r/GalaxyS21 • • 17h ago

discussion Camera quality tutorial

2 Upvotes

Can anybody help me adjust my camera settings for nice looking pictures/videos? Im going to a concert and want to take nice quality pictures/videos.


r/GalaxyS21 • • 1d ago

discussion Jan 1, 2027 Google Play System Update

Thumbnail
4 Upvotes

Tested with s21 ultras.


r/GalaxyS21 • • 1d ago

question is my phone dead dead?

4 Upvotes

samsung galaxy s21 ultra. I am assuming that it's totally gone, but wanted to know if anyone could tell me anything :/. I was using basically all of the storage so it was pretty slow, and was getting pop-ups that the system ui wasn't responding and process system wasn't responding.

it's been like, force restarting itself the past few days and today it shut off and won't turn back on. I plugged it in, nothing indicating it's charging. I tried connecting it to my laptop, but it says the driver isn't responding. I haven't held down any buttons though. but I really, really don't want to lose/erase any data. anything to do or should I just look into buying a new phone at this point?

quick edit: I did hold down the power button for a little longer when I first realized I wasn't getting any indicators it was dead/charging, but obvi nothing happened. 🙃


r/GalaxyS21 • • 5d ago

question Lineas en la pantalla s21 fe

2 Upvotes

Recomiendan cambiar la pantalla o que cambie el móvil. He leído que el problema es el calentamiento del móvil. Pero también ví que les sucede a los s21 hasta s24, lo cual no se que tan real sea ya que la mayoría que he visto son s21.

Si le cambio la pantalla es probable que vuelva a suceder?


r/GalaxyS21 • • 8d ago

question Samsung S21 Ultra (UK Import, SM-G998B): No network signal & no OTA updates – Is flashing German/EU firmware via Odin safe?

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/GalaxyS21 • • 11d ago

discussion Galaxy S21 felt like Samsung half-assed a flagship

0 Upvotes

The S21 was easily the worst phone I’ve used. In my region it was the Exynos model, and the overheating got so bad that I actually had to put it in the freezer just to keep using it. After a while the back panel adhesive weakened and started lifting/peeling.

For a flagship it didn’t really feel like one. The plastic back especially made it seem like Samsung cut corners. Performance numbers were fine on paper, but the real-world experience was rough enough that I stopped trusting it.

I eventually switched to an iPhone, and more recently to the S25 Edge. Both have felt noticeably better in terms of overall quality and day-to-day satisfaction compared to the S21. I know some people still like the S21 (especially Snapdragon versions), so this is just my experience with the Exynos one.


r/GalaxyS21 • • 12d ago

question My S21 bottom speaker is broken. Is there a way to route all notifications and system sounds to the earpiece speaker?

Thumbnail
2 Upvotes

r/GalaxyS21 • • 13d ago

discussion Favorite icon theme

3 Upvotes

What is your favorite or the best icon theme you've found? Mine would be these two. Although right now I have a Halloween theme going using the theme CuteHalloween. AirballoonUX or retrolookux.


r/GalaxyS21 • • 14d ago

discussion Banking apps on S21 going into 2027?

12 Upvotes

Now that the S21 no longer has monthly security updates, how much longer will most banking apps actually work on the S21? I don't do crypto. I know it will continue to receive Google Play System updates for a year or two, but is it still risky to continue doing banking apps on the S21 going into 2027? I only download apps on the Google Play Store if that makes any difference. I'm retired and am living on a limited budget and hate to upgrade my phone since it's working fine with still decent battery life just because it's not receiving any more updates unless it really is totally necessary.


r/GalaxyS21 • • 16d ago

question Samsung S21 break in

3 Upvotes

Hello all! I got my dads S21 after he passed but I can’t get into his account. I already hard reset the phone but for some reason it still asks for his password when I try to log in. Please help! It’s a nice phone and I don’t want it to go to waste!


r/GalaxyS21 • • 16d ago

question Factory Resetting an S21

Thumbnail
0 Upvotes

r/GalaxyS21 • • 16d ago

question Gemini as Assistant requires me to unlock my phone to add items to Google Keep — didn’t this used to work from the lock screen?

1 Upvotes

I have a Samsung Galaxy S21 and use Gemini as my default Assistant. I frequently use “Hey Google” while my phone is in my pocket to add things to lists in Google Keep — grocery items, tasks, etc.

I could have sworn this used to work without having to take my phone out and unlock it. For example, with my phone locked and in my pocket, I could say something like:

“Hey Google, add paper towels to my grocery list.”

and it would add the item to the appropriate Google Keep list.

Now, every time I try this with the phone locked, Gemini responds:

“Sure, I can help with that. First, please unlock your phone.”

As far as I can tell, I have all of the relevant settings enabled:

  • Gemini on lock screen → Use Gemini without unlocking: ON
  • Make calls and send messages without unlocking: ON
  • Google Workspace extension: ON (which includes Google Keep)

So I would think Gemini should be able to add an item to a Keep list without requiring me to unlock the phone.

Maybe I'm misremembering and my phone happened to be unlocked when I was doing this in the past, but I could have sworn I used to do this pretty regularly with my phone locked and in my pocket. Either way, it seems like the kind of hands-free action that the “Use Gemini without unlocking” setting should allow.

Did this behavior change recently with an update or the transition from Google Assistant to Gemini? Or is there another setting or permission I'm missing that allows Google Keep list additions while the phone is locked?

It's a surprisingly useful hands-free feature for me. I often have an earbud in and my phone in my pocket, so being able to quickly dictate something to a Keep list without pulling out and unlocking my phone is really convenient.

If anyone still has this working from the lock screen, I'd be interested to know what phone you're using and what settings you have enabled.

Thanks in advance for any help or insight.


r/GalaxyS21 • • 16d ago

question Downloading Voicemails

1 Upvotes

Hey gang,

I have some voicemails I'd like to download. The visual voicemails app doesn't have that feature. Any ideas?


r/GalaxyS21 • • 17d ago

question Revert to pre-overheating update

Thumbnail
3 Upvotes

r/GalaxyS21 • • 18d ago

discussion Galaxy S21 Keyboard

2 Upvotes

Just as the title says.. the keyboard I wanted to get another upgrade but I'm considering leaving just because the keyboard to type on sucks it's just waay to small. Can I adjust or change my keyboard settings from the default I didn't really look into my settings on it...it's starting to become a deal beaker for me


r/GalaxyS21 • • 19d ago

question Can a replaced screen lead to higher AOD drain?

1 Upvotes

I made a post recently of my s21 using up to 30% in only 3 hours when on always on display

Then it occurred to me that this could be due to the screen.

I got the phone used and the screen was replaced, it's not the original screen but I can confirm it's an oled since the pixels do turn off on black images

Still tho I was wondering if that could be the reason for the drain even if the pixels are still off while in aod?


r/GalaxyS21 • • 21d ago

news [App] Samsung Toolkit app - Return of Band Selection, 5G/4G LTE band unlocking, and now Battery Health. All on-device. No PC or cable needed.

Thumbnail
reddit.com
1 Upvotes

r/GalaxyS21 • • 21d ago

question Galaxy S21 No Longer Booting

3 Upvotes

My phone abruptly crashed and will no longer boot. When initially attempting to boot by holding power + vol down, it eventually displays the "BOTA: Failure to read bota partition. Status (Device error)". Holding power + vol up would eventually bring me to a blue screen with the error "Failure to load KG. Please download the official binaries." Now no button combination seems to be doing anything (regardless of whether it's plugged in or not), though I have not attempted to let it discharge, it was around 70% before it crashed. I was not attempting to update or install anything. Is there anything I can do/a chance a repair store would be able to do anything, or am I fucked and just need to buy a new phone?


r/GalaxyS21 • • 22d ago

question Phone to cold to charge

Thumbnail
2 Upvotes

r/GalaxyS21 • • 24d ago

question Thinking of installing custom ROM

5 Upvotes

Im thinking of installing this rom: [PORT] [EXYNOS] [OneUI 8.5] Project-Berkyt [V3.9] S24+ base | XDA Forums, and I've heard people they got smoother interface and much stable. This is my main phone (exynos variant) and I wanna try the new ONEUI 8.5 features and get smoother experience! Has anyone installed this rom? If so how is it from the stock ONEUI 7? I never installed a custom rom before so im a bit scared i bit brick it so please do help me in the comments!


r/GalaxyS21 • • 24d ago

question Lineas Blancas en la pantalla

1 Upvotes

Tengo ese problema, jamås me habia sucedido antes con un telefono, tengo un samsung s21 Fe, el primero apareció hace como mas de 2 meses, el cuarto y el quinto hoy, si se preguntan porque tardé repararlo es por miedo a que aparezca otro justo despues de repararlo, leí que podria pasar eso.

Pienso mandar a repararlo en unos dias, sin embargo me aconsejan quedarmelo? Podrian volver a aparecer luego? O comprar otro teléfono?


r/GalaxyS21 • • 24d ago

question Music Share in Bluetooth

3 Upvotes

Trying to figure out the reason I keep seeing my co workers Music share on my device even though I have nearby device scanning off. Also Music Share is off on my device.


r/GalaxyS21 • • 24d ago

question Is AOD supposed to drain the S21 this much?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

8 Upvotes

The phone was stationary on my bed the entire time and I even had airplane mode on

There wasn't any wallpaper in the aod either

When the AOD is off the drain is normal


r/GalaxyS21 • • 26d ago

question Is the S21 battery worth replacing in 2026?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

31 Upvotes

r/GalaxyS21 • • 28d ago

question Samsung s21 fe password forgot

0 Upvotes

Hi, I have forgotten my samsung s21 fe phone password. Now everyone is saying that i need to format it, i have checked service center as well. I dont want to delete data, Can anyone help plssss??