If you’ve just ordered or picked up the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, you’re no doubt excited to unlock the phone (literally) and start adjusting the settings just the way you want it. If you’ve never owned a foldable phone, a Samsung phone, or even an Android phone before, or just wanted some guidance, we’re here to help you get started with some key features to turn them on, off, or adjust.
The settings we recommended below will help the Z Fold 4 look and work the way that works best for you. We’ve also told you the menu path to follow to find the features as well, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
So open Z Fold, click on the Settings app and get ready to enable and disable some features.
Set Flexible Mode Panel Apps
For some apps, even those with a dedicated “Flex mode” (when you have the Z Fold 4 partially open), accessing the trackpad, screenshot button, and your quick settings may be more useful. And luckily for you, Samsung lets you set this on an app-by-app basis.
You end up losing some screen space, which can make things like browsing websites feel claustrophobic. This might be a worthwhile sacrifice for you, especially if you want to use the app while the phone is standing on a table, like a small laptop.
Where to find it: Advanced Features -> Labs -> Flexible Mode Panel
Edit the taskbar
One of the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s signature new features is its taskbar, but what happens if you don’t like how it looks, or don’t want to use it? There are some settings that can help.
In the taskbar menu, you have the option to select whether it shows only your two most recent apps or your selected installed apps, and whether you want to be able to hide it by touching and holding the bottom of the screen. Or you can choose to turn it on or off completely.
Where to find it: View -> Taskbar
Turn off the phone while keeping the app active
Normally closing the Z Fold 4 means locking the phone, but you can set all apps or only specific apps to remain active when you lock the phone, with just a simple toggle.
When you close the Z Fold with this feature enabled, the app instantly switches to a normal smartphone layout, similar to how apps adjust to the larger internal screen when the phone is unlocked. This way, if you suddenly need to use the phone in its smaller form but need to keep an app like Google Maps open, you can do so without interruption.
Where to find it: View -> Follow apps on cover screen
Reverse the layout of your cover screen on the inner screen
By default, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 allows you to have two independent sets of home screens – one for when the phone is closed, and one for when it’s unlocked. However, if you prefer some continuity between the two, enabling cover screen mirroring applies your cover screen’s main screens to your internal screen, with two of them displayed together at once to take advantage of the extra width.
If you change your mind, the Z Fold 4 will let you switch again without a problem as it supports your previous discrete layouts. It may not look elegant with two separate main screens, but it will allow you to place apps and gadgets inside the phone more flexibly.
Where to find it: Home Screen -> Cover Screen Mirroring
Choose your favorite app view
At its core, the Z Fold 4 combines the phone and tablet experience into one device. This means that some apps take on a tablet-style two-column look when the phone is open. If you’d prefer not to use Z Fold for these multiple display layouts, you can disable them using this option.
You can see the difference that makes in the Settings app in the image above. On a personal level, this looks pretty wide, and feels like a waste of the Z Fold 4’s larger screen, but if that’s how you want to get it, Samsung will let you.
Where to find it: View -> Screen layout and Zoom in/out
Get a unique color theme
As a device running Android 12, Z Fold 4 can take advantage of the operating system’s Material You features to colorize your interface in a way that matches your wallpaper. You can stick with Samsung’s default black/white/blue color, or choose one of four auto-generated panels based on your chosen background image.
This can also include several default Z Fold apps, as you can see above. The Z Fold 4 is indeed a unique phone, but if you want it to stand out from the rest, this is a good way to do it.
Where to find it: Backgrounds & Styles -> Color Palette
Make your phone easier to track
You likely paid at least $1,800 for the Galaxy Z Fold 4, so the last thing you want to do is lose it. That’s why we recommend that you enable Find My Phone.
By toggling Find my Phone, you will be able to find out where it is by logging into your Samsung account through any browser and checking the status of the Z Fold. You can also enable offline search which will allow you to continue tracking the fold if it’s not connected to a network, and instruct the phone to automatically send its location if its battery starts to run out.
Where to find it: Biometrics and Security -> Find My Mobile
Turn on the always-on display
A core feature on all Samsung phones, the always-on display will show you a clock, calendar, or other static widget when you tap the screen, saving some essential details without having to unlock the phone and distracting from the risk.
AOD is not turned on by default, and when you turn it on you will only get a regular digital clock with a white font. However, you can change the color or even add a background image if you want something more interesting.
Where to find it: Lock screen -> Always On Display
Similar to the always-on display, gadgets accessible by tapping the clock on the Samsung lock screen allow you to check and set things like music or your next appointment without unlocking the phone. You can have a complete summary of everything important happening on your phone and in your life with just a few clicks if you set it up correctly.
This feature’s settings allow for additional customization beyond just turning it on or off. You can enable and disable any of the six available tools and choose the order in which they appear as well. You can also make it appear on the always-on screen too if you want to get to it faster.
Where to find it: Lock screen -> Tools
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