- Get your Galaxy ready: Update your system and configure Bixby voice, sensitivity, and typing settings for reliable recognition.
- Master quick commands and routines: Activate profiles by voice and chain actions based on context and location.
- Routines+ in power: geolocation on buttons, macros, fingerprint as a trigger, S Pen and battery warnings.
- Daily Hacks: Notes, Reminders, Music, TV, and Device Control with Simple Commands
Bixby, Samsung's assistant, isn't just a voice shortcut: it's a tool designed to adapt your phone and other devices to the way you use technology. By learning your habits and remembering how you ask questions, it can execute actions more quickly and naturally, resulting in smoother and more efficient daily use. In this context, Bixby Routines and the Routines+ module elevate automation to a level where your Galaxy begins to anticipate your needs.
The key to getting the most out of it is combining the basics (quick commands and voice commands) with the advanced features offered by Routines. This allows you to activate profiles based on your location, record macros that replicate screen taps, or even link a fingerprint to a specific action. All this without neglecting everyday tasks like taking notes. set alarms or control music and devices from the couch.
Before you start: Update and prepare your Galaxy
To avoid problems and enjoy the latest features, it's a good idea to keep your software up to date. On your Samsung, go to Settings > Software Update and tap "Download and install." Follow the on-screen instructions until the process is complete. Keeping your system up to date is the foundation for Routines and Routines+. work with stability and compatibility.
- Step 1. Go to Settings > Software Update.
- Step 2. Tap on “Download and install”.
- Step 3. Complete the wizard by following the prompts.
Once the system is up to date, it's time to activate the assistant. You can talk to Bixby by holding down the dedicated button on the left side of your phone or by saying "Hi, Bixby" (you'll need to set up voice activation first). The process will ask you to repeat the phrase "Hi Bixby" about five times to recognize your voice; getting this step right is important so the assistant can recognize your voice. respond to you and not to other voices.
In this setting, you can also define the "Wake Up" sensitivity with three levels (Low, Medium, High). Too high a sensitivity can cause accidental activations, so choose the setting that best suits your habits. Samsung recommends recording your voice in places where you use it frequently (home, office, car), because the more samples it receives, the more accurate the recognition will be.
If you don't feel like talking to it in public, just type: in the Bixby interface, tap the keyboard icon to enter requests as if you were chatting. This is useful in silent situations or if you prefer to remain discreet, and it lets you take advantage of the assistant's features without using your voice. Additionally, in Bixby, you can choose the tone of the voiceover. with a male or female voice according to your preferences.
Quick Commands: Simple routines that obey your voice
Quick commands are a straightforward way to chain actions into a single command. You can use predefined commands or create your own with natural phrases like “At work,” “Leaving home,” or “In the car.” For example, “At work” can turn on Wi-Fi, turn off Bluetooth, and lower the call volume; if you prefer, you can set it to turn off Wi-Fi, lower the brightness, and pause notificationsThe important thing is that each sentence launches exactly the sequence you want, so that A single request saves you several touches.
To create a custom command, go to Bixby, open the menu, and access Quick Commands. Assign a name, choose the functions to perform, and save. From then on, just say "Hi Bixby" followed by the command name to launch it. This system is ideal for grouping actions: imagine saying "Home" to turn on Wi-Fi, activate "Do Not Disturb," and start your Spotify playlist. With a single phrase you go from work mode to relax mode without navigating through settings.
Plus, it's a way to simplify complex operations. Instead of remembering a long string of instructions, replace them with natural expressions like "Good morning" or "Good night," and let Bixby do the rest: providing the weather, reading your calendar, adjusting sound and brightness, or whatever you decide. The beauty of quick commands is in your creativity when combining actions.
Your co-pilot at the wheel: hands on the wheel, eyes on the road
Driving requires concentration, so delegate the secondary tasks to Bixby. You can ask it to take calls, send messages, or connect via Bluetooth to your car stereo without taking your eyes off the road. The assistant takes care of the work so you can focus on what's important: following the rules and driving safely. You can even check traffic or request the fastest route to a destination—all without having to look up the traffic. your mobile becomes a control center without touching the screen.
Notes, reminders and alarms without touching the screen
When you don't want to type, dictate. Say "Hi Bixby, take a note" to open Samsung Notes and start speaking. The voice keyboard transcribes while you get on with it. It's perfect if you're cooking, busy, or just feel lazy to type; turn random thoughts into useful notes. It couldn't be easier.
Getting organized is just as easy with reminders and alarms. Activate Bixby and tell it what you need: a meeting at a certain time, a call to a friend for their birthday, or a 7:00 a.m. wake up. The assistant programs the reminder and you forget about it. Thanks to this, your Galaxy can become your alarm clock and personal calendar, with timely notifications and without you having to navigate through your calendar. no clock or calendar menu.
Entertainment and device control: music, TV and games
In your free time, you can also rely on Bixby. Ask it to play music on your speaker, pair your phone with your TV, show you popular games, or recommend something to unwind with. You can also have it show you your home devices or disconnect from the Chromecast when you no longer need it. These simple commands make the assistant the center of your entertainment. managing apps and connections effortlessly.
Bixby Routines and the level jump with Routines+ (Good Lock)
Where Bixby really shines is in routines. With One UI 3.1Samsung added Routines+ as a Good Lock module that greatly expands what can be automated. It integrates with standard routines from Settings > Routines in One UI, so everything is in one place. With Routines+, you can create location-based shortcuts, record macros that replicate touches, use a fingerprint to trigger actions, control keys with the S Pen, or hear low-battery alerts. It is a power boost that multiplies customization. and saving time.
Location-based actions: whatever you want, wherever you are
Imagine if, upon arriving at the office, a long press on a key opens a specific app, or a double tap launches a specific setting. With Routines+, you can customize physical buttons (side, volume up, volume down, double press, and long press) so that, if you're in a predefined location, an action is performed or an app is launched. This includes opening specific sections, such as searching Audible, your library, or playing a specific podcast, and also shortcuts to system settings without sailing.
A practical example: setting up a long press on the volume key while at the office to open your Gmail inbox directly. The possibilities are endless: depending on where you are, the same press can behave differently. Geolocation is just one more trigger among those offered by the module, and it allows the phone to adopt your context without you thinking about it.
Macros: record your touches and have your phone repeat them
Another of Routines+'s star features is macros. You can record a sequence of keystrokes within an app and save them as a routine. You then place the shortcut on your desktop, and with one tap, the entire sequence plays back as if you were playing it. It's almost magical to see the app open and the steps execute. automating repetitive processes Instantly.
Useful example: create a macro to update all apps in the Galaxy Store. Tap Record, follow the update steps, and save. From there, with a tap on the macro icon, the phone updates without you having to repeat the sequence. This principle can be applied to a thousand tasks: from workflows in productivity apps to leisure routines, depending on what you like most. use in your daily life.
Fingerprint as a trigger: Open a website when unlocking
Control arrow keys with the S Pen
If you have a Bluetooth-enabled S Pen, you can assign "air" actions to control the directional keys (up, down, left, right). Routines+ lets you link a tap, double-tap, or long press to the direction you want to execute. Note: this feature requires a Bluetooth-enabled S Pen (not an option on models like the Galaxy S21 Ultra in this case). Even with that limitation, the result is powerful: Navigate lists or interfaces using only S Pen gestures without touching the screen.
Low battery announcement read aloud
A nice and very practical touch is that the phone reads a text aloud when the battery reaches a certain level. You can write up to 100 characters and have it read even if the sound is muted. You can also choose between Google or Samsung's text-to-speech engine, as well as the speed and pitch. Combined with other routines, it allows things like activating power saving mode at the same time as the notification is announced, giving an extra level of control and prevention before running out of battery.
How to get Routines+
The Routines+ module is available on the Galaxy Store. If you don't see it in your region or device, you can download its APK from APKMirror. Once installed, its features will appear integrated into the Routines section of One UI 3.1 Settings, ready to be combined with standard routines. With this integration, your entire automation system is unified and easier to manage.
Useful requests and suggestions for everyday life
To get familiar with Bixby, start by asking, "What can I do with Bixby?" or "Show me all available services." You'll see helpful command suggestions and expand your repertoire from there. Among the requests it understands are Take a screenshot, "open Facebook," "increase screen brightness," or "open ABC.es" to navigate to a specific website. These are quick commands that, without opening menus, allow you to resolve common actions on the fly.
In addition to the basics, Bixby integrates with accessibility features, sets alarms, and opens the calculator. It can provide air quality information, open the emoji creation app, play music, check the calendar, activate the camera, read a contact's profile, open the gallery, or record a voice note, as well as check email. In Spain, it can also check your bank if you operate with the indicated compatible entity (BBVA), a good example of how integrations They grow over time.
On the go, it can give you the fastest route to a location or launch a call with your command. And if you're working with content, try "Record in interview mode," useful if you need recordings with a specific microphone profile. For the connected home, ask "Show devices at home" or ask for direct actions if you already have them paired. All of this benefits from the assistant's foundation: natural language, context understanding, and the ability to act on multiple apps and system settings.
If you're concerned about privacy or want more control, remember that you can enable or disable permissions for certain apps from Bixby, although the process is somewhat manual (on an app-by-app basis). It's a feature that adds fine-grained control, especially useful if you like to review permissions without getting lost in menus. And when you don't want to talk, you know: the keyboard icon lets you enter written requests so the response appears on screen without voiceover, something very comfortable in silent situations.
Practical ideas for your routines
With the foundation in place, it's time to put the pieces together. Create a quick "Good Night" command that lowers the brightness, activates "Do Not Disturb," and sets an alarm; that way, every time you go to bed, you'll have everything ready in seconds. Conversely, "Good Morning" can read your calendar, tell you the temperature in your city, and turn up the volume. These are small automations that, when added together, free up time and attention.
With Routines+, customize what each button does based on where you are: at work, a long press can open your Gmail inbox; at home, the same press can launch Spotify. And remember, you don't just open apps: you can also open system settings or specific sections of apps (search Audible, your library, or even a specific podcast), something you can do with your long press. much faster than browsing screens.
Take advantage of macros for repetitive tasks. Do you always have to repeat the same sequence in an internal app? Record it once and call it from the desktop. You'll see how the process runs automatically, without you having to think. If you're one of those who manually update the Galaxy Store, a dedicated macro saves you those steps every week, and not just there: apply the same idea to work, leisure, or productivity tools. The more repetitive the task, the more you'll get out of it. you will get the most out of the macros.
The footprint as a trigger is another gem
Assign the one you use in the morning to open a specific website as soon as you unlock it. If you also add a "Then" action from "Edit," you can chain together opening a Spotify playlist or whatever app best starts your day. It's an elegant way to make unlocking the first functional step of your day. without searching for icons or menus.
And if you're using the S Pen with Bluetooth, configure gestures to navigate through lists or interfaces; a tap, double tap, or long press can be equivalent to arrows, making it easier to move forward without touching the screen. Keep in mind compatibility: the feature requires an S Pen with Bluetooth (not supported in the aforementioned case of the Galaxy S21 Ultra), but if you have one, the convenience it brings on long tasks It is noticeable from the first minute.
Finally, the low-battery announcement read aloud is especially useful if you often silence your phone: define a short text (up to 100 characters), choose the voice engine (Google or Samsung), adjust the speed and pitch, and decide at what level the announcement is made. Add it to a routine that activates energy saving, and you'll have a dual prevention system that, between the warning and the automatic adjustment, will give you time to find a power outlet and continue. without the fear of unexpected blackouts.
Models and support in Spanish: a solid foundation
Samsung has opted for Spanish as its key language: Bixby understands and responds in our language with fine-tuned voice recognition and a natural language approach. The company introduced the assistant to its ranges starting with the Galaxy S8 and later (S9, Galaxy S10, etc.), and added a dedicated button to invoke it on many models. This approach reinforces its presence and facilitates access. bridging the gap between idea and action.
The experience improves with use: the more you talk to Bixby, the better it understands your preferences and style. This is important because it doesn't just respond to commands; it also learns from your routines and how you ask for things, which impacts speed and accuracy. With this continuous learning, combined with the capabilities of Routines and Routines+, your phone adjusts to your way of living and working in a way that's increasingly relevant. more natural and proactive.
If you combine all these pieces—system update, voice settings, quick commands, location-based routines, macros, fingerprints, S Pen, and battery alerts—you'll notice a real leap in convenience and productivity. What used to take ten taps is now a phrase or a gesture; what used to depend on you remembering now triggers itself when you arrive somewhere. This is how Bixby goes from being a simple assistant to an ally that relieves you of tasks. accompanies you in the car and entertains you in the living room, always ready for whatever you ask of him. Share the information and more people will know about Bixby Routines.