The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge remain a pair of superlative devices. With the Galaxy S6 being one of the best Android phones of 2015, we want to make sure your experience goes smoothly with our ultimate tips collection, covering performance and battery, as well as problems and solutions. Here are the ultimate Galaxy S6 tips, tricks and solutions.

Get up to speed with these Galaxy S6 tips. / © ANDROIDPIT

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General Samsung Galaxy S6 tips and tricks

Add your fingerprint

The fingerprint registration process is very simple and only takes a few minutes, but the finger scanner on the Galaxy S6 is so much better than that found on the Galaxy S5 or even the Galaxy Note 4. Partially because it is a touch-based sensor and not a swipe-based sensor, but also because the hardware and software are just that much better.

Register your prints during initial set-up and enjoy the speed, reliability and accuracy of the Galaxy S6's best security feature right from the get go.

Registering your fingerprint takes a few moments and works better than ever before. / © ANDROIDPIT

Use Tap & Go or Smart Switch to transfer your old phone's contents

During initial setup, you will be prompted to use Android Lollipops's Tap & Go feature to seamlessly transfer your contacts, messages, photos, music, calendars and files from one phone to another.

If you don't take this option, or your old phone doesn't support NFC (necessary for Tap & Go functionality) or you're coming from an iOS device, then you will be prompted to install Samsung's Smart Switch when you first hit the Galaxy S6 home screen. Just install the app, open it and follow the instructions.

The Galaxy S6 features both Samsung's Smart Switch and Google's Tap & Pay for transferring data from one phone to another. / © ANDROIDPIT

Take a screenshot on the Galaxy S6

If you don't already know how to take a screenshot on the Galaxy S6, you simply navigate to the page you want to capture and then press and hold the Power and Home buttons until the screen animates and a preview of your screenshot appears in the navigation shade.

You can access screenshots in an automatically created Screenshots folder in your Gallery app. You can also capture your screen by passing the side of your palm across the screen from right to left. You can turn this feature on or off in Settings > Gestures and Motions > Palm Swipe to Capture.

You can take a screenshot on the Galaxy S6 with hardware buttons or a palm swipe. / © ANDROIDPIT

Claim your 100 GB of free cloud storage

Thanks to Microsoft's apps appearing on the Galaxy S6, you'll be entitled to collect 100 GB of cloud storage on One Drive for two years. Of course, if you don't want to pay for it after that you might want to set yourself a far-distant calendar reminder to clear it out before you're asked to pay.

But 100 GB for free for two year's isn't a bad welcome gift. Just launch the app and register (or sign in) and claim your upgrade to an additional 100 GB free.

Just log in or sign up to Microsoft one Drive to claim an extra 100 GB free. / © ANDROIDPIT

Enable Do Not Disturb mode

You're probably already familiar with this feature from Android lollipop, but Samsung has its own version. You can access Do Not Disturb mode via two methods: either from the Quick Settings menu in the navigation shade or via Settings > Sounds & Notifications > Do Not Disturb.

You can also set exceptions like alarms, messages or calls from particular contacts and so on.Once the mode has been enabled you won't be interrupted and will see a reminder that the mode is on in your notifications.

Do Not Disturb mode can be enabled in the Quick Settings. / © ANDROIDPIT

Know how to force restart

It's a fact of life that things occasionally go pear-shaped and a phone completely freezes up, requiring a restart. But what do you do now that the Galaxy S6 has a non-removable battery? You can't just do a good old battery pull to force your way out of a sticky situation.

Fortunately, Samsung is on the case and has provided a hardware button solution for a non-responsive system: just press and hold Power and Volume Down for seven seconds. Your Galaxy S6 will restart.

Force restart the Galaxy S6 by holding Power and Volume Down. / © ANDROIDPIT

Make the most of turbo charging

Samsung's awesome Exynos 7420 CPU includes Qualcomm's fast charging technology via the Galaxy S6's included USB charging adaptor. This is pure gold and should be looked after.

If you're in the habit of continuing to use the same old USB charger you've had plugged in at your desk for years, now might be the time to replace it with the Galaxy S6 charger. And if you tend to charge your phone at work too you're either going to want to take it with you every day or invest in a second charger. Once you go turbo you never go back.

Treat the Galaxy S6 turbo charger like a precious jewel.. / © ANDROIDPIT

Enable battery-saving mode

This is a bit of a no-brainer, but one of the first things you should do with any new phone is check out the battery saving features. The S6 has its own battery saving modes: both the regular power saving mode and ultra power saving mode.

Take a look and see what will be limited to get you the additional battery optimization. Of course, you can always turn these modes on only when you need them, rather than all the time. Just use the Smart Manager app or go to Settings > Battery > Power Saving Mode (or Ultra Power Saving Mode) > On.

Familiarize yourself with the Galaxy S6's battery saving modes. / © ANDROIDPIT

Why we put up with so much bloatware

Disable bloatware

While the rumors that the Galaxy S6 would arrive with removable bloatware were just as overblown as previous Galaxy's were with excessive pre-loaded apps, the Galaxy S6 does at least allow you to disable a lot of Samsung's pre-loaded apps.

Disabling an app will remove it from the app drawer and stop it from running background processes and using system resources. Go to the app drawer and tap Edit in the top right. Apps that can be disabled will have a circle with a dash in it. Apps can be re-enabled in Settings > Apps > Disabled tab.

You can't delete much in the way of S6 bloatware, but you can disable some of it. / © ANDROIDPIT

The most useful features on Android

Enable Smart Alert

One of the coolest features of the Galaxy S6 is one that nobody will ever really talk about: Smart Alert. Switch this feature on in Settings > Motions and Gestures and whenever you pick your Galaxy S6 up it will vibrate to let you know if you have any missed call or message notifications to check. If you pick it up and nothing happens, then you know there's no reason to turn the screen on.

Smart Alert will inform you of important notifications without even turning the screen on. / © ANDROIDPIT

Get started with Easy Mode

If the Galaxy S6 is your first smartphone, or your eyes just aren't what they used to be, why not get started in Easy Mode? You'll have less visual clutter to deal with, app icons and text will be larger and you'll have the opportunity to work your way around your new phone without being overwhelmed by too much ''stuff''.

You can enable Easy Mode when you're first setting up the S6 or you can activate it later through the settings menu. Just go to Settings > Easy Mode, select it from the list and tap Done at the top. Changing back is simple too, just go back and select Standard Mode and then Done.

Easy Mode is just that: a simplified interface to get started with. / © ANDROIDPIT

Stay updated for better system performance

You know how we're always going on about new updates that sometimes seem to take forever to appear on your phone? Did you know that you can check for them yourself to speed things along a little? An updated system, like updated apps, keeps things running more smoothly and securely.

Just go to Settings > About Device > Software Update > Update now to force the Android system to check for any available updates. You can also flip the switch for Auto-update so you don't have check in (but that only happens at intervals).

Make sure your Galaxy S6 is always updated. / © ANDROIDPIT

Save time and call with a gesture

Occasionally Samsung gets a gimmicky gesture just right. Such is the case with Direct Call. Rather than scrolling through your contacts and then pressing a button to initiate a call, Direct Call lets you simply raise your phone to your ear to start the call.

The feature needs to be enabled in Settings > Motions and Gestures > Direct Call. Once activated, raising the phone to your ear will start calling whoever's contact details are on screen at the time, whether it's from a missed call log, contacts entry or even a text message.

Place calls simply by lifting the phone to your ear. / © ANDROIDPIT

Go wireless for cable-free convenience

The turbo charging function on the Galaxy S6 is fantastic and should be used at every available opportunity to save time. But sometimes convenience trumps speed and that's where the wireless charging capabilities of the Galaxy S6 come in.

The S6 supports both WPC and PMA protocols for wireless charging, meaning pretty much any wireless charging pad or dock will work. Get a platter for your desk and just drop your phone on it or a dock so you see your phone's screen at the same time as it charges without having to fiddle with cables when you get up and go.

A wireless charging pad is a great way to charge conveniently. / © ANDROIDPIT

Customize your Quick Settings

You know the Quick Settings: the little toggles in the swipe down notifications area? Did you know that you can customize them any way you like? For example, if you never connect your phone to Bluetooth devices, why not replace that toggle with one you actually use?

Just swipe down on the top of the screen and tap the Edit button. You'll see a bunch of Quick Settings options. The ones at the top in the light blue area are the ones you'll see in your list, but you can drag and drop them in any order to have priority access to the ones you use most.

Customize your Quick Settings to fit your needs. / © ANDROIDPIT

Silence calls and alarms with a gesture

Another handy gesture the Galaxy S6 gets right is the ability to Jedi mind trick incoming calls into going away. The same goes for alarms. Just put your palm over the screen to reject calls or silence alarms.

Again, the feature needs to be enabled in Settings > Motions and Gestures > Mute. Once enabled, you can also just turn the S6 over to reject calls and alarms.

Silence alarms and calls with a Jedi hand gesture. / © ANDROIDPIT

Get your screen looking perfect

The Galaxy S6 screen is fantastic and should be enjoyed at its very best. Fortunately Samsung has included its great screen mode settings on the Galaxy S6 so you can tune your display to whatever situation you're in.

Go to Settings > Display > Screen Mode and choose from cinema, photo or basic to see the differences in vibrancy, tones and contrast. You can also select Adaptive Display to have the S6 choose the optimal saturation, sharpness and colors for whatever it is you're doing at the time.

Make sure your screen is always at its best. / © ANDROIDPIT

Get files faster with Download Booster

Download Booster is one of the coolest features we've seen brought to Android in a long time. Download Booster lets you download large files over both Wi-Fi and data connections. So if you're saving an album for offline listening at the airport and your flight has been called, just activate the Booster to get your files in a jiffy.

Go to Settings > More Connection Settings > Download Booster and turn it on. Remember that if you leave this setting enabled you'll chew through your data allowance in no time, so use it sparingly (or get a better data plan).

Download Booster can be great in a pinch. Just don't use it all the time. / © ANDROIDPIT

Actually use S Finder

If you're anything like me you probably use Google as your default search engine for everything, from the web to finding things on your phone. But Samsung's S Finder is perfectly capable of helping you locate files, apps, settings, messages and more.

Plus, it's handily located right in the notifications shade, so it's never more than a swipe away. Just tap the S Finder magnifying glass and type or say your search terms. It sure beats swiping endlessly through menus, files or app drawers looking for things.

S Finder is a super useful way to find apps, files, contacts and more. / © ANDROIDPIT

Give S Voice a chance

S Voice is Samsung's answer to Siri, Google Now and Cortana and it's, ah, ok. We always used to recommend ditching it from the Home button shortcut to speed things up, but now that the Home button shortcut is used to access the camera, S Voice tends to get less attention than it probably deserves.

Samsung has invested some time and energy into making S Voice better on the S6 and it's worth checking out. You can set reminders with your voice, send messages, make calls, wake up your phone and have S Voice read results back to you. All of this can be done without even unlocking your phone. It's definitely worth revisiting.

Is S Voice as good as Google Now? Maybe, you should find out. / © ANDROIDPIT

Set an MP3 as your ringtone

How do I get the MP3 onto my Samsung Galaxy S6?

There are several ways to do it. On Windows you can use Windows Media Player to sync files from your library, or you can use Samsung Smart Switch software to transfer your file(s) across.

On Windows you might have to pull down the menu and change your Samsung from camera to media player to see the music folder. On a Mac the S6 should automatically appear as a folder on your Desktop, enabling you to add files from the Finder by dragging and dropping.

You can transfer MP3 from your computer via the magic of USB. / © ANDROIDPIT

How do I turn the MP3 into a ringtone on my Samsung Galaxy S6?

The same process works on any Android device, not just the Samsung Galaxy S6. Once you’ve created your MP3 and saved it or transferred it to your phone’s storage, the next step is to go into Settings and look for Sound & Notification. Tap on that and then scroll down until you see Phone Ringtone, along with the name of the currently selected ringtone.

Tap on that and you should now see a list of the available audio files on your device, including the ringtone file you’ve saved or transferred. Select that and it’ll become your brand new ringtone.

Some songs work better as ringtones than others. You might need to tweak the edges for perfect looping. / © ANDROIDPIT

Turn off the camera shutter sound

Open up the camera app, tap the gear symbol to open the Settings menu. Near the bottom, you'll hopefully find the Shutter sound option. Press it to turn the sound off.

If your carrier hasn't made this option available, you can try an app from the Play Store, such as SilentCam, but keep an eye on the permissions apps like this ask for.

If you're rooted, try using an Xposed Framework module.

Samsung Galaxy S6 speed and performance tips

Download and install an alternate launcher

If you're having trouble with a slow Samsung Galaxy S6, one of the first things we recommend you do is to swap out your launcher for a new one.

You may be surprised at the changes in performance that various launchers offer compared with others. While some launchers may appear clean and minimal, behind-the-scenes they can have your Samsung Galaxy S6 working overtime. Popular picks such as Nova Launcher, Solo Launcher and dodol Launcher are a safe bet, offering stable performance and a host of features to get stuck into.

A new launcher can make a world of difference. / © ANDROIDPIT

If you're unhappy with the time it takes to browse through your collection of downloaded apps, many launchers offer settings that allow you to adjust page transitions and the speeds of those transitions.

Clear the cache

Over time, the cache on your Samsung Galaxy S6 can fill up with temporary folders that clog up your smartphone and create speed issues. You'll be pleased to know that clearing the cache on the Samsung Galaxy S6 is a straightforward process and something we recommend you do regularly to keep things running smooth.

For an in-depth tutorial, take a look at our full guide on how to clear the cache on the Galaxy S6.

Reduce the number of startup apps (Greenify)

There's a solid selection of tools on the Play Store built specifically to prevent too many applications booting up every time you turn your smartphone on. One of our favorites for dealing with a slow-starting gadget is Greenify, which lets you control memory-hogging background processes.

Greenify is arguably one of the most reliable performance-boosting apps on the Play Store, and it's free to download which makes grabbing it a no-brainer. The app puts programs into a state of hibernation to reduce the strain they put on the Samsung Galaxy S6 when they're not in use.

Run apps only when you need them. / © ANDROIDPIT

It's worth noting that Greenify requires a rooted device to work at its very best, but there are plenty of features tucked into the app for non-rooted users.

Speed up animations

It's possible to increase the speed of animations and page transitions with some of the S6's own settings. The result of doing so is a smartphone that feels satisfyingly snappy. Root is not required to try out this trick, so it's a tip for the masses.

To speed up animations, head to Settings on the Samsung Galaxy S6. Scroll down and tap Build number multiple times. Doing so will activate Developer Options, which will then appear on the same menu. Head inside and you'll see the Window animation scale option near the top of the page.

From here, you can adjust transition speeds. We recommend you try 0.5x, head back to the Samsung Galaxy S6's home screen and see if you can spot the difference.

Delete unused apps

It sounds obvious, but it's worth having a flick through your apps collection and removing the ones you don't use. A little bit of spring cleaning never hurt anyone, and it certainly won't hurt your Samsung Galaxy S6. Whether you're getting rid of tools that shipped with the phone or games that you downloaded and only played once or twice, every little helps.

No more app clutter. / © ANDROIDPIT

If you enter Edit mode on the Samsung Galaxy S6 by tapping the top right corner of your apps window, it's a simple job to remove more than one program at a time. Delete in bulk and you'll be treated to a faster, better-performing smartphone.

Factory reset

Sometimes it's best to wipe the slate clean and start fresh, and that's exactly what factory resetting the Samsung Galaxy S6 will do. Make sure you back up important data and contacts before you do the deed, because you'll lose everything stored on the gadget that wasn't there when you bought it.

New year, new me. / © ANDROIDPIT

Alternatively, you can save important app data, passwords and more to Google's servers by tapping Back up my data before you hit Factory data reset. The overall process of factory resetting the Samsung Galaxy S6 shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.

Factory reset your Galaxy S6 with hardware buttons

The second method for doing a factory reset uses the hardware buttons on your phone. This is useful if your screen is acting up or you can't even get your S6 to boot up properly.

1. Turn off your Galaxy S6.

2. Press and hold Power, Volume Up and Home button.

Press Power, Volume Up and Home to enter Recovery Mode. / © ANDROIDPIT

3. You'll see a blue Android screen, then be taken to the Recovery menu.

4. Use the volume buttons to highlight Wipe Data/Factory Reset and press Power to confirm.

Wipe Data/Factory Reset is the option you want. / © ANDROIDPIT

5. Scroll down to Yes and press Power to confirm.

Last chance to change your mind. / © ANDROIDPIT

6. Your Galaxy S6 will perform a factory reset. It might take a while, but you will see a yellow message at the bottom once it has completed. Highlight Reboot system now and press Power to confirm.

Once your Galaxy S6 has factory reset itself, select Reboot System Now. / © ANDROIDPIT

7. Your Galaxy S6 will restart (it might take a while) with factory restored settings.

8. One it has rebooted, you can restore your backed up apps and data.

Don't rely too much on widgets

Deleting unused apps can work wonders for keeping the Samsung Galaxy S6 performing at its best, but it's worth removing resource-hungry widgets too. If you're unsure which widgets are causing the problem, take the time to experiment with different combinations and see what works best for you. Heading into your Battery menu will also help you identify apps that use up lots of juice.

Samsung Galaxy S6 battery tips

Check your apps

We'll begin with the big one. Although app developers are starting to make their products less power-hungry, there are still countless apps that drain your device - a problem that's particularly noticeable on the Samsung Galaxy S6.

There are a few things you can do to mitigate this. The first is to go through your apps and purge your phone of those you don't use. A good place to start might be the pre-installed apps constantly running in the background and using up valuable resources. If you're reluctant to delete apps, you can fiddle with their settings so they aren't constantly searching for new data.

You may not need all the apps that come pre-installed. / © ANDROIDPIT

You can also check which of your apps is the worst battery-thief. The best way to do this is to wait until a full charge has run down to somewhere around 10%, then open the battery sections and hit Battery usage. After that you'll have to make a call as to which apps are worth the battery they use up.

Charge it correctly

This may seem like an obvious point but it is also easy to disregard. The standard charger for a Galaxy S6 uses Adaptive Fast Charging - a necessity for Galaxy S6 owners - but you can use any Quick Charge 2.0 compatible charger, so take the opportunity when you get it. With the quick charging option you can add about 50% more battery in half an hour, usually enough to get you through to the next charging opportunity.

The phone's wireless charging capacity also shouldn't be overlooked. The size and convenience of the circular chargers mean it may be possible to leave on your desk at work or on the kitchen table, so you can grab some quick charge while doing other things. You can pick them up for as little as $10 too.

Wireless charging allows you to charge in all sorts of places./ © Samsung

Go dark

The exceptionally vivid display is one of the Galaxy S6's best features but there are times where it might be worth toning it down a notch or two. While the automatic brightness setting (usually found in Settings > Display, or similar) is great at adjusting to different lights, if you're keen to preserve battery it may be worth turning the brightness down manually and then stepping it up as and when you need it.

Another tactic to consider is using a black wallpaper. Go to Settings > Personal > Wallpaper and choose a black background, or download one if it isn't there. It may not look as pretty as that picture you took on holiday last summer but it will make your phone last longer.

Turning down the brightness will save you some battery. / © ANDROIDPIT

Switch things off

Wi-Fi and data connections are at the heart of what makes smartphones great but they are also battery drainers. As such, it's worth switching these off at times when you don't need them. For example, if you don't use your phone at work, turn Wi-Fi and data off until you need it on the journey home. You can do this in Settings > WiFi or Settings > Cellular Data.

It's also worth considering how often you need to have location services switched on. Sure it's necessary for Google Maps and one or two other apps but there will certainly be times when you don't need it. The same is true for notifications.

Use Power Saving mode

In what seems a tacit acceptance of the inadequacy of the Galaxy S6's battery, Samsung have provided a couple of useful options to help you cling on to that last bit of juice.

The first one is 'Power Saving' mode, found in the battery settings menu. It will turn off various functions, like vibrations, and reduce your phone's processing power slightly but shouldn't make too much of a difference. And it could save you up to 10%. You can set power saving mode to come on automatically when your battery reaches 50, 20, 15 or 5% or you can set it yourself.

Ultra Power Saving mode may not be pretty but it can be effective./ © ANDROIDPIT

The second option, 'Ultra Power Saving' mode is a little more drastic and probably something you should only use in dire straits. It gives you a basic home screen, a grayscale display, limits apps and disables some data services. But if you really need to make a call, it might be a worthwhile option.

Samsung Galaxy S6 problems and solutions

Problem: Galaxy S6 won’t turn on

If you've tried to turn on your Galaxy S6 a few times and it doesn't load up, there's need to worry. There are some simple fixes for this S6 problem.

Solutions:

Press the power button for about 10 seconds. This should reboot your S6.

Enter recovery mode by holding the Power, Home and Volume up buttons at the same time. The Android droid should appear. Select Reboot system with the Volume buttons (to move up and down) then select your choice with the Power button.

Charge it for 30 minutes and then press the Power button for 10 seconds.

If none of these options fix it, you might need to call a technician.

Try our solutions if your Galaxy S6 won't turn on. / © ANDROIDPIT

Problem: Galaxy S6 'Mobile Data' toggle is gone

Has your Mobile Data toggle mysteriously vanished from the Quick Settings? Some users have reported that it no longer appears in the list in the notifications shade and is no longer an option in the Quick Settings edit menu either.

Has the mobile data toggle vanished from your Quick Settings? / © ANDROIDPIT

The problem has affected quite a few people, so we've established that it isn't an isolated incident, but we have been unable to reproduce it in the AndroidPIT office with either the Galaxy S6 or the Galaxy S6 Edge.

Solution:

One solution to the problem came via XDA Developers, who came to the rescue with an APK to fix the missing mobile data toggle.

Now though, Samsung has officially patched the problem, courtesy of a new app called QuickPanel Restore in the Galaxy Apps store. It is only available for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. To get it, just go to the Galaxy Apps app on your phone and search for it (it won't appear in the search results on other devices) and install.

This is the app you want, but you'll only find it on an S6 or S6 Edge. / © ANDROIDPIT

Once you open it, you'll see a big old Restore button. Tap that to get your mobile data toggle restored and then uninstall the app. As you can see in our screenshot below, it certainly seems to do the trick.

Tap the Restore button and your mobile data toggle will reappear (right). / © ANDROIDPIT

Problem: Galaxy S6 back cover peeling off

The back of one the Galaxy S6 test devices we had at the AndroidPIT office peeled away during use, calling its build quality into question. Most devices seem sturdy when we buy them, but if they start falling apart after just a few months, then that indicates a manufacturing failure.

Many people wanted a removable back on the Galaxy S6, but this is not what they meant. / © ANDROIDPIT

At no point did we drop our Galaxy S6, nor expose it to water or prolonged direct sunlight. The problem seems to have started near the speaker at the bottom of the device, as you can see in the image below. Another case of the back popping off appeared in Korea, where a swollen S6 battery was the cause. That isn't the cause of our issue, which seems to be due to poor adhesion.

Is this a serious fault or just an isolated incident? / © ANDROIDPIT

Solution:

As you can probably guess, when something comes unstuck, the solution is to re-stick it. Applying some new glue (that will adhere to both metal and glass) to the inside of the back cover will sort you right out, or you can use some very thin double-sided tape.

We haven't seen any widespread cover peeling issues with the Galaxy S6. If it has happened to you, it might be covered by your phone's warranty, or you might need to get it repaired.

Problem: Galaxy S6 camera LED won't turn off

Back when the first Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge units made their way into the hands of consumers, a widespread issue appeared with the camera, namely that the LED flash would turn on and couldn't be turned off again.

Initially restricted to T-Mobile Galaxy S6 owners, the problem soon appeared on other carrier-branded and unlocked handsets. Samsung itself even admitted it was aware of the problem and was looking into it.

We've got solutions to your Galaxy S6 problems. / © ANDROIDPIT

Solution:

Even though Samsung promised a fix in early April 2015, it wasn't until the Android 5.1.1 update that the LED flash issue was tagged as ''resolved''.

T-Mobile pushed the update on June 15, 2015, clearly identifying the LED problem in the changelog on the T-Mobile Galaxy S6 software update page.

What is your favorite Galaxy S6 feature? What feature did Samsung forget to include?