10 ways to use the S Pen on a Samsung Galaxy device

• To use the S Pen on a Samsung Galaxy device, you'll need to release it from its holder and tap the screen.
• The S Pen stylus comes with all Galaxy Note devices, and some Galaxy and Galaxy Tab devices.
• Beyond the traditional stylus actions, there are additional features that can make the S Pen even more useful.

The S Pen is a stylus that's designed to work with the Samsung Galaxy, Galaxy Note, and Galaxy Tab phones and tablets.

If it came with your Galaxy device, you won't need to connect it, but there are still a few steps needed to use it. And the newer your device, the more features you'll have access to with the S Pen.

How to use S Pen on Samsung Galaxy

You can start using the S Pen by pressing on the end of it to release it from your Galaxy device. Your Galaxy will vibrate to let you know that it recognizes you've released it.

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Your S Pen should start working immediately. If it doesn't, hover the S Pen over the screen and quickly double-press the button in the middle of the stylus.

Ways to use the S Pen

You can use the S Pen to do anything that you could normally do with your finger. And depending on the Galaxy Note or Tab model you have, you may be able to use some or all of the following useful features. Test them all out and see which ones you like.

Take notes on the lock screen. Simply take out your S Pen and write on the locked screen.

Customize the pen button. Press and hold the pen button. Go into your settings' advanced features section for the S Pen and select "S Pen remote" or "Air actions." Then tap "Hold down Pen button to" and select the desired option.

Annotate a PDF. Open the desired PDF file in the Samsung Notes app and write your notes on it with the S Pen as you read.

Automatically change your handwriting to text. Turn on your S Pen and open the Samsung Notes app. Create your handwritten note and hit save, then tap the handwriting-to-text icon in the lower toolbar.

Turn your stylus into a remote. Go into your settings, then select "Advanced Features," and then "S Pen," followed by "Air Actions." Then tap the toggle to turn on the "S Pen remote" option.

Remotely take photos and videos. Follow the steps above to use the stylus as a remote. Then, when you have the camera open and ready, simply tap the end of the stylus once to take a photo or begin a video. Tapping twice will switch between the front and rear cameras. This works when the stylus is less than 10 meters away from the device.

Control your music and other media with the S Pen. Once you've set up your S Pen as a remote, you'll also have the ability to start and stop your media by tapping the end of the stylus while watching a video or listening to music.

Customize air actions. Swipe down on your device, and on the notification panel, select "S Pen air actions." Under "App actions," select the app you want to customize. Tap the item you want to customize and select either "Pen button" or "Gestures."

Use direct pen input. This is turned on by default and allows you to write in text boxes, like in the Messages, Internet, or Phone app, and also converts your handwriting to text.

Advance through a slide deck. Open a presentation on your phone, then pull down your notification menu and choose to use your phone as a touchpad. Go into presentation mode and click your pen once to go to the next slide, or twice to go back a slide.