Troubleshooting the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active

Learn more about the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active

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 or Password

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 ‘General’
4. Press ‘Back-up and Reset’
5. Press ‘Factory Data Reset’
6. Tap ‘Reset Device’
7. Lastly, press ‘Delete All’

The device will automatically reset and restart.

Warning: It will not be possible to undo a factory reset. All media, files and data stored on the device will be removed.

2A. How to change to a new background image

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 three dots on the top right (options icon)
5. Scroll down and select ‘Set As…’
6. Choose the desired option of which you’d like to change the wallpaper
7. Crop the image
8. Press ‘Done’

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 ‘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. 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 ‘Quick Settings’
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 ‘Widgets’
3. Select the widget you’d like to add. The sizing needed for each one is specified as 1×1 or 1×2 etc.
4. Drag the widget onto the desired location on the screen.
5. 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 bin above.

2E. How to lock device with a PIN or Password

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘General’
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’
11. Choose if you’d like notifications to be shown or hidden.
12. Press ‘Done’

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 ‘General’ option.
3. Press ‘About Device’
4. Press ‘Status’
5. 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 ‘Device’
4. Press ‘Sound and notifications’
5. Press ‘Volume’
6. Adjust as desired

5. How to add an app or delete it

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

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.
2. Press ‘Uninstall’

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 bottom right of the screen.
4. Enter the appropriate information such as a title, start date and time, end 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. Choose the options icon (3 dots on top right)
4. Press ‘Delete’

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 ‘Quick Settings’
4. Press ‘Airplane mode’
5. Press the toggle button to turn it on
6. To disable: Press ‘Airplane Mode’ toggle button once more

Airplane mode will disable the following: calling, messaging, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and data usage.

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:

1. Press the trash can on the top of the screen
2. Press ‘Delete’ to confirm

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 ‘General’
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’ icon (3 dots on top of screen)
4. Choose ‘Settings’
5. Then, press ‘Privacy’
6. Press ‘Delete Personal Data’
7. Select the data types to delete
8. Tap ‘Delete’

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 Mobile Hotspot’
7. Press the checkbox near ‘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 – To transfer files to and from a computer
   • PTP – 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. Choose the Options icon on the top right (3 dots)
8. Press ‘Reset to Default’
9. The original APN settings will now restore.

This option is needed at times, if the settings were changed and therefore the data no longer works.

If you have changed service providers are or are not using the phone’s branded network, contact your network for its APN settings. Press the plus sign on the top right of the ‘Access Point Names’ screen and add all the necessary information. This will cause the phone to switch tracks and connect to the new network.

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. Choose ‘Tethering and Mobile Hotspots’
6. Press ‘Mobile Hotspot’
7. Turn on the toggle button near ‘Mobile Hotspots’
8. Press ‘OK’
9. Personalize the name of your device hotspot
10. Personalize the password
11. Press ‘Save’

On the phones in which you’d like to connect to your new hotspot, search for Wi-Fi and type in the personalized password you just created. Multiple devices will be able to connect to one device hotspot.

Warning: The internet of the mobile hotspot will be used by all the devices connecting to it. Sign up for an unlimited data plan, or simply connect to Wi-Fi to avoid unnecessary costs.

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. Press ‘Wi’Fi’
5. Turn on the toggle button near ‘Wi-Fi’
6. (Select ‘Smart Network Switch’ for the device to automatically choose whether to use Wi-Fi or mobile networks)
7. Select the desired Wi-Fi network
8. Enter the Password. To see the password as you type, press on the ‘Show Password’ box.
9. Press ‘Connect’
10. Wi-Fi is now connected.

To disconnect from Wi-Fi:

1. Do steps 1-4
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. Tap on the network you are connected to
4. Press ‘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. Next, press on the checkbox near ‘International Data Roaming’
7. Press ‘International Data’
8. Choose ‘OK’

Warning: Data roaming must be part of your phone plan to avoid being charged.

It may be necessary to search for a compatible network in the area in which you are in. This setting can be automatically turned on. Rarely, you may need to contact services in the area for the correct APN settings.

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 ‘General’
4. Press ‘Accounts’
5. Press ‘Add Account’
6. Select the type of account you’d like to add
7. Type in the username
8. Press ‘Next’
9. Sign into google by typing in username
10. Press ‘Next’
11. Type in the password
12. Tap ‘Next’
13. Press ‘Accept’
14. Adjust details for the new account such as if it should be a backup for your devices data
15. Press ‘Next’

To remove an account:

1. Do steps 1-4 as stated above.
2. Press on the account type you’d like to remove
3. Tap on the account name
4. Press on the ‘Options’ icon on the top right (3 dots)
5. Tap ‘Remove Account’
6. Press ‘Remove Account’ to confirm

Please note: You will no longer have access to the emails or data associated with this account. Yet it is easily accessible using a different device or by signing in through a browser.

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. Press on the words ‘Bluetooth’
5. Turn on the slider near ‘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. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Applications’
4. Press ‘Call’
5. Tap ‘More Settings’
6. Press ‘Show my Caller ID’
7. Press ‘Hide Number’ to hide it from all outgoing calls. To hide it temporarily, press *67 before making a call
8. To disable this feature, press ‘Show Number’

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

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Applications’
4. Press ‘Call’
5. Press ‘More Settings’
6. Tap ‘Call Forwarding’
7. Choose the desired option
8. Type in the phone number to forward calls to
9. Press ‘Turn On’

11C. How to bar certain numbers from calling me

1. Press the ‘Apps’ menu option
2. Slide and select the ‘Settings’ option.
3. Choose the tab on the top named ‘Applications’
4. Press ‘Call’
5. Tap ‘Call Rejection’
6. Then press ‘Auto Reject List’
7. Press the + (plus) sign on the top right
8. Type in the phone number to block
9. 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. ‘Add to 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. Tap the ‘Options’ key
5. Press ‘Delete’

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 ‘General’
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 ‘General’
4. Press ‘About Device’
5. Tap ‘Software Update’
6. Press ‘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. Choose ‘OK’

13A. How to send a text or MMS

To send a text:

1. Open the messaging app
2. Press the icon on the bottom 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 to send the message.

To send a multimedia message (MMS):

1. Do steps 1-4
2. Press the paper clip icon near the text message 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 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

• To delete an individual message: Press the ‘Trash Can’ icon and select the messages to delete. Press ‘Done’.

• To delete the thread: Hold down the thread and check off the ones to delete. Press the trash can to delete. Press ‘Delete’ to confirm.

To set up auto delete:

1. Open the ‘Messaging App’
2. Press the ‘Options’ icon on the top right (3 dots)
3. Press ‘Settings’
4. Tap ‘Delete Old Messages’
5. Turn it on by pressing the toggle button.
6. Press ‘Text Message Limit’
7. Choose the desired limit of texts until they are deleted
8. Press ‘Multimedia Message Limit’
9. Choose the desired limit of MMS until they are deleted.