The Galaxy S10's Bixby button can be used to open other apps

by Joshua Swingle / Feb 20, 2019, 5:23 PM

The Samsung Galaxy S10+

The dedicated Bixby button was introduced on the Galaxy S8 series in 2017 and quickly became one of Samsung’s most controversial features due to the fact that it couldn't be remapped.

Despite being a few years into Bixby’s development, Samsung’s AI assistant has so far failed to compete with the likes of Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. For most consumers, this makes the dedicated button rather useless and annoying at some times due to accidental presses. With the Galaxy S10 series, however, Samsung is addressing the issue.

Embedded within the new One UI interface is the option to partially remap the dedicated Bixby button. Now, users can assign the button to a different app via either a single press or a double tap of the button. The option not chosen will then be used to open up the Bixby feed. Similarly, it’s worth pointing out that a long press of the hardware key will continue to activate Bixby Voice.

At the moment, the remapping feature has not yet trickled down to the Galaxy S9 series or Galaxy Note 9 running One UI. There is, however, a very big possibility that Samsung will implement the option in a future update. Similarly, it’s worth pointing out that Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8 users may receive the feature at a later date too.

Options

10 Comments

1. Juarizs

Posts: 46; Member since: Jan 22, 2019

Samsung is really tempting me to buy the S10!

posted on Feb 20, 2019, 5:50 PM 15

2. antroid

Posts: 392; Member since: Jan 24, 2018

This move will appeal to many new customers, hopefully this "feature" will come to older Samsung devices that has a Bixby button

posted on Feb 20, 2019, 5:52 PM 4

3. sirohunter

Posts: 204; Member since: Sep 23, 2017

Would be cool if one could remap it to use google assistant

posted on Feb 20, 2019, 5:57 PM 1

4. libra89

Posts: 2297; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

You probably can.

posted on Feb 20, 2019, 6:08 PM 3

5. libra89

Yep, I was mostly sold but hearing this, I'm totally sold on a S10e.

posted on Feb 20, 2019, 6:08 PM 5

6. Lukino

Posts: 31; Member since: May 04, 2018

Just download remap app for Bixby. I'm using Bixby button for Spotify.

posted on Feb 21, 2019, 12:29 AM 2

7. psigate

Posts: 25; Member since: Sep 24, 2012

useful if you can turn on/off flashlight when you double press

posted on Feb 21, 2019, 3:51 AM 1

8. limporgyuk

Posts: 371; Member since: Nov 06, 2013

This is possible already, bxactions allows you to completely remap the button, single press, double press, long press. I long press the button on my Note 9 to turn on/off the flashlight.

posted on Feb 21, 2019, 3:58 AM 1

9. Aruminiumaian

Posts: 209; Member since: Jul 22, 2017

That's a great news! It's good that they actually listened to their customers and made a necessary change to it.

posted on Feb 21, 2019, 7:26 AM 1

10. tokuzumi

Posts: 1929; Member since: Aug 27, 2009

I really hope Samsung brings that software feature to the S9. Google pushed as many of the software tricks from the Pixel 3 to the first and second gen Pixels, so no reason for Samsung not to do the same. Now I would need to think what I would do with the Bixby button. Would be nice to use as a camera shutter button, or maybe I'd just open Google assistant.