Troubleshooting the Samsung Galaxy S3

Learn more about the Samsung Galaxy S3

Table of Contents

1 – Factory reset

• How to do a factory reset

2 – Screen

• 2A – How to change to a new background image
• 2B – How to change brightness
• 2C – How to adjust screen timeout time
• 2D – How to add or remove a widget
• 2E – How to lock device with a PIN

3 – Phone Number

• How to find my phone number

4 – Volume

• How to change the volume

5 – Apps

• How to add an app or delete it

6 – Calendar

• How to set a calendar event or delete it

7 – Airplane Mode

• How to turn on or off airplane mode

8 – Picture

• How to take a picture

9 – Memory

• 9A. How to see available storage amounts
• 9B. How to clear cookies and cache

10 – Data/Hotspot/USB/Roaming/Bluetooth

• 10A. How to see my data usage
• 10B. How to tether via USB
• 10C. How to adjust USB connection options
• 10D. How to reset to default APN settings
• 10E. How to use my mobile device as a hotspot
• 10F. How to to turn on or off Wi-Fi
• 10G. How to turn on or off roaming
• 10H. How to add or remove an email address
• 10I. How to turn on or off Bluetooth

11 – Contacts/Calls

• 11A. How to enable or disable my own caller ID
• 11B. How to forward my calls to another phone number
• 11C. How to bar certain numbers from calling me
• 11D. How to add a contact or delete it

12 – Software

• 12A. How to see my software version
• 12B. How to update my software version

13 – Text Messages

• 13A. How to send a text or MMS
• 13B. How to delete a text or MMS

1. How to factory reset my device

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Accounts’
4. Press ‘Back-up and Reset’
5. Then tap ‘Factory Data Reset’
6. Next, press ‘Reset Device’
7. Press ‘Delete All’

It may take a moment to factory reset the device and will cause a automatic restart.

Warning: There is no method to undo a factory reset. Media, files and data will be erased from the mobile device.

2A. How to change to a new background image

1. Option 1:
   1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
   2. Slide and select the ‘Photos’ or ‘Gallery’ option.
   3. Open the desired image to place as the background photo.
   4. Press the ‘Options’ key
   5. Select ‘Set As…’
   6. Choose the desired option of which you’d like to change the wallpaper
2. Option 2:
   1. Hold down an empty area on the screen
   2. Press ‘Set Wallpaper’
   3. Choose the desired option of which you’d like to change the wallpaper
   4. Choose the desired location in which to find the image
   5. Select the image

2B. How to change brightness

Option 1:

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘My Device’
4. Press ‘Display’
5. Press ‘Brightness’
6. Adjust the brightness as desired
7. Press ‘Ok’

Option 2:

1. Drag down the phones header by tapping it and sliding downwards
2. Drag it down once more to see more options
3. Adjust the brightness

2C. How to adjust screen timeout time

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘My Device’
4. Press ‘Display’
5. Press ‘Screen Timeout’
6. Adjust the amount of time desired for the screen to time out.

2D. How to add or remove a widget

To add a widget:

1. Press and hold on an empty spot on the home screen.
2. Press ‘Apps and widgets’
3. Choose the ‘Widget’ tab on the top of the screen
4. Select the widget you’d like to add. The sizing needed for each one is specified as 1×1 or 1×2 etc.
5. Drag the widget onto the desired location on the screen.
6. Moving a widget is done in the same form. Press and hold it and drag it to the desired location.

To remove a widget:

1. Hold and drag the desired widget into the recycling can above

2E. How to lock device with a PIN

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘More’
4. Press ‘Security’
5. Tap ‘Encrypt Device’
6. Press ‘Set Screen Lock Type’
7. Choose the desired method of screen lock
8. Enter the Pin or Password and press ‘Continue’
9. Confirm the Pin or Password
10. Press ‘Ok’

To undo the Pin or Password:

1. Do steps 1-5
2. Enter the Pin or Password
3. Select the ‘None’ option

3. How to find my phone number

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘More’
4. Press ‘About Device’
5. Press ‘Status’
6. Read ‘My Phone Number’

4. How to change the volume

Option 1:

1. Press the volume keys on the side of the device.
2. Up – higher the volume
3. Down – Lower the volume
4. Pressing the options symbol will open more options of different types of volumes you have control over, such as Ringtone, Media, Notifications and System.

Option 2:

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘My Device’
4. Press ‘Sound’
5. Press ‘Volume’
6. Adjust as desired
7. Press ‘OK’

5. How to add an app or delete it

A Google account must be connected to the device in order to add an app.

Open the Play Store app and it will prompt you to add a google account:

1. Press ‘Existing’ if you already have a Google account. If not, press ‘Add’.
2. Sign in by entering your username and password.
3. Press ‘Ok’
4. Choose if you’d like to use this account to backup the data from the device as well as to receive communication.
5. Press the arrow key.

To add an app:

1. Open the ‘Play Store’ app on the main screen or press the menu key and find the App Store app there.
2. Search for the app you’d like to add by typing it in the search bar or looking in the categories listed towards the upper half of the screen.
3. Press on the desired app to learn more about it.
4. To download, press the 3 dots near the app name and press ‘Install’ or if the app details were opened, press ‘download app’.
5. Press ‘Accept’
6. Drag the app to the desired location and screen.

To remove an app:

1. Hold down the app and drag it to the ‘Uninstall’ icon above.

6. How to set a calendar event or delete it

To add a calendar event:

1. Open the Calender app
2. Press on the day the event will be added to
3. Press the plus sign on the top right of the screen.
4. Enter the appropriate information such as a title, from date and time, to date and time, location and any notes applicable.
5. Press ‘Save’.

To delete a calendar event:

1. Open the Calendar App
2. Press on the day that has the event you’d like to delete.
3. Press the options key
4. Tap ‘Delete’
5. Press ‘Ok’ to confirm

7. How to turn on or off airplane mode

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Connections’
4. Press ‘More Networks’
5. Tap ‘Airplane mode’
6. Press ‘Ok’
7. To disable: Press ‘Airplane Mode’ once more

Airplane mode will disable data, calling, messaging, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

8. How to take a picture

1. Open the ‘Camera’ app
2. Point the device towards the object or person you’d like to photograph.
3. Tap the screen to select the focal point.
4. Press the camera image button to capture the image
5. To view the image, press on the image that appears on the top left of the screen.

To delete, open the image in gallery and press the recycling bin above. Press ‘OK’.

9A. How to see available storage amounts

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘More’
4. Press ‘Storage’
5. View the storage amounts available as well as the store amounts used.

9B. How to clear cookies and cache

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Chrome’ or ‘Browser’ option.
3. Press the ‘Options’ Key
4. Choose ‘Settings’
5. Press ‘Privacy and Security’
6. Press ‘Clear Cache’
7. Tap ‘OK’
8. Press ‘Clear History’
9. Tap ‘OK’
10. Press ‘Clear All Cookie Data’
11. Press ‘OK’

10A. How to see my data usage

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Connections’
4. Press ‘Data Usage’
5. View Data Usage.
   • Set the data usage cycle
   • View which apps or systems use the most data
   • View how much each app or system uses up of data within this usage cycle

10B. How to tether via USB

1. Connect the USB cable to the computer.
2. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
3. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
4. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Connections’
5. Press ‘More networks’
6. Tap ‘Tethering and Wi-Fi Hotspot’
7. Press ‘USB Tethering’

10C. How to adjust USB connection options

1. Drag down the header and touch ‘Connected as a media device’
2. Select the desired option.
   • MTP – Allows you to transfer files to and from a computer
   • PTP – Allows you to transfer all files to and from a computer as well as images using the camera software.

10D. How to reset to default APN settings

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Connections’
4. Press ‘More Networks’
5. Tap ‘Mobile Networks’
6. Press ‘Access Point Names’
7. Press the Options key
8. Then, press ‘Restore to Default’
9. The original APN settings will now restore.

A reset is in order if there is difficulty connecting to the proper network provider.

Phone are often branded to a specific company, so even if they are unlocked you may need to call in to your provider to get the correct APN settings. It is to tell the device to connect to this network and not the one it was originally programmed to work with. Press the plus sign on the top right of the ‘Access Point Names’ screen and add all the necessary information.

10E. How to use my mobile device as a hotspot

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Connections’
4. Press ‘More Networks’
5. Press ‘Tethering and Mobile Hotspots’
6. Tap ‘Mobile Hotspot’
7. Press ‘Configure’
8. Personalize the name of your device hotspot
9. Personalize the password
10. Press ‘Save’
11. Turn on the ‘Mobile Hotspot’ feature in the previous setting

On the devices looking to connect to the hotspot, search for this hotspot name under the Wi-Fi settings. Type in the password and enjoy. Multiple devices can connect to one device hotspot.

Warning: Connect to Wi-Fi or have an unlimited data plan on the original hotspot device to avoid being charged extra costs by the network provider. The devices can connect to the internet using the data of the mobile hotspot.

10F. How to to turn on or off Wi-Fi

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Connections’
4. Turn on the ‘Wi-Fi’ by pressing on the toggle button
5. Press on the words ‘Wi-Fi’ to see the networks to connect to
6. Select the desired Wi-Fi network
7. Enter the Password. To see the password as you type, press on the ‘Show Password’ box.
8. Press ‘Connect’
9. Wi-Fi is now connected.

To disconnect from Wi-Fi:

1. Do steps 1-3
2. Turn off the ‘Wi-Fi’ by pressing on the toggle button.

To forget a network:

1. Do steps 1-3
2. Press on the words ‘Wi-Fi’
3. Press on the network you are connected to
4. Tap ‘Forget’
5. If desired, turn off the ‘Wi-Fi’ capabilities as stated above.

10G. How to turn on or off roaming

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Connections’
4. Press ‘More Networks’
5. Tap ‘Mobile Networks’
6. Press on the checkbox near ‘Data Roaming’
7. Press ‘Ok’

Suggestion: Include roaming in your data package if you leave the state/country often to avoid being charged extra for it when the need arises

It is possible that the device may not automatically connect to the correct network (although there is such a setting), so conduct a network search and choose your preferred one.

10H. How to add or remove an email address

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Account’
4. Press ‘Add Account’
5. Select the type of account you’d like to add
6. Press ‘Existing’
7. Type in the username and password
8. Press ‘Done’
9. Press ‘OK’
10. Adjust details for the new account such as if it should be a backup for your devices data
11. Press the triangle arrow to confirm

To remove an account:

1. Do steps 1-3 as stated above.
2. Press on the account type you’d like to remove
3. Press on the account name
4. Tap ‘Remove Account’ as is located on the bottom of the screen
5. Press ‘Remove Account’ to confirm

Please note: All emails and/or data that is associated with the account will be removed from your device. Accessing these details will be possible using a different device or computer.

10I. How to turn on or off Bluetooth

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Connections’
4. Turn on the slider near ‘Bluetooth’
5. Press on the words ‘Bluetooth’
6. Check off the box near the phone’s name to make it visible to other devices
7. Press on the desired nearby device to connect to
8. Confirm by pressing ‘Ok’ on both devices
9. They are now paired.

To forget a Bluetooth connection:

1. Do steps 1-4
2. Press the settings picture near the bluetooth device
3. Press Unpair
4. Turn off Bluetooth by pressing on the slider towards the top of the screen

11A. How to enable or disable my own caller ID

1. Open the Phone app
2. Press the ‘Option’ key
3. Press ‘Call Settings’
4. Then tap ‘Additional Settings’
5. Press ‘Caller ID’
6. Finally, press ‘Hide Number’ to hide it from all outgoing calls. To hide it temporarily, press *67 before making a call
7. To disable this feature, press ‘Show Number’

11B. How to forward my calls to another phone number

1. Open the Phone app
2. Press the ‘Option’ key
3. Press ‘Call Settings’
4. Then tap ‘Additional Settings’
5. Press ‘Call Forwarding’
6. Choose the desired option
7. Type in the phone number to forward calls to
8. Press ‘Turn On’

11C. How to bar certain numbers from calling me

1. Open the Phone app
2. Press the ‘Option’ key
3. Press ‘Call Settings’
4. Next, press ‘Call Rejection’
5. Tap ‘Auto Reject list’
6. Press ‘Create’
7. Type in the phone number to block
8. Press ‘Save’

To undo:

1. Do steps 1-5
2. Check off the phone number you’d like to un-bar
3. Press ‘Delete’ on upper right hand corner

11D. How to add a contact or delete it

To add a new contact to an address book:

Option 1:

1. Open the Contacts app
2. Press the Plus (+) sign on the upper right hand corner
3. Type in the Name, Phone number, Email and any other information for the new contact
4. Press ‘Done’
5. Press ‘Save

Option 2:

1. Open the Calling app
2. Type in the number you’d like to add
3. Press ‘Create Contact’
4. Press ‘Create Contact’
5. Add the Name, Email and other information
6. Press ‘Save’

To delete a contact:

1. Open the Contacts app
2. Search for the contact to delete
3. Press on the contact
4. Press the ‘Options’ key
5. Tap ‘Delete’
6. Press ‘OK’

12A. How to see my software version

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘More’
4. Press ‘About Device’
5. Read the Software information

12B. How to update my software version

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘More’
4. Press ‘About Device’
5. Press ‘Software Update’
6. Tap ‘Check for Updates’
7. Press ‘OK’
8. If there is an update, it will prompt you to update it. If there isn’t it will say ‘Current Software is Up to Date’
9. Press ‘OK’

13A. How to send a text or MMS

To send a text:

1. Open the messaging app
2. Press the icon on the top right corner to compose a message
3. Add the contact to whom the message will be sent
4. Add the message to the message field
5. Press the send icon (above the paper clip icon) to send the message.

To send a multimedia message (MMS):

1. Do steps 1-4
2. Press the paper clip icon to attach media to the message
3. Choose which media to add and from where to find it. In this example we will be doing ‘Image’
4. Press the location in which the find the image. Press ‘Gallery’ if its an image you photographed.
5. Open the section within gallery where the image is located
6. Select the desired images
7. Press the send icon (above the paper clip icon) to send the message.

13B. How to delete a text or MMS

1. Open the ‘Messaging’ App
2. Open the thread in which the message is located
   • Deleting an individual message: Hold down the text to delete and press ‘Delete’
   • To delete the thread: Press ‘Delete’ and the entire thread will be deleted.

To set up auto delete:

1. Open the ‘Messaging App’
2. Press the ‘Options’ key
3. Press ‘Settings’
4. Check off the box near ‘Delete Old Messages’
5. Press ‘Text Message Limit’
6. Choose the desired limit of texts until they are deleted
7. Press ‘Multimedia Message Limit’
8. Choose the desired limit of MMS until they are deleted