If you use one or two applications very frequently on the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, then let me show you how to add shortcuts to these apps to the lock screen.
In Android 4.4 KitKat, Google started to redesign the lock screen. We saw the addition of a shortcut for the camera and this let Android users launch our cameras much quicker so that we could take that quick photo when needed. Then, in Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google did some more work to the lock screen and this is when we saw an app shortcut in each of the bottom corners of the device.
Then, it was for the phone app and then the camera app, but when Google launched Android 6.0 Marshmallow, they replaced the phone shortcut with a Google Search shortcut.
At least, this is how they do it on their stock Android OS(for Nexus devices). The framework is in place though and we see some OEMs configure these shortcuts to whichever apps like prefer. Thankfully, Samsung gives us the choice as to which applications actually sit on the lock screen at all times. By default, it is the phone app and the camera app(like it was in Lollipop), but if we dig through the settings then we can customize these apps to whatever ones we want. This way, if you’re a huge Twitter user then you can put the Twitter app on the lock screen. . .or if you’re a huge gamer then you can put your current game on the lock screen.
As with most of these useful features in TouchWiz, it’s buried within the settings and today I want show you how to find it.
Galaxy S7 Lock Screen Apps
- Launch the Settings App
- Scroll Down and Tap on the ‘Lock Screen and Security’ Option
- Tap on the ‘Info and App Shortcuts’ Option
- Then Tap on the ‘App Shortcuts’ Option
- Select Which App Shortcut You Want to Configure
- Then Locate and Tap on the App You Want to Put in that Spot
Explanation
Alternatively, you could simply open up the Settings app and then search for the terms App Shortcut and you’ll find exactly what you need. I like to walk readers through the traditional way so they can start to get familiar with where these features are. Doing it this way can also let the reader notice another useful feature as they’re browsing through the Settings app. The more you can learn about the Settings and what features are tucked away here, the better. So after you launch the Settings app, scroll down and then tap on the Lock Screen and Security option that is under the Personal section.
Once here, tap on the Info and App Shortcuts option and then on the App Shortcuts option. Now you will see an example of your lock screen with the clock and then two app icons in the bottom of the screen. There’s two options for you to tap here. . .one for the Left Shortcut and then one for the Right Shortcut. Tap on the Left Shortcut and you’ll be given a list of the applications you have installed on your device. Browse through these apps and tap on the one you want to sit in the bottom left of the lock screen. Repeat this step for the Right Shortcut too and then you’re done.
Another thing of interest here is that you can actually disable one or both of these app shortcuts right from this menu. It’s just toggle at the top of the screen(as you can see in the image above) and then the app shortcut will be gone from the lock screen. I always talk about how much I love the ability to customize a smartphone to my liking and this is one of those prime examples. Maybe there are some people who don’t want to have these app icons there. Maybe they launch them by accident of maybe they just like to have a clean/blank lock screen. It’s all a matter of personal taste and I praise Samsung for letting people have the choice.
