How do I manage my apps?

Apps are an essential part of your Galaxy experience. There are functional apps for messaging and communication, business software and maps or lifestyle apps to fitness tracking, video streaming and games. Some apps come pre-installed on to your device, and you can explore, download install new apps from the Galaxy Store or the Google Play Store on your device. You can also uninstall or disable apps you really don't need or use.

To download apps from the Galaxy Store, you must first set up and a Samsung account and to download apps from the Play Store, you must first set up a Google account.

To access your Apps, swipe up on the Home screen to access the Apps screen. Some devices also have an Apps button. If so, you can tap the Apps button to launch the Apps screen if you prefer.

Please note: the steps described below relate to devices running Android Pie and above. The steps may vary depending on your device and version of Android that it is running. The available options may also differ according to the app that is being moved.

Only install known and trusted apps

For security reasons, we recommend that you download apps from a secure and trusted app store like Galaxy Apps or the Play Store on your Samsung device. Your Samsung device does not allow automatic download of apps from unknown sources. If you download an app that is from an unknown source, you will be prompted to allow unknown apps to be installed in your settings. If you do download an app from a third-party site, ensure that it is only from a reputable and secure source.


App minimum requirements and specifications

Different apps have different minimum requirements to run. Bigger and more complex apps will usually need a higher level of operating system in order to run effectively.

If you have an older device, you will not be able to install apps that need a later operating system or other minimum specifications to work. If you try to install an app that requires a higher operating system than your device, you may not be able to install it or the app may not work effectively if you can. Note that larger developers may offer a 'lite' version of the app for older or lower-storage devices. Find out how to check your device's operating system.

Other apps may require that you have a SIM-card installed e.g. Whatsapp.

Please note: if you are experiencing problems with specific apps you should visit the app developer’s website to help resolve your problem. 

How to download apps to your phone How to download apps to your phone

Follow the steps below to download an app from the Play Store:

1 Tap to launch the "Play Store".
Play Store icon
2 If you have not logged in to your Google Account on your device, the Play Store will prompt you to log in to your Google Account. Enter your log in details or create an account to continue.

Alternatively, you can add your Google Account to your device via the Settings menu. Find out how to set up or log in to a Google Account on your Galaxy device.

3 Once you have logged in to the Play Store, browse the Store for an app that you would like to download.

There are several ways you can navigate the Play Store to find an app to download:

  • Type: At the bottom of the Play Store, select the type of content that you would like to download (Games, Apps, Movies, Books).
  • Search: Type the name of the app that you would like to download into the search bar, then tap the app from the auto-suggest list.
  • Category: Apps are divided into several categories including For you, Top charts, Categories, Editor's choice, Family and Early access.

 

Play Store home screen
4 Tap the app you wish to download, then tap "Install".

Please note: To install, some apps will ask for you to review and grant access permissions. Tap "Accept" to grant permission.

Install is selected in the Play Store
5 Once installed, tap "Open" to launch the app.

Alternatively, you can launch an app from the Apps screen. Swipe up on the Home screen to access the Apps screen, then tap the app's icon to launch.

Open is selected once an app has been installed from the Play Store

You can find installed apps on the App screen. If you are having problems locating an app you can use the App screen search bar to find it:

1 Swipe up on the Home screen to access the Apps screen.
2 Start to type the name of the app in the search bar.
3 Once the app your looking for has appeared, hold down until "Locate app" appears.
4 Tap "Locate app" and your phone will highlight the app’s location.

Please note: some apps cannot be uninstalled. For most of these, you will see an option to 'Disable' instead of uninstall. Find out how to remove or disable embedded apps. Take care when disabling apps. Some may be needed for the running of basic functions on your device. For example, if you disable the Play Store, you will no longer be able to download or update apps from the Play Store.

1 Launch the "Play Store" app.
2 Tap the "Account" icon (a letter inside a coloured circle on the top right of the screen)
Account icon is selected in play store
3 Tap "My apps & games".
4 Tap "Installed".
5 Tap the app that you would like to uninstall.
6 Tap "Uninstall".
7 Tap "OK" to confirm.

There are several ways to move or reorder your apps. To access the Apps screen, swipe up or down on the Home screen or tap the Apps button.

  • To rearrange apps: Tap and hold the app, then drag it to your preferred location.
  • To move an app to the home screen: Tap and hold the app, then tap "Add to home".
Add to home option is selected
  • To remove an app from the home screen: Tap and hold the app, then tap "Remove from home".
Remove from home option is selected

Please note: The Secure Folder is currently available on devices running on Android Nougat 7.0 and above.

Creating folders

Creating folders can help you organise your Apps screen so you can group similar apps together.

  • To create a new folder: Tap and hold an app, then drag it over another app and release it. Tap "Folder name", then enter the name that you would like to give to the folder. Tap "Done".
How to create folder
  • To add apps to an existing folder: There are two ways to add more apps to your folder.
1 Tap and hold an app, then drag it over the folder that you would like to add it to.
2 Tap to open the folder. Tap the + icon. Scroll down to find the app that you would like to add. Tap the app to select it, then tap "Done".
  • To remove an app from a folder: Tap and hold an app inside a folder, drag it outside of the folder and release it.
How to remove an app from a folder

Please note: Most apps are developed to be run from internal storage and not from SD cards. Some developers still allow apps to be moved to an SD card, but this can result in usability issues. TIP: if you are trying to save storage space, try setting your photos and videos to save to the SD card first (or to automatically back up via Wi-Fi) before attempting to move apps. You may also choose to clear your device’s cache data to save space and speed up your device.

1 Go to "Settings", then tap "Apps".
2 Select the app.
3 Tap "Storage".
4 Tap "Change".

Please note: If the "Change" option is greyed out or not available, this app is not able to be moved. If you have an SD card installed but are unable to move any of your apps, you should check it is installed correctly.

5 Tap "SD card".
6 Tap "Move".

Keep your apps updated to benefit from improved app performance, bugs fixes or new features released in periodic updates. You can update apps manually or set your apps to update automatically. If you are experiencing a number of apps crashing, you should check for further advice.

How to update your apps How to update your apps

To update an app manually:

1 Launch the "Play Store" app.
2 Tap the “Account” icon (a letter inside a coloured circle on the top right of the screen).
Account icon in Play Store app
3 Tap "Manage apps and device".
4 In “Overview” you will see any available updates.
  • To update individual apps, tap "See details".
  • To update all the apps, tap "Update all".

 

If the message "No updates available" is displayed, all apps are up to date.

To update apps automatically:

1 Launch the "Play Store" app.
2 Tap the “Account” icon (a letter inside a coloured circle on the top right of the screen).
3 Tap "Settings".
4 Tap "Network preferences" and “App download preference”, then tap your preferred setting.

●    Over any network

●    Over Wi-Fi only

●    Ask me every time

 

Please note: data charges may apply if you select "Over any network".

From time to time your apps may send notifications. You can choose which apps you would like to receive notifications from and block notifications from apps that you do not want to receive notifications from.

Find out more about managing notifications on your device.

Please note: app notifications depend on the version of Android that your device is running.

How to set up app notifications on your phone How to set up app notifications on your phone

Launching two apps at the same time can be useful when you are doing multiple things at once, for example checking your WhatsApp while watching a YouTube video. There are two ways to launch two apps at the same time: using Split Screen view or Pop-Up View. You can access these views from the Edge Panel or the Recent apps button.

Via the Edge Panel:

Please note: only apps that follow the Multi-Window format for Android Nougat and above can be used as part of an app pair for Galaxy Edge devices. You can also use the same app (e.g. Samsung Internet + Samsung Internet) to open two browser windows.

First make sure that the Edge screen is enabled:

1 Go to "Settings", then tap "Display".
2 Tap "Edge screen".
3 Tap the switch to activate "Edge panels".

Return to the home screen, then follow the steps below:

1 Swipe left from the right-hand side of the screen where you can see the Edge panel tab.
Edge panel tab
2 Tap on the app you would like to launch.
3 Swipe left from the right-hand side of the screen to see Edge panel tab again.
4 Drag the other app to the main screen to view it in split screen.

Via the Recent apps button:

1 Launch the apps that you would like to open simultaneously, then return to the Home screen.
2 Tap the Recent apps icon.
Tap recent apps icon
3 Tap and hold the app icon of the first app you would like to launch.
4 Tap "Open in split screen view" or "Open in pop-up view".
Split screen view and pop up view options are displayed
5 Swipe left or right to find the other app you would like to launch, then tap to launch.

Please note: it is not possible to open all types of apps in split screen view or pop-up view, therefore you may not always see this option when tapping on app icons.

This function is available on the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system and up.

How to set app permissions on your phone How to set app permissions on your phone
1 Go to "Settings", then tap "Apps".
2 Tap the More options icon (three vertical dots).
More options icon
3 Tap "Special access".
Special access is selected
4 Choose which access you would like for each application.

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