Setup and Use Bixby on Samsung Galaxy S8

6 Parts:

Setting up Bixby

Using Voice Commands with Bixby

Using Bixby Vision

Creating Quick Commands

Disabling and Enabling the Bixby Key

Comments

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ are high-end phones that come with state of the art hardware and software. As Samsung's current flagship devices, the S8 and S8+ offer the most up-to-date features of any smartphones available on the market today. One of the more prominent features is, of course, Bixby Virtual Assistant. Similar to Google Assistant, Bixby was released alongside the Galaxy S8/S8+ back in March of 2017. Bixby is essentially a vast revamp of S Voice, which stood as Samsung's voice assistant application since 2012.

Bixby operates by taking voice commands to perform a wide variety of tasks, all while learning an adapting o the user's speech patterns. It also utilizes the S8's camera which helps users better understand their surroundings and environment. Pretty much anything that can be done on the device by swiping and tapping can be accomplished using your voice and Bixby. Take selfies, get live navigation help, reminders, and using your apps more efficiently are just a few of the many things Bixby can do.

In this VisiHow tutorial, we're going to take you through the steps for; setting up Bixby, using voice commands to perform tasks, using the camera to shop for items, translate text, as well as creating custom commands. We'll be using a Samsung Galaxy S8 running Android 7.0 (Nougat).

**Please Note** To properly use Bixby, you'll need an active Samsung account.

1. 1
   To get started, tap the Bixby key which sits just below the volume down button on the left side of the device.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   The first two screens are the initial introduction and the Language selection

   .

   Tap "NEXT", followed by "Confirm" to continue.

   

   At the time of writing this tutorial, the only language available was English (US).

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   Next, we have to agree to the updated terms and conditions

   .

   Read through them carefully, select I have read and agree to all, then tap "NEXT" to continue.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   The following screen explains how to position the device, so Bixby functions most optimally

   .

   Tap the Bixby logo to proceed.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   Now it's time to help Bixby learn from your voice

   .

   Read the commands on the screen in a clear tone, and at a consistent speed.

   

   You may have to repeat the same phrase a few times. Be patient as doing this correctly now, will ensure that voice commands will work correctly later on.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
6. 6
   After you've read aloud the prompted commands, Bixby will display "Saving..." on the screen

   .

   Tap "NEXT" to continue with the setup.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
7. 7
   Now Bixby will learn from your pronunciation style

   .

   Tap the Bixby button, then read out the sentences that are displayed on the screen.

   

   After you've read each sentence correctly, a checkmark will appear next to it.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
8. 8
   The following two screen explain how the basic command function operates

   .

   For example; "Open Messages" or "Open Settings".

   

   You'll also see a list of common commands on the following screen.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
9. 9
   Next, Bixby will display the apps it currently works with

   .

   The applications have to be updated to function properly.

   

   Tap "UPDATE", or "LATER" to continue.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
10. 10
    The next screen allows you to enable or disable Bixby Labs, which are apps that are currently being tested

    .

    Tap "NEXT" to continue.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
11. 11
    The last two screens of the setup give a nice overview of what Bixby is capable of

    .

    It also describes the leveling and points system (the more you use Bixby, the more points you receive).

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
12. 12
    Once the setup has completed, you'll end up on your "MY BIXBY" screen

    .

    This screen is where you can access your settings, enable/disable the Bixby key, create quick commands, and much more.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

There are two ways to communicate with Bixby. The first is to press and hold the Bixby key while you say your command. The second is to say "Hi Bixby", followed by your command.

1. 1
   Press + hold the Bixby key.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   You'll see the Bixby logo appear on the right-hand side, along with a speech box

   .

   While still pressing the Bixby key, say a command.

   

   For our example, we said; "open calculator".

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   Bixby will continue to listen for a few seconds once the app/function opens

   .

   Next, say another speak another command.

   

   For our example we said; "954 x 323 =...".

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   Bixby then returned with the correct answer, which is displayed in the speech box near the bottom.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   In the event something went wrong, tap the "Teach me" button

   .

   Another screen will open with some options on correcting the answer/question.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
6. 6
   If you tap "FULLSCREEN", another screen will open with additional options and help.

   

   You can also access your settings and MY BIXBY page from here.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
7. 7
   The second way to communicate with Bixby is by saying, "Hi Bixby"

   .

   For our example we said; "Hi Bixby, open Google Chrome and search for current weather in Barrie Ontario".

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
8. 8
   Bixby opened Chrome, and it pulled the information we requested

   .

   Tap "GO BACK" to return to the previous screen.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

Bixby vision can be used to extract text, translate text, look up landmarks, and search for products all by using your devices camera app.

1. 1
   To utilize Bixby vision, open up your camera app, then tap the Bixby icon in the lower left portion of the screen.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   If it's your first time using Bixby vision, you'll have to agree to the terms and make sure the proper Samsung account is displayed.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   The following three screens will request permission to access various parts of your device

   .

   Tap "ALLOW" for each if you wish to use Bixby to its fullest potential.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   Once the permissions are granted, hold the camera in front of something

   .

   For our example, we used some random text from an engineering textbook.

   

   Use the selection box to surround the text, then tap "Extract".

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   Bixby vision will now present the extracted text on its own page

   .

   You can COPY or SHARE the text if you wish.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
6. 6
   If you wanted to translate the text, highlight the area, then tap "Translate"

   .

   Tap English on the right to choose another language to translate to.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
7. 7
   When the language list appears, select one

   .

   Bixby will now present the text in the language you just selected.

   

   You can play around with the translations by tapping either language in the upper left and right corner.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

With Quick commands, you can tell Bixby to perform a task in your own words. So instead of saying a full sentence, for example, you can shorten it up to help speed things up.

1. 1
   Press the Bixby key on the left-side of the device (just below the volume down button)

   .

   You can also swipe from right-to-left on the home screen a few times to reach the Bixby home page.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   On the Bixby home page, tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner, followed by "My Bixby".

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   On the My Bixby screen, tap "Quick commands".

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   From QUICK COMMANDS, tap "MAKE YOUR OWN QUICK COMMAND.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   Next, tap the microphone icon, then in a clear voice, say your quick command

   .

   For our example, we said; "disable WiFi".

   

   If Bixby understood your quick command, it would be displayed in the same box as the microphone. Once your quick command is there, tap "+ Add Bixby command".

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
6. 6
   To help find the Bixby command quicker, enter a keyword that's related to it in the search box

   .

   When you find the command, select it, then tap "SAVE".

   

   For our example, we typed in "WiFi", then scrolled through until we found Open Settings and Turn off WiFi.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
7. 7
   Test out your new Quick command by either saying; "Hi Bixby + your command" or by pressing and holding the Bixby key, followed by your command.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

Some users might want to disable the Bixby key because they press it often by mistake when attempting to use the volume down button, like when taking screenshots.

1. 1
   Tap the Bixby key, or from the home screen, swipe from right-to-left until you reach Bixby home.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   From the Bixby home page, tap the gear icon in the upper right corner.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   Once the gear is tapped, you'll see a toggle switch next to Bixby key

   .

   Tap the switch to disable the Bixby key.

   

   Bixby home can still be accessed by swiping from right-to-left on the home screen.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   To enable the Bixby key, swipe from right-to-left on the home screen.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   When you get to Bixby home, the toggle switch will be visible

   .

   Tap it to enable the key.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

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