Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: First 20 Things to Do

Quick summary: These are the first things I set up on a new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: call protection, home screen, camera, notifications, display, security, speed tweaks, multitasking, passwords and the keyboard.

Phone app (menu > Settings)

1. Call screening: turn it on, and optionally auto screen suspected spam and unknown callers.
2. Call brief and call captions: brief shows relevant events during calls (it needs personal data intelligence), and captions show what each person says.
3. Voicemail and scam detection: you can auto-send calls to voicemail after a set time. Scam detection warns you mid-call with a tone and vibration.

Sponsor: Benks

Benks cases are my favorite thin, light cases with hinge protection, for both the Fold 8 Ultra and Fold 8. A strong built-in magnet holds grips and supports wireless charging, they protect the cameras, and they come in lots of colors and designs. Code GREGGLESTV gets a discount.

Home screen

4. Home screen settings: icon size, an iPhone-style home-screen-only layout if you like, Google Discover, and show search on home screen for Google search and Finder.
5. App drawer: three dots > sort > alphabetical, for a vertical A–Z list.

Camera

6. Basics: Auto FPS at 30 and 60, location tags, voice commands and show palm, keep your last camera mode, shutter sound off.
7. Camera Assistant: download it, then turn on Quick shutter and 24MP resolution for the main, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses.
8. Video: turn HDR off on all cameras (unedited HDR looks washed out) and set UHD 60 on every camera.

System

9. Panel settings: set to Together so notifications and quick toggles come down at once.
10. Wi-Fi > Advanced: turn off network notifications.
11. Galaxy AI: go through every feature, like auto-tracking a person in your videos.
12. Sounds: system sounds off, and Dolby Atmos on and set to Auto.
13. Notifications: detailed pop-ups, app icons in the status bar, notification history on, and emergency alerts on except state and local tests.
14. Display: a dark mode schedule, adaptive brightness, Vivid mode one step back with vividness maxed, a 2-minute timeout with keep screen on while viewing, edge panels, the taskbar with recent apps, and higher touch sensitivity with a screen protector.
15. Wallpaper, themes and always-on display: pick free or paid themes. AOD uses some battery.

Security and speed

16. Face unlock: turn off “stay on lock screen”. For fingerprints, rub your finger along the side button for quick setup, and turn on fingerprint always on for both screens.
17. Updates and animations: check software updates. Then tap the build number seven times and set the animation scales to 0.5x.

Power-user extras

18. Labs and multi window: multi window for all apps, landscape view for portrait apps as needed, swipe for split screen, and full screen in split view. Set the side button (double press for camera, long press for assistant or power menu) and turn on motions and gestures.
19. Passwords: under passwords and passkeys, switch from Samsung Pass to Google or your own password manager.
20. Gboard: install it, turn on the number row, pick a theme, turn off offensive-word blocking, keep voice typing on, and set it as the default keyboard.

• Benks case for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, code GREGGLESTV
• Benks case for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, code GREGGLESTV
• Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 or 8 Ultra from Samsung