Everything about Galaxy Note 5 S Pen

This guide shows you Galaxy Note 5 S Pen components and their functions, the difference between white and grey S Pen nibs, and how to replace S Pen nibs...

S Pen is the signature accessory for Galaxy Note devices. A lot of special features and functions on Galaxy Note 5 require S Pen.

This guide will try to cover all aspects of Galaxy Note 5 S Pen.  So, this guide will be helpful for you even you are a new user of S Pen.

For experienced S Pen users, the difference between Galaxy Note 5 S Pen and S Pen in previous generations is illustrated.

Because S Pens in all Galaxy Note devices share similar design. This guide also applies to old generation Galaxy Note devices, e.g., Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note Pro.

If something is exclusive to Galaxy Note 5, it will be highlighted.

Galaxy Note 5 S Pen components and their functions

In your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 box, you should find following components related to Galaxy Note 5 S Pen:

1. a S Pen (with  a S Pen button) attached to Galaxy Note 5 S Pen slot (see Galaxy Note 5 layout here);
2. 5 spare S Pen nibs (in 2 colors), and
3. tweezers.

The 5 spare spare S Pen nibs and the tweezers were put inside a small plastic bag in the box.

The functions of the Galaxy Note 5 S Pen nib:

1. Use the S Pen to write, draw, or perform touch actions on the screen.
2. Hover the S Pen over items on the screen to access additional S Pen features, such as Action button and the Air view feature.

The functions of the Galaxy Note 5 S Pen button:

1. Hover the S Pen over the screen and press the S Pen button to display the Air command features.
2. While pressing and holding the S Pen button, drag the S Pen over items to select them.

The function of tweezers is to remove the S Pen nib when replacing the nib.

What are the differences between the white and grey S Pen nibs?

You may notice among the 5 spare S Pen nibs, 3 are white and 2 are grey.

By default, the S Pen attached to Galaxy Note 5 is white in most regions.

The color is not random. The white nibs are actually different from the grey ones.

The white one is harder and it is easy to move it on the screen with less friction. The grey one, on the other hand, is like rubber. It provides more friction.

So, these two types of S Pen nibs give you different S Pen experience depending on your habit.

But if you applies screen protector to your Galaxy Note 5 screen, you may find it is hard to use the grey one.

How to replace Galaxy Note 5 S Pen nib?

You may need replace the Galaxy Note 5 S pen nib when:

• you want to get more friction (grey) or less friction (white).
• the S Pen nib is dull or not responsive as usual.

Please note, S Pen nibs are NOT reusable.  So, don’t waste your S Pen nibs.

You may follow these steps to replace Galaxy Note 5 S Pen nib.

Step 1: Remove the old nib with tweezers

You need hold the nib firmly with the tweezers, then pull it out as shown below. Do not use any other tools.

Step 2: Insert the new S Pen nib.

Insert the new S pen nib into the S pen with your hand as shown below.

Do not insert the rounded end of the nib into Galaxy Note 5 S Pen.

How to detach Galaxy Note 5 S Pen?

To detach Galaxy Note 5 S pen, you need press the end of the S Pen to disengage it. Then, pull the S Pen from the slot as shown below

This is different from detaching S Pen from previous Galaxy Note devices. The Galaxy Note 5 S Pen is loaded with a spring. And you must press the end to disengage it.  For S Pen in Galaxy Note 4 and older devices, you can pull out the S Pen directly.

In Galaxy Note 5, the S Pen is fully inserted into the slot and you cannot pull it without pressing the end.

How to store Galaxy Note 5 S Pen?

To store Galaxy Note 5 S Pen, push it back into the S Pen slot until you hear it click. You need insert the S Pen’s nib first as shown below. Failure to do so can
cause the S Pen to become stuck. Forcefully detaching the S Pen from the slot may cause damage to the S Pen and Galaxy Note 5.

The Galaxy Note 5 S Pen design has a flaw: you may accidentally insert the S Pen in wrong direction without applying much force until it is stuck. If you pull out the S Pen after it is stuck, your Galaxy Note 5 will not be able to detect S Pen any more. You have to visit local Samsung service center to repair it.

If the Galaxy Note 5 S Pen is stored properly, the whole S Pen should be in the S Pen slot.

What can I do if I accidentally insert Galaxy Note 5 S Pen into the slot in wrong direction?

As mentioned, Galaxy Note 5 S pen has a design flaw. You may insert the S Pen in wrong direction without getting any warnings until it is stuck.

It is too late!

If this happened to you, you may damage the S Pen slot. Galaxy Note 5 will unlikely detect whether the S Pen is in the slot or not from now on.

This means you cannot use screen off memo. You have to use air command by pressing the S Pen button.

As it is a hardware damage, you have to visit local Samsung service center to repair the S Pen slot.  Factory data reset will NOT solve the problem.

For other Galaxy Note 5 features and detailed Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides , please check Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides page.

You may also download and read the official Samsung Galaxy Note 5 user manual here.

Galaxy Note 5 layout

Get to know the layout of Samsung Galaxy Note 5. The part name and major functions are illustrated in front view and rear view.

Galaxy Note 5 has a new and refreshed design. The location of some ports and buttons are quite different from those in Galaxy Note 4 or other Galaxy Note devices.

Galaxy Note 5 layout is actually similar to that of Galaxy S6 edge andGalaxy S6 edge+.

It is important to understand the Galaxy Note 5 layout before trying your phone if you want to use the phone properly (e.g., not cover the antenna area). This guide will show you the Galaxy Note layout and main functions of some parts.

Galaxy Note 5 layout: front view

The front (top, right and bottom) view of Galaxy Note 5 layout is shown below.

In the front of Galaxy Note 5, you will find:

• LED indicator. This LED will light up and show different colors forcharging or notifications.
• Proximity/light sensor. Galaxy Note 5 may use this sensor to adjust the screen brightness if you set brightness as auto. So, do not cover this area.
• Touch screen. The screen will respond to your gestures depending on apps you are using. The Galaxy Note 5 touch screen gestures are discussed in this page.
• Home key with fingerprint sensor. Tap this button to return to Galaxy Note 5 home screen. Fingerprint sensor is also embedded in this home key.
• Recent Apps key. Tap this key to show a list of recent apps. You can quickly switch to them.
• Back key. Tap back key to return to previous screen. The behavior in different apps may be different. If you need return to home screen quickly, use the home key.
• Front camera.

In the bottom of Galaxy Note 5, you will find:

• Headset jack. In previous Galaxy Note phones, the headset jack is on the top.
• Microphone.
• Loud speaker.
• Micro USB port (multipurpose jack). This micro USB port is for you to charge Galaxy Note 5, or to connect Galaxy Note 5 to PC. You can also use this port to connect accessories, e.g., USB OTG storage.
• S Pen and S Pen slot.

In the right side of your Galaxy Note 5, you will find:

• Power key.  You can use power key to reboot the phone, lock the screen, or wake up screen. In some apps, you can assign some special functions for power key.

In the top of Galaxy Note 5, you will find:

• SIM card tray. You need put your nano SIM card into the tray. Please followthis guide on how to use SIM card on Galaxy Note 5.
• Microphone.

Galaxy Note 5 layout: front view

Galaxy Note 5 layout: rear view

Galaxy Note 5 layout: rear view

The rear view of Galaxy Note 5 layout is shown above.

In the back of Galaxy Note 5, you will find:

• Rear camera (16MP main camera)
• LED flash for main camera. You can also use the flash as torch.
• Heart-rate monitor sensor. You can use the sensor to measure heart rate, SpO2 (Peripheral capillary oxygen saturation) and stress level in S Health app. You can also use it as shutter button  when taking selfie.
• GPS antenna, main antenna, NFC antenna and wireless charging coil are under the back cover.

In the left side of Galaxy Note 5, you will find the volume key (volume up and down)

You need pay attention to the location of antenna area as mentioned in the above Galaxy Note 5 layout.  You should not cover the antenna area with your hands or other objects. This may cause connectivity problems or drain the battery faster in Galaxy Note 5.

If you want to use a screen protector for Galaxy Note 5, using a Samsung-approved screen protector is recommended. Unapproved screen protectors may cause the sensors to malfunction.

Galaxy Note 5 is NOT water resistant. So, you should not allow water to contact the Galaxy Note 5 touchscreen or other parts. The touchscreen may malfunction in humid conditions or when exposed to water. In most regions, water damage to Galaxy Note 5 isNOT covered by Samsung local warranty.

Do you know Galaxy Note 5 layout now?

If you have any questions on Galaxy Note 5 layout or the functions, please let us know in the comment box below.

We will try to help you.

For other Galaxy Note 5 features and detailed Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides , please check Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides page.

How to use scroll capture in Galaxy Note 5?

Scroll capture in Galaxy Note 5 lets you take one screenshot that includes multiple screens. In one screenshot, you can cover a whole webpage or other contents that cannot be fitted into one Galaxy Note 5 screen. This Galaxy Note 5 guide shows you how to use Galaxy Note 5 screen capture.

In addition to taking screenshot in 3 different methods, Galaxy Note 5 introduced a new air command feature for taking screenshot: scroll capture.

Currently, scroll capture is an exclusive feature in Galaxy Note 5. No other phones have this feature in the market!

This guide will explain to you what is  scroll capture in Galaxy Note 5, how to use scroll capture and how to manage screen scroll screenshots.

What is scroll capture in Galaxy Note 5?

In Galaxy Note 5 (Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 4 as well), you can use screen write to take screenshot as explained in this guide.

But if you want to take screenshot for contents that cannot be fitted into one screen, e.g., a web page,  you have to take several screenshots to cover the contents when manually scrolling down.

If you want them to be in one screenshot, you may use some photo editing apps to glue them together.

This can be a painful job.

Now, Galaxy Note 5 scroll capture can guide you to take screenshot when scrolling pages automatically for you, and give you one screenshot that covers all screens you scrolled.

This scroll capture works on all contents, not just web pages, on Galaxy Note 5.

Galaxy Note 5 scroll capture is part of the screen write, a feature ofGalaxy Note 5 air command.

How to use scroll capture in Galaxy Note 5?

To use scroll capture in Galaxy Note 5, you may follow these steps.

Step 1: Open the content for which you want to take screenshot

For example, you want to take a screenshot for webpage of How to use Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo in Chrome browser.

In your Chrome browser, open the page as shown below.

Step 2: Launch Galaxy  Note 5 air command

You can launch air command in Galaxy Note 5 with one for the three methods:

• Use S Pen detection;
• Use S Pen button;
• Use air command floating icon.

Please check this guide if you are not sure how to launch air command in Galaxy Note 5.

 

Step 3:  Tap Screen Write

Once air command is launched, tap screen write with your S Pen as shown above.

This will take a screenshot for current screen immediately as shown below.

If you just take screenshot for one screen, you can save it or edit then save it as explained in this guide.

Step 4: Tap scroll capture.

To take screenshots for more screens, you can tap Scroll capture in bottom left as shown below.

After taping scroll capture, the screen will scroll down one screen automatically and screenshot is previewed near top right (shown in green box below)

In other words, it is not necessary for you to scroll the screen manually. Galaxy Note 5 will take care of it.

If you want to take more screens, tap Capture more as shown below.

Every time you tap capture more, the screen automatically scrolls down one screen.

You can always preview the final screenshot in the sight side (as shown in green box).

 

 

Step 5: Tap Done.

Once you get all screens in the screenshot, tap Done as shown above.

This will stop the screen capture.

Step 6: Edit and/or save screenshot.

Now, you can edit the screenshot as shown above.

Of course, you can edit the screenshot in Gallery app or any image editing apps.

You can save the screenshot into Gallery, or your scrapbook as shown above.

You can also share the screenshot directly with other devices or apps.

How to manage screenshots taken with scroll capture in Galaxy Note 5?

Screenshots taken with scroll capture are saved in the the folder of DCIM/screenshots.

You can manage these screenshots just like other photos or images.

For example, as shown below, you can edit it with Gallery app.

Can you use scroll capture in Galaxy Note 5 now?

If you have any questions or encounter any problems to use scroll capture in Galaxy Note 5? please leave a comment in the comment box below.

The community will try to help you.

For other Galaxy Note 5 features and detailed Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides , please check Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides page.

You may also download and read the official Samsung Galaxy Note 5 user manual here.

How to take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4?

Galaxy Note 4 How-To Guides

How to take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4?

When you want to show  someone remotely the Galaxy Note 4 screen, e.g., the achievement in a game, booking proofs, ordering info, some key information on a website, location in the Google Map, a Galaxy Note 4 screenshot is the most simple way to deliver such info.

But how to take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4?

Luckily, there are many different methods to take screenshot on Galaxy Note 4.

In this guide, I will show you 3 different methods of taking a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4 without using any apps, or connecting to other devices. In other words, you can take a  screenshot on Galaxy Note 4 directly. No apps, or connections are involved.

Method 1: Take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4 with Home and Power button

In the early days,  most Android phones had a hardware home button. The Home button and power button combination is usually for screenshot.

Samsung is a few Android manufactures who refuse to bury hardware home button. So, you can have a simple way to take  a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4.

On any screen, press and hold power button and Home button simultaneously to take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4.

In the reality, it is hard to press and hold two buttons simultaneously. So this may cause one of the two problems:

1. Galaxy Note 4 exits current app and return to home screen. This means you press Home button too early.
2. Galaxy Note 4 shows power options (restart the phone, shutdown the phone..). This means you press Power button too early.

The secret of successfully taking a  screenshot on Galaxy Note 4 is to press and hold the power button “slightly” earlier.

There is a reason for this secret. Home button will response normally within 100ms (about 0.1s) once pressed. But power button only responses usually after 500ms (0.5s).

Using Home button  and Power button to take a screenshot works not only on Galaxy Note 4, but also on almost all Galaxy devices from Samsung.

Method 2:  Take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4 by swiping your palm over the screen

The second method of taking a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4 may require patience. But it is fun.

You can simply swipe your palm over the Galaxy Note 4 screen as shown below to take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4.

By default, this feature is turned on. But you may accidentally turned it off if you find this method is not working.

You can enable this feature by following these steps:

Step 1: Go to settings –Motions and gestures.

Step 2: Tap Palm swipe to capture if it is off.

Step 3: Turn it on by drag the switch to right until the color is green.

Again, this palm swiping method of  taking a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4 also works on most other Samsung Galaxy devices.

Method 3:  Take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4 with S your S Pen using Screen Write (air command)

In old Galaxy Note devcies (Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition and Galaxy Note Pro), you can take a screenshot by  holding the S Pen button, then tapping and holding the S Pen on the screen.

But this S Pen method does NOT work for Galaxy Note 4, due to the new smart select feature in Galaxy Note 4.

Then, can I take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4 with the S Pen?

Yes, you still can use S Pen to take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4.  But now you need use one of the four air commands in Galaxy Note 4: screen write.

Air command will be launched  when the S Pen  is removed from the slot, or when the S Pen is hovering over any part of the screen with S Pen button pressed.

In the four options of air command, tap screen write to take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4.

Once the screenshot is taken, you will be offered the options to edit, share, and save the screenshot, as shown below. Tap the check symbol to save the screenshot.

Please note, when screen write is used to take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4, the editing option is always provided and the screenshot is NOT saved until you tap the check symbol.  This behavior is different from the previous 2 methods.

Screen write was introduced in Galaxy Note 3. So this method also works on Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition and Galaxy Note Pro.

Are there any other methods to take a screenshot on Galaxy Note 4?

Yes, there are some other methods to take a screenshot for Galaxy Note 4.

One of the most common method for all Android devices is throughAndroid debug monitor.  But this required enable some developers options and USB connection with the PC.