One of the most talked about new features on the soon to be released Samsung Galaxy S10 is not its camera systems or in-display fingerprint scanner. Many users are most excited about the fact that they will be able to remap the Bixby button to pull up apps other than the voice assistant. Though Samsung continues to develop its AI software, many users have been less than enamored by the capacitive button that triggers Bixby.
In addition to the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 Plus, Galaxy S10e, and Galaxy S10 5G, older Samsung smartphones, including the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9 Plus, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Plus, Galaxy Note 9, and Galaxy Note 8 all feature Bixby buttons. The key is typically located on the left side of devices below the volume rockers and is often easy to mistake for the volume down key or the power key, which is located on the right side of handsets.
How to install the Bixby button software update
Samsung has already begun sending out a software update to enable Bixby button remapping on the Galaxy S10 as well as on older Galaxy models.
If your Galaxy smartphone has already updated to Android 9 Pie and Samsung’s new One UI interface, you should be able to receive the patch with the Bixby button fix. If not check Software Updates in your device settings and update to Android 9 Pie. You may have to wait if your device has not yet received the software update.
Keep in mind that you won’t be able to install the Bixby button software update if your device is running a beta version of Android 9 Pie. You will also need to disable any third-party remapping app before setting up Samsung’s official remap.
Once set up with Android 9 Pie and One UI, access the Samsung Galaxy Store. Select My Page then Update. Most of the available updates will likely be related to Bixby. Select Update all.
How to remap the Bixby button
To remap the Bixby button, access your device’s Settings then Advanced features and Bixby key. Here you will find two options: Single press to open Bixby or Double press to open Bixby.
Select Double press to open Bixby. This means users will have to press the Bixby button two times in order to launch the smart assistant. A long press will also launch Bixby.
With this setting in place, the Single press option is open for another app. Toggle the Use single press option on and then select an app for this setting. For example, you could set Google Chrome to this function. Pressing the Bixby button once would pull up Google Chrome.
Bixby remap limitations
Many have noted that users can’t set other voice assistants, such as Google Assistant or Microsoft Cortana to be the single press option for Bixby button. Google Assistant comes standard on the Android operating system and Cortana is compatible for Android installation.
There are other ways to trigger either Google Assistant or Cortana on Android, such as voice commands or long pressing on-screen home keys. This limitation likely won’t be a major inconvenience to Galaxy users. Samsung’s willingness to allow remapping of the Bixby button is a big step. We wonder if fewer devices owners using the button for Bixby could mean the feature may potentially be phased out on future devices.
