Samsung Galaxy S20 Tips & Tricks: 5 Essential Settings You Need To Know


samsung-galaxy-s20-tips-tricksPin

Got a Samsung Galaxy S20? Are you getting the absolute best from it? Make sure you’re implementing these handy Galaxy S20 tips and tricks to get the most from it


The Samsung Galaxy S20 – as well as the Galaxy S20 Pro and S20 Ultra – are two of the best (and most expensive) Android phones on the planet right now.

And if you’ve bought one, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the most performance out of it possible.

And that’s where these handy Galaxy S20 tips and tricks (for beginners and new users) come in handy. All of the tips and tricks listed below are easy to follow and, once implemented, they will make a BIG difference to how your Galaxy S20 performs.

Right, let’s do this!

Samsung Galaxy S20 Tips & Tricks – The Essentials

samsung-galaxy-s20-tips-tricksPin

#1 – How To Make Apps Load Faster on Galaxy S20

The Galaxy S20 ships with 12GB of RAM. That’s more than some laptops, so when it comes to memory, you’re 100% covered. But you can make the phone perform even better by locking a select number of your most-used applications to the Galaxy S20’s memory. Doing this will make them open instantly.

And don’t worry, it’s simple to do. All you need to do is go to the Recents screen (this is your multitasking view, where all your open apps are stored), tap the icon above the application, and select KEEP OPEN FOR QUICK LAUNCHING.

You’ll want to select the three applications you use most. Be selective. Don’t just add anything. Things like games are a good idea here because they’ll load instantly, whereas before you might have to wait 10-20 seconds for the game to load. Are there any downsides? You might notice a slight dip in battery performance but it’s nothing major.

#2 – How To Use The S20’s 108MP Camera To Its Maximum Potential

One of the Samsung Galaxy S20’s biggest selling points is its camera. You’re rocking a 108MP sensor and, yes, that is one of the biggest sensors ever crammed inside a phone. But the 108MP camera is NOT set up to run out the box; instead, the S20 will default to a 12MP sensor.

In order to start shooting with the 108MP camera, you need to select it in order to harness its power. And to do this you need to go into the camera app, tap the 3:4 button and switch it to the 3:4 108MP option (there’s also one for 64MP as well, and images captured with this sensor will take up less room on your phone).

galaxy-s20-tips-and-tricks-cameraPin

Once you’ve selected the 108MP option, your Galaxy S20 will shoot at its fullest potential, capturing images using its massive 108MP sensor. But do keep in mind that images captured using the 108MP sensor will take up A LOT more storage on your phone than those captured using the 12MP sensor – each 108MP captured image is about 30MB in size.

For this reason, I’d save the Galaxy S20’s 108MP sensor for special occasions.

#3 – How To Make The Galaxy S20’s Display EVEN Better

Samsung’s OLED displays are badass. Everybody who’s used a Galaxy or Note phone knows this. But you can make the Galaxy S20’s display even better – as well as smoother. And all it takes is a couple of selections in the settings app.

In Settings, go to the Display tab and select Motion Smoothness. Turn it on. After this, make sure your display is set to 120Hz. Combined these two options will make your Galaxy S20’s display noticeably smoother, making it even better for gaming and watching movies and YouTube videos.

Any caveats? Yes, just one. Samsung doesn’t support Motion Smoothness on WQHD, so you’ll have to move your S20’s display down to Full HD to run this setting. Don’t want to do that? No problem. The S20’s display running at 120Hz should be more than enough to make the overall experience of using the phone noticeably better.

#4 – Turn Off Samsung Pay (Once And For All)

Samsung loves a bit of bloatware. No matter how good its phones get, you can always count on them running a bunch of bloatware that you’ll never use. One example of this is Samsung Pay – Samsung’s Google Pay alternative. And on the S20 the Samsung Pay icon is annoying placed as a shortcut at the bottom of the display which makes it easy to accidentally press.

This is super-annoying, so you’ll want to get rid of the Samsung Pay icon once and for all and just forget about the app altogether. To do this, simply go to Samsung Pay’s Settings, select Favourite Cards, and then toggle the Home Screen option off. And that’s it; Samsung Pay is GONE from your home screen.

#5 – How To Show Galaxy S20 Battery Life As A Percentage

Everybody loves percentages, especially when it comes to battery life updates. But for some reason, Samsung doesn’t show battery life as a percentage by default on the Galaxy S20. But you can change this and, again, all it takes is a few clicks in the Settings app.

Go to the Notifications tab in Settings, inside you’ll see an option for Show Battery Percentage. Turn this on and your battery life will now be displayed as a percentage. Simple, right?

#6 – How To Disable Bixby on Galaxy S20

Bixby, AKA the most hated voice assistant on the planet, is still alive and well inside the Galaxy S20, although there is no longer a dedicated Bixby button. Instead, to active Bixby on the Galaxy S20, you have to long-press the power button. No one wants Bixby though, so it’s best to just turn it off completely.

To disable Bixby on the Galaxy S20, follow these steps: Go to Settings, then Advanced Routines, and open Side Key. In here you can change what the power button does as well as turn on Bixby once and for all.

#7 – How To Shoot 8K Video on Galaxy S20

Did you know the Galaxy S20 can shoot video in 8K? Well, it can! You just won’t be able to watch it on anything – unless you’re one of the few people on Earth that actually has an 8K HDTV. Still, if you’re interested in shooting 8K, it’s easy enough to do on the Galaxy S20…

samsung-galaxy-s20-tips-tricks-1Pin

8K video recording is not turned on by default, so to enable it you’ll need to go to open up the camera app and go to the video section. From here select settings (it’s the cog symbol), select Rear Video Size, and switch it to 8K. And that’s it; you’re now shooting and capturing video in 8K on your phone. Welcome to the future!

#8 – How To Make Netflix Content Fill Entire Display

If you watch a lot of video content on your Galaxy S20 and you want it to be totally full screen, meaning no black bars, you’ll need to go into settings and enable this option. Why it isn’t turned on by default, I have no idea… Thankfully, setting up full-screen apps on the S20 is simple enough.

Go to Settings, then Display, then select Full-Screen Apps and pick the apps you want to include as full-screen apps. My advice? Add Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, and any other video-content apps you use. Once enabled, this will ensure that all selected apps take full advantage of the Galaxy S20’s full display.


From Our Sponsors: 

Don’t Think You Can Afford a New Samsung Phone or 4K TV? Think Again – Samsung Has A Range of Finance Plans To Spread The Cost Over 12, 18, and 24 Months

Latest Smartphone Releases


  • Xiaomi 15S Pro

    The Xiaomi 15S Pro didn’t come with a flashy launch, but it brings some seriously heavy hardware to the table. A custom 10-core chip, Leica-engineered cameras, and one of the brightest displays on the market

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

    At just 5.8mm thick, it’s one of the thinnest Android phones ever made—but don’t let the slim profile fool you. This phone is all flagship under the hood.

  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

    It’s got the same slick design and OLED display, but adds a periscope zoom camera and a 50MP front-facing shooter.

  • Nothing Phone (3a)

    The Nothing Phone (3a) nails the formula: give people what they actually want, keep the price low, and make it look cooler than anything else in its class.

  • Motorola EDGE 60 Pro

    With a bold design, flagship-like display, and surprisingly refined camera system, it’s one of the most interesting mid-range phones of 2025.

  • Google Pixel 9

    I’ve been using the Pixel 9 for a few weeks now, and honestly? It nails all the basics—and a bit more. Killer stuff all round!

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro

    I’ve used the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily device, and it’s hands-down the best balance of power, practicality, and photography you’ll find on Android right now.

  • OnePlus 13

    I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 as my daily driver for a few months now—and I’ve got to say, it’s easily one of the best Android phones I’ve tested this year.

  • Xiaomi 15 Ultra

    After using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a week, I can confidently say: this phone is an absolute beast. It’s made for camera nerds, power users, and creators.

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

    If you’ve been holding out for a truly complete iPhone, the 16 Pro Max delivers—hard. After using it daily, I won't be going back…

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

    Big screen, big battery, and even bigger brains—this is the Pixel to get if you want Google’s best hardware and longest support.

  • Google Pixel 9a

    The Pixel 9a brings Google’s flagship-level smarts to a budget-friendly package, and it’s easily one of the best-value Android phones of 2025.

Best SIM-Only Plans & Deals


  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Premium Plan

    Boost’s top-tier option brings the heat: 50GB of premium data, hotspot, North America roaming, global talk & text, and $430 off select devices. All-in at $60/month with no contract.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (50GB premium speed)

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited+ Plan

    Level up with 40GB of premium data, hotspot access, global calling, and up to $300 in device savings. All for just $50/month. No contracts and flexible phone options included.

    +

    Data: Unlimited; Speed Caps After 40GB

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan

    Start strong with 30GB of premium data, unlimited everything, and a killer intro offer: just $15/month for the first 3 months, then $25/month forever. No contracts. No fluff. Big value.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (Speed Caps Over 30GB)

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    Another high-data, low-cost option with no contract. 108GB for just £9, full 5G access, and the same goodies you get with 12-month deals.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 20GB

    The lowest price option. 20GB for £6 with all the same perks as pricier plans. Great if you don’t use much data and want to save every penny.

    +

    Data: 20GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 110GB

    This plan gives you big data and zero commitment. 110GB for just £10 with all perks intact. If you need more data but want the freedom to cancel, this is the one.

    +

    Data: 110GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    More data, same price. For just £8/month, you get 60GB on a no-strings 1-month rolling plan. Ideal for users who stream often but don’t want long commitments.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 40GB

    Perfect if you want full flexibility. You get 40GB and all of iD Mobile's perks with no lock-in, annual increases, or setup fees. Great for short-term users.

    +

    Data: 40GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    One of the best pound-per-GB plans around. You get 60GB for £8 with £25 cashback, which means you’re effectively paying closer to £6/month. Includes roaming and data rollover.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    This deal gets you a healthy 108GB of 5G data for less than a tenner, with no upfront costs and £24 cashback. All the perks are included too: data rollover, roaming, and loyalty rewards.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: Unlimited Data

    This iD Mobile plan doesn’t just compete on price, it’s up there with the best of them. Unlimited everything, a year-long lock-in with no price rises, and £42 cashback straight to your pocket. It’s like getting nearly 3 months free.

    +

    Data: Unlimited, No Speed Caps

  • Mint Mobile 20GB Plan

    If you're looking to save some cash on your bills, this plan is an awesome option. You'll get 20GB of data per month and 20GB hotspot data allowance. For moderate to heavy users, that should be more than enough. I seldom use more than 10GB of data a month, and I'm always using my phone

    +

    Data: 20GB