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To make a Galaxy phone easier to use with one hand without shrinking what is displayed, start with One Hand Operation+ for customizable edge gestures and Samsung Keyboard’s One-handed keyboard for typing. Both target common reach problems while leaving the rest of the screen at its normal size. Samsung’s separate One-handed mode is different: it temporarily reduces the displayed area.

Choose a shortcut that fits what you need to reach

“Without changing the screen size” can mean keeping the phone’s physical display unchanged, or keeping all of its content visible at once. The options below keep the physical display unchanged; One Hand Operation+ and a one-handed keyboard also avoid shrinking the displayed content.

Option Best for Does it shrink displayed content? How you use it
One Hand Operation+ Navigation and quick actions No Swipe inward from a screen edge
Samsung Keyboard’s one-handed layout Typing No; the keyboard shifts to one side Choose the layout in keyboard settings; tap its arrow to switch sides
Assistant menu Common controls and gestures No Open the on-screen floating menu
Voice Access Hands-free interaction No Use voice commands to control the phone
One-handed mode Reaching controls by reducing the active display area Yes, temporarily Activate the selected gesture or button method

Use One Hand Operation+ for navigation and quick actions

Samsung describes One Hand Operation+ as an app that assigns actions to edge swipes and lets you customize the gesture handles. Depending on the available settings, a swipe can launch an app or perform an action such as taking a screenshot or turning on the flashlight. This is the most direct option when you want to reach controls without moving the full screen into a smaller window. See Samsung’s One Hand Operation+ and one-handed mode guide.

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Configure gestures and handle placement to suit the hand you use and how you hold the phone. Exact labels, actions, and availability can differ by model and software; the cited Samsung guide was updated June 3, 2024, so check your device for current options.

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Move Samsung Keyboard to one side for typing

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap General management, then Samsung Keyboard settings.
  3. Tap Mode and choose One-handed keyboard.
  4. Use the keyboard’s arrow to move it to the other side when needed.

This changes the keyboard’s position, not the size of the phone’s display. Samsung also documents keyboard size and transparency adjustments; their availability may vary with the device and software. If the labels differ, search Settings for “Samsung Keyboard” or “one-handed keyboard.” See Samsung’s keyboard settings guide.

Use accessibility controls for common actions or voice commands

Assistant menu

Assistant menu places common controls and gestures in an on-screen menu, which can reduce the need to reach for certain controls or perform gestures directly. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 manual describes a floating icon that opens menus across panels and can show contextual menus in selected apps. The exact menu and behavior may vary by device. See Samsung’s Interaction and Dexterity Enhancement features and the Galaxy S23 series user manual.

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Voice Access

Voice Access can launch apps, select buttons, swipe, and type by voice. Samsung’s US support page lists English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish; language availability may depend on device and region, so check the settings on your phone before relying on a particular language. Voice control is useful when reaching the display is difficult, but it is not a way to reposition controls visually. See Samsung’s accessibility feature guidance.

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When shrinking the display is an acceptable tradeoff

If keeping all content visible is not essential, One-handed mode temporarily reduces the displayed screen area so controls are easier to reach. On Samsung’s US support guide, the path is Settings > Advanced features > One-handed mode. Enable it and select Gesture or Button; then use the chosen activation method. You can reposition the reduced display with its arrow or gray bar. The display returns to normal after the screen turns off or the phone is locked. Samsung cautions that some features may not be available while the mode is active. See Samsung’s One-handed mode instructions.

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Activation details are not universal. For example, Samsung Australia’s guide for Australian-variant devices describes swiping down at the centre of the bottom edge or double-tapping the Home button, depending on the chosen action; it also covers moving or resizing the reduced window. Treat those as examples for the devices covered by that guide, not instructions for every Galaxy phone. See Samsung Australia’s guide, last updated August 10, 2026.

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If the setting or feature is missing

  • Search Settings for the feature name if the listed path does not match your phone.
  • Check the exact device’s support information: menus and availability can vary by model, region, Android or One UI version, and keyboard configuration.
  • For a full-screen approach, try edge gestures or the keyboard layout before enabling One-handed mode.

Samsung’s One UI design guidance discusses reachability and complex gestures as accessibility considerations, but it does not establish that a particular setting is available on every Galaxy device. See the One UI Design Guidelines.

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  • YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
  • LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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