Pin windows on Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801)

How to pin the screen on an Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801)?

There are times when you need someone else to use your Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801) either to see a photo, a video, use an application or visit a web page, but you do not want them to be able to access the rest of the applications and data on your device either by privacy, security or to avoid mistakes.

For example, there are times when you need to give the Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801) to a friend, family member or even a small child and you do not want them to leave that app that you have opened. This is very useful, for example, so that young children can watch videos on YouTube without leaving the application and you can even prevent them from doing anything other than watching, that is, blocking the touch panel until you want.

Imagine that you want to let someone see a photo or video from Instagram but you don't want them to be able to “like” that publication or see the rest of the publications and “gossip”, since it is possible to do so on your Galaxy Alpha (S801), follow the following steps and we will tell you how to configure it.

This feature is only available from Android version 9, the Galaxy Alpha (S801) comes from the factory with version Android 4.4.4 (KitKat)| planned upgrade to 5.0 (Lollipop).

In Samsung devices, this function has a slightly different name than in pure Android devices, in “One UI” (the Samsung customization layer of your Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801)) this function is called “Pin windows” although it has practically the same functions. than in pure Android but it is located in a different section within the settings.

Estimated time: 2 minutes.

1- First step:

As most Android functions “Pin windows” must be activated from the Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801) settings, for this, click on “Settings” to start with the configuration.

2- Second step:

Scroll down the Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801) settings, look for the section called “Biometrics and security”, click to access.

3- Third step:

The pin window function is a bit hidden in the Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801) settings so you must click on “Other security settings” to access these hidden settings.

4- Fourth step:

Scroll down through the Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801) screen until you find the “Pin windows” section, click on the button on the right to activate it. Click on the text to define its additional settings.

5- Fifth step:

You will see instructions for use when you activate it. Click on “Ask for PIN before unpinning” if you want to put a different code than the one you have to unlock the Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801), in this way you can protect your personal unlock code or pattern.

6- Sixth step:

You have already activated this very interesting function to lend the Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801) to someone else. Now to test how it works or put it into use you must open the application that you want to “anchor” or keep open and from which you will not be able to exit without unlocking the Galaxy Alpha (S801), once opened you must press the recent applications button, it is the button with three vertical stripes at the bottom left of the screen of your Galaxy Alpha (S801).

7- Seventh step:

Now click on the icon of the application that you want to “pin on the screen” to display the menu of available options.

8- Eighth step:

Among the options that will now appear displayed you will see “Pin this app”. Press to pin this application or window on your Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801).

9- Ninth step:

Since you have the application or window pinned on the screen, anyone using your Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801) will not be able to exit the application without knowing the unlock code or pattern that you have defined. When you have finished and you want to deactivate or stop setting this application, you must press and hold the back and recent applications buttons at the same time as seen in the image below.

With these simple steps you have learned to activate and use “Pin windows” in your Samsung Galaxy Alpha (S801), once configured you can use it at any time by pressing the recent applications button as appears in point six.