. This route is useful when a case makes the physical buttons hard to press or when you do not want to change your Side button assignment.
What appears in the power menu
The menu normally provides Power off and Restart. Samsung also says the screen can provide quick access to emergency calls and stored medical information. Availability and exact placement can vary, so check the labels on your own phone before relying on them in an emergency. If the phone is frozen and does not respond to the menu, the documented button route may still work; hold Side button and Volume down together for several seconds and watch for the power screen.
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Why your settings may not match another Galaxy phone
Samsung does not use one universal Side button interface. The company’s US, Ireland and Australia support pages describe the same general path but caution that menus and functions change with device, operating-system version, region and carrier.
| Difference you may see | Likely explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Press and hold versus Long press | Different One UI or model wording. | Open the Side button page and choose the row that describes a sustained press. |
| Fewer double-press choices | Your model or software does not expose every shortcut listed in Samsung’s US guidance. | Use the choices shown on your device; do not expect Camera, Flashlight or an app feature to appear universally. |
| An app feature is listed instead of only the app | Newer software can expose function-level shortcuts, such as starting a recording. | Read the option description and test it once before depending on it. |
| The Side button page is absent or located elsewhere | Older hardware, a different software build, or a carrier-customized interface. | Search Settings for “Side button” and install any available system updates. If no matching control exists, use the button combination or Quick settings Power icon. |
Samsung Ireland’s guide, updated August 19, 2025, specifically notes that feature availability can vary by region, software version and carrier. Samsung Australia’s guidance, updated August 18, 2026, likewise describes an Australia-specific device scope. Those qualifications explain why instructions from another country may not exactly match your screen.
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Fix common Side button problems
Holding the button opens Bixby or another assistant
That behavior means the hold action is assigned to an assistant. To change it, open Settings > Advanced features > Side button, tap Press and hold or Long press, and choose Power off menu. For a one-time shutdown without changing the setting, use Side button + Volume down or Quick settings > Power.
Double press launches the wrong app
Return to the Double press setting and select a different action. If an app-specific function launches unexpectedly, switch to the app itself or Camera instead. Test from the lock screen and from the home screen, because some shortcuts can behave differently depending on whether the phone is locked.
The phone does not recognize the gesture
- Confirm that Double press is enabled and that Press and hold is assigned to a visible action.
- Press the Side button twice distinctly; do not hold the first press.
- For the power combination, press Side button and Volume down together and keep both held for a few seconds.
- Remove a tight case while testing and check that the buttons move freely.
- If the software recently changed, reopen Settings and verify the labels and assignments; an update can rename a row or alter available shortcuts.
You cannot find the Power off menu option
Use the Settings search field for Side button and inspect both the Double press and hold sections. If Power off menu is not offered, your model or software may not support assigning it. The Side button + Volume down method and Quick settings Power icon remain the documented alternatives on supported devices.
Choosing practical assignments
Pick shortcuts based on how you use the phone, not on a list from another model. Camera is the simplest emergency capture shortcut. Flashlight or Magnifier can be convenient if those controls are otherwise buried in Quick settings. Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes, Samsung Capture, Modes and Routines, and an everyday app are useful when your model exposes them. Keep Power off menu on the hold gesture if you frequently restart the phone or need predictable access to emergency and medical-information controls; otherwise, an assistant may be more useful.
After changing an assignment, perform three checks: double press from the lock screen, double press from the home screen, and a sustained press long enough to display the selected result. If any check fails, return to the Side button page before assuming the phone or button is defective.
Quick Recap
Quick reference
- Change either gesture: Settings > Advanced features > Side button.
- Change double press: Open Double press and choose one of the options your device lists.
- Make holding the button show shutdown controls: Set Press and hold or Long press to Power off menu.
- Open the menu without changing settings: Hold Side button + Volume down, or use Quick settings > Power.
- Expect differences: Model, One UI/software version, region and carrier determine labels and available shortcuts.
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