Modes and Routine

[ReeceQ]

I smart switched from s23 ultra to s25 ultra...but now its not loading. Just gets stuck on three dots circling forever. 

Done safe mode but can't access recovery to clear cache as it won't go into, even with usb charger plugged in. 

It worked before but I am finding it annoying as messes up my exercise and sleep routines. 

Emailed Galaxy Store 

Any help? 

[Coffeesurfers]

Yeah agreed.  

However, with One UI 8.0 just around the corner, am sure this will be resolved 🤞

[ReeceQ]

Yeah. For one app its overkill to do full reset when everything else works.
However it seems to be an issue that's growing that Samsung need to fix before major update.

[Coffeesurfers]

Yup ✋

[Portalogem]

I posted this workaround in Coffeesurfers' thread: it's not a solution, but at least I have my modes and routines back. Thank you EtienneVR for showing me how to get my phone into safe mode even though your post was a bit unclear. Hope this works for all of you as it worked for me:

https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/galaxy-s25-series/modes-and-routines-issue/td-p/13207116/page/2

[ReeceQ]

Thanks for this. But I am going to wait for Samsung to push the update out. Samsung should hurry up tbh

[Portalogem]

While you're waiting for an update, there is at least a way to create setting shortcuts, so even though it's not automatic, you can select the settings you need in rapid succession and then quickly change them back. I know it's like going back to a manual transmission, but it's better than nothing. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a substitute for routines.

If you don't already know about this app, it's called Good Lock, and you can find it in the Samsung store. If it's not in your region then there is a substitute app called Fine Lock which is in the Google Play store, but unfortunately this feature might not be free with that.

With Good Lock, there is a plugin to download called RegiStar. Unfortunately with Fine Lock, you have to download the plugin from a separate source. In the RegiStar settings, go to "Search options" and toggle on the setting "Allow creation of a shortcut."

To create a shortcut, you need to go into settings, go to search, hold down the search result, and then either move the shortcut to where you want it on the home screen or select Add. Then you can move one shortcut over the other to create a folder and label that as the name of the mode you were using.

Again, this is not a solution, but it may make your life easier in the interim. At least this is something to consider in the short term if you don't want to use a broken app which is understandable.

[ReeceQ]

Thanks for this, yeah got Good Lock, but I tried elements of the workaround but I won't lie I have lost patience with it. Routine was great for my sleep, running, Bluetooth Buds....all of which I can still do without.

But annoying thing is that Samsung should fix it ASAP...Galaxy Store has more negative reviews because of this issue which is affecting a lot more than this forum is aware.

I have attached a pic, the issue after the three dots spinning for like a decade, is that the whole app has zero functionality....see pic and you will see why patience has run out.

If u try to add a routine it comes with blank options and search doesn't work.....

[Kevinx]

Exact same issue. S26ultra

[Kevinx]

Sorry, s25 ultra..

[Portalogem]

Oh, I got that same screen as you, but the key is that you have to enter safe mode to get all the settings back. I wasn't clear and edited my post as you have to press the "volume" down button. I had a lot of trouble getting into this mode as I tried to press the volume down button at the same time as the power button and could not get the phone to power on. I tried something else and it just vibrated three times and I still couldn't get it into safe mode. What I found worked today is that after powering the phone off, I continued to hold the volume down button and then pressed and held the power button until the phone powered on. This took a couple of moments so be patient as the phone will turn on. I then continued to hold the volume down button until after the Samsung screen was replaced by my mobile provider screen and then I released it after a moment of seeing that. Yesterday I held that volume button down until I saw my password screen, but I found you don't have to hold it for that length of time; although, I don't think it hurts anything. I didn't have my phone plugged in when I did this.

After doing this yesterday, I went to Modes and Routines in settings, went into sleep mode and found all the settings were there again (not my settings -- had to add them back). I then went into routines, pressed the plus key, pressed the plus under "If" and all the settings were back under the search bar. I noticed under messages, it asked if I wanted to exit out of safe mode, so I pressed that. When I then went back to normal mode, I still had my settings even though the spinning wheel and the freeze ups returned after a restart which lasted a minute each. The rest of what I wrote on my post was how to get around the spinning wheel so you don't have to keep seeing that until you restart the phone. 

Safe mode puts you in airplane mode so remember to exit that after getting back into normal mode. Also safe mode puts all your hidden apps back in the app drawer, so you have to hide all of them again.