If you want to pair and connect the Samsung Galaxy S8 with your car's hands-free kit, this can become a problem. Especially if the car does not recognize the smartphone via Bluetooth or vice versa. Don't worry, one of our following tips will help you here:

Samsung Galaxy S8 doesn't connect to car handsfree via Bluetooth

Update the firmware of your car

For many cars, but especially BMW, Audi and VW it is important to update the firmware of your hands-free phone. This can usually be done via USB or even directly via the built-in sim card in the vehicle. The new firmware then contains the Bluetooth connection information for the new smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Decouple hands-free

To do this, please open the Samsung Galaxy S8 menu and open the settings. Now tap on "Connections" and then on "Bluetooth". Now activates Bluetooth if it has not yet happened. In the "Coupled Devices" section, tap on the cogwheel symbol on your car's hands-free kit.

In the next step, select "Decouple". Your car speakerphone has now been decoupled. Now it must be reconnected again. Proceed as usual.

Activate Bluetooth before entering the car

It is important that you always activate Bluetooth on your Samsung Galaxy S8 before you enter your car. When the car key is turned around and the system is activated, the system checks whether Bluetooth devices are nearby. With some Bluetooth hands-free kits, this search does not take place later (after starting the car and a short drive). Sometimes it can also help to switch off the entertainment system, in which the Bluetooth hands-free system is often integrated, and then switch it on again.

Reset Bluetooth

To do this, please open the following submenu from the start screen:

Home screen --> App Menu --> Settings -->Apps

Now tap on the icon with the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show system applications". Search for “Bluetooth” and open the System-App.

Now type "Force Stop" and then tap the entry "Memory". The following button must now be pressed one after the other to delete data:

• Empty cache

Restarts the S8 and then try to reconnect your smartphone via Bluetooth.

Sometimes it may be necessary to hide photos and videos on the Samsung Galaxy S9. After all, not everyone should be able to see certain images that are stored on the device at a glance in the gallery.

So that no one but you can see the pictures, you have to hide them. But how?

We would like to describe this in more detail in this article: You can use the following two methods to hide pictures on the Samsung Galaxy S9:

Variant 1: Secure Folder

The Secure Folder lets you easily hide photos that you don't want to be discovered so quickly. To do this, open the Secure Folder app on the Samsung Galaxy S9 and run the Setup Wizard.

You can then move photos and videos to the Gallery app within the Secure Folder. Open the Gallery App on the Samsung Galaxy S9 and tap on the photo you want to move and tap the 3 dots icon in the upper right corner of the screen, then select "Move to Secure Folder" and confirm the move with the pin of your Secure Folder.

The photo or video can now only be viewed via the Secure Folder on the Samsung Galaxy S9. It's hidden in this one.  

Variant 2: .nomedia file

1. First download a File Explorer to your Android smartphone.

2. We recommend the file manager +, which can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store: 

• Download File Explorer +Download File Explorer +

3. Open the file explorer and navigate to a subdirectory of your main memory or an inserted micro SD memory card where you want to hide pictures and videos.

4. Tap on the icon with the three dots in the upper right corner and tap on "New" --> "File"

5. You can now create a new file. Name them as follows: .nomedia Please don't forget the dot in front of the .nomedia, otherwise the Android media scanner won't recognize this file.

6. Tap OK to create the file.

Both variants are great for hiding photos, pictures and videos on the Samsung Galaxy S9.

There are many settings for notifications on your Samsung Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus. This can vary from predefined ringtones to vibration patterns that many users don't know anything about.

In this article we will talk about a not so familiar feature, the flash notification. The function notifies you via the camera LED flash when events occur on your phone, such as a new SMS, WhatsApp message or even calls.

The flash lights on the camera LED on the back of your phone's housing glow in regular time windows when there is an unread notification.

You can enable flash notification on the Samsung Galaxy S9 as follows:

Use camera LED flash for incoming notifications

1. To do this, first open the App menu and then open the settings.

2. Scroll down until you see the "Input help" menu item and then select it.

3. Afterwards, tap on "hearing impairment". There you will find the option "Flash Notification".

4. Select it. You can now select the controls for camera light and screen.

We recommend that you activate both controls. This way you will be informed visually about it no matter which side the S9 is on. You now know how to easily activate flash notification on your smartphone.

It is possible to reset the Samsung Galaxy S9 to factory settings. This is required when serious problems and errors occur or when the device is sold. A factory reset deletes all data on the smartphone and reinstalls Android.

If you would like to do just that, this article will show you the easy way to reset your Samsung Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus.

We recommend backing up all important files before you decide to reset your Samsung Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus, so that no valuable data such as pictures, videos etc. get lost.

You can back up the data on your phone by simply going to Settings and selecting the Backup and Reset option.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Factory reset - Instructions

Variant 1: Reset the Samsung Galaxy S9 to factory settings via Android

Navigate there to: "General administration" and then to "Reset"

Select "Reset to factory settings".

Follow the Android Assistant for resetting Samsung Galaxy S9

Variant 2: Reset the Samsung Galaxy S9 using Hard-Reset and Recovery Menu

Starts the device with the following key combination (press and hold simultaneously):

• Power On/ OFF
• Volume loud
• Bixby button

When the device is started and an Android male appears on the display, release the Power On/Off button, but keep the other two buttons from the key combination pressed.

After about 15 seconds the recovery menu of your Samsung Galaxy S9 will be displayed. Use the Volume buttons to scroll down or up.

Use the Power On/Off button to perform your actions. Now mark the entry "Wipe Data/ Factory Reset".

This corresponds to resetting the Samsung Galaxy S9 to factory defaults. All your data will be lost irretrievably!

Confirm the process by selecting the appropriate entry. You now know for your Samsung Galaxy S9 the possibility of factory reset and hard reset.

If you have noticed with the new Samsung Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus that the device no longer responds or freezes the screen, then don't worry.

Usually the problem is solved relatively quickly by forcing a restart. How exactly this forced restart works is explained in the following step-by-step instructions:

Soft Reset key combination on the Samsung Galaxy S9

Press and hold the following keys simultaneously for about 10 seconds:

• Power button
• Volume-Silenced button

This will force a restart after about 10 seconds. Afterwards the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus can be used again as usual.

However, you should check what caused the "Freeze" of your smartphone. This could be a newly installed app or a new firmware update.

If you find that the problem occurs frequently, it can be helpful to switch the phone to Safe Mode and check if the error still occurs.

You now know the Soft reset key combination to restart the Samsung Galaxy S9 when it stops responding to input or the display freezes.

On the Samsung Galaxy S9, it may happen that when you open an app or other application, it suddenly crashes and an error appears on the display. Usually this is very annoying, because you can't get access to the data in the app or just can't use it anymore. The following tips will help you to solve the problem on the Samsung Galaxy S9:

Troubleshooting when App suddenly ends on the Samsung Galaxy S9

Tip 1: Reboot Smartphone

In most cases it will help you to restart the Samsung Galaxy S9.

Tip 2: Update App

Check if the app is up to date. Navigate to the Google Play Store or another App Market. Check there if a newer version available for download. This usually solves the problem.

Tip 3: Reinstall App

It is often helpful to delete the app from your Samsung Galaxy S9 and then reinstall it.

Tip 4: Perform Wipe Cache partition

Using a Wipe Cache partition will remove old temporary data that may cause the error with the app. Since this method is a bit more complicated, we have written the following instructions for you:

• Run Wipe Cache on the Samsung Galaxy S9

Tip 5: Clear App Data and Cache

Open the following submenu on your Android phone: 

• Menu --> Settings -> Apps

Search for the app in question here. Once you have found them, tap on the entry to display more information about the app. You will find the following buttons: 

• Force stop
• Clear cache
• Empty data

Tap the buttons in the order described above. Then restart the phone. We hope that one of the above tips has helped to fix the problem with the app crashes so that you can use it again as usual.

When you turn on or restart your Samsung Galaxy S9, you can see a "Safe Mode" font in the lower left corner of the display. This is the Safe Mode operation within the Android OS. Why should your Samsung Galaxy S9 operate in Safe Mode?

For example, if you have problems with applications and apps, the safe mode is there to fix the problem. The safe mode on the Samsung Galaxy S9 must be activated separately.

If you have not done this actively, the cause is usually due to the following error:

• Safe mode cannot be terminated

The reason for this is relatively simple. The safe mode is activated by the volume button during the boot process. If this is now trapped by your case or protective cover, it will be pressed permanently. 

This means, of course, that the safe mode will be loaded every time you restart, too.   Therefore, please remove your protective cover to release a jammed volume button.

In the worst case, the volume button may also be permanently defective. Then we recommend that you put the Samsung Galaxy S8 in the repair.

Exit safe mode on the Samsung Galaxy S9

All you need to do is turn off or restart the Samsung Galaxy S9 once. The Safe Mode is then already deactivated and all apps are loaded as usual. You now know why the Safe Mode may have been activated and how you can disable it in any case.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 receives firmware updates from time to time, but usually at least once a month. Usually, these are normal security updates that bring the device up to date with the latest security patches.

Sometimes these are also major updates, such as a jump in the version number. Normally, these updates run automatically. But you can also manually search for it, which sometimes leads to a faster update.

Here we show you how to access these updates whenever they are available:

Manually check for new firmware updates for the Samsung Galaxy S9

1. Tap the icon for the App menu on the start screen or delete it from bottom to top

2. Search and select Settings

3. Select Settings. Now scroll down the list until you see "Software Update" - select the entry

4. Where you will find the menu item "Download updates manually", which you should touch.

5. When you are finished and a new software update is available, select "Update now".

The updated version is now downloaded immediately and can be installed afterwards.

The Gear VR is designed to be used with specific Samsung galaxy generations. Not all models are compatible with each other or an appropriate adapter must be used. The topic of virtual reality has hardly ever been mentioned in connection with the Samsung Galaxy S9.

That's why many of you will have the question: "Which Samsung Galaxy Gear VR can be used with the Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus? The answer to this question is short and brief:

• If you are using the latest version of the Gear VR, it can be used with the S9.
• 

If you don't know whether you own the current model, then the following approach is helpful:

If the Gear VR works with the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, then the glasses are also suitable for the Galaxy S9.

The model numbers of the Galaxy Gear VR, which is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are as follows:

• SM-R325
• SM-R324

Do you still use VR or is this an important buying argument for you? Let us know in the comments.

If you have just bought the Samsung Galaxy S9 or Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, as a new user you might want to know how to move the app icons on the start screen.

Usually, you download apps from the Google Play Store immediately, which quickly leads to the symbols being sorted out somehow. In order to create a little order here, we will show below how to rearrange them.

How do I move App icons on the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus?

1. Start on the Home screen.

2. Press and hold down an App icon with your fingertip until a pop-up appears.

3. You can now move and reposition the icon.

4. If the App is in the desired place, release the App - it has now been repositioned so you can move it for all the Apps you want to move