10 Useful Bixby Routines to Try on Your Samsung Phone

Samsung Galaxy phones come with Bixby Routines, powerful automation tools that simplify daily tasks. If you haven’t explored them yet, start now. This guide dives into some must-have Bixby routines you’ll want to try.

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Adding Bixby Routines to Your Samsung Galaxy Phone

Get to Bixby Routines on your Samsung phone by opening the Settings app and navigating to Advanced features -> Modes and Routines. On older Samsung phones, go to Modes and Routines.

Switch to the Routines tab at the bottom to view some Routines that will boost your productivity and efficiency.

1. Save Battery at Night

I don’t know about you, but I tend to frequently forget to charge my phone overnight. Whether I’m just too tired or get distracted by a TV show, Samsung Bixby Routines can help conserve my phone’s battery overnight so that in the morning I don’t wake up to a dead phone.

Bixby Routines come with a series of presets. To set up this automation, press the circular icon at the top right of Modes and Routines, then select Battery.

Select Save battery at night.

Check the Routine. You can add or remove conditions by pressing the Edit button. Once done, press Save to start implementing the Routine. Your saved Routines will show in the main Modes and Routines screen. To remove a Routine, go back to the Modes and Routines screen, and select one.

Press Delete at the bottom, then tap Delete again in the pop-up at the bottom to confirm.

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2. Always Get Key Notifications

Access the preset screen, and select Get the most out of your phone.

Select the Always get key notifications option.

Tap Notification received under If.

Select the apps with notifications that you don’t want to miss, then switch to Notification with a specific keyword, and add your specific keywords.

Make sure the Sound mode is set to Sound or Vibrate. Switch to Then, select an Edge lighting effect, set a more robust Vibrate pattern, then save the Routine.

3. Enable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Based on Location

If you want your phone to connect to your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth when you reach home or the office, this Bixby Routine can help.

Press the + button at the top of the Modes and Routines screen.

Press the + button underneath If on the Create routine screen.

Tap on Place, and select Home.

Select your home location on the map (this could be your current location, in which case you don’t need to do anything). Also check the When I arrive option, then press Done.

Back on the Create routine screen, press on the + button underneath Then, and go to Connections.

Select Wi-Fi (or Bluetooth). Make sure the On option is selected and press Done.

Since you can attach multiple Then conditions (If conditions too), you can add an additional one, such as Connect to Bluetooth device. Once you’ve added everything, press Save.

Name your routine, assign it a color, add an icon, then press Done.

4. Enable/Disable GPS Based on a Running App

Continuous GPS use for navigation, fitness, or ride-sharing apps can consume a lot of your phone’s battery. To extend that, turn it off when not needed and activate only for selected apps through a Samsung Bixby Routine.

Open a new Bixby Routine creation screen. For the If condition, select the App opened.

Select the desired apps, and press Done.

For the Then condition, go to Location. Press Location again, and set it to On.

Press the Save button and then proceed to name your Routine.

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5. Switch to Grayscale While Working or Reading

Suppose you want to reduce eye strain while working on something on your phone or reading. In that case, you could benefit from a Bixby Routine that automatically switches to grayscale during a particular interval.

For the If condition, set a Time period if you know the time you’ll be working or reading each day.

Set a time and the days of the week for this Routine to run.

Alternatively, set it to Start manually. This will trigger the Routine when you press the start button or widget.

Set the Then condition by going to Display and selecting Greyscale. Select On, then press Done -> Save.

Note that you can access a preset Bixby Routine that will switch to Eye comfort shield mode when the phone detects that you’ve opened and ebook reading app.

6. Enable/Disable NFC for Payment Apps

You don’t need to keep NFC on. With Bixby Routines, you can ensure NFC activates when you open a payment app.

Tap App opened in the If section. Select your banking/payment apps. For Then, press Connections -> NFC, then turn the option On and select Save.

7. Add a Light Effect When You Receive a Message

With Bixby Routines, you can add a light effect to notify you when you’ve received a message from an important person in your life.

For If, select Message received.

Select Specific senders, then choose the person(s) for which you want to be notified.

When it comes to selecting the Then condition, press Effects.

Select Edge light effect once from the options available.

Choose your favorite effect and press Done, then save your Routine.

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8. Switch Automatically to a Work/Home Sound Profile

You don’t have to manually adjust your sound profile on your Galaxy phone once you reach a destination (such as work or home). For instance, with this Samsung Bixby Routine, you can ensure your volume is set to maximum and your notifications to a lower level.

For the If condition, select Wi-Fi network, and make sure the Connected option is selected. Press the Add button to add a Wi-Fi connection. Select either home or work.

For the Then condition, go to Sounds and vibration.

Tap Sound mode and volume.

Adjust your settings according to your preferences, then save your Routine.

9. Turn Your Phone into a Night Clock

While charging at night, you can turn your phone into a night clock on your nightstand with a Bixby Routine.

For the If condition, go to Charging status. Make sure both Wired charging and Wireless charging are selected, then press Done.

For the Then condition, go to Lock screen and AOD.

Select Always On Display at the top. Toggle on the option to Show a clock and notifications when your phone isn’t in use. Also, select the Always option. Press Done, then save your Routine.

10. Switch to Dolby Audio When Connected to Headphones

If you use headphones or wireless earphones, create a Bixby Routine that will automatically switch to Dolby Audio when connected to your sound device.

For the If condition, go to Bluetooth device. In the pop-up, check Connected and press Device to select your sound device.

Tap on your device’s name.

For the Then condition, select Sound and vibration.

Tap Dolby Atmos.

Set it to Music and press Done, then save your Routine.

If you’re not sure Bixby is for you, check out our comparison of Google Assistant and Samsung’s assistant. If you choose Google’s solution, learn how to disable Bixby on your Samsung Galaxy phone.

Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.