Modes and Routines is a brilliant feature on our newer phones and tablets, allowing for myriad ways to automate tasks and enhance your productivity.
The beauty of this is that you can set your device to perform certain functions under particular conditions, and it will run them like clockwork. This saves you considerable time and the extra effort of manually adjusting settings.
Plug and play! 😎
Pretty cool, huh?
Firstly, here's a quick explanation of these separate and highly convenient functions:
Modes are predefined settings, such as Sleep, Theatre, Driving, Exercise, Relax, and Work. These self-explanatory settings allow you to modify your device's behaviour based on the named activity you're performing, the time activity is taking place, and your specific location.
You could, for example, set a Sleep Mode that puts your device into Do not disturb, or you could set a Work Mode where you connect to a particular Wi-FI network when you arrive at your place of work. It's very granular!
Routines are specific, automated If/Then actions that are based on pre-set triggers such as time, location, or the status of your device. For instance, you can set a Routine such as "If it's 11pm, turn on Flight Mode", "If I visit this coffee shop, please turn on Secure Wi-Fi", or even "When I am at home, please turn off Mobile data."
It's like being the scriptwriter for your phone or tablet. You simply create the scene, write the script, and watch your device play it out when and how you want it. 😎
How to access Modes and Routines...
To access Modes and Routines in the most conventional way (or for the first time), simply go to Settings > Modes and Routines > Choose either Modes or Routines from the bottom menu.
From now on, you'll be able to access this feature by clicking the Modes and Routines app from your Home screen or app drawer.
"Which Modes do you recommend?"
It's difficult to be prescriptive about this, as everyone will have unique circumstances, patterns, and workflows. The possibilities are multifold, and it's certainly worth having a look around the settings to find something that suits your needs. The app even has tips and suggestions.
Tip number 1: Consider what you'd like to automate on your device.
Ask yourself "which settings (e.g. turning on or off a certain app, feature, or connection) do I manually toggle on that I'd like to be done... automatically?"
When you have some clear ideas about this, you can access Modes and Routines and set it to work for you.
Here are some cool one-click Modes you might wish to utilise (or modify), however:
Work Mode:
This effectively allows your device to go into a particular state while you're hard at work, or even as soon as you arrive and until you leave your place of work. You're in complete control!
To turn this on, open Settings > Modes and Routines (or access via the app on your Home/apps screen) > Routines > Work > Start.
Here, you can Set Work mode to turn on automatically by Place and Time period > Choose Place (this will let you pinpoint when the Mode will trigger based on your location) > Choose Time period (when you wish Work Mode to begin and end) > Click Done.
Once you've set the parameters, Click next > Under Stay focused, you can choose Do not disturb (you can also customise this, so that some notifications can still be received while you're at work).
Under Other actions, you can even turn Power saving ON.
Relax Mode:
This is handy if you just want some time away from your device, or wish to enjoy its amazing (or relaxing?) array of features without seeing notifications or getting alerts.
Just open Settings > Modes and Routines (or access via the app on your Home/apps screen) > Routines > Relax > Start.
As with the Work Mode, you can set your device to turn off particular notifications (or all notifications), and functions at certain times or even just when you visit a designated place.
Remember: you also have Sleep, Theatre, Driving, Exercise, and even Custom Modes.
For Custom (which you can rename to make it more meaningful), you might set your device to go into Do not disturb when you are visiting a particular place (e.g. if a school or college has a rule about the use of mobile phones).
"How can I use Routines, then?"
Open the Modes and Routines menu > Click Routines (at the bottom) > Click the + icon at the top of the menu to Create routine.
Routines work on the if/then premise. In other words, "If I'm (in that place) or if that's time, then my device will (insert action)."
In essence, you can set up a whole host of Routines to which your supported Galaxy device will adhere. It's like having a team of employees working for you on your phone or tablet. Using the Edit option, you can modify these as needed, and you can delete those you no longer need.
Here are two (of six) that I've set up on my personal phone:
1) "Save battery"
If my phone's battery is not charging and goes below 15%, Then Power saving is turned ON.
When routine ends: Power saving is switched off when the phone starts charging, or when the battery level exceeds 15%.
Advantages of this Routine: while it's rare for my phone battery to drop below 15% (I tend to keep it charged between 20% and 80%), but this automation offers some peace of mind if I'm travelling or not near a charger for a while. Effectively, the Power saving mode will kick in immediately.
How you might customise it: You can take the same Routine, call it something different, and set it so that Power saving is activated when your device reaches another battery percentage (e.g. 35%, as opposed to 15%).
2) "Flight mode at night":
If it's 0010 (my chosen parameter for when the Routine starts), Then Flight mode is turned ON.
When routine ends: Flight mode is switched off at 0630, as this is time period I've set for the Routine to finish.
Advantages of this Routine: If I'm not off powering my phone before bedtime, this automation ensures there won't be any notifications coming through during the night. Additionally, popping the device into Flight mode will ensure that any potential battery drain is minimal.
How you might customise it: You can take the same Routine, call it something different, and set it so that Flight mode is activated when you know you're going to be in a place where you can't or don't wish to use your device. If using it at night or overnight, for instance, you can change the Time period for which the Routine is active.
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Tip number 2: Modes can also be activated manually.
You don't need to set a particular Mode to run automatically - unless you want to. Rather than having, say, Work Mode, configured to activate at a set time and/or in a chosen location, you can simply set each Mode (and the functions it turns on or off) you might like to use under certain conditions.
When needed, simply open Modes and Routines > Click on the Mode you'd wish to turn on > Click Turn on.
This will remain on until you manually turn it off again:
To turn it off, just go to Modes and Routines > Click on the Mode you'd wish to turn off > Click Turn off:
Each Mode will let you change the appearance of your Lock screen, Home screen, or Watch face (if you have paired your Galaxy Watch with your phone) once the mode is activated.
You can change the wallpaper display.
This allows you to add a completely fresh and distinct look as soon you're in your chosen Mode. It's a neat customisability feature in many respects, and will be a clear signpost when you're in a Mode (e.g. you could choose from one of the template wallpapers, or you could perhaps add a motivational wallpaper when in Gym Mode, something more "restful" whilst in Sleep mode, for example).
Just go to Modes and Routines > Choose the Mode you wish to set or change > Change appearance > Click the + icon for the Lock screen if you wish to add a custom wallpaper in this Mode > Choose your wallpaper and set it > Click the + icon to set a custom Home screen wallpaper > Choose and set your wallpaper.
If you have a paired Galaxy Watch (on your phone), you can also change the Watch face wallpaper using the steps above and clicking Watch face.
You can modify these settings as you see fit. To remove the custom wallpaper you set, just click the - icon (as pictured below). You can then add a different one or, if you prefer, keep your standard Home screen and/or Lock screen wallpaper even when using these Modes.
Our colleagues from Samsung US created this handy guide about using Modes and Routines on your Galaxy phone or tablet, and it's certainly worth a read:
Let us know below if this guide helped pique your interest in using Modes and Routines more intentionally. Please also let us know anything else you'd like to know about using Modes and Routines on Galaxy devices!
If you have any special Modes and Routines you utilise, please feel free to share them with us and please also let us know what difference they've made to your workflow.
The benefit of this Community is that we're here to share and, if you pardon the pun, unite the Galaxy! 😉
*Steps and screenshots produced using a UK model Galaxy S24 Ultra on One UI 6.1
