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Over the past few months, I have openly and repeatedly expressed my appreciation for Samsung’s One UI 7, which has become, without question, my preferred Android interface. It strikes an impressive balance of speed, responsiveness, and intuitiveness that few competitors can match. Yet, it’s important to understand that no smartphone arrives perfectly configured to your preferences straight out of the box. Achieving the ideal experience requires some customization to tailor the device to your habits and aesthetic sensibilities.
Whenever I set up a new Samsung Galaxy phone, I adjust nearly a dozen specific settings to ensure the phone aligns with my workflow and comfort. These modifications, refined over time, not only improve usability but can genuinely elevate the daily user experience for any Galaxy owner.
From optimizing display resolution and refining notification behavior to enhancing privacy controls and adjusting navigation gestures, the following ten settings (plus one additional bonus tip) represent the tweaks I highly recommend for an optimal Galaxy setup. Note that some of these options might differ slightly depending on the specific Samsung model you own.
1. Turn off pop-up notifications
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Personally, I find pop-up notifications extremely distracting. When I am immersed in reading an article or writing a message, the sudden intrusion of a pop-up from a contact or app disrupts my focus entirely. Once I tap it, I often lose my train of thought or forget what I was doing. If you share this frustration, you’ll want to modify this setting before fine-tuning other system preferences. Navigate to **Notifications > Notification pop-up style > Apps to show as brief > Toggle off All apps**, which will suppress intrusive on-screen alerts while still allowing notifications to appear silently in the panel for later review.
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2. Switch to gesture navigation
Most Galaxy devices, unless restored from a previous model, default to the traditional three-button navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. While this method remains perfectly functional, I find gesture navigation a more fluid and natural way to interact with Android. Instead of tapping static icons, you can effortlessly swipe to move between screens or return to the home interface, creating a sense of continuity and speed. To enable this mode, go to **Settings > Display > Navigation bar > Swipe gestures**. You’ll likely find that the learning curve is short and the payoff in efficiency substantial.
3. Set to the highest screen resolution
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The Galaxy S25 Ultra represents Samsung’s finest display technology to date, rivaling any smartphone screen currently available. Its QHD+ panel, protected by second-generation Gorilla Armor, dramatically reduces reflections while enhancing color accuracy and depth. However, despite this hardware excellence, the phone ships with a lower resolution enabled by default to conserve battery power. To experience its full visual potential, navigate to **Settings > Display > Screen resolution** and select the highest available option. While this slightly increases battery consumption, the Ultra’s power efficiency offsets most of that impact, still delivering a full day of use on a single charge.
4. Change the side key’s function
The traditional “power button” has evolved into what manufacturers now call the “side key,” a change that many users, including myself, find frustrating. Samsung redefined the key’s long-press action to bring up its digital assistant, Bixby, instead of the standard power menu. This can be inconvenient if you prefer quick access to system controls rather than voice commands. Since alternative ways exist to access Google’s Gemini or Bixby assistants, consider reassigning the button’s function. Go to **Settings > Advanced features > Side button > Long Press > Power off menu**. This restores the familiar power options and simplifies an essential daily action.
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5. Adjust lock screen notifications
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One UI 7 introduces a significant shift in how notifications appear on the lock screen. By default, you now see compact icons in the upper-left corner instead of the previous full-card previews. While minimalist, some users, including myself, prefer the more detailed visual style. If you wish to revert to that, head to **Settings > Notifications > Lock screen notifications > Cards**. Additionally, to safeguard your privacy, particularly if your phone is often within others’ view, you can choose to hide sensitive content entirely. Within the same menu, enable **Hide content** to prevent message previews from displaying on the lock screen.
6. Sign in or sign up for a Samsung account
One of the primary advantages of owning a Galaxy phone is the broad ecosystem integration provided by the Samsung account. Even though I frequently test and switch between devices, I consistently return to Samsung for its cohesive One UI experience. Logging into a Samsung account unlocks numerous exclusive features such as Samsung Wallet, Samsung Cloud, password management, and Galaxy Themes. While Google’s Password Manager offers excellent cross-platform convenience, a Samsung account ensures seamless transfers and continuity when upgrading to a new Galaxy device. Moreover, it provides access to the Galaxy Store and customization tools that make the phone truly yours.
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7. Install this app
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If you haven’t already done so, install the **Good Lock** application from the Galaxy Store. This official Samsung app functions as a powerful customization hub, granting users access to a wide range of advanced personalization modules. For instance, when testing the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I relied heavily on its **Home Up** and **One Hand Operation+** tools. Good Lock allows you to create shortcuts such as swiping down from a particular edge to open Quick Settings or enabling gesture combinations to control apps single-handedly. The flexibility it introduces can transform how you interact with your large-screen smartphone.
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8. Uninstall the bloatware
Samsung devices often include numerous preinstalled applications, some of which you might never use. Fortunately, modern Galaxy phones give users far greater control over these extras. You can now uninstall or disable many of them to reclaim storage space and streamline performance. For instance, since I don’t own a Samsung TV, I remove the related app entirely, along with Microsoft Copilot. In addition, I disable or uninstall Facebook, Samsung Tutor, and OneDrive. Reducing unnecessary software not only declutters your device but also ensures smoother operation and fewer background processes demanding system resources.
9. Customize the home screen
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A major appeal of Samsung’s interface lies in its robust customization options, particularly through widgets. I especially enjoy using the Calendar widget, which allows transparency adjustments—making it visually harmonious with the wallpaper while remaining functional and unobtrusive. I position it at the top of my home screen so that essential information is always accessible at a glance without visual clutter. Additionally, adjusting the layout grid to **5×5** enables you to fit more icons conveniently near your thumb’s reach. For a cohesive aesthetic, apply your wallpaper’s color palette across app icons by navigating to **Wallpaper and style > Color palette**, then toggling it on. Although not every app icon may be fully compatible, the overall cohesion significantly enhances the design.
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10. Fix always-on display
With Samsung’s highly energy-efficient AMOLED panels, enabling features like the Always-On Display is not only practical but stylish. By default, this feature is set to “Tap to show” meaning you must wake the screen to view essential details like time, date, or notifications. Changing the behavior to “Always” provides at-a-glance convenience without needing to touch the device. To enable it, go to **Settings > Lock screen and AOD > Always-on Display > Always**. You can also choose a minimalist black background to reduce battery drain while maintaining legibility.
Bonus: Revert changes to the Notification Panel
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Samsung’s recent redesign of the notification panel gives it a more iOS-like appearance, splitting Quick Settings and notifications between two separate pull-down areas. While some users appreciate this structure, those who prefer the older unified layout can restore it. To revert, swipe down from the top-right corner of the home screen, select the **Pencil icon > Panel Settings > Together** option. This merges notifications and Quick Settings into one consolidated view, simplifying access. Within the same panel customization menu, you can also rearrange which shortcuts appear at the top for maximum efficiency.
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Beyond these adjustments, a few smaller tweaks round out my ideal configuration: switching the default keyboard to Google Keyboard for better typing accuracy, and organizing the app drawer alphabetically for faster navigation. Samsung smartphones continually demonstrate why they lead the Android ecosystem — not through flashy gimmicks, but through consistency, reliability, and refined design. By making these personalized adjustments, you’ll unlock a smoother, more intuitive, and satisfying experience. Enjoy exploring your newly optimized Galaxy phone!
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Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-changed-10-settings-on-my-samsung-phone-to-instantly-speed-up-the-performance/
