Turn off voice on galaxy S3, can't navigate menus

Edited by Jerry Rivers, Lynn, Maria Quinney, Eng and 8 others

7 Parts: How to disable the Galaxy S3 S Voice How to enable navigating your menu using Android system recovery How to navigate with soft keys How to disable the soft keys Enable the Navigation icon Questions and Answers Comments
Galaxy S3- S Voice.jpg

The Galaxy S-Voice is intended to make life easier for you. Samsung wanted to compete with the iPhone's personal assistant voice, Siri, and also assist you to navigate by its S voice feature, along with a detailed map on your screen. With a mere voice command to your Galaxy S3, you can actually dictate a message, play your favorite music, make applications, and call a number. This especially is convenient if you are on the road. However, it can only be used when it is within WiFi range. It is easy to activate by double tapping the home key, which is a blessing and a curse. It's very easy to inadvertently double tap the home key, and get the shock of your life with an unexpected voice. Then again, you may be like some people and not have a use for this touted S Voice feature. By disabling it, your home button will give you faster home button speed. At the same time, you may be like some people recently who are now unable to use the Maps app due to a recent Samsung Galaxy update. Do not fear, because "Super Samsung" help is on its way. Follow the three steps below to disable the unwanted S Voice, and you will also find a few procedures on how to enable navigating menus. How to enable the navigation app to Maps is also included.

How to disable the Galaxy S3 S Voice

You can bring up the menu in two ways, so that you can turn off the S-Voice application.

  1. 1
    Go to the applications list.
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  2. 2
    Select the S Voice icon
    .
    It looks like an old style microphone. You can also double-tap the "Home" button.
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  3. 3
    Tap the "Menu" button of your Galaxy S3
    .
    Select "Settings" when it appears on your screen.
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  4. 4
    Now, simply uncheck the Launch S Voice
    .
    When you double tap your "Home" button, the S Voice will not be activated.
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How to enable navigating your menu using Android system recovery

If you suddenly are unable to navigate the menu on your Galaxy S3, it could be caused by any one of a few recent problems that arose. You may be able to regain using your apps menu by performing a reboot for recovery at the Android system recovery menu. It will actually cure a few ailments right away, such as an application suddenly crashing, a programming sequence jamming (boot loop), or a problem that just cannot be found. Just follow these steps to bring your Galaxy S3 to health, and navigate the menu once again:

  1. 1
    Turn off the S3
    .
    Remove the battery, and leave it out for at least a couple minutes.
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  2. 2
    Samsung logo.jpg
    Re-insert your battery. Press and hold the "Volume Up", "Home", and "Power" keys concurrently
    .
    Hold them down until you see the Samsung logo.
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  3. 3
    The Android System Recovery menu list should now pop up on your screen, along with a bright blue highlight bar
    .
    Using the volume rocker control you can now navigate. The power button will be your selecting button. For security, there may be a questionnaire if you hit a certain page, so don't be alarmed. Just answer the simple questions, and move along.
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  4. 4
    The menu should appear like this
    :
    • Android System Recovery
    • Volume up/down to highlight;
    • Power button to select.
    • Reboot system now
    • Apply update from ADB
    • Apply update from external storage
    • Wipe data/Factory Reset
    • Wipe cache partition
    • Apply update from cache
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  5. 5
    Now you should clear your Galaxy S3's cache
    .
    Go to "Wipe cache partition", and click the power button to select. There are other ways to do it, but this is one option.
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  6. 6
    After wiping the cache clear, and after performing any app in Recovery, you will see "Reboot Now" highlighted in blue on the menu
    .
    Click the power button to select it, as this will be your door to the Android operation with the User Interface.
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  7. 7
    In the Android System Recovery, you have now successfully rebooted, and performed a full system reset of your Galaxy S3.
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How to navigate with soft keys

Now that you are able to once again navigate your Galaxy S3 menu, you may want to use the soft key mode. You can navigate faster with soft keys, and also can change apps and access Google Now faster. Here you will see the procedure to enable these keys. If you choose to disable them, those steps are provided, too. Be aware that soft keys do not work well for the Galaxy S3 camera, however.

  1. 1
    To enable the soft key navigation buttons, you must use a file explorer, such as the Root Explorer so that you can get to
    :
    /system/build.prop
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  • 2
    Then, open the file with the text editor, and add this line at the file's end
    .
    Be sure to save, and then close it. Reboot and it is completed. qemu.hw.mainkeys=0
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  • 3
    You are now ready to use the soft keys for apps
    .
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    • How to disable the soft keys

    1. 1
      If you desire to no longer use the soft keys, just navigate to
      :
      /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchkey.kl
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    2. 2
      Now, open this file with the text editor.
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    3. 3
      Here, there is a long list of key numbers and their function
      .
      Locate these three:
      • key 172 HOME
      • key 158 BACK
      • key 139 MENU
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    4. 4
      If there is a key you no longer wish to use, simply add a # in front of the key.
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    5. 5
      Then "Save" and "Reboot".
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    Enable the Navigation icon

    If you discover that you can no longer find the Maps icon on the menu, it is due to an Android update on the Galaxy S3. It is a recent dilemma for many users of any Android system mobile device. Navigation is one very useful app of the Maps, and it has, until this recent update, involved two visible icons. The "blue arrow" Navigation icon was removed. If it has caused a problem for you, here are two easy procedures to get that Navigation icon back on your menu.

    1. 1
      At the home screen, tap the "Menu" key.
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    2. 2
      Select "Settings".
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    3. 3
      Tap the "More tab".
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    4. 4
      Now tap the "Application Manager".
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    5. 5
      Swipe left and select the "All" tab
      .
      If you have trouble swiping with your finger, use two.
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    6. 6
      Then scroll to "Maps" and tap it.
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    7. 7
      Lastly, tap the "Uninstall" button
      .
      This should reinstall the "blue arrow" Navigation icon.
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    Another easy way to install the "blue arrow" Navigation button is to remove this Maps update.

    1. 1
      At the home screen, tap the "Menu" key.
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    2. 2
      Go to "Settings".
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    3. 3
      Tap the "More" tab.
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    4. 4
      Scroll and select "Maps".
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    5. 5
      Finally, tap the "Uninstall Updates" button
      .
      This is the only step different from the first procedure.
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    Following the steps on how to remove the unwanted S Voice and how to enable navigation on your menu once again should give you a much better experience using your Samsung Galaxy 3.

    Questions and Answers

    My Samsung Galaxy S3 voice commands are active except the camera option. In one version of the Home screen it works but not in the other?

    After a recent system upgrade my Samsung S3 voice commands are all active, except for the camera option. In one version of the Home screen it works, but not in the other.

    This sounds like a bug specific to the Samsung Android operating system update you are using. You should update again to see if this corrects the problem. If it does not correct the problem, try to turn off all voice commands, power down your Samsung Galaxy S3, and then turn it back on again. Once it is powered back up, enable the voice commands once more, and see if the problem persists.

    If you still have the problem, and are running the latest version of the operating system, you may consider downgrading as a workaround, until this particular problem is addressed by Samsung or Google, through Android.

    You say "uncheck the Launch s Voice. Where? I cannot find this option?

    Samsung S3 mini. Cannot think what else you need to know. Can you please explain how can I delete/stop S Voice - I don't need nor want it.. I have tried: Followed instructions until the very end. Nowhere to uncheck Launch S Voice

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    Gear S3 frontier voice problem the gear S3 won't stop talking?

    I can't stop gear S3 from talking ALL the time. It keeps telling me the time, that. That the window is on or off. That the screen is open or off. How CAN I SHUT THE VOICE TALKING TO ME OFF...I Can't TOUCH ANYTHING AND GET IT TO WORK. And. It won't allow me to use apps when I touch the app that I want in the middle of the face. The voice keeps repeating what the app is but won't let me use it. HOW CAN I GET APP TO WORK when I TOUCH IT. PLEASE HELP. It has not been already covered That The gear S3 voice won't shut up ever. I have to put it in another room so I won't he ar it until the battery is drained And I can't navigate the app and touch the screen and have it work This has happened since the last download and I haven't used the gear S3 since. I thought I would get some help here. The last download has screwed up my gear S3

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    If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

    Comments

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    Categories : Application

    Recent edits by: DeleteQnA, ParaGnosis, Doug Collins

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