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Automating Your Samsung Galaxy Phone with Routines

Many users regularly perform simple yet repetitive tasks on their smartphones, such as silencing their devices during meetings, adjusting screen brightness in dim environments, or activating battery saver mode when heading out for the day. For those who own a Samsung Galaxy phone, the built-in Routines feature presents a solution by allowing users to automate these tasks efficiently.

Each Routine consists of a trigger that prompts specific actions. These triggers can be based on various factors such as time, location, or specific phone states (like Do Not Disturb mode or low battery). The corresponding actions can include adjustments to phone settings like notifications and display, or even launching apps to cut down on manual operations.

The flexibility of this feature opens up numerous possibilities. For instance, users can mute notifications while engaged in a workout via Samsung Health, silence alerts during active meetings, or even retrieve weather updates when an alarm is dismissed. By combining multiple triggers and actions, users can tailor the Routines to their unique needs, and they can even initiate Routines manually when necessary.

For those seeking inspiration, Samsung’s Settings include pre-configured Routines. Users can access these by navigating to Settings, then selecting Modes and Routines, and proceeding to the Discover tab.

If you’re interested in setting up your own custom Routines, here’s a straightforward guide to get started.

Left: Each routine features at least one trigger and action. Right: A wide range of triggers is available. Screenshots: Samsung

To create a new Routine, follow these steps:

• Open Settings on your Galaxy phone and tap on Modes and Routines, then switch to the Routines tab at the bottom.
• Click the + (plus) icon in the upper right corner.
• Select Add what will trigger this routine to choose a trigger from the available options. You can either scroll through the choices or use the search feature.
• Set the conditions for the trigger by selecting Add condition. The Place option allows you to designate a specific location to activate the trigger. Additional conditions can also be included for greater specificity.
• Pick the action associated with the trigger by tapping on Add what this routine will do. Again, you can search for specific actions or scroll through the available selections.
• If needed, set conditions for the action. For example, if the action pertains to Display settings and involves adjusting Brightness, you can determine the precise brightness level to be applied.
• To add multiple actions, select Add action, and arrange the order of actions by dragging and dropping them into the desired sequence.
• Click Save to finalize the Routine, and assign it a name, icon, and color for easy identification before tapping Done.

Once the criteria for a Routine are met, the corresponding actions will automatically execute. If the conditions were satisfied upon saving, the Routine will commence immediately.

Left: Routines can have custom names and icons for easy identification. Right: Users can easily enable or disable Routines according to their needs. Screenshots: Samsung

Users can revisit the Modes and Routines screen at any time to review and edit their Routines, which are categorized into active and inactive groups.

If a routine is currently running, users have the option to cancel or stop it. By tapping on Details, they can view all associated settings. If not actively running, simply select the routine to access the Details screen.

At the bottom of the screen, options to Edit or Delete a Routine are available. Additionally, by clicking on the three dots located at the bottom right, users can duplicate or disable a Routine, halting its operation without deleting it. Notifications for specific Routines can also be muted, enabling silent execution in the background.

On the main Routines tab, the three dots in the top right corner grant access to History, allowing users to review recently executed Routines. Users can also explore Settings, which offer limited configuration options, such as setting default notification preferences for new Routines and enabling a Modes and Routines shortcut within the app drawer for quick access.

Source
www.theverge.com