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Get your Samsung Galaxy Note 9 up and running with this super-helpful guide. We’ll show you how to put the SIM and memory cards in, complete the setup wizard and add things like email accounts and alarms.
Here’s what you should find in the box:
The Note 9 takes a nano-SIM. If you didn’t get one with your new phone, your network provider can send you one. You can also add some more storage space with a ‘microSD’ (memory) card.
The SIM and memory cards go into a tray in the top edge of the Note 9. Push the pin end of the SIM tool into the tray’s pinhole to release it, then pull it out with your fingers.
Put the nano-SIM in the holder at the inner end of the tray, with the contacts facing down and lined up so the cut-off corner goes into the phone first.
If you’re adding a memory card, put it in the outer holder, contacts down and the narrow end next to the SIM card.
Slide the SIM tray back into the phone until it stops.
Press the Power button on the right edge of the phone for a couple of seconds until the phone vibrates. When the screen comes on you’ll see the first screen of the Setup Wizard. These steps will help explain what you’ll see on your way.
Choose your mobile network name from the list, then tap OK.
Change the language to use if you want to (English is pre-set) then tap the Arrow to start.
Connect to Wi-Fi to download everything you need while you’re setting it up. Tap your wireless network name.
Type the wireless password and tap Connect. If you’re not sure what it is, check the sticker on your router.
When you’re connected the network name will turn blue. Tap Next.
You have to agree to Samsung’s ‘Terms & Conditions’ to use the Note 9. Tap Learn more to see more details, tick the circles to accept them and tap Next. The Note 9 will check for updates and download them in the background if it finds any.
Add your Google account to download apps, back up your phone and more. Type your email address and password then tap Next, or tap Create account to make a new one for free.
Type your password and tap Next, or complete the form to make a new one..
Check Google’s 'legal stuff' and tap I Agree to add your account.
You might see backups if you’ve had an Android phone before. Tap one to restore it to your new Note 9 or tap Don’t restore to set it up as a new phone.
A lock screen helps keep your stuff private, but unlocking it every few minutes while you’re setting your phone up can get annoying. Tap an unlock method to set it up now, but we cover it in full later on so choose No, thank you and tap Skip to leave it
If you’re doing it later, tap Skip anyway to move on.
The Google Assistant can answer questions, search the web and do things for you. Skip if you don’t want to use it, or tap Next to set it up.
If you’re setting it up, you might be asked to enable some settings. Tap Turn on, or No thanks to skip.
Google services help your phone work at its best. Leave the first switch on to back your phone up (you’ll be glad you did if you have to replace it). Tap More to see them all.
Location services help to make searches relevant, and power things like mapping. Sending system data back to Google helps make Android better for everyone. Tap I Agree.
A Samsung account gives you exclusive apps, offers and other services. Tap Sign in if you’ve used one before, Create account to get a new one for free or Skip to move on.
If you don’t want to add a Samsung account, tap Skip again to confirm.
You can restore data from a Samsung Cloud backup of an older phone, or transfer stuff from your old phone with a USB cable. If you don’t want to do either of these, tap Don’t restore to set your Note 9 up as a new phone.
You’ll see some of the useful features of your new phone. Tap the down arrow to see them all, changing the options if you want to. Tap Finish.
That’s your phone set up and ready to use. Touch Home (that’s the square on the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen).
You’ll be looking at the Home screen of your new Galaxy Note 9. Swipe down on the screen to see apps installed on your phone, and swipe down from the top edge to see notifications and quick settings.
Many apps, especially things like social media, need access to the internet. These steps will help you get connected.
Swipe down then tap Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi.
Find and tap on your network name.
Type the wireless password and tap Connect. If you’re not sure what it is, check the sticker on the router.
When it works, you’ll see the network name in blue with ‘Connected’ below it.
The mobile data connection should have set up when you turned your phone on for the first time, but if you can’t get online when you’re out and about follow these steps. If it’s working, you’ll see ‘4G’, ‘H’, ‘3G’ or ‘E’ next to the signal bars, showing the connection’s speed.
From the Home screen, swipe down then tap Settings > Connections.
You can’t check the mobile data signal when Wi-Fi’s connected, so tap the switch to turn it off.
Tap Mobile networks > Access Point Names.
If you see your mobile network name, tap the circle beside it to activate the settings. Check for a data indicator.
If you don’t see your network name, you’ll have to reset the settings. Tap Menu at the top (three dots) then tap Reset to default.
Confirm by tapping Reset again.
The Note 9 will show the settings held on the SIM card. Tap your network name to choose it or tap Cancel to skip.
Check the APN has a dot in the circle, then check for a data indicator (our example shows ‘H+’).
If your mobile data still doesn’t work, you might have to put the settings in manually. Touch Add at the top to do this, and our UK mobile internet settings guide should help you get it working.
Link all your email accounts to your new phone to keep up-to-date while you’re on the move.
Swipe down on the Home screen then tap Settings > Cloud and accounts.
Tap Accounts.
You’ll see any accounts already on the Note 9. Tap Add account.
Choose Email if you want to manage your account in the Email app, or one of the Personal options to have your mail arrive in the Gmail app.
Type your email address and password in the boxes and tap Sign in.
Some email accounts will open the provider’s account sign-in screens. If you see these, follow the instructions.
You might be asked to give the account permission to ‘talk’ to other parts of your phone. Tap Agree to make the account work properly.
If your account didn’t set up automatically, you might have to put the settings in yourself. Tap Manual Setup and complete the form, our guide to email server settings might help you.
Protecting your phone with a lock screen is important because you’ll want to keep your stuff safe from prying eyes. We’ll show you how to set up lock screen security, and add fingerprint, iris or face unlocking too.
Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Settings > Lock screen > Screen lock type and choose an unlock option. Higher security is always better.
We’ll show you how to add a PIN, the other types set up in almost the same way. Type the PIN you want, then tap Continue.
Type your PIN again and tap OK. If they match, the lock screen is set. If not, you’ll be asked to retype them.
Change how notifications show on the lock screen. You can hide the details or turn them off completely. When you’ve finished, tap Done.
Store your fingerprint, or face or iris scan, to unlock your phone with just a touch or glance. Our example adds a fingerprint, but face and iris scans are just as easy to add.
Go to Settings > Lock Screen > Screen lock type.
Tap Fingerprints.
Swipe your finger across the sensor as shown on screen.
Add another print or tap Done.
The Google Play Store has millions of apps and games to bring your phone to life. We’ve written a guide to help you download Play Store apps to your Note 9.
Tap the green Phone icon on the Home screen to open the dialler.
The 'Recents' screen shows all calls made to and from the phone. Tap a name here to call them, or tap the green number-pad icon to bring up the keypad.
'Contacts' shows all your phone contacts - tap a name to call them.
'Places' can show you contact details for local shops, restaurants, bars and much more.
To call a contact, start to type a phone number or spell out a contact’s name using the letters on the number pad. Matching contact names will show, tap one to call them.
Texting is a handy way to keep in touch, and only takes a few seconds. Tap the Messages icon to get started.
When you open the app, you’ll see a list of conversations. Tap one to answer with a text, or tap the New message icon at the bottom (it has a speech bubble on it).
Tap Contacts to pick someone to message.
Type out your message and tap Send (the blue arrow).
To attach something to your message, tap an icon above the number buttons. You can add GIFs, pictures and even sound clips, but you might be charged by your network – check with them for details.
Conversations are the history of messages between you and another person.
To delete one, touch and hold it until a tick shows beside it. Tap to choose any other threads you’d like to get rid of, then tap Delete (the bin icon) at the top.
Our example shows how to send email from the Note's Email app, but accounts set up in the Gmail app work the same way.
Tap the icon to open your Email app. To reply to an item in your inbox, tap it. To send a new email, tap Compose at the bottom (it’s orange with a pen & paper symbol).
Type someone's name to send the mail to. Suggestions show as you type, tap one to pick them.
Add a Subject and type your message in the main window.
When you’ve finished, tap Send at the top.
To add something like a picture or video to your email, tap Attach at the top.
Use the tabs at the bottom to choose what to attach:
'Document' - Pick files from your phone or Google Drive.
'Gallery' - Choose from your pictures and videos
'Other' - Add things like calendar items, voice messages, notes and location details your email.
When looking for items to attach, select as many as you like then tap Done to add them.
When you’ve added everything, tap Send.
You can add several alarms to make sure you get up at the right time on the right days
Go to Apps > Clock > Alarm, then tap Add at the bottom.
Scroll to pick the time, and choose repeating days below the time window. Set the options for sound and vibration, then tap Save.
Set and unset alarms by tapping the switches – when the switch is blue, the alarm is active.
To remove an alarm, touch and hold it for a moment - then choose which ones to get rid of. Tap Delete.
Hopefully, that's helped get your Samsung Galaxy Note 9 up and running, but if you need any more help, contact an expert from Team Knowhow or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
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