How to customise the Side button with new features on your Galaxy phone and tablet
The Side button on your phone and tablet become a personal shortcut for your favourite features. Whether you want to access Gemini, open the selfie camera, or launch Samsung Wallet, customising your Side button helps you get things done faster. The Side button offers greater flexibility, allowing you to assign app shortcuts or specific features to different gestures. You can now assign apps or specific in-app features to both the Double press and Long press gestures. This guide explains default behaviours, key changes, and how to set up shortcuts that match your needs.
Note:
- Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC.
- Results for illustrative purposes.
- Gemini Live feature requires internet connection and Google Account login.
- Service availability may vary by country, language, device model.
- Features may differ depending on subscription and results may vary.
- Compatible with certain features and certain accounts.
- Currently, you can use a personal Google Account that you manage on your own, or a work or school account for which your administrator has enabled access to Gemini.
- You must be 13 (or the applicable age in your country) or over to use Gemini with a personal or school Google Account and 18 or over to use Gemini with a work account.
Key Side button enhancements
The Side button supports new default behaviours and customisation options. By default, long pressing the button now launches Gemini, or Google Assistant in regions where Gemini is not available. In addition, double pressing the Side button opens the Camera app by default, but users can reassign this gesture to launch other apps or even specific in-app functions, such as opening the selfie mode in Camera or starting a voice recording.
Note: Available features may vary by device model and region.
What you should know first
The Side button performs the following actions:
- Single press: Wake or lock the screen.
- Double press: Launch a selected app or feature.
- Long press: Launch Gemini.
- Side button + Volume Down:
1) Short press: Take a screenshot.
2) Long press: Power-off or Emergency SOS.
Note: Available features may vary by device model and region.
How to customise Double and Long press
1. Double press
Function-level customisation is now available for the Double press action. Instead of launching just an app, you can trigger a specific task within it, like opening the selfie camera or starting a voice recording.
Supported options include:
- Camera > Open Camera
- Samsung Wallet
- Flashlight
- Magnifier
- Voice Recorder > Start recording
- Samsung Notes > Record voice note
- Samsung Capture > AI select
- Modes and Routines > Sleep
- Apps
Note: Supported options may vary by region, software version, and carrier.
Step 1. Select the Settings app.
Step 2. Select Advanced features.
Step 3. Select Side button.
Step 4. Select Double press.
Step 5. Tap the app you want to launch when double pressing.
Step 6. Once you select the Settings (Gear icon) tap the specific feature you want to launch within the app.
Note: If an app in the list shows the Settings (Gear icon) next to it, that means the app supports in-app shortcut options. Select the Settings (Gear icon) to choose the specific function you want to launch.
2. Long press
The Long press gesture now defaults to launching Gemini, Google's AI-powered assistant. You can switch this to the power menu or other digital assistant options anytime.
Step 1. Select the Settings app.
Step 2. Select Advanced features.
Step 3. Select Side button.
Step 4. Select Long press.
Step 5. Tap the app you want to launch when long pressing.
Step 6. Once you select the Settings (Gear icon), tap the specific feature you want to launch within the app.
Note: If an app in the list shows the Settings (Gear icon) next to it, that means the app supports in-app shortcut options. Select the Settings (Gear icon) to choose the specific function you want to launch.
If you set Long press to launch a digital assistant app or Bixby, you will not be able to access the power off menu using the Side button.
To turn off your phone, refer to the How to power off your phone section at the bottom of the Side button settings screen, which provides three alternative methods:
- Use the Quick panel.
- Press and hold Side + Volume Down.
- Using Bixby: Say “Turn off the phone”.
Note:
- Device screenshots and menus may vary depending on the device model and software version.
- Some AI-related features require you to sign in with a Google account.
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