Seven Samsung settings that phone experts say you need to disable right now

Samsung makes some of the best Android handsets around, but there are a few settings that demanding users should change right away on Galaxy devices.

Many of these settings revolve around standard Samsung apps (Samsung really wants you to use Samsung apps for everything, and it’s not always the best choice).

Others help make Samsung phones work faster and easier (including by enabling iPhone-style gestures, which are disabled by default).

DailyMail.com has tested all of these tips on an up-to-date Z Flip 5 handset, but note that some older devices may work slightly differently.

Make sure the power button works properly

The ‘power’ button on the side of Samsung phones doesn’t actually turn the phone off to its default setting, but instead launches Samsung’s unpopular voice assistant Bixby.

Many phone manufacturers have made it significantly more difficult to turn off your device in recent years, so Samsung is not alone in this.

Fortunately, this is an easy fix: Settings > Advanced features > Side key, and change it from ‘Wake Bixby’ to ‘Shutdown menu’.

Make browsing easier

By default, your Samsung Galaxy will have the Samsung Internet browser (it has a purple planet-like logo), but if you use Chrome on a few devices it’s worth switching.

That means you can easily access your bookmarks and saved payment methods and so on.

To change this, go to Settings > Apps > Choose default apps and select Chrome.

Make sure the Always On display is working

What people want from an always-on display is pretty simple: the clue is in the name.

But strangely, Samsung phones don’t provide this, at least not as standard; instead, tapping it activates the screen.

What you need to do is go to Settings > Lock screen > Always-on Display (this will be set to the default Tap to display).

Change this to Always Show and the always-on screen will now work as expected.

Add gesture navigation

Users of newer Android devices and iPhones are used to gesture controls, but Samsung devices still keep it old school with three-button controls.

However, it’s easy to change and if you’re used to a more modern operating system, it’s a life saver.

Just go to Settings > Display > Navigation bar and choose Swipe gestures. In this menu you can also adjust the sensitivity to your preference.

Improve the screen

A hidden setting hidden in the Motions & Gestures menu means your screen won’t turn off when you look at it.

Just go to Settings > Advanced features > Gestures and select ‘Screen on while watching’. This means your screen won’t time out when you’re actually using it.

Buy a better keyboard

Google’s Gboard keyboard is easier to use and much better than Samsung’s standard keyboard, offering better autocorrect, better layout, and better GIFs and emojis.

To install it, go to the Play Store, search for Gboard and marvel at how you got by without it.

Wake up your phone by lifting it

By default, Samsung phones require a tap on the screen: you can speed things up by setting your phone to wake up when you pick it up.

To change this, go to Settings > Advanced features > Gestures and select ‘Lift to Wake’.