Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5 tips, tricks, and new features

The latest foldable devices in the Samsung Z series, the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5, are here. Already got yours? Here are some of our favourite new features, plus tips on how to get the most out of your new foldable phone.

Once you’ve unboxed your nice new phone, it’s time to move everything over from your old one. And when you use the Samsung Smart Switch app, it’s easy. It seamlessly transfers everything from your old phone to your new Samsung Galaxy device. So, you don’t need to worry about losing all your stuff when you upgrade. 

1. Install the Samsung Smart Switch app onto the device you’d like to transfer data from. You can download it from the Google Play Store
2. Open the Smart Switch app on both phones, tap Sending device on your old one and Receiving device on your new one. 
3. Tap Connect to connect both devices
4. You’ll now see a list of items that can be transferred. It’ll include everything from photos and videos to settings and apps. Once you’ve decided what to move, tap Transfer.

And that’s it. 

The new 3.4in cover screen is one of the biggest updates on the Galaxy Z Flip5. In fact, it’s 278% larger than the Z Flip4. And all that space means more room for personalisation with photos, widgets, and apps.

Update your wallpaper with a favourite photo or even a GIF or stick with a pre-installed one. Here’s how:

1.  With your Galaxy Z Flip5 folded, press and hold the wallpaper to scroll through the pre-installed wallpaper options
2. Open your phone for more options in Cover screen options
3. Tap Customise widgets 
4. Add new wallpaper and choose a photo or GIF

You can use this menu to personalise your cover screen even further by changing the font and style of the clock, text colour, or by adding a frame. There’s also the option to add a battery icon and another app shortcut on the cover screen.

You can now add apps like Google Maps to your cover screen. This feature’s perfect if you need to follow some directions but want to keep your phone folded up. You can even use it to play games or watch videos on your Galaxy Z Flip5 cover screen.

It’s switched off by default, so to turn it on: 

1. Go to Settings 
2. Advanced Features 
3. Labs – this is where you can find some experimental features
4. Tap Apps allowed on the cover screen to toggle on or off
5. Pick which apps you want to see on the cover screen. 

It’s not just the cover screen you can customise. You can change up the main screen layout too: 

1. Unfold your phone and pinch the home screen 
2. Go to Settings 
3. Tap Home screen grid or App screen grid
4. Scroll through the options and pick the one that you like most 

This is one of our favourite Z series features. Available on both the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5, it lets the apps adapt according to the angle of the screen.

Use it for picture-perfect hands-free selfies. Or to chat with friends while scrolling through your socials.

If you fold your Z Flip5 or Fold5 while using a compatible app, it’ll automatically go into Flex Mode. The app will appear at the top of the screen with a control panel at the bottom. 

Some apps have a customised Flex Mode layout, so the control panel won’t appear. You can turn it on by going to:

1. Go to Settings 
2. Advanced Features 
3. Labs
4. Scroll to Flex Mode panel
5. Open the app you’d like to use, and the controls will appear in the bottom half of the screen. 

When you first register your fingerprint on your Z Flip5, your phone will be unfolded. But, when you fold your phone, you'll find the fingerprint scanner is upside down. So, when you're adding additional fingerprints, remember to include an upside down one, too.

To add, go to: 

1. Settings
2. Security and privacy
3. Biometrics
4. Fingerprints

With its expansive 7.6in unfolded display and features like Multi Window and Taskbar, the Galaxy Z Fold5 makes multitasking a breeze. 

The Taskbar at the bottom of your Z Fold5 screen gives your phone a PC-like feel. There’s now space for up to 4 recently used apps to be shown – on the Z Fold4, there was only room for 2 – so it’s easy to switch between them. It lets you switch between your most used apps quickly and easily.

You can also drag apps from the Taskbar to open them in Multi Window.

This lets you control and move things around your phone with 2 hands. Doesn’t sound that exciting, right? But it makes things like transferring files between apps or moving apps or icons around much easier. 

1. Tap and hold the icon you’d like to move
2. Keep your finger on the icon and use your other hand to swipe to a different screen
   
3. Drag the icon to wherever you’d like to put it and let go.
   

This is useful for moving photos or files to apps like Samsung Notes or Messages. 

1. Go to Gallery and tap and hold an image to select. You can pick multiple images or files by tapping each one until they’re highlighted.
2. Touch and hold the selected images with one hand and tap the app you’d like to move them to with the other.  
3. Drag them into the app and let go.  

Got the new, slimmer S Pen Fold Edition for your Galaxy Z Fold5? Did you know you can use it for much more than taking notes?

This is your go-to place for S Pens shortcuts. It’s easy to access – just press the S Pen button. This will bring up the Air Command toolbar at the side of your screen, with some shortcuts shown by default. To add or remove apps or features

1. Open the Air Command menu using your S Pen
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Add shortcuts
3. Then pick which apps or features you’d like to add
4. Or tap the minus sign beside the icon to remove

This lets you hover over things like photos with your S Pen and get a preview and options to share or delete – all without physically touching the screen. To turn on:

1. Go to Settings 
2. Advanced Features
3. Tap S Pen
4. Turn Air View on or off

From there, you can use your S Pen for Previews and pointers, Preview only, or Pointer only.  

Miss that scratchy sound of pencil on paper? Samsung’s thought of that. That’s right; you can add sound to your S Pen. To turn on or off:

1. Go to Settings 
2. Advanced Features
3. Tap S Pen
4. Go to More S Pen settings 
5. Turn Sounds on or off

You can now use your S Pen to write in the calendar app – perfect for scribbling down important dates or reminders. To access, open the Air Command menu by tapping the button on your S Pen. The calendar option won’t be there by default, so tap Add, then pick Write on Calendar.

When you’ve finished writing, don’t forget to tap Save in the top right corner. 

The side button on both new Z series phones can be customised. Double pressing will open the camera by default, but it can be changed to open any app.

Pressing and holding the side button is automatically set to Wake Bixby but can be changed to the Power off menu.

Go to Settings > Advanced Features > Side button

We hope you can put these tips and tricks to good use while getting to know your new foldable phone. Not got yours yet? Get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 or Z Fold5 online, over the phone, or in your local Three store . Or pick up the more affordable Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 or Fold4.

Not sure a foldable device is for you? We’ve got plenty of other options available, like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with its super-powerful mobile chip and ultra-immersive display.