Samsung Hidden Feature: 3 More You Can’t Live Without

If you’ve just discovered one hidden Samsung feature, you’re likely hooked—and there are three more that are just as useful: Call Backgrounds, App Pair, and increased Touch Sensitivity. These are built into One UI (Samsung’s Android skin) and don’t require any third-party apps. Here’s exactly where to find them and how to set them up on your Galaxy phone.

What Are These Hidden Features?

Samsung’s One UI is packed with tools that aren’t advertised in the setup wizard. While some are buried in settings, others are hidden behind long-presses or in the Advanced Features menu. The three below are consistently praised by users for solving everyday annoyances—from boring call screens to multitasking friction and unresponsive screens with screen protectors.

1. Call Backgrounds: Customize Your Call Screen

This feature lets you set a full-screen image or video that appears when you make or receive a call. It’s different from a contact photo—it replaces the entire background of the call screen.

• How to set it up: Open the Phone app → tap the three-dot menu (⋮) → Settings → Call Backgrounds. Choose a preset or tap “Add” to pick a photo or video from your gallery.
• Why it’s useful: It makes calls feel personal and helps you identify callers at a glance if you use different backgrounds for different contacts.
• Pro tip: You can also set a background for specific contacts by opening the contact, tapping Edit, and scrolling to “Call background.”

2. App Pair: Launch Two Apps in Split Screen Instantly

App Pair is a Samsung DeX and One UI feature that lets you save a split-screen combination as a single icon. Instead of opening two apps manually each time, you tap one icon and both open side-by-side.

• How to create one: Open the first app, then open the second app in split-screen view (swipe up from the bottom and drag the app icon to the top or side). After the split screen is active, tap the three-dot handle in the middle and select “Save as App Pair.” It will appear in your Edge panel or home screen.
• Why it’s useful: If you regularly use two apps together—like YouTube and WhatsApp, or a browser and a notes app—this saves several taps every time.
• Note: App Pair works best on phones with large screens, like the Galaxy S24 Ultra or Z Fold series, but it’s available on most recent Galaxy phones.

3. Touch Sensitivity: Better Response with Screen Protectors

If you use a thick glass screen protector, you might notice the touchscreen feels less responsive. Samsung includes a setting to increase touch sensitivity specifically for this scenario.

• How to enable: Go to Settings → Display → Touch sensitivity. Toggle it on.
• Why it’s useful: It makes the screen more sensitive to touch, so it works reliably with thicker protectors or even when wearing gloves (though gloves aren’t officially supported).
• When to turn it off: If you don’t use a screen protector, leaving this on can cause accidental touches, especially when the phone is in your pocket.

Where to Find More Hidden Features

Samsung hides many features in the “Advanced Features” section of Settings. Here’s a quick tour of what else you might find:

• Labs: Enables experimental features like “Allow multiple users” or “Show all apps in split-screen view.”
• Side key: Customize what the side button does (e.g., open an app or turn on the flashlight).
• Motions and gestures: Swipe to call, palm swipe to screenshot, and more.
• Video call effects: Blur your background or use avatars during video calls.

To access Labs, go to Settings → Advanced Features → Labs. Not all features appear on all devices; some are region-specific or depend on your phone model.

Common Problems and Fixes

If a hidden feature isn’t working, try these steps:

• Feature not showing up: Make sure your phone is running a recent version of One UI. Go to Settings → Software update → Download and install.
• App Pair icon missing: Recreate the split-screen and save it again. Sometimes the icon doesn’t appear if the Edge panel is disabled—enable it in Settings → Display → Edge panels.
• Touch sensitivity not helping: Remove the screen protector and test. If it works, the protector is too thick. Consider a thinner protector or a film type.
• Call backgrounds not applying: Check that you’re using the Samsung Phone app, not a third-party dialer. Restart the Phone app or the phone itself.

How to Choose Which Features to Use

Not every hidden feature is useful to everyone. Consider your habits:

• If you make many calls → Call backgrounds are worth setting up.
• If you multitask frequently → App Pair will save time.
• If you use a screen protector → Touch sensitivity is a must.
• If you don’t use a protector → Leave touch sensitivity off to avoid accidental touches.

You can also combine features—for example, use App Pair with your favorite note-taking app and a browser for research.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I find the Call Backgrounds option?

This feature is available on Galaxy phones running One UI 2.0 or later. If you don’t see it, go to Settings → Apps → Phone → Storage → Clear cache. If it still doesn’t appear, your carrier may have disabled it, or you may be using a non-Samsung dialer.

Does App Pair work on all Samsung phones?

App Pair requires One UI 2.0 or later and is generally available on phones that support split-screen view. It works on most Galaxy S, Note, and Z series phones from 2019 onwards. On older or budget models, you might need to enable it via Labs.

Will increasing touch sensitivity drain my battery?

No, touch sensitivity doesn’t significantly affect battery life. The screen’s touch controller uses the same amount of power regardless of sensitivity. It’s safe to leave it on if you need it.

Can I use a video as a call background?

Yes, you can select a video from your gallery. The video will play on a loop when you make or receive a call. Keep in mind that longer videos may be cropped or compressed.

Are these features available on Samsung tablets?

Yes, most of these features are available on Galaxy Tab devices running One UI. App Pair is particularly useful on tablets because of the larger screen. Call backgrounds work on tablets that support cellular calls.

Is there a way to reset all hidden features to default?

You can reset all settings by going to Settings → General management → Reset → Reset all settings. This will revert all settings, including hidden features, to their defaults without deleting your data.

Related

• Why Learn to Code in Kate Instead of VS Code?
• Toyota Prius vs Prius Plug-In Hybrid: Key Differences
• Controller Deadzone: Fix Stick Drift?