Samsung Galaxy XR: First 20 Things To Do

Quick summary: These are the first 20 things I’d do on the Samsung Galaxy XR headset, from finding apps to the Labs settings that make it feel like an Apple Vision Pro.

Apps and quick settings

1. Browse the starter guide in the Play Store: it lists immersive apps to download. Some are free, some cost real money (one was $40). Apps labeled XR ready aren’t always fully immersive, but some add extra features. Games like Vacation Simulator and Job Simulator are there.
2. Rearrange quick toggles: open Quick settings, go to the last page and tap the plus sign. Tap the minus to remove a toggle, tap one to add it (I added Song search), drag to reorder, then tap Done.
3. Home environment: Settings > Home environment. Pick one of about 10 backgrounds and set it to Auto so it switches between day and night with your local time.

Input and fit

4. Aiming method: in Settings > Input, choose hand aiming only or hand and eye aiming (look at something, then pinch to select, without holding your hand up). Eye aiming adds gesture sensitivity options.
5. Align displays: in Eye calibration, tap Align displays if things look double or blurry.
6. Calibrate eye tracking if you’re having trouble selecting things.
7. Optical inserts: if you bought prescription inserts, pair them here.
8. Fit tips: these show tips for headset misalignment. I turned them off because they kept appearing even when everything looked fine.
9. Keyboard and input tools: add a controller or keyboard, and change the on-screen keyboard (I switched to Gboard).
10. Avatar: create your avatar, do face calibration so it matches your expressions, choose whether to use it in video calls, and sync it with Samsung Cloud.

Connected devices

11. Quick Share: in Connected devices, set who can share with you. I use Everyone.
12. Calls on other devices: turn on Call on other devices on both the headset and your Galaxy phone (it has to be a Galaxy), and turn on allow calling on this headset. PC Link connects a Galaxy Book.

Display, sound and battery

13. Display: dark mode, brightness (I use about the third highest), font size and font style.
14. Sounds: ringtone and notification sounds, system volume, and turn off click sounds you don’t want. Keep Spatial audio on. I turn Dynamic adjust off.
15. Battery: Auto power off turns the headset off after 24 hours of inactivity when not charging. Power saving is there if you need it.

Advanced features and Labs

16. Galaxy AI and top button: turn on the Galaxy AI features (like Note Assist and Browsing Assist). Long press on the top button opens your assistant; I keep Google Gemini, since it’s so integrated.
17. Labs: Show real hands in passthrough instead of virtual hands. Direct touch anywhere lets you tap any element with your index finger (it didn’t work well for me). Use eye aiming only gets rid of the floating cursor so you select what you look at, just like the Apple Vision Pro. And a passthrough window for VR shows a window into the real world, like your desk, during VR.

Security, apps and help

18. Notifications and lock type: turn off app notifications you don’t need and set your lock type. I use PIN and iris.
19. Default apps and updates: change your default search engine and digital assistant (changing the launcher didn’t work for me), and check Software update.
20. Tips and quick tricks: open the Tips app to relearn any gesture. From quick toggles you can also take a screenshot, re-center your view (or hold the side of the headset), adjust your boundary, and turn off microphone access.

Then sign in to your apps, and you’re set. I’m really enjoying it.

Get it

• Galaxy XR from Samsung
• Samsung at Walmart