4 Samsung Galaxy Modes and Routines Users Love

Samsung Galaxy devices have an automation feature called Modes & Routines that can automatically toggle settings or open apps based on where you are, what you’re doing, or why you’re using the device. This is one of the coolest things you didn’t know your Samsung phone could do.

Modes are toggleable configurations that significantly change the way your phone behaves. For example, you can have a sleep mode that sets your phone to Do Not Disturb and restricts the use of certain apps to prevent you from staying up all night. Routines are simple “if, then” statements that you can configure to run whenever specified conditions are met. All of this can be found in the Settings menu of your Galaxy phone or tablet by tapping Modes & Routines.

It would be almost impossible to count all the configurations you could have using this feature. If you can imagine automation, you can probably make it work on your Galaxy device. So, start simple and try these four fads and routines that users love. They might even inspire you to create your own automations that make everyday life a little easier.

A popular Reddit comment suggests setting up a routine that turns on your device’s auto-rotate feature whenever a gallery or video app is open. This way you can turn off auto-rotation at any other time. No more accidental switching to landscape mode when you’re just trying to show your screen to a friend or look at your phone while lying in bed. When you launch YouTube, Netflix, or even a game, your auto-rotate routine can start so you can enjoy the content in the intended orientation.

To set up an app-specific auto-rotation routine, tap the Routines option at the bottom of the Modes & Routines screen. Tap the plus sign at the top of this screen to create a new routine. Tap to add an “if” condition, then scroll down to find the open app in the Event section. You can then choose any number of apps to include in this routine. For games, it’s even simpler: there is an “if” condition which applies to all games detected while opening.

Then, tap to add a “then” statement. Tap Display, then Screen orientation. Many users choose the Auto-rotate option here, but you can also choose Landscape orientation if you want your chosen apps to always display in landscape. Name and save your routine to complete the setup.

YouTuber Tech Guy Charlie uploaded a video in response to a commenter’s particular interest in a routine to prevent his phone from overheating when using Android Auto. In the video, Charlie demonstrates that a phone can easily reach up to 42 degrees Celsius (around 107 degrees Fahrenheit) when sitting in a hot car, plugged into the car’s console via USB and with Google Maps navigation and Android Auto features enabled. An easy way to remedy this temperature increase is to create a routine that turns off fast charging when Android Auto is active.

To do this, create a new routine with two “if” conditions. For the first, tap Open App in the Event section and select Maps (or your navigation app of choice). For the second “if” condition, select Android Auto in the Connected devices section. For the “then” instruction, tap Battery, then Fast Charge, and choose Off.

The reason this works is that charging your phone warms the battery, and fast charging warms it even more due to the more power going into the battery at once. Leaving your phone on fast charging the entire time you take a long car trip is a potentially dangerous example of improperly charging your phone. As Charlie demonstrated in his video, turning off fast charging while Maps and Android Auto are active can lower your phone’s temperature by up to 6 degrees Celsius (down to around 96 degrees Fahrenheit).

Comments on several Reddit threads suggest a work-related routine that uses location detection to silence your phone while you’re at work. Users love this location-based silencing because it avoids embarrassing incidents without any effort on your part. It may also be a good idea to set up similar quieting routines for the gym or movie theater you frequently visit.

When selecting the “if” trigger for this routine, simply select Place under the Place category. This brings up a Google Maps interface that you can use to search for an address. You can then designate a radius; If you work in a small building, you can set this setting to a small radius. If you’re moving across campus, a wider radius makes more sense. Your routine will be active in the circle area and will turn off once you leave it.

For the “then” instruction, select Sounds & Vibration, then Sound Mode & Volume, and choose Vibrate or Mute for the mode depending on your preference. For added productivity, you can also add a feature to your work routine that changes your wallpaper to something more professional, or automatically enable a mode that restricts the use of certain apps to minimize distractions.

YouTuber TechnicallyAlex has highlighted a set-it-and-forget-it routine that will help Samsung Galaxy users maintain a good battery level overnight. The idea is that your phone automatically goes into power-saving mode while you sleep, provided you don’t plan to plug it in to charge overnight. Power saving mode is one of the most effective Android settings that can extend your phone’s battery life, but it’s not something most people want to enable every night or throughout the day.

You will need to define two “if” triggers for this routine. For the first, select Period under the Time category. Choose a time period when you usually sleep, such as between midnight and 7 a.m., and switch between each day of the week so your routine kicks in every night. For the second “if” trigger, tap Charging Status in the Device category, then select No Charging.

For the “then” instruction, simply tap Power Saving under the Battery category and make sure it’s enabled. Commenters expressed positive results in response to Alex’s video, and some even suggested similar use of routines to limit nighttime charging to 80%. The 20% to 80% rule is an important battery life tip that can make a real difference, and routines can help you take advantage of it.