Samsung Galaxy Side Button Can Be Remapped, Engadget Guide Says

Engadget reported that Samsung stopped making phones with traditional power buttons in 2019. The button below the volume button is a multifunctional and customizable side button. On Samsung flagship phones between the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S10, users saw a fourth physical button on the side, the Bixby Button. That button did not disappear; it was merged with the power button on Galaxy phones from the Note 10 series and later.

By default, Engadget said, a short press on the side button turns the screen on and off, a long press activates Bixby, and a double press opens the camera. Pressing the side button and volume-down button together for a long time opens the power menu, while a short press of the same buttons takes a screenshot. Samsung allows nearly every action tied to the side button to be remapped, so a phone that accidentally summons Bixby can instead open a favorite app with the same press. Even devices with the dedicated Bixby button from the S8 to S10 era can be customized. For Galaxy Z Flip owners, the side button's functionality can change depending on whether the device is open or closed.

To customize the button, Engadget said users can go to Settings, Advanced features, Side button. A double press can be set to open Camera, Flashlight, Magnifier, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes, Modes and Routines, Samsung Capture or a chosen app. The long-press option is limited to assistant apps such as Bixby, Google Gemini and other AI assistants including ChatGPT and Claude. Otherwise, the long press can pull up the power-off menu.

On Samsung devices with a separate physical Bixby button, including the Galaxy S10 series, S9 series, S8 series, Note 8 and Note 9, a long press always opens Bixby Voice, according to Engadget. Users can customize the button's double-press and single-press functions, but not at the same time; one has to open Bixby Home. To remap that button, users can open Settings, Advanced features, Bixby Key. There, the button can be set to open any app of choice or run a command.

Engadget also described ways to use the side button with Modes and Routines. For example, a user who spends a lot of time driving can set the side button to turn on Driving Mode. That mode can trigger actions including hands-free calling, opening maps, reading messages aloud and auto-replying to texts. Engadget said there are many things users can do when they pair Modes and Routines with the side button.

For quick thoughts or the beginning of a meeting, users can assign Voice Recorder to begin recording with a simple side-button double press, Engadget said. The phone does not need to be unlocked and the user does not need to hunt for the app, so recording can begin when inspiration strikes.