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How to customize the side button on your Samsung Galaxy phone

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Why This Matters

This piece is a practical guide for the massive Samsung Galaxy user base, clarifying a persistent point of confusion: the multifunctional side button that replaced the old power and Bixby buttons. Understanding and customizing this button can improve daily usability, especially for users annoyed by accidental Bixby activations, showing how software flexibility can offset hardware changes.

Key Takeaways
Worth a Look

Samsung Galaxy S24 Smartphone — If you're diving into side button customization, you're likely a Samsung Galaxy user who wants to get the most out of your device. The Galaxy S24 features this same customizable side button, letting you tailor quick actions like camera access or app shortcuts to fit your workflow perfectly.

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Did you know that Samsung stopped making phones with traditional power buttons in 2019? That button beneath your Samsung phone's volume button is actually a multifunctional and customizable side button. If you used any Samsung flagship phone between the S8 and S10, you probably noticed a fourth physical button on the side of the device: the infamous Bixby Button. That fourth button didn't disappear; it actually got merged with the power button on Galaxy phones from the Note 10 series and beyond.

By default, a short press on the side button turns the screen on and off, a long press activates Samsung's Bixby assistant, a double press opens the camera; long-pressing the side button plus volume-down button opens the power menu, and a short press of the same buttons takes a screenshot. The good news is that Samsung lets you remap nearly every action tied to the side button, so a phone that keeps accidentally summoning Bixby can instead open a favorite app with the same press. Even devices that still rock the dedicated Bixby button from the S8 to S10 era can be customized. And everything can be done right in your phone's settings, no super-secret menu or code needed. Do note that for Galaxy Z Flip owners, the functionality of the side button can change depending on whether the device is open or closed.