Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable or Disable the Power Key as the Screen Lock Key in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Power key is a physical button in Samsung Galaxy S5 which is located at the right side of the phone. You can either enable or disable this key as the screen lock key if you have set a screen lock with security lock feature. If the power key is set as the screen lock key, you can turn off and instantly lock the screen simply by single pressing the power key. While if this key is not set as the screen lock key, pressing the power key will only turn off the screen without locking it.


How to enable or disable the power key as the screen lock key?
Assuming that you have enabled a screen lock with security lock feature(pattern/PIN/password/fingerprint), you can either enable or disable the power key as the screen lock key 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 to go to the settings menu.
  2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Lock screen .
  3. With pattern/PIN/password/fingerprint has been selected as the screen lock, you should have the option to enable or disable the power key as the screen lock key.
  4. Enable the power key as the screen lock key:
    • While in the lock screen menu, scroll the screen to the very bottom.
    • Check the box next to Lock instantly with power key to enable this option.
    • Now, when you press the power key, the screen will be turned off and instantly locked. If you want to access your phone, you have to turn on the screen and then enter or perform the screen lock.
  5. Disable the power key as the screen lock key:
    • While in the lock screen menu, scroll the screen to the very bottom.
    • Clear the checkbox next to Lock instantly with power key to disable this option.
    • Now, when you press the power key, the screen will be turned off but it's not locked. The screen will be locked when the selected delay for the auto screen lock has been over so that during this time you can still access your phone without having to enter or perform the screen lock.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Adjust Automatic Screen Lock Delay in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to set a screen lock with security lock feature but then it irritated you since you had to enter or perform the screen lock each time you wanted to access your phone even when the screen was just off for a few seconds? If that so, you can fix your problem by adjusting the delay for auto screen lock. By doing this, once the screen is turned off automatically, the screen won't be locked until the specified delay for the auto screen lock is reached so that during this time you still can access the phone without having to enter or perform the screen lock.


How to adjust auto screen lock delay?
Assuming that you have enabled a screen lock with security lock feature (pattern, PIN, password, fingerprint), then you can adjust auto screen lock delay 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 to go to the settings menu.
  2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Lock screen .
  3. With pattern/PIN/password/fingerprint has been selected as the screen lock, you should have the option to set how long the screen should be locked after it automatically turns off.
  4. If needed, scroll down the screen, tap Lock automatically and then select from the following options:
    • Immediately: select this option to lock the screen immediately when the screen automatically turns off.
    • 5 seconds: select this option to lock the screen in 5 seconds after the screen automatically turns off. This option is enabled by default.
    • 15 seconds
    • 30 seconds
    • 1 minute
    • 2 minutes
    • 5 minutes
    • 10 minutes
    • 30 minutes
  5. The auto screen lock delay has been adjusted

If you're tight with battery life issue, it'd better to adjust auto screen lock delay than adjust the screen timeout since adjusting auto screen lock delay will be able to help you conserve the battery as well as improve your convenience because you just need to enter or perform the screen lock to access your phone only if the selected delay for the auto screen lock has been over.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Change Pattern Grid Style on Lock Screen in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Pattern is a screen lock method that can be found in Samsung Galaxy S5. When you have selected pattern as your screen lock method, you have to draw the specified pattern in a grid of nine dots on lock screen to unlock the screen. Another thing that will probably make you love this screen lock type is the fact that you can change the default pattern grid style to the other one for a more personal touch.


How to change pattern grid style on lock screen?
Assuming that you have selected pattern as the screen lock, then you can change the pattern grid style 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 to go to the settings menu.
  2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Lock screen .
  3. With Pattern has been selected as the screen lock, you should see the option to change the pattern grid style/type.
  4. Tap Pattern type and then select from the following options: Classic(it's enabled by default), Halftone, Morphing and Multicolour. You can see the picture below to know their differences.
  5. Tap Done button to save the changes.
  6. Now, press the Power key twice to go to the lock screen and you'll see the pattern grid is displayed with the selected style/type.

Aside from making your phone to be more secure, selecting pattern as the screen lock will also let you have an alternative way to keep your lock screen looks fresh by changing the pattern grid style periodically.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Change the Clock Size on Lock Screen in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

By default, your phone will display the date and time on lock screen so that you can easily know the current date and time without you have to unlock the screen. The date on lock screen can either be displayed or not, but the time will always be displayed there since this phone doesn't provide an option to show or hide the clock. One thing that can be done to customize the clock on lock screen is by changing its size.


How to change the clock size on lock screen?
As long as the screen lock is not turned off, you can change the clock size 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 to go to the settings menu.
  2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Lock screen .
  3. Regardless the screen lock that is being used by you, you should see an option to change the clock size within the lock screen menu.
  4. Tap Clock size and then select the desired size from the following options: Small, Normal, and Large. When selecting a size option, you'll be given live preview so that you'll get an idea how big the clock size will be.
  5. Tap Done button to save the changes.
  6. Now, press the Power key twice to go to the lock screen and you'll see the clock is displayed in the selected size.

As a note, the time will displayed in the default format "hh:mm" either in 24-hours format or in AM/PM format depending on the time format you have selected in the date and time settings menu.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable and Use Camera Shortcut on Lock Screen in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

I do believe that most of you often use the Camera app in your Samsung Galaxy S5 to take pictures or record videos, moreover the stock Camera app is supported with powerful hardware and various advanced features which will be able to improve your experience and provide you a better result. Since the Camera app is one of the favourite apps, this phone provides you an option to show the camera shortcut on lock screen so that you can easily and quickly access the Camera app directly from the lock screen without you have to perform any screen lock method. Even so, if needed, you can also set your phone not to display the camera shortcut on lock screen.


How to show or hide the camera shortcut on lock screen?
As long as the screen lock is not turned off, you can either enable or disable the camera shortcut on lock screen 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 to go to the settings menu.
  2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Lock screen .
  3. Regardless the screen lock that is being used by you, you should see the option to show or hide the camera shortcut within the lock screen menu.
  4. Depending on your current settings, tap Camera shortcut to enable or disable this option. When the checkbox next to this option is checked means the camera shortcut will be displayed on the lock screen.


How to use the camera shortcut on lock screen to access Camera app?
Assuming that you have enabled the camera shortcut on lock screen, then you can use the shortcut to easily access the Camera app directly from the lock screen. See the following steps to do so:
  1. If the screen is off, press the Power key or the Home key to turn the screen on and display the lock screen.
  2. The camera shortcut is displayed at the bottom right corner of the lock screen.
  3. Drag the camera shortcut upwards.
  4. The Camera app will be opened shortly and ready to use to take pictures or record videos.

As a note, if you access the Camera app from the shortcut on lock screen while you're using a screen lock method other than swipe(like: pattern, PIN, password or fingerprint), then you may be unable to use some of camera features(e.g: can't turn on selective focus, can't change camera mode, etc) and you're also not allowed to access the Gallery app from the Camera app unless you have performed the current screen lock method to unlock the screen.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Show or Hide the Date on Lock Screen in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

When enabled, lock screen not only makes your phone more secure, but also provides you with some useful information without you have to unlock the screen first, one of which is today's date. By default, lock screen will display the date. But, if needed, you can hide the date on lock screen with ease.


How to show or hide the date on lock screen?
As long as the screen lock is not turned off, the option to show or hide the date on lock screen will always be available regardless the screen lock that is being used. See the following steps to show or hide the date on lock screen:
  1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap to go to the settings menu.
  2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Lock screen .
  3. Regardless the currently used screen lock type(Swipe/Pattern/PIN/Password/Fingerprint), you should see the option to show or hide the date within the lock screen menu.
  4. Depending on your current settings, tap Show date to show or hide date in lock screen. When the checkbox next to this option is checked means the date will be displayed on lock screen.
  5. Now, press the Power key twice to go to the lock screen. If you have set your phone to show the date then you'll see the date is displayed below the time.

As a note, when you show the date on lock screen, the day of the week (e,g: "Mon", "Tue", "Wed", etc) will be displayed in the left side of the date by default.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Turn Off Screen Lock in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Lock screen is designed to make your phone more secure since it can prevent your phone from making accidental activities or allowing unauthorized access(if you have enabled a screen lock type with security lock features, e.g: PIN, password or fingerprint). Samsung Galaxy S5 itself has been equipped with some screen lock types that you can choose the best one to suit your need. But, if you're the one who like everything to be simpler and easier, then you're free to turn off the screen lock so that you don't need to perform any screen lock method to access your phone. All you have to do to access your phone is simply by pressing the Home key or Power key.


How to turn off screen lock?
Assuming that your previous screen lock is PIN, then you can disable the screen lock 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 to go to the settings menu.
  2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display settings and then tap Lock screen .
  3. Tap Screen lock.
  4. Enter the current 4-digits PIN number for screen lock and then tap Continue button.
  5. Tap None to turn off the screen lock.
  6. Now, you can press the Power key to immediately turn off the screen and then you can press either the Power key or the Home key to turn on the screen and access your phone.

As a note, there are three conditions that will make you unable to turn off the screen lock unless you fix them: 1) when you have installed an app that requires you to set screen lock PIN or password, 2) when you have added VPN in your phone, 3) when you have activated an option or feature in your phone which requires you to set screen lock PIN or password, e.g: encrypt device or SD card feature.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Change Screen Lock Type in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

By default, Samsung Galaxy S5 will lock its screen automatically when it's not used for specified period. Lock screen itself is designed to prevent your phone from making accidental calls or opening apps while it's in your pocket or bag. Even if you enable a screen lock type with security lock features, e.g: PIN, password or fingerprint, lock screen will also be able to prevent unauthorized people from accessing your phone.


How to change the screen lock type?
By default, Samsung Galaxy S5 uses swipe as its screen lock method. So, in case you want to change the screen lock type from swipe to the other one then 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 to go to the settings menu.
  2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Sound and display section and then tap Lock screen .
  3. Tap Screen lock and then select the desired screen lock type from the following options:
    • Swipe: select this option to unlock the screen by swiping your finger on the screen. Though this screen lock type has no additional security options, but it has a lot of features that can be used to customize the lock screen.
    • Pattern: select this option to unlock the screen by drawing the specified pattern on the screen.
    • PIN: select this option to unlock the screen by entering the specified 4-digits PIN number.
    • Password: select this option to unlock the screen by entering the specified password. This screen lock type is more secure than PIN since you can combine letter, number and symbol as the password.
    • Fingerprint: select this option to unlock the screen by dragging your finger on the fingerprint recognition sensor at the Home button. If the device recognizes your fingerprint, the screen will be unlocked. This screen lock type is the most secure one since the screen can only be unlocked by those whose fingerprints have been registered or those who know the alternative password for fingerprint lock.
    • None: select this option to access your phone simply by pressing the Power key or Home key.
  4. Now, you just need to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the configuration for the selected screen lock type.

As a note, the options to customize lock screen may vary depending on the screen lock type you have selected. If you want to have various options to customize your lock screen then you can choose swipe as your screen lock method, while if you want to make your phone more secure then you can choose PIN, password or fingerprint as your screen lock method.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Add a Webpage Shortcut to Home Screen in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

There are several ways available that can be used to speed up the way you access your favourite webpages, one of which is by adding a shortcut to that webpage to home screen. This will let you to quickly access to that webpage even without you have to open up the Internet app first. All you have to do is simply by tapping the shortcut on the home screen and the webpage will be loaded shortly.


How to add a webpage shortcut to home screen?
Before doing this steps, make sure you have a free space in your home screen otherwise it won't work. Well, if you want to add shortcut to webpages in home screen, you can do so by using two methods available: from an opened webpage or from the bookmarks list.


Method #1: From an opened webpage
  1. Open Internet app.
  2. Enter the URL or webpage address in the address bar and then tap Go.
  3. Wait until the webpage is fully loaded.
  4. Tap or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then select Add shortcut to home.
  5. A shortcut of the currently opened webpage has been created on home screen.


Method #2: From the bookmarks list
This method can be used if you have bookmarked the webpage you want to add its shortcut to home screen. See the following steps to do so:
  1. Open Internet app.
  2. Tap located at the bottom right corner of the screen to view all bookmarked webpages.
  3. Long tap the required bookmark you want to add its shortcut to home screen until it's selected.
  4. Tap or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then select Add shortcut to home.
  5. A shortcut of the selected bookmark has been created on home screen.

As a note, this feature will be more useful if you use it to add shortcut of your favourite or most frequently accessed webpages to home screen since it will be able to help you to save more time by skipping some steps you used to do when accessing those webpages with other methods.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Rename or Delete a Folder Shortcut in My Files App in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Adding shortcuts for your favourite or most accessed folders in the main page of My Files app will help you to quickly access those folders without you have to navigate through the folder trees, since you can do so simply by tapping the required folder shortcut and the folder will be opened shortly. Aside from adding folder shortcuts, if needed, you can also manage them to suit your need, for instance change the name of a folder shortcut to the desired one or remove an unused folder shortcut.


How to rename a folder shortcut in My Files app?
In case you want to change the name of a folder shortcut to the desired one, then you can do so by using the following steps:
  1. Open My Files app.
  2. Under the Shortcuts section, long tap the required folder shortcut you want to change its name to select it.
  3. Tap located at the top of the screen.
  4. Enter a new name for the selected folder shortcut.
  5. Tap OK button.
  6. The selected folder shortcut has been renamed.


How to delete a folder shortcut in My Files app?
In case you want to remove a folder shortcut from the main page of My Files app, then you can do so by using the following steps:
  1. Open My Files app.
  2. Tap or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then select Delete.
  3. Under the Shortcuts section, tap the required folder shortcut you want to delete.
  4. Tap Done button.
  5. Tap OK button.
  6. The selected folder shortcut has been removed.

As a note, renaming a folder shortcut won't change the name of the original folder and deleting a folder shortcut won't delete the original folder. In other words, the steps above just let you to manage(rename and delete) the shortcuts without affecting the original folders.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Add a Folder Shortcut to Home Screen in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

The stock File manager app in Samsung Galaxy S5, My Files app, not only allows you to add folder shortcuts to the main page of this app, but also to the home screen. By adding a folder shortcut to home screen, you can quickly access to the folder even without you have to open My Files app first, since you can do so simply by tapping the shortcut in Home screen and the folder will be opened shortly.


How to add a folder shortcut to home screen?
Before doing this steps, make sure there's a free space in home screen to place the folder shortcut otherwise this steps won't work. Well, here the complete steps:
  1. Open My Files app.
  2. Under the Local storage, tap Device storage to explore folders in the internal storage or tap SD card to explore folders in the SD card.
  3. Open the required folder you want to create its shortcut to home screen.
  4. Now, tap or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then select Add shortcut.
  5. Tap Add to home screen.
  6. A shortcut of the currently opened folder has been created in home screen.

To maximize the use of this feature, add shortcuts to home screen only for your favourite or most frequently accessed folders so that you can save more time to access those folders as well as keep the home screen remains filled with important and always-in-use widgets and shortcuts.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Create a Folder Shortcut in My Files App in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

The stock File manager app in Samsung Galaxy S5, My Files app, lets you to create folder shortcuts and they will be placed under the Shortcuts section in the main page of this app, so you can quickly access those folders without having to navigate through the folder trees on your phone.


How to create a folder shortcut in My Files app?
Generally, you can add folder shortcuts to the main page of My Files app by using two methods available: from the main page of My Files app or from the currently opened folder.


Method #1: From the main page of My Files app
  1. Open My Files app.
  2. Tap or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then select Add shortcut.
  3. Tap Device storage to explore folders in the internal storage, or tap SD card to explore folders in the SD card.
  4. Tap the required folder to open it.
  5. Tap Done button.
  6. A shortcut of the currently opened folder will be created under the Shortcuts section in the main page of My Files app.


Method #2: From the currently opened folder
  1. Open My Files app.
  2. Under local storage section, tap Device storage to explore folders in the internal storage, or tap SD card to explore folders in the SD card.
  3. Tap the required folder to open it.
  4. Tap or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then select Add shortcut.
  5. Tap Add to My Files main screen.
  6. A shortcut of the currently opened folder will be created under the Shortcuts section in the main page of My Files app.

Given the function, it'd better if you add shortcuts for your favourite folders or the most frequently accessed folders so that you can save more time since you can skip some steps that you used to do when accessing those folders especially if you have much files on your phone or if your favourite folders are located deep inside folder trees.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Show Hidden Files in My Files App in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

I do believe that most of you have already known that all of Android phones, including with Samsung Galaxy S5, will read all files or folders which the names are started with a full stop as hidden files. To keep things simple and keep the display clean, the stock File manager app, My Files app, hides the hidden files by default. Thus, you will notice that when you add a full stop in front of a file or folder name, it will be invisible and the phone will be told to forget it and to not display the file in the related app, as the example if you add a full stop in front of a picture file name then it won't be displayed in Gallery app.


How to show hidden files in My Files app?
In case you want to find/view hidden files or folders then you can set My Files app to show all hidden files by using the following steps:
  1. Open My Files app.
  2. Tap or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then select Settings.
  3. Check the box next to Show hidden files to enable it.
  4. All hidden files will be shown.

As a note, if you want to hide a file or folder, you'd better to remember the name or location so that when you forget the name you can show hidden files using the steps above and then go to the location to find the hidden file or folder, or when you forget the location you can easily find the hidden file or folder by searching it using its name.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Show File Extensions in My Files App in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

My Files app is the default file manager app in Samsung Galaxy S5. You can use this app to browse through files in your phone or to manage your files, e.g: copying or moving files to SD card, deleting files, renaming files, etc. By default, this app only shows the file names and hides the file extensions in order to keep things simple and keep the display clean. FYI, a file extension is the character located at the end of a file name (separated from the file name by a full stop) which is used to indicate the file format/type and to tell the phone what app should run and open this file. For the example: sunflower.jpg then the file name is "sunflower" and the file extension is ".jpg" and this file can be opened in any app that can handle .jpg files.


How to show file extensions in My Files app?
In case you have to know the file extensions for certain purpose, then you can set My Files app to display the file extensions by using the following steps:
  1. Open My Files app.
  2. Tap or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then select Settings.
  3. Check the box next to Show file extensions to enable this option.
  4. Now, My Files app will show the extensions of all files.

As a note, the file extensions in My Files app are read only characters which means you're not allowed to change it here. Thus, if you want to change the file format then you have to open that file in an app that will let you to save as or convert the file to another file format.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to View and Clear Download History in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

Samsung Galaxy S5 is equipped with two pre-loaded Browser apps, Chrome app and Internet app. If you use one or both of these apps to download something then all download histories will be recorded at the same place in My Files app. You can view the download history to quickly open up a downloaded file. If needed, you can also delete some or all download histories, for instance when you want to clean up the download history or when you want nobody knows what you have downloaded in the past. Clear download history won't delete the actual files since it only deletes the logs of your download activities.


How to view and clear download history?
You can do so by using the following steps:
  1. Open My Files app.
  2. Tap Download history . All download histories of Chrome app and Internet app will be displayed here.
  3. Open a downloaded file:
    • Single tap the required download history.
    • The downloaded file will be opened in the appropriate app.
  4. Delete a single download history:
    • Long tap the required download history to select it.
    • Tap .
    • The selected download history has been deleted.
  5. Delete multiple download histories:
    • Long tap the required download history to select it.
    • Single tap another download histories you want to select.
    • Tap .
    • The selected download histories have been deleted.
  6. Delete all download histories:
    • Tap or long press the Recent apps key to open up the additional options and then select Clear list.
    • Tap OK button to confirm.
    • All download histories have been deleted.

As a note, in case you use other third-party Browser apps, e.g: Firefox, Dolphin, Opera, etc to download something, then the download history won't be recorded in the download history in My Files app. Thus, if you want to view or clear the download history of a third-party Browser app, you can use the Download menu within the app.