A little automation with Routines in Samsung S9
Sep 13, 2020
1
This probably only applies to Samsung phones as this is about using a sub program, Routines, in the Samsung Good Lock app.
https://galaxystore.samsung.com/detail/com.samsung.android.goodlock
The Routines app allows you to automate things on your phone, basically if this, then that scenarios. I thought I would go through what I have set up, just basic things that make things easier.
The first routine I set up was for my car. My car has Bluetooth so when the phone connects to the system in the car, I have it set up so that the phone unlocks and opens Spotify. When I first set it up I had the routine also open Waze, but I really don't need it that often, so no it is just Spotify.
My next two routines are to turn off WiFi when I leave my house and turn it back on when I get home. This is done with location. I have a third routine to turn off WiFi if the signal drops below 15%. This isn't really used this around my house, but more for being somewhere and connecting to free WiFi at times when I am waiting around. I want WiFi to turn off when I leave.
Most of the apps on my phone are battery optimized. Samsung allows you to prevent an app running in the background. It also allows you to put them to sleep when you aren't actively using them. One of the apps put to sleep and not allowed to run in the background is Amazon Photos. We have a prime membership, so we try to leverage all the Amazon perks to make it worth while. Unlimited photo storage is one of the perks. Since the app needs to run to back up photos on my phone, I have a routine to start the Amazon Photos app after 2am, when the phone is charging and WiFi is connected to our home network.
I bought a pair of the Samsung Buds Live and so have a routine that starts Spotify when they connect. I really like the comfort of the earbuds, so I am really happy with them.
Two routines are about low battery power. One routine puts the phone into low power mode when the battery drops to 10%. Low power mode shutoff everything and only allows a few apps to run, shutting everything else off. The other routine just turns off WiFi, Mobile Data, Bluetooth, location, and NFC when the battery level is below 40%, the phone is charging, and the phone is at home. I want the phone to charge up quickly if it gets that low.
When I take the phone off the charger I want everything turned back on if it was turned off to let the phone charge faster, so I have another routine to do that. Also if the phone is one the charger I set the volume to mute, off the charger set to vibrate, so another two separate routine to accomplish that.
Routines is pretty basic, but it is useful. Worth checking out if you have a Samsung phone.