Samsung Galaxy Note 7 User Manual & Setup Guide

If you need a manual or help with the setup of your Samsung Note 7, check out our user guide to start using your handset, connect to the internet and more!

1. Unboxing and assembling your Samsung Note 7
2. Set up your phone for the first time
3. Connecting to Wi-Fi and mobile networks
4. Find out how to add your email accounts
5. How to add and import contacts to your Samsung
6. Using the Play Store to find new apps
7. Securing your Samsung Note 7 with a lock screen
8. How to make phone calls on your Samsung
9. Send text & picture messages
10. Sending emails and attachments on your Samsung
11. How to set alarms on the Samsung Note 7
12. Read our tips to learn more about your phone

click here for Samsung's Note 7 user manual

Unboxing and assembling your Samsung Note 7

Inside the box* you should find:

• 1 x Samsung Galaxy Note 7
• 1 x Mains power adaptor
• 1 x USB lead
• 1 x In-line earphones
• 1 x Information pack
• 1 x USB to USB-C OTG adaptor
• 1 x microUSB to USB-C adaptor
• 1 x SIM tray tool

*some box contents may vary

The Note 7 takes a nano-SIM card, which fits in to a small tray located on the top edge of the phone. As the phone doesn't have a removable back cover you will need the handy SIM tool, which looks like a paper clip and comes in the smartphone packaging. If you wish to expand the storage available by adding a memory card, you'll need to have that to hand as well.

Insert the SIM Card

To insert the SIM, first find the outline of the SIM tray on the top edge of the handset. You'll see there is a small hole at one end of it; insert the pin on the supplied SIM tool into this hole and press against the spring to force the SIM tray to pop out.

The SIM tray holds both the SIM and memory cards. Place the nano-SIM into the smaller holder, which is located at the end of the tray (the end which slides in first). Make sure that the card is placed with the contacts facing down, and the cut-off corner correctly positioned.

The microSD card should then be placed into the larger space in the tray. This should be positioned so that the gold-coloured contacts are facing down, and the narrow end of the card is nearest the SIM card.

With the cards installed into the tray, slide the SIM tray back in to the phone and press into place. You're now ready to turn on the phone and complete the setup wizard. Welcome to your new handset!

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Set up your phone for the first time

Before you turn the Note 7 on, please ensure that the SIM card has been installed as shown in the previous chapter. Press the power button on the right-hand edge of the handset for a few seconds and you will see the screen illuminate as the handset starts to power up.

At any time during the setup you may see a SIM service pop-up on screen asking you to select your mobile network from a list. This is so that your handset configures with the correct settings to connect to mobile internet; tap on the correct network name and OK this, and it will disappear.

1. The first screen of the setup wizard proper asks you to Select your language. Choose your preferred language using the drop-down menu (English UK is the default option) and then tap Start.
2. The next screen prompts you to connect to a wireless network. If you don't see any network names, check the switch at the top is on (showing green). If it isn't, tap it to turn it on. In the list of networks, tap on the name of the wireless network you wish to connect to. If you don't wish to connect to Wi-Fi at this ti, you can skip this by tapping Next.
3. When prompted, enter the password for the Wi-Fi network. This is usually shown on a sticker on your router, and may be referred to as a WEP key, WPA key or wireless passphrase. Passwords are case-sensitive, and you can check your typing by tapping the Show password box. When you're ready to proceed, tap Connect.
4. Once the screen shows you've connected, you will be able to see a Wi-Fi symbol on the top line of the display next to the signal bars. The signal strength may vary, so not all the curved bars may be lit up, but as long as the symbol is there you're connected. Tap Next to continue.

5. If you want to use the handset you will have to read and agree to the Terms and Conditions. Tick the box to allow your Note 7 to send diagnostic data to Samsung if you wish, then tap Next.
6. You'll then be asked whether you have another device you'd like to copy content from. This is done by using NFC (Near Field Communication) but not all Android handsets are NFC equipped. To explore this, tap to Copy Google accounts or to skip this for now tap No, thanks, then tap Next.
7. On the next page you will be asked whether you already have a Google account (an email address ending in gmail.com or googlemail.com). As the Note 7 is an Android handset, having a Google account unlocks some great features of the phone. Without one you can't browse the Play Store or sync your contacts to your Google email address, for starters! If you have a Google account already, enter the gmail address in the space provided and tap Next. If you haven't already got a Google account, scroll down and tap Create a new account to set up a Google account for free.
8. If you're signing in, enter your password then tap Next. If you are creating a new account, complete the form to set up your new Google account.

9. To continue, you must agree to the Terms of Service (tap any link to inspect the details) and when you're ready to continue, tap Accept.
10. The next page is about background services your Google account can perform. The options are all ticked by default, so if you wish to opt out of any service here untick the box. The first section is allows the Note 7 to Back up to your Google account which is extremely useful when it comes to upgrading or replacing a lost or damaged handset, and therefore something we would recommend. Tap the down arrow to see the other options.
11. Location settings help improve internet search results, and navigation apps will work better. The final option allows the Note 7 to send back anonymous information to Google. Untick any of these if you wish to opt out of that service, and when you're ready to proceed tap Next.
12. The Play Store offers much more than just free apps, including paid-for apps, music to purchase and videos to rent or buy. To do this, you need a payment method linked to your Google account, although you won't be charged anything until you actually make a purchase. Tap your chosen billing option, or select No, thanks to skip this for now, then tap Next. If you're adding billing information or payment details, you will need to enter this when prompted.

13. You will then be invited to add another email address. We cover setting up other email accounts in a separate chapter, so we'd suggest skipping past this for now by tapping Not now then Next.
14. The Protect your phone screen gives you information about keeping your device, and more importantly your accounts and data safe and secure, which we would always recommend. Choose to set up fingerprint unlocking, iris unlocking, a regular PIN, pattern or password lock screen, or to skip this by choosing No, thank you then tapping Next. We cover the security setup later in this guide, so for now we'll choose No, thank you.
15. You will then be asked about using a Samsung account. This is optional, but without one you won't be able to update your phone to new versions of the operating system amongst other things, so we would recommend setting this up. If you've set this up on a previous Samsung handset, tap Sign in and do so with your Samsung account details. Otherwise, tap the down arrow.
16. If you're new to Samsung, you can tap Create account to set one up for free by completing the form to sign up for the service. If you are skipping the Samsung account sign-in, you will need to tap Skip on the confirmation screen to proceed.

17. The Note 7 will ask you about transferring content from an old device, using a USB lead and the supplied USB/MicroUSB connector. This uses Samsung Smart Switch to transfer information from old Android phones and also Apple iPhones too. To start this transfer, connect your old phone as shown onscreen. To skip this, choose No, thank you and tap Skip.
18. Selecting the content size will change the size of your icons and menus on the Note 7. Choose large if you prefer to have bigger icons, or small if you want to fit as much on your screen as possible. Tap next when you're ready to continue.
19. The Note 7 can give you weather forecasts based on your location, and needs your permission to do so. If you want weather reports, tick the boxes and tap next.
20. Secure folder is Samsung's way of helping you maintain a good work-life balance by creating a separate business-focused area on your handset specifically for important apps and data. To set this up make sure the blue switch is set to on, then tap Finish.

The icon on the front screen that you will probably use most of all is the Apps icon. This gives you access to all the apps on your new phone, as well as the settings menus. It looks like a grid of small squares, and is in the bottom right-hand corner of the home screen.

At the bottom of the phone itself, below the screen, there is one physical button in the middle. This is the Home button, and will always bring you back to the home screen. Either side of this are touch-sensitive areas which also act as "buttons", and these are used to help you navigate around your new phone.

Recent apps/Home/Back buttons on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Image by www.samsung.com

Now that you have completed the setup wizard, read through the other chapters in this guide to learn how to receive emails on your handset, download apps, and import your contacts!

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Connecting to Wi-Fi and mobile networks

Connecting to a Wi-Fi network

From the home screen:

1. Touch the top of the phone screen and drag your finger down to reveal the notifications panel.
2. Find and tap the Settings icon in the top right corner, which looks like a cog or gear.
3. In the Connections section of the settings, tap Wi-Fi.
4. If you don't see any network names displayed on screen, check the switch at the top. To turn it on, tap the switch (it will display green when it's on).

5. Under Wi-Fi networks, you will see a list of nearby Wi-Fi connections you can access. Tap on the one you want to connect to (if it's your home Wi-Fi it should be close to the top of the list).
6. Enter your wireless password when prompted. Remember, passwords are case sensitive, so ensure you enter it correctly! Wireless passwords are usually found on a sticker on the underside of your router, and may also be called a WEP key, WPA key, or wireless passphrase. If you wish to check your typing, tap Done then tick the Show password box to verify you've entered the password correctly, then press Connect.
7. If the password was entered successfully, you will see the word Connected below your network's name (which will be shown in blue), and a Wi-Fi symbol on the status bar at the top of the Galaxy Note 7's screen.

If you leave Wi-Fi turned on, your Galaxy Note 7 will automatically connect to the network you just joined whenever you are in range.

Connecting to Mobile Internet

An active mobile internet connection is indicated by a letter (or letters) next to the signal bars, on the top row of the display. The letters you could see are G, E, 3G, H, H+ or 4G, and these denote the various speeds of the data connection. This will vary depending on your network, and where you are at the time. The arrows flicker when data is being transferred, but the key thing to remember is that if the letter is there, your data connection is configured correctly.

1. From the home screen, tap the Apps icon or swipe down from the top of the screen.
2. Tap on the Settings icon, then press Connections to view your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile data settings.
3. Once this is done, tap the Mobile networks option.

5. In the Mobile network settings, tap Access Point Names (APNs are the settings that configure the internet connection on your Note 7).
6. Look at the list of network names in the settings, checking that the correct one is selected by tapping in the circle to the left of its name to turn the indicator blue.
7. If enabling the correct APN has worked, you'll see letters next to the signal bars at the top of the screen, signifying the strength of your mobile data connection.
8. If your network name isn't listed, tap the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen, then tap Reset to default.
9. A warning will appear telling you that resetting the defaults will erase any saved APNs. Tap OK to allow this.
10. You will then see a list of all the network settings that the Galaxy Note 7 can pull from the SIM card. Choose the correct network from the list by tapping on the circle, then tap OK to select that network.
11. Tap the circle to put a blue dot in it, which activates those settings. You should now be connected to mobile internet through your SIM card. Check the top line of the display for the data indicator.

If these options still don't work, then you can enter new APN settings manually by tapping Add at the top of the screen and completing the form. We have produced a guide to APN settings for all major UK networks to help you, but if your provider is not listed you may need to contact them directly for further assistance and troubleshooting. If you have successfully connected to mobile internet, don't forget to go back into the Wi-Fi settings and turn it back on!

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Find out how to add your email accounts

Gmail account setup

We covered setting up a Google account in the initial setup, but if you didn't complete it then you can add one now.

1. Open your Settings menu by tapping on it in your apps list, then scroll down and tap on Cloud and accounts.
2. On the next page, tap on Accounts to start adding new accounts to the Note 7.
3. The Accounts page will show any accounts already set up on your handset. Tap Add account.
4. On the list of account types, tap Google.

5. A Google account is an email address ending in @gmail.com or @googlemail.com. To sign in with your existing Google account, enter the address into the space provided and tap Next. If you are new to Android tap Create a new account to set up a free Google account.
6. If you are signing in, enter your Password into the space provided then tap Next. If you are creating a new account, complete all the boxes on the onscreen form in order to set the account up.
7. The Terms of Service can be viewed by tapping the links. When you're happy to proceed, tap Accept.
8. The Google account can be used to back up your apps and settings. If you'd prefer not to have this happen, untick the box then tap Next.

You may be asked to set up some payment details in order to purchase premium content, including chargeable apps and other media, from the Play Store. This is optional, as many apps are free. Select your billing option, or choose Remind me later to skip this for now, and tap Next.

You can find your Google email in the GMail app, which you can access via the Apps tray.

Email setup

1. Open the App Tray by pressing the square Apps icon at the bottom of the home screen, then tap on the Settings icon.
2. Scroll down and tap on Cloud and accounts.
3. The Note 7 will show any accounts already set up. Tap Add account to continue.

5. If you have an Exchange email account (often used by employers, or education providers) choose Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. For all other account types (apart from Google, shown above) tap Email.
6. Most email accounts can be configured quite quickly, simply type in your email address and password, then tap Next to continue.
7. If the account sets up automatically, you will be shown options to finish setting up your account, such as how often to check for mail, and how much mail to display. When you are happy with the settings, tap Next.
8. You will then be asked to give the account a name, and also enter your name which will appear on outgoing emails. Tap Done to finish the setup.

Email from your account will now be delivered to the Email app, which you can find in the Apps tray.

If your account failed to set up automatically, you will be returned to the main email setup page with your email address and password in the boxes. In order to add your email account to the Galaxy Note 7 you will have to do a Manual Setup. In order to do this, you will need to know the type of account you have (POP3, IMAP or Exchange) and additional, account specific information.

This additional information will include the account Username, Password, and also incoming& outgoing mail server settings, all of which will have to be entered onto the on screen form. If your account is an Exchange account, you will need to know domain and Exchange server information.

We have written a guide to email server settingsfor most of the popular UK email providers to help you complete these, but if your mail provider is not listed, or your Exchange email account is provided by your company, you may need to contact them directly for detailed assistance.

If you are still having difficulty adding your email account, why don't you check out our support options and give us a call at any time 24/7 on 0800 049 3040

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How to add and import contacts to your Samsung

If you have contacts on your old phone which you'd like to move across to your new Note 7, check out our complete guide on importing contacts and data to a Samsung smartphone. We've written down each step you'll need to follow to transfer your data from any other type of smartphone, whether that's an iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone or Android we've got you covered.

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Using the Play Store to find new apps

For help finding new apps and games to enjoy on your Note 7, check out our guide to the Google Play Store where we'll walk you through it step by step. If you've enjoyed apps in the past, on your previous smartphone or an Android tablet, we'll show you how to find and reinstall them again too. Click the link to find out more!

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Securing your Samsung Note 7 with a lock screen

Your Samsung Note 7 has a lot of valuable information on it, and will likely be signed into accounts inside various apps to give you quick access to your data; Email, social media and file sharing apps to name but a few. The best way to keep all of this data from prying eyes is to secure your Galaxy with a PIN or Password. Read on to discover how!

1. From the home screen, tap on the Apps icon, then tap on Settings. Scroll down the settings menu and tap on Lock screen and security.
2. To set up lock screen security, tap Screen lock type.
3. Choose what type of unlock method you'd like to use; Swipe is the default, insecure method, Pattern allows you to draw a pattern on a grid of dots, PIN is a numerical code of at least four digits and Password is a longer, more complex security code. To proceed, tap your chosen method. If you want to use fingerprint or iris unlocking, you need to set up a normal security screen first. We're going to choose Fingerprint.
4. You'll need to set up a backup password, pattern or PIN, just in case your fingerprint isn't recognised. Choose your preferred security type, we chose PIN for our example.

5. We're entering a four digit PIN, but a password is set in much the same manner. Enter your chosen code via the keyboard, then tap Continue (a pattern requires you to set a PIN as a backup!).
6. Confirm your unlock PIN or Password by entering it again, then tap OK.
7. Place your finger (or thumb) onto the home button and lift it off as prompted on the screen. Once you've registered the fingerprint, the screen will change to the Notifications settings.
8. You will be asked about Notifications, and showing their content. Hiding content will show that you have a notification, but not the details. Tap your choice then tap Next.

Your new method of securing your lock screen will be displayed. In order to change the security type, you will need to enter your current PIN, password and so on first. You can change the time needed for the lock to be activated after the display times out by tapping Secure lock settings and then Lock automatically.

If you do change this, remember that although your screen may have gone off, your handset may not be locked securely until a period of time has elapsed. When you're happy, tap the Home button to return to the home screen.

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How to make phone calls on your Samsung

The first step to making a phone call is to open the Phone icon from the home screen by tapping on it. This is usually in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.

1. The phone app will open to the call log, with a shortcut to the dialler keypad in the bottom right corner. This looks like a green circle with white dots in the centre. This dialer keypad can be used to type the number you wish to call, and then tap the green button at the bottom to dial the number.
2. Your keypad can also be used to spell out the name of a contact. Use the numbers corresponding to the correct letters to spell the name and the Note 7 will find them in your contact list, just tap their name to call them! If you know more than one person with the name you're searching, you'll need to tap the correct contact from the suggestions.
3. If you prefer, you can search your contacts directly from the first Phone screen by tapping Contacts at the top.
4. Favourite contacts are a great way to enable quick access to the contacts you use the most often. Tap Favourites, then tap Add at the top to select them from your contacts list.

Whenever you have the contact you'd like to call on screen, tap the phone icon on their contact and the Note 7 will automatically dial them!

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Send text & picture messages

Find and tap the Messaging app from your home screen. The icon is yellow with a white envelope on it. If you have unread messages, you will see a red badge in the corner showing you have unread items.

1. To compose a new message, tap on the compose button (which is an orange circle, with a white pen and paper icon) at the bottom of the screen.
2. Now you're looking at a blank text message. In the Enter recipients box, start typing the contact's name or number. If you're entering text, matching contacts will appear below as you type. Tap on the contact you're trying to text to select them as the recipient. You can add further recipients if you wish to send the same message to multiple people.
3. Now you've chosen who you're messaging, it's time to type out what you want to say. Tap into the Enter message box and using the keyboard, type your message. If you're just sending a text message, tap the orange Send button to the right of the text entry box to send it on its way.

4. If you want to add an attachment, such as a picture, video or sound recording, tap the paper clip. Recent pictures, and a link to your Gallery appear in place of the keyboard. Tap a picture to attach it, or open the Gallery to find an older one.
5. Other types of file to attach can be found by tapping Other at the bottom, then tapping on the correct icon. If you're sending a picture or video, it will be sent as a Multimedia Message (MMS), and you may be charged for this - check with your mobile network about costs!
6. Navigate through the files on your phone to locate the item you wish to attach, select the item by tapping it, then tap Done.
7. Once you've attached your item, it will display in the body of the message, allowing you to add further text before you send it by tapping Send.

How to delete a message thread

If you'd like to delete a thread of messages from your handset, open the Messaging app and locate the thread you'd like to delete by finding the other person's name in the message list.

Touch and hold on their name, and a tickbox will appear beside it. When you see this, look in the top right-hand corner of the screen and tap the bin icon to delete the thread. You will also have to confirm this by tapping Delete on the pop-up which appears.

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Sending emails and attachments on your Samsung

Sending an email

To send an email, you must have already set up an email account on your Samsung Galaxy. If you haven't added your account yet, please check our chapter on adding an email account for more information. To see your emails, tap the Apps icon followed by the Email icon.

1. When you can see your email inbox, tap the compose button. This is a red circle with a white pen-and-paper icon in the bottom-right corner of the email inbox screen.
2. Tap into the To line to select the intended recipient. Start to type their name using the keyboard, and any matching contacts will appear. Tap on the correct contact to add them to the recipient list. You can add further recipients or send carbon copies to yourself or others by tapping the down arrow.
3. Enter a Subject for your email by tapping on that line and entering it via the keyboard.
4. Now that you've set it up, type your message by tapping into the white portion of the window in the middle of the screen. If you just want to send a text email, then you can send it by tapping Send on the title bar.

5. To add an attachment, tap attach on the title bar. The first time you do this, you will be asked about your phone accessing your files. In order to attach files to your emails, tap Allow.
6. The keyboard will be replaced by a preview of your Gallery. If the picture you wish to attach is there, simply tap to select it. To choose another picture, tap the Gallery icon. To attach another type of file, tap Other.
7. Navigate through your files by using the on screen menu to find the item you want, and tap it to select it. When you've made your selections, tap Done.
8. Add further attachments if you wish, and when you've finished adding attachments and crafting your email, tap Send.

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How to set alarms on the Samsung Note 7

1. Alarms are set and changed through the Clock app on your Note 7. From the home screen, tap Apps and then Clock.
2. The first time you open the app, you'll see buttons across the top of the app to select World Clock, Stopwatch and Timer functions. If it's not already selected, tap Alarm at the top.
3. In the main window, scroll through the hours and minutes to select the desired time for the alarm to go off, but before you tap Save you may wish to look at the other options.
4. To set the same alarm time on multiple days (such as every weekday), tap the boxes that correspond to the days you'd like to select to turn them blue.

5. Scroll down to see the other aspects of an alarm you can configure - tone, volume, vibration and snooze duration for each alarm. You can even set to get louder the longer you leave it before turning it off - so much better than your old alarm clock, eh? When you're happy with the settings, tap Save to store and set the alarm.
6. The displayed alarm will now show up brightly in the menu. This indicates the alarm is set to go off at the date and time displayed.
7. To turn an alarm off, tap the blue switch to the right of the alarm. This will dim the alarm line, indicating it is not set. To set an alarm that is greyed out, tap the switch again.

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Read our tips to learn more about your phone

Samsung smartphones come packed with loads of apps and features, and the new Note 7 definitely lives up to the standard with a whole host of advanced features to enjoy.

Blue Light Filter

If you've ever been blinded by your phone trying to use it in the middle of the night, you'll be pleased to know that the Note 7 comes with a built-in blue light filter, a special software filter that changes the colour temperature depending on the time of day it is. This means warmer, redder shades when it's late at night, and cold, crisp colours during bright daylight hours.

To find this option, open your apps list and tap on the settings icon. Scroll down until you find advanced options, then tap on it to continue.

There are plenty of interesting options in this list, including controls for your stylus (or S-Pen), and nice shortcuts to make your phone easier to use.

Scroll to the bottom of the list and choose Blue light filter.

Turn on the feature by tapping the switch at the top, making sure it's blue. Dragging your finger on the blue line will change the effect of the filter, and below that you'll find scheduling options so your phone can automatically make itself easier to look at when the sun sets.

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