Every Samsung Galaxy Phone Hides This Overlooked Shortcut Feature
Samsung Galaxy phones come with a built-in, customizable shortcut bar called the Edge Panel that many users never notice or forget about. It offers quick access to favorite apps, contacts and other tools.
Every Android phone maker adds its own software twist beyond the features standard to Android itself. Google's Pixel phones, for instance, include the Now Playing widget that automatically identifies music playing nearby. On Samsung Galaxy devices, a lesser-known equivalent is the Edge Panel, a customizable shortcut bar giving speedy access to different parts of the phone.
How the Edge Panel works
The Edge Panel functions somewhat like the Start menu on Windows or the dock on macOS — a user-configurable launcher for favorite apps and feature shortcuts. Once enabled, a faint line appears along the edge of the screen; swiping across it opens the panel. If it isn't visible, it can be turned on via Settings > Display > Edge Panels.
There are seven panel types available: Apps, People (contacts), Tasks (shortcuts such as screenshots, calendar entries and alarms), Weather, Tools (a compass), Clipboard, and Reminder (which syncs with the preinstalled Reminder app). Users can activate just one panel, all seven, or any combination, switching between them with a swipe.
Customization options
Within Settings > Display > Edge Panels, users can select which panels appear and reorder them — placing the most-used panels furthest to the left so they require fewer swipes to reach. There is also an option to hide the Edge Panel on the lock screen, which can help keep information such as clipboard contents or reminders private from anyone who picks up the phone.
For the Apps, People and Tasks panels, users can tap an Edit button to choose specific content, since the number of available options typically exceeds the number of slots on the panel. Additional settings allow adjusting the size, transparency, color and screen position of the handle that activates the panel, as well as disabling the panel in landscape mode so it doesn't interfere with activities like watching videos or gaming.
