If you own a Samsung Galaxy S, A, or Z series phone, you already know the ergonomics problem: the phone is large, the power button is mid-frame on the right side, and reaching it one-handed requires a grip shift that almost feels like you are about to drop the phone.
This is not a hardware defect. It is a geometry problem that gets worse with every generation as screens get larger. And it has a clean software solution.
The Problem with the Power Button on Galaxy Phones
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is 162mm tall. The power button sits roughly in the middle of the right edge. Using your right hand and holding the phone normally, reaching that button one-handed requires either:
- Stretching your thumb past its natural range (dropping hazard)
- Shifting your grip entirely (interrupts your flow)
- Using your other hand (defeats the point of one-handed use)
For something you do dozens of times a day, that is a lot of micro-friction.
The Faster Alternative: One-Tap Widget
The most ergonomic fix is a home screen widget in the bottom corner - the zone where your thumb naturally rests without stretching.
Setup takes about 2 minutes:
- Install Turn Off Screen - free
- Long-press an empty area on your Samsung home screen
- Tap Widgets → search for Turn Off Screen → long-press the widget
- Drag it to the bottom-right corner of your home screen (or bottom-left if you are left-handed)
- On first tap, grant the Accessibility permission when prompted
Now your lock action is a single tap in the most natural position on the phone, with zero grip adjustment.
Samsung-Specific Setup: Keep It Running
One UI's battery optimization will put Turn Off Screen to sleep if you skip this step. Do it once and never think about it again.
Settings → Battery and Device Care → Battery → Background usage limits
Find three lists: Sleeping apps, Deep sleeping apps, Never sleeping apps.
- Remove Turn Off Screen from the Sleeping or Deep sleeping lists if it appears there
- Add it to Never sleeping apps
After this, the service stays active indefinitely and the lock widget works every time.
Samsung Features That Keep Working
A common concern is whether One UI security features break when you change how you lock the screen. None of them do.
| Feature | Still works? |
|---|---|
| Fingerprint unlock (side sensor) | ✓ Yes |
| Samsung Face recognition | ✓ Yes |
| Samsung Pay | ✓ Yes |
| Secure Folder | ✓ Yes |
| Smart Lock (trusted places, devices) | ✓ Yes |
| Always On Display | ✓ Yes |
| Lock screen notifications | ✓ Yes |
The software lock triggers the same system-level screen lock as the power button. Samsung's security layer sits below that - it is unaffected by how the lock is initiated.
Double-Tap to Lock (Built-In Samsung Feature)
Samsung One UI 4 and above includes a built-in double-tap to lock feature. To enable it:
Settings → Advanced Features → Motions and Gestures → Double tap to turn off screen → On
When enabled, double-tapping any empty area on the home screen locks the phone. This is a zero-install option for Samsung users who want convenience without an app.
The limitation: it only works on the home screen and on empty areas. If your home screen is full of icons and widgets, there may be nowhere to double-tap. The Turn Off Screen widget works regardless of what is on screen.
For Z Fold and Z Flip Users
Galaxy Z Fold: The inner display is large and wide. The floating button (from Turn Off Screen) is the best option here - it stays visible in split-screen and multi-window configurations without getting in the way. The notification shortcut is a close second.
Galaxy Z Flip: The outer cover screen typically locks when you close the flip. For the inner display, the home screen widget in the bottom corner works perfectly and feels natural on the tall narrow layout.
The Routine Change
The adjustment period is about two days. After that, reaching for the side button to lock feels like the slower option - because it is.
The widget sits exactly where you finish every interaction: the bottom of the screen, where your thumb ends up after tapping the last thing you were doing. Lock the screen from there. No shift, no stretch, no grip adjustment.
No sign-up. Works on Android.