How to Disable the Edge Screen on Galaxy S8

This guide explains how to disable the Edge screen on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. While the Edge screen gives you quick access to apps, contacts, and features, it also gets in the way for some. If you find that this feature is more irritating than useful, you’ll be happy to know it’s easy to turn off.

For those wondering, the Edge screen is the small white panel that sits on the upper edge of your display. Swipe it out, and you’ll instantly see your favorite contacts and popular apps. There’s also a feature called Edge lighting, where the slides glow for incoming notifications.

Read: 8 Best Galaxy S8+ Screen Protectors 

Over the past few years, Samsung has bundled this into each Galaxy smartphone. There are over 14 edge panels to choose from, not to mention others you can download. However, many owners never take advantage of its capabilities. Instead, it just gets in the way. Here’s how to get rid of it.

How to Disable the Edge screen on the Galaxy S8

If the Edge panels are in the way more often than not, head into settings and quickly toggle it off. Below we’ll also explain all the customization options, for those who still want to use it but want to move it to a different area on the screen.

Instructions

• Head to Settings from the app on your home screen, app tray, or by pulling down the notification bar and tapping the gear-shaped settings button
• Select Display
• Scroll down and select Edge screen
• Tap the toggle switch next to Edge panels to turn it off
• Additionally, turn off Edge lighting to get rid of the glowing edges when your phone is face-down

As you can see above, this entire process takes less than 20 seconds. Just navigate to settings and turn the Edge screen off. Alternatively, swipe open the Edge panel and hit the gear-shaped button on the bottom middle of the screen. This is the customization section, and there’s also an OFF toggle on the top right to quickly disable the Edge screen. Either method works just fine to get rid of this feature.

Customize the Edge screen

While your first reaction is probably to completely turn off the Edge screen on the Galaxy S8, try customizing it first. There are tons of different options built-in, and more you can download that give your phone lots of neat features.

Additionally, we recommend moving it to a more convenient location before giving up on it completely. Samsung includes the option to decrease the size of the panel, or make it transparent so it isn’t as noticeable. Here’s how to change things up.

Instructions

• Swipe open the Edge screen and tap the gear-shaped settings button on the bottom middle of the display
• Hit the 3-dots menu button at the top right of the customization menu
• Select Handle settings

From here, the first option is to drag the Edge panel handle up or down anywhere on your screen. If you keep hitting it on accident, move it to a place you’re less prone to touch. Then, select the left or right side, change the size of the panel, and make it transparent so it’s not so noticeable.

We recommend making it as small as possible and moving it to the top left of the screen. Now, you’ll never accidentally hit the Edge panel, yet it’s still available if you need it. Now that we’re done, take a look at these 20 best Galaxy S8 cases.