The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Several Samsung Galaxy features can save taps, keep two tasks visible, or make sharing and charging easier once you know what their names mean. Here are ten practical ones, with where to look and the main compatibility caveats. Availability and menu paths vary by model, carrier, country, and One UI version; if a path differs, search the feature name in Settings or the phone’s help.
1. Automate changes with Modes and Routines
Use a routine to make your phone respond to a condition instead of changing settings manually. For example, a routine can turn on Airplane mode or enable a hotspot when its chosen condition occurs. Samsung’s One UI 5 guide also gives examples such as opening an app pair and adjusting audio balance, but those older examples are not a guarantee that every action is available on every current Galaxy.
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Look for Modes and Routines in Settings. Choose a condition and the action or actions you want it to trigger; the available choices depend on the device and software. Samsung’s One UI 5 feature guide describes routines and its version-specific examples.
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2. Keep two tasks together with Multi window and App pairs
When you need to refer to one app while using another, split-screen view gives each app a fixed area. If you need a smaller reference window you can move around, use pop-up view instead. After arranging two apps in split-screen, you can save the combination as an App pair for quicker reuse.
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- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
- Split screen: best when both apps need to stay visible side by side.
- Pop-up view: best when one app should remain a movable window over another.
- App pair: best when you regularly use the same two apps together.
Samsung’s support page explains how to open Multi window and save an App pair, including access through Edge panels. It cautions that “Some apps do not support split screen view.” Some apps and device screens do not support every layout, and availability varies by model, carrier, and software. See Samsung’s Multi window and App pairs instructions.
3. Capture or reuse part of the screen with Edge panels and Smart Select
Edge panels provide customizable shortcuts you can open from the side of the screen. On One UI 6.1.1 and later, Smart Select is available inside the Apps panel rather than as the older standalone panel. Select part of the screen to capture or work with it; Samsung also documents creating a GIF from a selection after updating the required Galaxy Store software.
To find it, open Edge panels and check the Apps panel for Smart Select. The panel layout and steps can differ by software version. Samsung’s updated Edge panel guide covers the current location and GIF steps.
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- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
4. Search what is on screen with Circle to Search
If you spot an unfamiliar object, phrase, or image while using an app, Circle to Search lets you select it without first leaving that screen. Circle, highlight, or tap the relevant on-screen content to start a Google-powered search.
Samsung Canada says the feature requires a Google account and select devices running Android 14 with One UI 6.1 or later; availability can differ by model and region. On a supported device, use the Circle to Search gesture or control configured for it. For requirements and guidance, see Samsung Canada’s Circle to Search support page.
5. Turn a screen selection into an action with AI Select
AI Select lets you select an area already visible on your screen and use the result in another way, such as extracting text, saving, sharing, or editing it. On One UI 7, Samsung says it can suggest actions based on the selection. This is a shortcut for working with on-screen material, not a promise that every item or app will be recognized or handled successfully.
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- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
On supported devices, open AI Select from the available Galaxy AI or Edge panel controls, then choose an action offered for the selection. Samsung’s feature descriptions and example device support are on its Galaxy AI support page.
6. Share files with fewer recipient searches using Quick Share
Quick Share can suggest recipients associated with your Samsung account or people you have shared with before, which may save searching through a contact list. Choose the file, open the share options, and select Quick Share to see available recipients and nearby devices.
Samsung’s One UI 7 documentation says a transfer can continue over the internet if the devices move out of direct-transfer range, using Wi-Fi or mobile data. That depends on a working internet connection; it is not an uninterrupted transfer guarantee. See Samsung’s One UI 7 feature overview.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
7. Find a screen to cast to with Nearby devices and Smart View
When you want to show phone content on a larger display, Nearby devices can surface Samsung TVs and other nearby devices from the quick panel, with Smart View offered for a TV. This is a discovery shortcut: the receiving screen still needs to be compatible and set up for the connection.
Open the quick panel and look for Nearby devices or Smart View; labels and availability vary. Samsung describes the discovery shortcut in its One UI 7 feature overview.
8. Use a compatible Galaxy as a desktop-style workspace with DeX
Samsung DeX presents a compatible Galaxy phone or tablet on an external display in a desktop-style layout. You can connect to a monitor or TV by cable or wirelessly, and use a keyboard and mouse if you want conventional desktop controls. A keyboard and mouse are optional; the display connection is the central requirement.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
| Connection | What it involves | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| Wired | A compatible device and display, with the appropriate cable or a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter. | You want a direct cable connection. Samsung documents a standard adapter as one way to start DeX on compatible phones or tablets. |
| Wireless | A compatible Galaxy and a display that supports the wireless connection method. | You want to connect without running a display cable. |
DeX is not supported on every Galaxy model. Samsung also says DeX for PC is unsupported on some newer devices running One UI 7 or later, so check compatibility for your exact device before planning a setup. See Samsung’s DeX display instructions, its keyboard and mouse guidance, and its adapter guidance.
9. Choose a charging ceiling with Battery protection
If you prefer to limit how far the battery charges, Battery protection provides a maximum charging-level setting. Samsung’s One UI 7 page says the maximum can be adjusted between 80% and 95%. That describes the available setting, not a measured promise about how much longer a particular battery will last.
Search Settings for Battery protection on a supported device to see the available controls. Samsung’s One UI 7 feature overview also describes power-saving controls for choosing what to limit.
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10. Pause on possible personal information before sharing an image
Before sending a screenshot or other image, inspect it for information you did not intend to share. Samsung’s One UI 5 guide describes a share-panel warning when an image appears to contain personal information such as card numbers, identification, or passport details. Treat that warning as a prompt, not a privacy check that detects everything; review the image yourself before sending it.
The warning is described in Samsung’s One UI 5 feature guide.
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