Customize Side Key Samsung: How to Remap

To customize the side key on a Samsung Galaxy phone, open Settings, go to Advanced Features, then Side Key, and choose what the key does when you press and hold it or press it twice. You can set it to launch an app, open Bixby, turn on the flashlight, or control the camera, among other options.

What the Side Key Is and Why It Matters

Samsung introduced the side key as a replacement for the dedicated Bixby button on its Galaxy phones. It sits on the right edge of the device, below the volume buttons. Unlike the older Bixby button, the side key is actually a power button that also serves as a shortcut. By default, pressing it turns the screen on or off, but Samsung gives you the option to change what a press-and-hold or a double-press does. This flexibility is useful because it lets you access frequently used features without unlocking the phone or digging through menus.

How to Find the Side Key Settings

The exact path to the side key settings depends on your phone model and the version of One UI (Samsung’s Android skin) it runs. On most recent Galaxy phones, including the S, Note, and Z series, the settings are in the same place:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Advanced Features.
3. Tap Side Key.

If you don’t see “Side Key” there, try searching for “side key” in the Settings search bar. On some older models, the option might be under Display or Biometrics and Security, but the search function will find it quickly. The settings screen shows two main options: what happens when you press and hold the key, and what happens when you press it twice.

What You Can Customize

Once you’re in the Side Key settings, you have two independent actions to configure:

• Press and hold: This is the long-press action. You can set it to wake Bixby, open the camera, turn on the flashlight, open a specific app, or do nothing. On some models, you can also choose to open the power-off menu instead.
• Press twice: This is the double-press action. The default is usually to open the camera, but you can change it to launch any app, open Bixby, or trigger another shortcut.

You can also choose whether the side key wakes the screen when you press it. If you prefer to use the home button or double-tap to wake, you can turn that off. The settings are per-action, so you can have different apps for hold and double-press.

How to Set Up a Custom App Shortcut

To assign your own app to the side key, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > Advanced Features > Side Key.
2. Under Press and hold or Press twice, tap the current option.
3. Select Open app from the list.
4. Tap the gear icon or the app name to choose which app. A list of your installed apps will appear.
5. Pick the app you want, and it’s set.

For example, you could set a double-press to open the camera and a press-and-hold to open the voice recorder. If you often use the flashlight, setting a long-press to toggle it is a quick way to get light without unlocking the phone.

Common Problems and Fixes

Some users find that the side key doesn’t respond as expected. Here are common issues and what to do:

• The key doesn’t do anything when pressed: Check if the screen is off and the phone is locked. Some actions, like opening an app, may require the phone to be unlocked. Also, make sure you’re pressing the key correctly—a long-press is about one second, not just a tap.
• The double-press doesn’t work: Try pressing the key twice quickly. If it’s too slow, it might be interpreted as two single presses. You can also test the key in the settings screen—there’s a “Test” button that shows if the key is registering.
• Bixby keeps opening instead of my app: This happens if you haven’t changed the press-and-hold action. Go back to Settings and change it to “Open app” or “Do nothing” if you don’t want Bixby.
• The side key doesn’t wake the screen: In the Side Key settings, make sure the toggle for “Wake screen” is on. If it’s off, the key will only work when the screen is already on.

If the key is physically stuck or unresponsive, that’s a hardware issue. Try restarting the phone first, but if the problem persists, contact Samsung support or a repair center.

Comparison: Side Key vs. Bixby Button

On older Galaxy phones (like the S8 and S9), there was a dedicated Bixby button that you couldn’t remap easily. Samsung later merged that button with the power key, creating the side key. The difference is that the side key is fully customizable—you can make it do almost anything. The Bixby button was limited to launching Bixby, and while third-party apps could remap it, it required extra software. The side key is a built-in feature, so you don’t need any third-party tools.

Alternatives to the Side Key

If you don’t want to use the side key for shortcuts, you have other options:

• Quick Settings tiles: Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to see the quick settings panel. You can add a flashlight, camera, or other toggles there.
• Edge panels: If your phone has the Edge panel feature, you can add app shortcuts and tools to it. Swipe from the edge of the screen to open it.
• Bixby routines: You can set up routines that trigger actions based on time, location, or other conditions. For example, a routine could open your music app when you connect headphones.
• Gesture shortcuts: Some phones allow you to double-tap the back of the phone to launch an app or action. This is separate from the side key.

These alternatives don’t replace the side key, but they give you more ways to access features quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the side key turn off the screen?

Yes, the default behavior of a single press is to turn the screen off. If you’ve changed it, you can still press the key to turn the screen off when it’s on. The press-and-hold and double-press actions don’t affect the single-press behavior.

Will customizing the side key drain the battery?

No, the side key itself doesn’t drain battery. The actions you assign might, if they launch apps that use power, but the key itself is just a button. There’s no additional battery cost from remapping it.

Does the side key work when the phone is locked?

It depends on the action. Pressing the key to wake the screen works when the phone is locked. Some actions, like opening the camera, may work without unlocking, but opening other apps usually requires you to unlock the phone first. You can change this in the settings for each action.

Can I set the side key to open Google Assistant instead of Bixby?

Yes, you can set the press-and-hold or double-press action to open any app, including Google Assistant. Just choose “Open app” and select Google Assistant from your app list.

Why doesn’t my side key have all the options I see online?

Different Galaxy models and One UI versions have slightly different options. For example, some older models don’t have the “Open app” option for the press-and-hold action. Check for software updates in Settings > Software Update, as Samsung has added features over time.

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