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On most recent Samsung Galaxy phones, open Settings > Advanced features > Side button. From there, choose what a double press does and what a press-and-hold (sometimes called Long press) does. Select Power off menu for the hold gesture if you want the Side button to show shutdown and restart controls. If holding the button opens Bixby or another assistant, press Side button + Volume down together for a few seconds, or open Quick settings and tap the Power icon.
The exact labels and shortcuts depend on the Galaxy model, software version, region, and carrier. Two phones that look similar can therefore show different choices.
What the Side button controls
Samsung uses the Side button for several independent gestures. A quick press normally wakes or locks the screen, while the settings page lets you assign actions to a Double press and to Press and hold or Long press. The two configurable gestures do not have to perform related tasks: for example, a double press can open Camera while a hold opens the Power off menu.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| Gesture | Typical choices | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Double press | Camera, an app, Flashlight, Magnifier, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes, Samsung Capture, Modes and Routines, or Apps | The list is device- and software-dependent. Some newer devices can trigger a specific function inside an app, such as starting a voice recording. |
| Press and hold / Long press | Power off menu, Bixby, or another digital assistant | The label and available assignments vary by model, operating system, region, and carrier. |
| Side button + Volume down | Power controls | Press both buttons together for a few seconds when the hold gesture is assigned to an assistant. |
Samsung’s support instructions describe these controls for supported recent Galaxy devices. They do not establish one identical menu for every Galaxy phone or tablet, so use the options actually shown on your device as the authoritative list.
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How to change the double-press shortcut
Use this procedure when you want the Side button to open Camera, launch an app, or run another listed shortcut.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Advanced features.
- Tap Side button.
- Under Double press, turn the feature on if it is disabled.
- Tap the action you want. Depending on the phone and software, you may see Camera, an app picker, Flashlight, Magnifier, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes, Samsung Capture, Modes and Routines, or Apps.
- Leave Settings and press the Side button twice in quick succession to test the assignment.
If you want a particular in-app action
Some newer Galaxy software exposes a function inside an app rather than only the app’s home screen. Samsung’s Ireland guidance gives starting a voice recording as an example. If your phone offers that level of choice, select the function shown in the Side button screen; do not assume another Galaxy model will expose the same command.
When the double press does not trigger
- Return to Settings > Advanced features > Side button and confirm that Double press is enabled and still assigned to the intended action.
- Press the button twice with a short, even interval. Two widely separated presses can be interpreted as ordinary presses instead of the gesture.
- If the selected app or feature is missing, check whether the phone’s software, region, or carrier profile supports it. Samsung lists different choices for different devices.
- Test with Camera or another basic option if an app-specific shortcut fails. This distinguishes a gesture problem from an app-availability problem.
How to change press and hold
The hold setting determines whether a long press opens the power controls or an assistant. Samsung may label the control Press and hold on one device and Long press on another.
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- Open Settings.
- Go to Advanced features > Side button.
- Find Press and hold or Long press.
- Select Power off menu if you want the Side button to display power controls.
- Alternatively, select Bixby, a digital assistant, or another option that your phone lists.
- Hold the Side button until the assigned action appears, then release it.
If an assistant opens when you intended to shut down the phone, the assignment is working as configured; change it to Power off menu rather than repeatedly holding the button and expecting a different result.
How to open the power menu without changing your assignment
You can reach shutdown and restart controls even when the Side button is reserved for Bixby or another assistant.
Use the two-button shortcut
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume down at the same time.
- Keep both buttons held for a few seconds.
- When the power menu appears, choose the required action, such as Power off or Restart.
This combination is especially useful when you do not want to alter your assistant shortcut. Release the buttons when the menu appears; continuing to hold them can produce a different system response on some devices.
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Use Quick settings
- Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick settings. If necessary, swipe down again to expand the panel.
- Tap the Power icon.
- Choose Power off or Restart from the menu.
The power screen can also provide quick access to emergency calling and stored medical information, according to Samsung’s power-management guidance. Those entries and their placement can vary with the phone’s software and lock-screen configuration.
Why your Galaxy shows different options
Samsung’s own US, Ireland, and Australia support pages describe the same general path but warn that the details are not universal. Differences usually come from four factors:
- Model: Hardware and software capabilities differ across Galaxy generations and between phones and tablets.
- Software version: Samsung can rename the hold gesture, add app-level functions, or reorganize the Side button page after an update.
- Region: A feature offered in one market may not be enabled in another.
- Carrier: Carrier software can alter the available shortcut list or assistant behavior.
Samsung Ireland’s guide, updated August 19, 2025, specifically notes that feature availability can vary by region, software version, and carrier. Samsung Australia’s support page, updated August 18, 2026, likewise describes an Australia-specific scope. Treat those dates and regional pages as guidance for the stated market, not as a promise that every Galaxy owner will see identical choices.
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- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
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Choose the setup that fits your routine
| Your priority | Recommended assignment | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Fast photos or video | Double press → Camera | Starts the camera without first finding its icon. |
| Frequent flashlight use | Double press → Flashlight, if listed | Places the light behind a repeatable physical gesture. |
| Voice notes | Double press → Voice Recorder, or an in-app recording function when offered | Reduces the number of taps before recording. |
| Simple shutdown access | Press and hold → Power off menu | Restores the traditional long-press power screen. |
| Assistant access | Press and hold → Bixby or the listed digital assistant | Keeps the assistant on a physical control; use Side button + Volume down or Quick settings for power controls. |
| Automations | Double press → Modes and Routines, if listed | Lets the phone run a Samsung routine rather than only opening an app. |
Do not select an option solely because another Galaxy owner has it. If the action is absent from your Side button page, Samsung has not made it available for that device and software combination.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting by symptom
Holding the button opens an assistant
Open Settings > Advanced features > Side button and change Press and hold or Long press to Power off menu. If you want to keep the assistant, use the two-button shortcut or Quick settings Power icon instead.
The Side button page is missing
Use Settings search for Side button. On supported recent Galaxy phones, Samsung places the control under Advanced features. If search finds nothing, your model or software may use a different control scheme, or the feature may not be exposed in your region or carrier build. Check the exact model and software version before following instructions written for another Galaxy generation.
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The expected app is not in the list
The app must be one Samsung allows as a Side button target on that device. A missing app is normally an availability difference, not a fault with the physical button. Choose Apps or the app picker if your phone provides it; otherwise select one of the listed alternatives.
Double press launches the wrong feature
- Open the Side button page and read the current Double press selection.
- Tap the intended action again and confirm the change.
- Test while the phone is unlocked and then from the lock screen if your chosen feature is expected to work there.
- If behavior remains inconsistent, try Camera as a control test and review whether a recent software update changed the available choices.
The power menu does not appear
Use the Side button and Volume down together rather than the Side button alone. You can also open Quick settings and tap Power. If neither route works, ensure both buttons register ordinary presses and that the phone is not in a state that prevents touch input; Samsung’s support instructions do not guarantee identical behavior across every model.
What the power menu can do
Once opened, the menu normally presents Power off and Restart. Samsung also documents quick access to emergency calls and medical information from the power screen. Review those emergency details on your own phone so you know what is available before you need it; the exact entries can depend on device and software configuration.
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Practical checklist
- Confirm that your phone is a supported recent Galaxy model.
- Open Settings > Advanced features > Side button.
- Set Double press to the app or feature you actually use.
- Set Press and hold or Long press to Power off menu if shutdown access matters more than an assistant.
- Memorize Side button + Volume down and the Quick settings Power icon as alternate power-menu routes.
- If a menu or shortcut is absent, check model, software version, region, and carrier differences before assuming the phone is defective.
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