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To make a Samsung Galaxy change a setting automatically, open Settings > Modes and Routines > Routines, tap Add or +, choose a trigger under If, choose the setting change under Then, and save. A routine pairs a condition with an action; the exact triggers and actions depend on your Galaxy model and software.

How to create a routine on a Galaxy phone

  1. Open the routine menu. Go to Settings > Modes and Routines, then tap Routines. If you do not see the menu, search Settings for “Modes and Routines.” Samsung notes that the path can vary by device and software. Samsung’s US setup instructions explain the current menu and routine flow.
  2. Start a new routine. Tap Add or the + icon.
  3. Choose when it should run. Under If, select a condition such as a time, location, or app-related trigger, if available on your device.
  4. Choose what the phone should do. Under Then, select the setting or action to apply. Examples include turning on Wi-Fi, changing screen brightness, or silencing notifications; your available choices may differ.
  5. Review and save. Check that the condition and action are the ones you intended, give the routine a name if prompted, and save it. Then test it in the situation that should trigger it and confirm the expected setting changes.

Samsung describes Galaxy Routines as actions that run when specified conditions are met. Its Australia support guide also notes that feature availability and steps vary by device and software.

Where to find Routines on older Galaxy software

The menu name is not the same on every Android version. Samsung Australia’s guidance places Routines in Settings > Modes and Routines on Android 13 and Android 14, while its instructions identify the separate Bixby Routines app for Android 11 and Android 12. This is regional support guidance, so check your phone’s Settings search or Samsung support for your model if those paths do not match.

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Routine or mode: which should you use?

Use a routine when you want a specific condition to trigger one or more actions—for example, changing a setting at a selected time. A mode is an activity-oriented configuration that can be activated manually or automatically and may include choices such as Do not disturb, restricted app use, and setting changes. Samsung explains modes and routines separately in its Modes and Routines guide.

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If the routine does not run as expected

  • Open Settings > Modes and Routines > Routines and check that the saved If condition and Then action are correct.
  • Confirm that the chosen condition can occur as configured, and that the action is available on your device.
  • Check which routines are active or running before changing unrelated settings. Samsung notes that a routine can explain why an app or feature starts or becomes restricted unexpectedly.
  • If you are following older instructions for Bixby Quick Commands, note that Samsung says Quick Commands is unavailable on Galaxy S25 and later models running One UI 7.0 with Bixby 3.0. Samsung’s stated alternative is to add multiple Bixby commands to the Ask Bixby action in a routine. This change does not alter the ordinary If/Then setup for routines that change phone settings. Details are in Samsung Gulf’s Quick Commands notice.

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