How to set a doubleclick on the hardware power button
to start & stop the flashlight (or do whatever you want).

Settings > Advanced features > Side key > Double press = on
(_) Quick launch camera
(o) Open app (choose app from the list of available apps)

I chose the flashlight app but I could have selected any of
hundreds of apps currently installed on my Android 13 Galaxy.

Examples of what you can choose to come up with a doubletap are
Barcode scanner
Calculator
Camera
Email
Emergency GPS to SMS
Maps
Messages
Stopwatch
Todo list
etc.

Wally J <walterjones@invalid.nospam> wrote:

> How to set a doubleclick on the hardware power button
> to start & stop the flashlight (or do whatever you want).
>
> Settings > Advanced features > Side key > Double press = on
> (_) Quick launch camera
> (o) Open app (choose app from the list of available apps)
>
> I chose the flashlight app but I could have selected any of
> hundreds of apps currently installed on my Android 13 Galaxy.
>
> Examples of what you can choose to come up with a doubletap are
> Barcode scanner
> Calculator
> Camera
> Email
> Emergency GPS to SMS
> Maps
> Messages
> Stopwatch
> Todo list
> etc.

Samsung has several models with "Galaxy" in the product name. Looks
like you have Android 13 on some Galaxy phone, but that might be after
you did an OS upgrade, and other users of whatever-Galaxy phone you have
might still be back on the base Android version that came on the phone.

Alas, not available on my old phone. Something to look to in the
future, but phone makers brand their products by customizing the OS with
different or modified features. Maybe it's only a Samsung thing on some
subset of Galaxy phones.

On 2023-09-20 19:08, VanguardLH wrote:
> Wally J <walterjones@invalid.nospam> wrote:
>
>> How to set a doubleclick on the hardware power button
>> to start & stop the flashlight (or do whatever you want).
>>
>> Settings > Advanced features > Side key > Double press = on
>> (_) Quick launch camera
>> (o) Open app (choose app from the list of available apps)
>>
>> I chose the flashlight app but I could have selected any of
>> hundreds of apps currently installed on my Android 13 Galaxy.
>>
>> Examples of what you can choose to come up with a doubletap are
>> Barcode scanner
>> Calculator
>> Camera
>> Email
>> Emergency GPS to SMS
>> Maps
>> Messages
>> Stopwatch
>> Todo list
>> etc.
>
> Samsung has several models with "Galaxy" in the product name. Looks
> like you have Android 13 on some Galaxy phone, but that might be after
> you did an OS upgrade, and other users of whatever-Galaxy phone you have
> might still be back on the base Android version that came on the phone.
>
> Alas, not available on my old phone. Something to look to in the
> future, but phone makers brand their products by customizing the OS with
> different or modified features. Maybe it's only a Samsung thing on some
> subset of Galaxy phones.

On MOtorolas, that double tap or gesture is controlled by a motorola app.

Double tap the power button, and there is a little menu with a config
mini icon. Up to six actions or apps can be fired by that double tap.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote

> Samsung has several models with "Galaxy" in the product name.

Years ago T-Mobile gave everyone on their post-paid USA plan a free 5G
phone which turned out to be, at that time, a Samsung Galaxy A32-5G.

> Looks
> like you have Android 13 on some Galaxy phone, but that might be after
> you did an OS upgrade, and other users of whatever-Galaxy phone you have
> might still be back on the base Android version that came on the phone.

The free T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy (USA SMA32-6U model) came with Android 11.

It has been updated with hotfixes all along, as recently as September 2023.
It has been upgraded with the Android versions too - currently Android 13.

> Alas, not available on my old phone.

Bummer. I always strive to help everyone - which is why I write tutorials.
Only one out of ten thousand people (or so) are that helpful to others.

You're similar to me in that you care that others get detailed information.

To your point, it could be Samsung specific or Android 13 specific though.
I saw Carlos' note that Motorola phones have something similar though.

> Something to look to in the
> future, but phone makers brand their products by customizing the OS with
> different or modified features.

Yeah, it's really convenient to turn the flashlight on with a doubletap.
The reason it matters is you can't see when you need a flashlight.

But you can always _feel_ the big fat power button on my Galaxy A32-5G.

> Maybe it's only a Samsung thing on some subset of Galaxy phones.

Thanks for that information as I only have iPhones & Samsung phones now.

I did write it up for others to benefit from on the XDA Developers site.
<https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/guide-how-to-set-a-doubleclick-on-the-hardware-power-button-sidekey-to-start-stop-the-flashlight-or-to-do-whatever-you-want-it-to-do.4629355/>

People there are on all sorts of phones, but I only wrote it up yesterday
for everyone to benefit from the information so I didn't have your data.

Wally J <walterjones@invalid.nospam> wrote:

> Yeah, it's really convenient to turn the flashlight on with a doubletap.
> The reason it matters is you can't see when you need a flashlight.

That's why I checked. Nice-to-have optional feature. Because my old LG
V20 doesn't have that feature, the closest I came to long ago was to add
a shortcut in the 2nd toolbar (there's the one at the bottom, and
V20/V30 have another at the top which holds up to 3 groups of shortcuts,
but you have to scroll between groups). One group is QuickTools
(functions LG decided might be handy, including flashlight), another
group is called Shortcuts (up to 5), and last group is called Signature
(where you can enter a phrase). For signature, I used to show the cell
phone's number, because I never dole it out, I don't remember what it
is, and only dole out my Google Voice number that calls all my phones.
I might've put info on how to contact me if the phone was lost, and
someone found it that was willing to call me (my Google Voice number),
but decided to put that info in the lock screen since they can't get to
the main and secondary screens when the phone is locked.

At most, I may have to scroll twice in the 2nd navbar to get at the
flashlight shortcut. I have plenty of home screen space, and could even
add a flashlight shortcut to the main navbar, but I'd rather have the
flashlight shortcut in 2nd navbar. I use it, but infrequently.

> But you can always _feel_ the big fat power button on my Galaxy A32-5G.

My concern is accidently double-tapping the Power button. We've all
heard of butt-phoning, and I suspect the Power button is just as
susceptible to accidental presses, but they'd have to be quickly
together.

Also, my Power button is the fingerprint reader on the back side of the
case. Maybe I could double-tap it quick enough to trigger a double-tap
event, but the fingerprint reader reacts as soon as I touch my finger to
it which unlocks the phone. Guess the convenience depends on what type
of Power button you have.

I don't have a separate Power button on the side of the case, plus the
armor case would make it tougher to double tap. Hmm, how many phones
with a fingerprint sensor have a separate Power button? The fingerprint
scanner/Power button is recessed in the back of the case (and even more
recessed with the armor case). Not sure a double-tap feature would work
with a fingerprint scanner that is also the Power button.

There are phones with fingerprint scanners on the side which also act as
the Power button, but I suspect the scan activates the moment a finger
is pressed against it. No chance to get in a double-tap. I could add a
shortcut on the lockscreen to toggle the flashlight, but I'd have to
install a flashlight app for that shortcut to run. Yet, that leave the
phone susceptible to butt presses to turn on the flashlight to drain the
phone while illuminating the interior of a pocket. Be harder to butt
double-tap the Power button.

I think some smartphones with [side-mounted] fingerprint scanners have
the option to recognize a touch immediately to scan, or scan upon a
depress of the button underneath. Not on my phone. And all of this
looks to be customized features added by phone makers, so what you get
isn't by Android version, but by which brand of phone you get.

VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote

>> Yeah, it's really convenient to turn the flashlight on with a doubletap.
>> The reason it matters is you can't see when you need a flashlight.
>
> That's why I checked. Nice-to-have optional feature.

Yeah. I agree with you.

I have three free Galaxy phones and a 1/2-priced iPhone.
<https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/tmo-us-is-giving-away-this-phone.4265127/#post-88995499>
Plus a few iPads and $300 Galaxy tablets recently bought from Costco.

The free Galaxies came about 3 years ago with Android 11.
But they were updated as of just this month to Android 13 & full patches.

The iPhone/iPad support sucks compared to the Samsung Galaxy phones.

BTW, the other two Galaxy phones are set to open up the camera when you
doubletap on the hardware power button - that must be the default.

> Because my old LG
> V20 doesn't have that feature, the closest I came to long ago was to add
> a shortcut in the 2nd toolbar...

To add a shorctut to anything on Android, all you need are two things.
1. The package name
2. The activity name (the activity being a display)

This app finds those two things, but it's gone from the Google Play Store.
<https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/what-is-a-replacement-app-for-the-freeware-com-cemique-shortcutwidgets-shortcut-widgets-inspector.4627267/>

You can even map HIDDEN activities (which have no other way to get them).
<https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/how-to-open-band-selection-menu-in-my-s20-fe-5g-currently-on-may-2023-patch.4626549/post-88998945>

> I don't have a separate Power button on the side of the case, plus the
> armor case would make it tougher to double tap.

Supposedly you can map any hardware button to that shortcut also...
<https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/how-can-i-set-a-hardware-button-to-mute-the-phone-perhaps-via-a-one-tap-android-system-sounds-and-vibration-settings-shortcut.4627257/post-89008231>

If/when I ever need to do that, I'll solve that problem as I almost never
fail to solve any problem on Windows, Linux or Android (only iOS fails).
--
You are like I am where we CARE to give people HELPFUL USEFUL answers!

On 22/09/2023 03:10, Wally J wrote:

> To your point, it could be Samsung specific or Android 13 specific though.
> I saw Carlos' note that Motorola phones have something similar though.
>
> Yeah, it's really convenient to turn the flashlight on with a doubletap.
> The reason it matters is you can't see when you need a flashlight.

Doesn't work with my Xiaomi Redmi Note 10. However, pressing the power
button once brings up the lock screen, and without needing to enter my
PIN I can swipe right on an icon to show the flashlight icon on the
screen. Touching that turns it on. It's a lot more of a rigmarole than
just using the power button! This is with a version of Android 13 (MIUI 14).

By the way, the camera - in single shot or video mode - is also
available without having to enter a PIN. Is this the case with other
makes such as Samsung and Motorola?

--

Jeff

Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> On 22/09/2023 03:10, Wally J wrote:
>
> > To your point, it could be Samsung specific or Android 13 specific though.
> > I saw Carlos' note that Motorola phones have something similar though.
> >
> > Yeah, it's really convenient to turn the flashlight on with a doubletap.
> > The reason it matters is you can't see when you need a flashlight.
>
> Doesn't work with my Xiaomi Redmi Note 10. However, pressing the power
> button once brings up the lock screen, and without needing to enter my
> PIN I can swipe right on an icon to show the flashlight icon on the
> screen. Touching that turns it on. It's a lot more of a rigmarole than
> just using the power button! This is with a version of Android 13 (MIUI 14).
>
> By the way, the camera - in single shot or video mode - is also
> available without having to enter a PIN. Is this the case with other
> makes such as Samsung and Motorola?

Yes, on my Samsung Galaxy A51 (a low-to-midrange phone), I can access
the flashlight and camera without entering a PIN (or using fingerprint).

Flashlight is swipe from the top, which shows the 'Quick panel' with
all kind of on/off things, including the flashlight.

Camera is swipe from the right.

There is also swipe from the left to get to the Phone app, but that
*does* require PIN/fingerprint.

The lock screen has phone and camera icons at the bottom (left/right),
which when tapped show what to do (swipe right/left).

On 9/22/2023 11:39 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote:

> Yes, on my Samsung Galaxy A51 (a low-to-midrange phone), I can access
> the flashlight and camera without entering a PIN (or using fingerprint).

Does your galaxy have the settings menu that was described in the op?
settings -> advanced features -> side key -> doublepress = on
(then choose flashlight) My S23 has that option (android 13)

Larry Wolff <larrywolff@larrywolff.net> wrote:
> On 9/22/2023 11:39 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote:
>
> > Yes, on my Samsung Galaxy A51 (a low-to-midrange phone), I can access
> > the flashlight and camera without entering a PIN (or using fingerprint).
>
> Does your galaxy have the settings menu that was described in the op?
> settings -> advanced features -> side key -> doublepress = on
> (then choose flashlight) My S23 has that option (android 13)

Yes, it has that settings menu. My Double press is set to on and set
to 'Quick launch camera', probably the default as I don't remember
having set it that way.

On 9/22/2023 1:51 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote:

>>> Yes, on my Samsung Galaxy A51 (a low-to-midrange phone), I can access
>>> the flashlight and camera without entering a PIN (or using fingerprint).
>>
>> Does your galaxy have the settings menu that was described in the op?
>> settings -> advanced features -> side key -> doublepress = on
>> (then choose flashlight) My S23 has that option (android 13)
>
> Yes, it has that settings menu. My Double press is set to on and set
> to 'Quick launch camera', probably the default as I don't remember
> having set it that way.

I concur the default seems to be that the switch is set to on, and the
selection is set to turn on the camera app when you double press the key.

If you set it to the other option, it will present a screen of apps
one of which is the flashlight but the rest are apps on your phone.

I didn't even know about this option until this thread so I thank the op.