Latest news with #GoodLock
Mint
20 hours ago
- Mint
Samsung Galaxy S25 hidden features you wish you had tried sooner
The Samsung Galaxy S25 hit the market on 7th February 2025 and instantly made waves with its powerful hardware and sleek design. But if you've got one in your hands, chances are you're still not using it to it's full potential. Beyond the flashy specs and polished UI are hidden tools and underrated features that can completely change how you use your phone. Here are some tools you can download from the Galaxy Store, features worth exploring and smart settings to tweak for a more powerful experience. Install Good Lock and Good Guardians Good Lock and Good Guardians are two of Samsung's best-kept secrets that open up a whole new layer of customisation and system control. Good Lock lets you theme your keyboard, tweak your lock screen and even animate your always-on display. Meanwhile, Good Guardians gives you handy modules like Nice Catch that tracks mystery vibrations and alerts on your phone and Thermal Guardian to monitor what's heating up your phone. The Auto Blocker feature stops apps from being installed if they're not from the Google Play Store or Samsung's app store. In fact, it also blocks certain commands that come through USB connections. If you are someone who just downloads apps from trusted stores and doesn't tinker with your phone, you should keep this feature turned on. But if you like to explore apps outside Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy, you might want to turn this feature off so it doesn't block you. Does your phone performance start dipping over time? You can let your phone auto-reboot weekly or customise accordingly. Head to Settings > Device Care > Auto Optimisation. Developer Options is a hidden settings menu on Android phones. It's mostly meant for developers and tech-savvy users, but some of the features inside can be helpful for anyone who wants more control over the device. How to enable Developer Options on Galaxy S25: Go to Settings. Scroll down and tap About phone. Tap Software information. Find Build number and tap it 7 times. Enter your PIN or pattern when asked. You'll now see Developer Options at the bottom of the main Settings menu, tap to confirm. Don't disable RAM Plus What is RAM Plus? RAM Plus uses some storage space to act like extra memory for smoother performance. This feature helps you keep your apps open for longer without affecting the storage, speed or battery of your S25. Moreover, if you see a sudden boost on your device, trust us, it was not due to disabling RAM Plus, but from rebooting. Make the most of Modes and Routines Check out the Modes and Routines option in the Settings Menu. It is one of the coolest features of S25 that lets you automate tasks like switching performance modes, adjusting charging at night, enabling 5G for specific apps or syncing with smart home devices. Want your S25 to look like something straight off Pinterest? Try the TruePicks app for stunning wallpapers and layout ideas.
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Android Authority
This great Good Lock module just got a major customizability update for One UI 8
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung has updated its One-Hand Operation Plus module with two new features. The app now lets you have more than two sets of gesture handles, such as multiple sets on one side of the screen. The app also lets you use the system back gesture while gesture handles are enabled. Good Lock modules are easily one of the best reasons to get a Samsung phone, as these applications allow you to deeply customize various aspects of your device. One-Hand Operation Plus is one of the most popular modules, and it just got a notable update ahead of One UI 8's release. The most notable addition is that you can now have more than two sets of gesture handles. The app currently lets you have one left handle and one right handle. However, this update means you can set multiple handles on each side of the screen. This could be handy if you use your phone in a different orientation (e.g. landscape) or if you simply want different controls in different areas of the screen. New Old For the uninitiated, these gesture handles let you conduct one of three swipe gestures to initiate a variety of possible actions. For example, you can swipe in to go back, swipe diagonally in and up to activate notifications, and swipe diagonally in and down to activate the recent apps menu. Thankfully, you don't need to wait for One UI 8 to get this updated handle system. I can confirm that the feature is working on my Galaxy S23 Ultra running One UI 7. The updated One Hand Operations Plus module also offers a new System back gesture toggle. Enabling this toggle means you can still use the system back gesture outside your handle area. This addresses one pain point with the module, as you previously couldn't use the system back gesture on the same side of the screen that hosted a handle (i.e., no back gesture on the right side if the right handle was enabled). Unfortunately, the app changelog shows that this change is limited to One UI 8. Sure enough, we can see this option on our S25 Ultra running the One UI 8 beta but not on the S23 Ultra running stable One UI 7. Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority In any event, we're expecting more Good Lock modules to receive updates ahead of the stable One UI 8 release. Samsung's new software will debut with its upcoming foldables, which are tipped to arrive next month. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
03-06-2025
- General
- Android Authority
Here's how I create unique keyboard layouts on my Samsung Galaxy phone
Saeed Wazir / Android Authority I prefer Galaxy phones over the competition because they offer extensive customization features to personalize my experience. No other platform offers as much freedom, and I love having unique themes and layouts that match my style. Good Lock is one of my go-to apps for customizing and enhancing my phone's functionality. It's free and includes several modules geared towards specific enhancements, like homescreen customization. Today, I'll cover the Keys Cafe module, which I use to create bespoke Samsung Keyboard designs. It's the perfect keyboard customization tool because its comprehensive features can transform the key layout and add visual enhancements, like bright colors and effects. Keys Cafe includes five tools called Make your own keyboard, Style your own keyboard, My Sticker, Play keyboard game, and Advanced keyboard setting. Each of these handles a different aspect of the keyboard customization process, which I'll explain in detail below. There are two ways to download Keys Cafe. The first option is to download it from the Samsung Galaxy or Google Play stores as part of the Good Lock app. This way will also download other modules to customize your phone's sounds, themes, and other settings. You can also download Keys Cafe as a standalone app from the above stores if you only want to customize your keyboard and don't need the other tools. Have you tried customizing your phone's keyboard? 0 votes Yes NaN % No NaN % I start with a new layout as a foundation Saeed Wazir / Android Authority Make your own keyboard is the first tool in Keys Cafe. It's the best place to start because it provides a clean slate as a foundation to build upon. I can choose a Simple, Dvorak, or ColeMak keyboard as a foundation and then get to work adding the keys I want. Alternatively, I can try a Math, Chemistry, or combined Math and Chemistry keyboard, although these are more suited for professionals who need unique symbols and formulas. Make your own keyboard is the best place to start because it provides a clean slate to work with. After selecting my base layout, I delve into the settings. The interface displays a standard white keyboard and lets me add more rows of emojis or other symbols to the top. Having too many extra rows makes it challenging to find the right keys amongst the clutter, so I stick to two or three at the most. I then modify the rows by adding and removing individual keys to ensure I always have quick access to the ones I use often. These are usually smiley and angry face emojis, along with hearts, to send to my wife. Another feature assigns frequently used words to a single key. The presets include common words like 'Hi' and 'Sorry,' and I create my own, like 'Goodbye' and 'Get lost,' so I don't need to type them out all the time. I only use a handful of these words because space is tight, and I need room for other keys. Custom layouts can get cramped, and I can make things more manageable by adjusting the key size. I change the height and width of each key individually to make the spacebar, comma, or other commonly used keys larger and easier to access. The same feature lets me select all the keys simultaneously and adjust their sizes to spread or bring them closer together, depending on the available space. Add custom themes and vibrant colors to the keyboard Saeed Wazir / Android Authority Style your own keyboard is the second Keys Cafe tool for adding custom colors and themes to liven up the layout. The tool is divided into two sections. My Themes is for creating unique keyboard designs from scratch, and Recommendations, which lists various preset color options to make things easier. After choosing custom colors from these tools, I can use the Effects and Sound tabs at the bottom of the interface to add other cosmetic upgrades to my keys. I prefer building custom keyboards with My Themes when I feel creative. The creation tool displays a standard white keyboard onscreen with circles highlighting certain zones. I then change the colors of each zone with the RGB picking tool to create an original theme. There's no limit on the color combinations, and I can save multiple themes to match my mood or wallpaper. This tool is ideal for individuals who enjoy tinkering and are willing to invest time in creating something different. On the other hand, it can be complicated for beginners and requires the Good Lock Theme Park module to work. The Recommendation feature is more user-friendly and includes over 30 preset color combinations to upgrade my keyboard's appearance. The presets offer a wide range of dark and bright colors, which are easy to apply. I usually go through all of them to see which one I like the best or try to find a color scheme that matches my phone's theme. Style your own keyboard adds custom colors and themes to liven up the layout. I take my key customization further with the Style your own keyboard Effects tool at the bottom of the interface. It displays several swirling colors and motion effects on its home screen, which I can apply to the keys. When I press them, I'll see colorful animations and movement effects that last around a second. I use this feature sparingly, only adding one effect at a time, because having a maximum of three running simultaneously can be overwhelming and distracting. The Sound tool, located at the bottom right, adds audio to each keypress. It includes preset sounds, like Calm, Space, and Retro, which I can activate with a radio button. Hearing sounds on every keypress isn't my thing, but others will appreciate it. Create unique stickers from your photos and images Saeed Wazir / Android Authority My Sticker is the third Keys Cafe tool and a fun and straightforward feature for creative users. To create a sticker, I select images from my library or take a photo. After choosing the images, I then crop them to the size I prefer. I can also add new tags from emoji presets or create my own with the text input tool. The custom sticker I created will now be available in the Samsung Keyboard app, and I can use it in my messages. I enjoy creating custom stickers from images of animals and family photos, which I can send to friends to add a personal touch to my messages. Test your typing skills with these keyboard games Saeed Wazir / Android Authority The Keys Cafe Play keyboard game utility is more of a fun feature and isn't for customization. I've still included it because it's part of the Keys Cafe module and includes two games, Sentence Practice and Word Rain to improve your typing skills. Sentence Practice displays a phrase or sentence in a window. I then need to type it out as quickly and accurately as possible in the window below. The game ends after ten phrases and provides an accuracy and speed score for my typing skills. Play keyboard game isn't for customization, but I've included it because it's part of the Keys Cafe module. Word Rain tests typing speed. The words fall down the screen like rain droplets, and I need to type them as fast as I can before they pile up and cause a flood. The water level rises whenever I don't spell a word fast enough, and the goal is to reach the highest score and stage before drowning. Tweak performance with Advanced Keyboard Setting Saeed Wazir / Android Authority The last tool in Keys Cafe is called Advanced Keyboard Setting. It's less flashy compared to the others and consists of simple sliders to activate or deactivate certain keyboard settings. The settings include tools to use sticker suggestions in a larger view, turn off the delete accelerator, and add a longer spacebar when typing URLs. I don't use any of the Advanced Keyboard Setting features, but they are worth testing because you might like them. Tinkering with my keyboard isn't just about stylish visual effects, as having custom keys makes my typing faster and easier. I also appreciate that Keys Cafe offers sliders to toggle its customization features on and off, allowing me to revert to the default keyboard whenever I want. If you enjoy upgrading your keyboard with Keys Cafe, you may also want to try other Good Lock modules, such as Theme Park or Sound Assistant, to give your phone's aesthetics an overhaul.
Android Authority
03-06-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
I created a Samsung Routine to fix the Google Play Store's biggest failure
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority I used to trust that the Google Play Store would reliably update all my Android apps in the background, but recently I've grown more skeptical. Some apps seemingly gain new versions regularly, while others haven't been updated for ages. This isn't a case of developers dragging their feet, either. So, to allay my fears, I've used the tools at my disposal to create a workaround. If you own a Samsung phone, you can use its Modes and Routines feature to regularly check for and update your Play Store apps without any intervention on your part. But how? I detail everything you need to know below. Why Samsung Modes and Routines is the perfect Play Store updater tool Ryan Haines / Android Authority Samsung offers its Galaxy smartphone users plenty of useful tools, but I'd argue that Modes and Routines are the most impactful. It's been around since the Galaxy S10 in some capacity, but it has gained many more skills since it broke free of Bixby. On One UI 7, it demands a few hours of setup, but once I create a bunch of modes and routines, my Samsung phone will take care of many tasks all by itself. I rely on various routines to activate power saving on my Galaxy Watch, activate autorotate when media apps are running, and bump up my ringer volume when driving. I also have several routines that trigger at specific times or manually through the nifty routines widget Samsung provides. These include activating NFC when Google Wallet is opened, triggering the Extra Dim setting when the Sleep mode is active, and disabling mobile data when connected to my home Wi-Fi. All this can be achieved using the stock Modes and Routines tools, but if you install Good Lock, you'll gain access to a brilliant additional trick: macro creation. The Play Store can be unreliable when it comes to updating apps in the background. I use a routine to force it. Macros are useful for recording a series of touches and swipes that can be played back automatically. This allows me to create more complex tasks within apps that otherwise wouldn't be possible. Macros can also be used to perform other tasks that are often forgotten or seem too laborious. For me, that's updating apps in the Play Store. The Play Store has an automatic updating facility, but I've never seen it as reliable. It was a big problem on phones that love cutting background apps to save power, and I have a sneaking suspicion that my Galaxy S24 FE does this, too. As a result, I often open the Play Store to find tens of apps not updated in weeks. Thankfully, this issue is dead and buried since I've used a routine to clean up behind the Play Store. How to use Samsung Modes & Routines to keep your Play Store apps updated Before we begin, you must download Good Lock and its Routines+ module. Once you've downloaded both, follow the steps below to create the Play Store updater routine. The tutorial below consists of two parts. First, we'll create the macro. Secondly, we'll schedule it to run at an appropriate time. To create the macro, follow the steps below: Open the Settings app, then select Modes and Routines . app, then select . Tap the Routines tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap the + button to create a new Routine. button to create a new Routine. You'll see two sections, namely If and Then. If allows you to set a trigger that'll run the routine. We'll deal with this part of the tutorial later. For now, tap the + Add what this routine will do under Then. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, then tap Good Lock. Select Touch macro. Tap + Add to create a new macro. to create a new macro. Next, select Play Store as the app of choice, then tap Next. We're now going to create the actual macro. You should now be on the Play Store's home page. You'll also notice the macro control tools on the left-hand side of the screen. Tap Record to begin recording the macro. to begin recording the macro. In the Play Store, tap your profile icon, then Manage apps & device. Wait for the Play Store to search for updates. When updates are available, tap Update all . . Wait for this process to complete. I suggest waiting five to ten minutes to ensure that the Play Store has adequate time to update all apps now and in the future. Next, swipe back, then swipe again to exit the Play Store. These steps are optional, but the macro will stop on the Play Store's current page if you don't return. Andy Walker / Android Authority Once you're happy with the macro you've created, tap Stop on the macro record control dialog, then tap Save . on the macro record control dialog, then tap . Give the macro a name. 'Update Play Store Automatically' works well. You can adjust the start time delay and other parameters, but it's unnecessary. You now have a macro that'll automatically update your Play Store apps whenever it runs. To maximize it, we must create a trigger to make it run automatically. My preferred method is to run it at a specific time at night when I'm asleep and not actively using my phone. This also ensures I wake up with freshly-baked apps in the morning. To create the trigger, follow the steps below: Head back to the Create routine screen. Tap + Add what will trigger this routine under If. under If. Tap Specific time and select a specific time. 23:00 works for me, and Every day, but you can customize these options to your liking. You can create multiple conditions, too. Next, under Then, tap + Add what this routine will do under Then. under Then. Select Good Lock once again, and Touch macro. Select the macro we just made, and tap Done. Once you're happy with the If and Then sections, tap Save to save your routine. to save your routine. Give the routine a name, select an icon, then hit Done. That's it! The routine will appear beneath the Automatic routines section in Modes and Routines. It'll run at the time you specified and update your apps accordingly. It's a great little workaround, but a word of caution I've been using this routine for a few weeks now, and there are some things you should be aware of. The time gap between each action in the macro is essential. If you tap an item too early, it may trigger or bypass the selection of another action altogether. This is especially important when the Play Store is checking for updates. As mentioned above, leave enough time for the Play Store to gather all the available updates. Additionally, although this macro ensures that apps are constantly updated, it isn't bulletproof. I suggest you keep checking up on its accuracy and efficacy. I suggest running it manually during the day to see where it can be improved. You can then edit the existing macro or create a new one entirely. Finally, this macro can only be created if you have apps available to update. You need to tap the Update all option, which isn't available if there aren't any updates available. How do you use One UI's Modes and Routines? Let the community know your tips and tricks in the comments section below.
Android Authority
02-06-2025
- General
- Android Authority
Give your Galaxy phone even more personality with new styles in ClockFace
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung updates the ClockFace app to version 3.3.08.15. The update adds 10 new watch presets that feature a wide variety of clock styles, fonts, and colors for users to stylize their Galaxy phone with. The update is on a gradual rollout to eligible devices, so it should be arriving in the next few days if you don't already have it. One of the most important things to personalize on any phone is the lock screen. That's because it's the first thing someone sees before it's unlocked — it's a way to quickly distinguish your phone from someone else's, aside from using a case. And Samsung has just given users even more options for customizing its appearance. Samsung is currently rolling out the latest update for its ClockFace app, which is version 3.3.08.15. This update adds 10 new watch presets for users to pick from, on top of squashing minor bugs and having more stability. The company is doing a staggered release with this update, so it may take a few days before everyone can see it. We aren't seeing the new faces yet, but SammyGuru and @Theordysm on X have it. To get ClockFace, you'll have to go through the Good Lock suite, as ClockFace is an optional app module within Good Lock. If you don't already have Good Lock on your Galaxy device, make sure to download it now, and then install the ClockFace module. ClockFace allows users to customize the clock on both the lock screen as well as the Always On Display (AOD). Some of these new faces are certainly fun and interesting. For example, there's one with the time appearing like a hand-drawn sketch with Totoro's face smiling above, which should appeal to Studio Ghibli fans. Another has what appears to be an old-school digital alarm clock face, complete with a faux LED screen and all. There is also a face that spells out the time for you to read, and another with a more feminine touch with stars and a moon. Combined with the other few dozen faces from before, there should be a style for every taste in ClockFace. Customizing your phone is a fun way to make it personal to you and your preferences, and Android as a whole makes it easy. If you have a Samsung Galaxy device, then make sure to grab the ClockFace module in Good Lock and fine tune your lock screen and AOD. Remember, this update is rolling out over the next few days, so if you don't see it available yet, wait a bit before checking again. It is also requires One UI 7 or later on your Galaxy. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
