Customization on the S5 is possible through certain apps, phone accessories and rooting tactics. If you just purchased your Samsung Galaxy S5 or you’re looking to change how your phone feels, you can easily customize your phone as there are lots of great customization apps available on the Google Play Store. Continue reading to find out the ways that you can customize your Samsung Galaxy S5.
1. Change Fonts
Fonts are one of the most important design options on all Android phones and the great thing is that the Galaxy S5 has a built-in font changer. Some people think that fonts don’t play a big role, but you’ll be surprised to see how much of a difference these fonts make. In order to change fonts, go to Display in Settings and tap on Font. Select Font style to change the font and select Font size to change the size of your font. You can also download additional fonts.
2. Install Custom ROMs
The best and most extreme way to customize any Android smartphone is to install a custom ROM. These custom ROMs not only improve the overall performance and battery life of the phone, but they also bring in interface, theme and design changes. As the Galaxy S5 is one of the most popular Android smartphones currently available in the market, there are loads of custom ROMs available on the XDA forums. If you want to narrow down your options, feel free to check out our list of the best custom ROMs for the Galaxy S5. Installing custom ROMs require root access, which is why installing ROMs is not a great option for users who don’t want to take the risk and void their manufacturer’s warranty.
3. Custom Launchers
While ROMs change almost everything on the phone, custom launchers can also modify the phone significantly and I personally feel this is the next best alternative to installing custom ROMs. I don’t really like the TouchWiz launcher because I like things simple. If you’re looking for a different launcher, you can head over to the Google Play Store and check out the launchers available, such as Nova Launcher and Apex Launcher.
4. Change Folder Colors
If you have a lot of folders on your homescreen, then you’ll like this great customization feature. The Galaxy S5 lets you change the color of your folder and now you can easily create multiple colorful folders on your homescreen. Tap on the Menu button in the folder and you’ll now see different color options. Tap on the color that you want to use for the folder.
5. ZEDGE
One of the most popular customization apps available on the Google Play Store is ZEDGE and this is an all in one app to download wallpapers, live wallpapers, notification sounds and ringtones. The ZEDGE website has been around for years with millions of users using it to customize their phones. The app also lets you set ringtones, notification sounds and wallpapers directly from within the app.
6. Change the Screen Mode
The Galaxy S5 also lets you customize the screen mode and you can choose from different options such as Standard, Cinema and Professional photo. In order to change the screen mode, go to Display in the Settings app and tap on Screen mode. Select your desired option.
7. Use 3D Homescreen Rotation
This is one of the coolest features on the Galaxy S5. Screen transition effects can really liven up the phone and the Galaxy S5 comes with a 3D screen rotation option. In order to enable it, hold on an empty area on your homescreen, select Home screen settings and tap on Transition effect. Select 3D rotation from the list of options.
8. Daydream
If you’re a fan of screensavers on PCs, then you’ll love this option. Daydream lets you display a screensaver on your Galaxy S5 while it is docked or charging. There are different types of options, such as colors and photo frame. You can also get additional options through the Google Play Store. Go to Settings, select Display and tap on Daydream. Enable the toggle on the top and select your desired Daydream type. You can edit additional settings by tapping on the Settings icon next to the option that you selected.
9. Lock Screen Customization
You can edit various areas of the lock screen according to your preferences on the Galaxy S5. You can customize options such as unlock effect, lock type and clock size. My favorite lock screen option is displaying your name on the lock screen. In order to display your name, go to Lock screen in the Settings app, tap on Owner information and enter your name.
10. Arrange The App Drawer
You can also customize the way apps are arranged in your app drawer. Go to Menu in the app drawer, tap on View as and select your desired arrangement.
11. Get A New Keyboard
There are lots of great keyboards available on the Google Play Store and one of the most popular options is SwiftKey Keyboard. My personal favorite it Emoji Android L Keyboard and you’ll love it if you’re a fan of Android L.
12. Speed Up Window And Transition Animations
One of the easiest ways to make your phone feel snappy is to play around with window and transition animation scales. Go to About phone in the Settings app and keep tapping on Build number until you see a You are now a developer popup message. This will enable Developer options on your phone. Go to Developer options in the Settings app, select Window animation scale and set it to 0.5x. Do the same for Transition animation scale.
13. Increase The Touch Sensitivity
While there is no problem with the touch sensitivity on most phones, you can still increase it on the Galaxy S5. The might be really useful if you like wearing gloves while using your phone. In order to increase touch sensitivity, go to Display in the Settings app and enable the Increase touch sensitivity option.
14. Enable/Disable Touch Sounds And Vibration
With the built-in settings menu, you can also enable or disable touch screen sounds and vibration. Go to Sound in the Settings app and scroll down to Feedback. You can now enable/disable touch sounds, haptic feedback, screen lock sound and keypad sound.
15. Zooper Widget
One of the most popular widget apps available on the Google Play Store is Zooper Widget. The app lets you make highly customized widgets for your homescreen according to your preferences.
16. Wallbase Wallpapers
One of the best ways to customize any Android device is to use HD wallpapers. Live wallpapers got really popular when they first came out and you can still find lots of cool live wallpapers on the Google Play Store. However, if you feel that live wallpapers drain a lot of battery and slow down the phone, then the Wallbase Wallpapers app is the perfect option for getting normal HD wallpapers.
17. Customize Quick Settings
Quick settings on the Galaxy S5 makes it easier for users to access various functions. If you want to customize quick settings according to your needs, then go to the Settings app, tap on Menu and select the Edit quick settings option.
Conclusion
The Galaxy S5 is a great Android smartphone from Samsung and there is a lot that you can do with your phone. If you just purchased your phone, then I would highly recommend learning how to customize your Samsung Galaxy S5 so that you can get comfortable with it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below and let us know your favorite customization apps for the Galaxy S5. What’s next? Learn about the best S5 cases and how to troubleshoot the phone if you have any problems.
