Do more with your phone’s side button
You probably know how to use your phone's side button (called a power button on a Pixel) to turn your screen on and off. But did you know it can also be used to launch your assistant or quickly end phone calls? Here are some tips and tricks to make the most of this powerful button.
Note: These instructions may vary depending on your device’s model, manufacturer, and software version.
Note: These instructions may vary depending on your device’s model, manufacturer, and software version.
Using Bixby on a Samsung phone
Launch your phone’s assistant
By default, if you press and hold your phone’s side button, it will automatically activate your assistant – Bixby on Samsung phones or Google Assistant on a Pixel. You can then use your assistant to ask what song is currently playing, check the weather, call friends in a flash, and more.
Samsung’s power off menu
Quickly power down
To shut down your phone, you can press and hold the side button to activate your phone’s assistant, then say “Power off” into the microphone to bring up the power off menu.
Alternatively, you can change the side button’s function so it works solely to power off your phone. On a Samsung phone, go to Settings > Advanced features > Side button, then select “Power off menu” in the “Press and hold” category. On a Pixel, go to Settings > System > Gestures, then tap “Press & hold power button.” From here, select “Power menu.”
Alternatively, you can change the side button’s function so it works solely to power off your phone. On a Samsung phone, go to Settings > Advanced features > Side button, then select “Power off menu” in the “Press and hold” category. On a Pixel, go to Settings > System > Gestures, then tap “Press & hold power button.” From here, select “Power menu.”
Tip
If your side button is set for another function, there are other ways you can turn off your phone. For instance, press and hold your Samsung’s side and volume down buttons (or the side and volume up buttons on your Pixel) at the same time to launch a menu with options to power off or restart your phone.
Snap a screenshot
Your side button can also help you take screenshots. See a funny social media post that you want to save? Press the side and volume down buttons at the same time to instantly take a screenshot and save it to your photos.
Side button settings
Easily end phone calls
Finally, you can set up your side button to end phone calls quickly. On Samsung phones, go to Settings > Accessibility > Interaction and dexterity > Answering and ending calls. From here, just toggle on “Press Side button to end calls.” On a Pixel, go to Settings > Accessibility > System controls, then toggle on “Power button ends call.”