Turn Off News On Samsung: A Quick Guide
Hey guys! Are you tired of the constant stream of news updates popping up on your Samsung device? Maybe you're looking to declutter your home screen or just want a little peace and quiet. Whatever the reason, turning off the news feed on your Samsung phone or tablet is totally doable, and I'm here to walk you through it. Let's dive into the simple steps to reclaim your screen and customize your Samsung experience.
Understanding Samsung News Feeds
Before we jump into the how-to, let's quickly understand where these news feeds come from. Samsung devices typically have a couple of built-in news sources. One is Samsung Free, which replaced Samsung Daily, and the other is the Google Discover feed. These feeds appear in different places, so you'll need to know which one you're targeting to effectively turn them off.
Samsung Free is usually found on the left-most screen of your home screen – you know, the one you get to by swiping right. It offers a mix of news, games, and other content. Google Discover, on the other hand, is often integrated into the Samsung Internet browser or accessible through the Google app. Knowing the difference is the first step in banishing those unwanted news updates!
Disabling Samsung Free
Okay, let’s get to the meat of it. If you're looking to disable Samsung Free, here’s how you do it. This process is pretty straightforward, and you’ll have that screen clear in no time.
- Long Press on Your Home Screen: Find an empty spot on your home screen and press and hold your finger there for a couple of seconds. This will bring up the home screen editing mode.
- Swipe to the Left: Once you’re in editing mode, swipe to the left until you see the Samsung Free panel (or Samsung Daily if you haven't updated in a while). It’s usually the leftmost panel.
- Toggle the Switch: You should see a toggle switch at the top of the Samsung Free panel. Simply tap the switch to turn it off. The panel will be disabled, and you won't see it anymore when you swipe left on your home screen.
- Alternatively, Consider Uninstalling: Some users might want to completely remove Samsung Free. While you can't fully uninstall it without root access, you can disable and hide it. Follow the steps above to disable it. Then, navigate to Settings > Apps, find Samsung Free, and disable it there as well. This prevents it from running in the background.
And that’s it! Samsung Free should now be gone from your home screen. Enjoy the extra bit of screen real estate!
Turning Off Google Discover Feed
Now, let’s tackle the Google Discover feed. This one is a little different because it's tied to the Google app and the Samsung Internet browser. Here’s how to turn it off in both places.
In the Google App
- Open the Google App: Find the Google app on your phone and open it. It’s usually the one with the colorful “G” icon.
- Tap Your Profile Icon: In the top right corner, you’ll see your profile icon or initial. Tap on it to open the menu.
- Go to Settings: From the menu, select “Settings.”
- Navigate to Discover: In the Settings menu, find and tap on “Discover.”
- Toggle Off Discover: You’ll see a toggle switch at the top of the Discover settings. Simply tap the switch to turn it off. This will disable the Google Discover feed in the Google app.
In Samsung Internet Browser
- Open Samsung Internet: Launch the Samsung Internet browser on your device.
- Tap the Menu Icon: Look for the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner of the screen and tap on it.
- Go to Settings: In the menu, select “Settings.”
- Tap Homepage: Scroll down and tap on “Homepage.”
- Choose a Different Homepage: In the Homepage settings, you can choose what you want to see when you open the browser. To disable the Google Discover feed, select “Blank page” or “Custom page” and enter a URL you prefer. This will prevent the news feed from appearing when you open the browser.
By following these steps, you can effectively turn off the Google Discover feed in both the Google app and the Samsung Internet browser. Enjoy a cleaner browsing experience!
Customizing Your Home Screen Further
Turning off the news feeds is a great start, but why stop there? Here are a few more tips to customize your Samsung home screen and make it truly your own.
- Widgets: Add widgets for your favorite apps to quickly access information without opening the app. Weather widgets, calendar widgets, and music player widgets can all be super handy.
- Folders: Organize your apps into folders to keep your home screen tidy. Group similar apps together, like social media apps, productivity apps, and games.
- Icon Packs: Change the look of your app icons with icon packs from the Google Play Store. This can give your home screen a fresh, new vibe.
- Wallpapers: Choose a wallpaper that reflects your personality. Whether it’s a photo of your family, a beautiful landscape, or an abstract design, a great wallpaper can make your phone feel more personal.
- Themes: Samsung also offers themes that can change the overall look of your phone, including the colors, fonts, and icons. You can find themes in the Samsung Themes store.
Why Turn Off News Feeds?
You might be wondering, why would anyone want to turn off these news feeds? Well, there are several good reasons:
- Reduced Distractions: Constant news updates can be distracting and make it hard to focus on what you’re doing. Turning them off can help you stay productive and avoid getting sucked into endless scrolling.
- Improved Battery Life: Fetching and displaying news updates can consume battery power. Disabling these feeds can help extend your phone's battery life.
- Data Savings: If you have a limited data plan, news feeds can eat into your data allowance. Turning them off can help you save data and avoid overage charges.
- Simplified Home Screen: A cleaner, less cluttered home screen can be more visually appealing and easier to navigate. Removing the news feeds can help you achieve a minimalist look.
- Mental Well-being: Sometimes, taking a break from the constant stream of news can be good for your mental health. It can help reduce stress and anxiety and give you a sense of calm.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned. Here are a few common issues you might encounter when trying to turn off news feeds on your Samsung device, along with some troubleshooting tips.
- Samsung Free Keeps Coming Back: If you’ve disabled Samsung Free but it reappears after a software update or restart, try disabling it again and then clearing the cache for the Samsung Free app in Settings > Apps. Also, make sure auto-updates are turned off in the Google Play Store to prevent the app from being automatically updated.
- Google Discover Still Shows Up: If you’ve turned off Google Discover in the Google app but it still appears in the Samsung Internet browser, make sure you’ve also disabled it in the browser settings, as described earlier.
- Can’t Find the Settings: If you’re having trouble finding the settings mentioned in this guide, make sure your Samsung device is running the latest version of Android and the latest version of the Samsung apps. Software updates often include changes to the user interface and settings menus.
- News Feed Reappears After Clearing Cache: Clearing the cache for an app can sometimes reset your preferences. If the news feed reappears after clearing the cache, simply follow the steps in this guide to disable it again.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Turning off the news feeds on your Samsung device is a simple way to customize your phone and reduce distractions. Whether you’re disabling Samsung Free or turning off Google Discover, these steps will help you reclaim your screen and create a more personalized experience. And remember, you can always customize your home screen further with widgets, folders, icon packs, and wallpapers. Enjoy your clutter-free, distraction-free Samsung device!
I hope this guide has been helpful, guys. If you have any questions or run into any issues, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy customizing!