How to Enable Easy Mode on the Samsung Galaxy S5

Smartphones like the brand new Samsung Galaxy S5 are packed so full of features that sometimes consumers get lost in all the options or advanced features, and just want something a bit easier to understand.

From enthusiasts to beginners the Samsung Galaxy S5 can be a bit daunting for some, not to mention a first-time smartphone buyer may be overwhelmed. Lucky for us Samsung’s made things extremely simple with what they call “Easy Mode” on the Galaxy S5.

Read: How to Disable My Magazine on the Galaxy S5

Easy Mode is one of those features that is also available on the Galaxy S4 or Galaxy Note 3, but not talked about as much as the big HD displays or S-Pen stylus features. Offering a very easy to use and understand experience for your parents, or even a grandparent, below we explain more about Easy Mode and how to enable it.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 runs the latest Android 4.4 KitKat software designed by Google, but is covered with Samsung’s own TouchWiz “User Experience” skin. This adds tons of advanced features, different options, and even the home button has a built-in fingerprint scanner for enhanced security. There is a lot going on with this phone, so lets make it easier for average users.

Easy Mode only has three screens, rather than letting users flip through tons of pages and screens full of apps and widgets. Everything is streamlined into a simple experience. The main screen has a huge box called a widget with the weather, clock and calender which can’t be accidentally removed or deleted. Below that are the essential apps for making calls, browsing the web, sending a message, or using the camera. All the icons are large and easy to see, which also helps those with poor eyesight.

One swipe to the right you’ll be able to instantly add contacts to a one-click area for easy phone calls, and the other side of the home screen has a few more esential apps, and then the full application tray if the user needs to access them. Everything is large, plain, but most important, simple. Lets take a look.

Samsung even made an “Easy Settings” area where you’ll only get the essential and basic settings. Turn up volume, enlarge the font, change screen brightness, and a few other things like changing the wallpaper or ringtone. It’s all about making the phone easy to use and understand, almost like a feature phone from 2006, only it’s still a smartphone.

For those that didn’t follow the instructions from our hands-on video above, below are a few screenshots as a visual guide and the quick 3-4 steps needed to enable Easy Mode on the Galaxy S5.

Head into settings by tapping the gear-shaped settings button in the notification pulldown bar near the top right. From here you’ll scroll almost to the very end and tap the blue “Easy mode” icon that looks like a house. From here you simply select Easy Mode as shown above, and select any apps you’d prefer to be on your main screen.

Once you select easy mode and the apps you’d like to use, simply select DONE and let the Galaxy S5 work its magic. You’ll instantly go back to the home screen and be greeted by a brand new and minimalistic experience that even beginners will be able to enjoy.

To disable easy mode and go back to a full-featured Galaxy S5 simply head into the same setting (in either regular or easy mode settings) and select “Easy Mode” again and disable it. Select standard mode and make sure you hit done, and the phone will revert back to the original stage.

Should You Use This?

There are tons of advantages to using easy mode on the Galaxy S5. Those that are new to technology or smartphones, people with poor vision or the elderly, or even your stubborn father that refuses to learn anything new. Easy mode makes things simple, while also making it extremely difficult to accidentally mess up a setting or remove an app from the home screen.

While average users will find the icons large and the font a bit too big, those too can be customized by the end user. Overall easy mode is an awesome example of what are smartphone are capable of, even for beginners, and should be perfect for any first-time user. Once they get comfortable with a smartphone putting the phone back to standard mode is just a few taps away.

Give it a try today using the instructions above, and enjoy that brand new Samsung Galaxy S5.