Samsung Will Let Galaxy S10 Owners Remap the Bixby Button

BY Evan Selleck

Published 20 Feb 2019

Samsung equipped the Bixby button, a dedicated key to launch the company’s own digital personal assistant, several years ago.

Unfortunately, the company was not fond of the idea of remapping that button. Users could turn it off, which basically meant the phone had a useless button on its side. Or they could use Bixby. Those were the options. But it turns out that the Galaxy S10 lineup won’t share that fate.

Samsung announced the Galaxy S10 family of devices earlier today. After that unveiling the company opened up the hands-on sessions, allowing publications at the event to take a peek at what’s coming in March. Turns out, Samsung will let Galaxy S10 owners remap the Bixby button. This means that future owners of the device will be able to choose the app they want to launch when they press the button.

There is a catch, though. Holding down the button will still launch Bixby by default. And owners will be able to choose whether a single- or double-press of the Bixby button will launch the digital personal assistant. it’s the other option that will allow a Galaxy S10 owner to choose which app to launch.

As explained in the original article: If you choose to open, say, Spotify or the Camera app with a single press of the Bixby button, then double-pressing that button will launch Bixby. So while the Bixby button will be capable of launching other apps, the majority of button press options will still launch the feature.

Still, it’s better than not being able to remap the button at all.

The Galaxy S10 family, which includes the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+, will launch on March 8. Do you plan on picking one up?

[via The Verge]