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Samsung Galaxy routines automatically perform actions when conditions you choose are met. Set a condition under If, choose what the phone should do under Then, and save the routine. It won’t make decisions on its own: it follows the triggers and actions you configure.

How to create a routine on a Samsung Galaxy phone

  1. Open the feature: Go to Settings > Modes and Routines, then select the Routines tab and tap Add (+). Samsung’s US support page gives this path, though labels can differ across devices and software versions. Samsung US setup guidance.
  2. Choose a trigger: Under If, select the condition that should start the routine.
  3. Choose what happens: Under Then, select the action or actions the phone should perform.
  4. Name and save it: Give the routine a name; Samsung’s setup guidance also describes choosing an optional icon and color.

You can also open Discover to choose a suggested routine and customize it. The available conditions, actions, and menu labels can vary by model, software version, app version, and region; use the options shown on your phone.

Where to find routines on different Android versions

Samsung India’s support guide says Android 14 and Android 13 place the feature in Settings > Modes and Routines, while Android 12 and Android 11 use the Bixby Routines app. This is Samsung’s stated guidance, not a guarantee that every Galaxy model or region has the same menus. Samsung India’s Routines guide.

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Useful routine examples

Choose triggers and actions that suit your own schedule. Samsung’s support materials describe configurations such as:

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These are examples, not guaranteed presets. The specific triggers and actions available depend on the device and software. Samsung’s Japan support page includes the bedtime examples; its market-specific model information should not be treated as a global compatibility list. Samsung Japan’s Modes and Routines guide.

Modes and routines are different

Samsung groups both features under Modes and Routines, but they serve different purposes. A routine automates selected actions when its conditions are met. A mode represents a state or activity: it can be started manually or automatically, and a custom mode can include focus controls such as Do not disturb or restricted app use, along with appearance changes. A mode’s settings are not necessarily actions you can reproduce as a routine.

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Why is your Galaxy changing settings by itself?

A routine may be running because one of its conditions has been met. Samsung recommends checking active routines and reviewing their conditions and actions if a setting changes unexpectedly. Its guide also describes checking routine notifications; for an active mode, a Now bar may appear on the lock screen where supported. The indicator and exact path depend on the device and software version.

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  1. Open Settings > Modes and Routines, or the Bixby Routines app if that is the path on your phone.
  2. Review which routines are running and inspect each routine’s If conditions and Then actions.
  3. Check routine notifications for information about what ran. If you suspect a mode instead, look for its lock-screen Now bar if your device displays one.
  4. Edit or disable the routine or mode whose trigger or action explains the change.

Samsung’s support pages describe the feature and its setup; they do not establish a specific battery-life improvement or amount of time saved.

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