Top 11 Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ Tips and Tricks You Should Know

The Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus come with many interesting features, whether it’s the refreshed OneUI or the gorgeous display. But at the end of the day, all features are made for the masses, not just you. This is where we step in to help you get the most out of the new Samsung Galaxy S21.

We’ve shortlisted all the settings you can use to fine-tune your phone. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ tips and tricks.

Purchasing

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

If you haven’t already, check out the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

1. Enable Video Call Effects

I am sure you will get lots of video calls on your new Galaxy S21. If you want to spice up your calls, the Galaxy S21 has a nifty trick up its sleeves. Galaxy S21 series comes with some really cool effects to make your selfie videos look so much better in calls.

To do this, go to Settings > Advanced features > Video call effects and select the desired effect.

For example, if you want to blur your background, add a custom image, or add some color to your video calls, you can do it effortlessly.

2. Get The Smoothest Screen

When we talk about the Samsung Galaxy S21 series, it is incomplete without mentioning the 120Hz display. Yes, the 120Hz refresh rate is here and you can activate it with the push of a button. And believe me, this is very cool.

To enable it, go to Display Settings and set Motion Smoothness to Adaptive.

When done, scroll down to set the screen resolution to WQHD+. And that’s about it.

The best part is that you can use the Galaxy S21 Ultra in QHD resolution with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate unlike the older Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note 20 series.

3. Customize Call Backgrounds

Another nifty trick of the Samsung Galaxy S21 is that you can change the call background. So if you want to add an animated video, it is now possible.

The good thing is that it makes it as easy as pie. Just open the dialer, tap the 3-dot menu button and then select Settings.

Then select Call background > Background. Now all you have to do is select a video from the existing video sequence. Or you can add a custom video from your gallery by tapping the + icon.

Pro Tip: Create a custom video using AR emoji for a more personalized touch.

4. Customize Side Switch

In addition to the above customizations, the Galaxy S21 also includes a nifty shortcut that you can use with the Side Key. While you can turn off your phone, it also allows you to open your favorite app when you double tap on it.

To remap the button, go to Settings > Advanced features > Side key. Under the Double Press section, select Open app.

Here you can choose any app you want. Many people are confused between Signal and Telegram, but how about you?

5. Animate the Always-On Display

Another nifty trick of your Galaxy S21 is that it lets you choose and customize the Always On Display background.

Thanks to the brand new OneUI 3, you can choose from many AOD (Always On) backgrounds. Now you can adjust GIFs, customize colors and much more.

To do this, go to Settings > Lock Screen > Always On Display and set it to Always on.

When done, tap on the clock style to choose the style and colors of the clock. Additionally, you can tap on the image icon and then choose from a variety of GIFs.

6. Enable LockScreen Widgets

Wouldn’t it be great to check basic things like text or email subjects right from your phone’s lock screen? If yes, say Hello to Lock Screen Widgets.

To enable widgets, go to Settings > Lock screen > Widgets. Choose a widget of your choice. After that, enable the toggle next to Always On Display.

Next time your phone goes into AOD mode, double tap the clock and then swipe down to enter the widgets section. This saves battery life by loading widgets only in AMOLED mode, while also allowing you to keep an eye on your schedule, songs playing or how many times you’ve unlocked your phone.

7. Hello, Live Captions

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is smart. It is smart enough to automatically create subtitles when it detects any speech in the videos that are playing. Yes, it’s not a joke. The best part is that it works seamlessly on Instagram, YouTube, Netflix, and even videos from your phone’s gallery.

Tap the volume button to enable it and then tap this expand icon (down arrow) and select Live Captions. Simple.

Note that subtitles will not be as fast as the built-in subtitles of video files and movies.

8. Long Phone? Say hello to one-handed fashion

The Galaxy S21, especially the Ultra variant, is a massive phone. And sometimes, using the phone with one hand becomes a bit of a hassle when commuting, especially on public transport.

At such times it makes sense to switch to one-handed mode. Fortunately, enabling it is an easy task and only requires a one-time setup.

To enable it, go to Advanced Features in Settings and toggle the switch next to One-handed mode. Depending on the navbar style you use, you can now set the trigger for it.

When you’re done, enter one-handed mode by swiping down from the center of the bottom edge or double-tapping the home button. And that’s about it. The best part is that you can move or resize the window however you want.

9. Brings Floating Notifications to Home Screen

When it comes to notifications, it’s safe to say that the Samsung UI far surpasses its peers. And with the Galaxy S21 and S21+, you can swipe down on notifications to open a floating window for it. Is not it beautiful?

However, you will need to enable this cool feature first. To do this, select Advanced settings > Floating Notifications and set it to Smart popup view.

Now you can easily interact with your notifications in a floating window.

10. Set a Reminder for Notifications

Speaking of notifications, you must already know that the Galaxy S21 reminds you of old notifications that you may have swiped. Now you can go one step ahead by setting a notification reminder for those you might forget. It can be a text message or a simple missed call.

To set this, go to Notification settings under Advanced Settings and select Notification Reminders and toggle the switch.

Now set the frequency of reminders for apps.

11. Enable Bixby Routines

Ok, Bixby hasn’t quite reached the same size as its counterparts like Google Assistant or iOS’ Siri, but it still has potential. And if you bought a phone that cost more than $700, why not use it, right?

For starters, you can create Bixby Routines based on your needs. These routines could be more simply called IFTTT recipes for your Samsung phones. So add custom routines and assign specific triggers for the same.

To create a Bixby Routine on your Samsung Galaxy S21, go to Settings > Advanced features and select Bixby Routines.

Here (under Recommended) choose one of the available presets and fill in the blanks according to your need. You can also create your own from scratch by tapping the Plus icon in the top-right corner of My Routines.

Make Your Smartphone Smarter

These were some of the great tips and tricks that you can get the most out of your Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+.

Apart from the above, One UI 3.0 includes many features to fine-tune the phone’s settings to make the most of it. For example, you can add or remove Edge Panels or choose the right Dolby Atmos mode while watching movies.

Purchasing

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

If you haven’t already, check out the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.