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How to use Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo?

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Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo lets you create action memos without turning on the screen. This guide shows you how to use Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo and how to open them as action memos in S Note app.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has several new features.  One of the most useful S Pen feature is Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo, which allows you to write on a locked screen like on a blackboard using your S Pen without unlocking the phone.

This guide tries to explain to you what is Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo, and how to use Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo.

Table of Contents hide
1) What is Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo?
2) How to use Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo?
2.1) Step 1: Enable Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo
2.2) Step 2: Make sure Galaxy Note 5 screen is locked and turned off
2.3) Step 3: Pull out S Pen
2.4) Step 4: Write what you want on the screen
2.5) Step 5 (optional): Edit Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo in S Note.
3) How to access Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo in S Note app?
4) Can you use Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo now?

What is Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo?

Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo is a special S Pen feature  introduced in Galaxy Note 5. You can quickly create memos by writing on the screen with S Pen without turning on it.

In other words, when the screen is still locked and black, you can use S Pen to write on the screen like on a blackboard.

You can edit or erase what you wrote.  Then save what you wrote as an action memo.

The tricky features of Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo include:

  • the screen is still locked.
  • Galaxy Note 5 screen turns into a blackboard and your S Pen is the chalk.
  • you cannot use your finger.
  • you have a eraser to remove part or all of what you have written.
  • you can choose to delete without saving.
  • you can choose to save what you have written as an action memo.

You probably should not worry about too much battery usage, because the super AMOLED screen on Galaxy Note 5 does not consume battery for black color (the black pixels is not lit up).

How to use Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo?

To use Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo, you can follow these steps.

Step 1: Enable Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo

By default, Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo is turned off.

To use Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo, you need enable it.  In Settings—S Pen, you can enable screen off memo as shown below.

Once Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo is enabled, the switch will be shown as green as shown below (if you are using the default Galaxy Note 5 theme).

Please note, you need enable Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo only once.  The feature will be available until you manually disable it.

How_to_use_Galaxy_Note_5_screen_off_memo_1_settings How_to_use_Galaxy_Note_5_screen_off_memo_2_turn_on_screen_off_memo

Step 2: Make sure Galaxy Note 5 screen is locked and turned off

Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo only works when the screen is off (black).

By default, you can press the power button to turn off the screen and lock the screen.

Step 3: Pull out S Pen

When the screen is off, you can detach S Pen from Galaxy Note 5. Please do NOT touch home button or power button to turn on screen.

To detach Galaxy S5 S Pen, you need press the end of the S Pen to disengage it. Then pull the S Pen out of the S Pen slot as shown below..

You may check this guide to detach and store S Pen on Galaxy Note 5.

How_to_use_Galaxy_Note_5_screen_off_memo_3_pull_out_S_pen

 

Step 4: Write what you want on the screen

Once S Pen is detached from Galaxy Note 5, and if the screen is off,  you screen will now become a blackboard as shown below.

How_to_use_Galaxy_Note_5_screen_off_memo_4_screen_off_memo_interface

There are 4 buttons on the top:

  1. S Pen mode.  You can use S Pen to write on the screen, just like a white chalk on a blackboard.
  2. Eraser mode. In this mode, you are make corrections. You can erase any strokes. Please note, the eraser erases one stroke at one time. It is NOT based on pixels.
  3. Discard the memo. You can tap this button to discard the memo and turn on the screen.
  4. Save the memo. Tap this button to save the memo and turn on the screen.

By default, you are in S Pen mode. You can write straightaway after pulling out the S Pen as shown below.

After finishing your memo, tap SAVE button to save it as an action memo in S Note as shown below.

How_to_use_Galaxy_Note_5_screen_off_memo_5_save_memo How_to_use_Galaxy_Note_5_screen_off_memo_6_open_memo_s_note

Step 5 (optional): Edit Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo in S Note.

Once you save the Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo, the memo will be saved as an action memo in S Note (see above).

You can edit it further in S Note app later.

When the memo is saved, you will also get a notification message in the notification panel as shown below.

How_to_use_Galaxy_Note_5_screen_off_memo_7_saved_memo

How to access Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo in S Note app?

All memos created and saved in Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo are saved as action memos in Galaxy Note 5.

You need start S Note app to access action memos.

Once S Note starts, the default view is “All” as shown below.

You can tap ALL button as shown below to switch to action memos as shown below.

How_to_use_Galaxy_Note_5_screen_off_memo_8_s_note How_to_use_Galaxy_Note_5_screen_off_memo_9_action_memos

You can edit and link an action to the memo by tapping MORE button after opening the memo.

The detailed usage of action memos will be covered in this guide (coming soon!!).

How_to_use_Galaxy_Note_5_screen_off_memo_10_action_memos

Can you use Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo now?

If you have any questions on Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo, or encounter any problems when using Galaxy Note 5 screen off memo, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will try to help you.

For other Galaxy Note 5 features and detailed Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides , please check Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides page.

You may also download and read the official Samsung Galaxy Note 5 user manual here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Gadgetgal says

    I have an android 7.0 tablet and also my Note 7 would save off screen memo to Samsung Notes which in turn syncs to Samsung cloud so I can view on with device. S Note is going away so now that I am back on the Note 5 for awhile I don’t want my off screen memo to save to S Note but to Samsung Notes. Fusrating.

    Reply

  6. Samuel says

    Recently I am facing a problem usingScreen Off Memo.
    Problem: while using off screen memo on that time after using few approximate 5 seconds my screen turns off even I am writing. Then again I have to press the power button to write.
    So basically I have to press continously to write in Off screen memo.

    Looking forward response from you.

    Thank you

    Reply

  7. Mark says

    How do I change the “save as” name of action memo? It’d be nice to be able to save under name instead of the generic name.
    Thanks,
    Mark

    Reply

  8. Mahirah Mohd says

    I buy galaxy note 5 on january. After i using it for 4 months the action memo not working. Everytime I open action memo at air commend and in S note the notification pop up ” unfortunately, s note has stopped.” Why just it be like that

    Reply

  9. Lorenzo says

    Hi there, I would really like this screen off memo feature to have my to-do list during the day… But everytime I pull out the S pen with the screen locked, of course, a NEW screen off memo appears.

    Please, is there any way to have THE SAME note open always? I have a rooted phone, that could help I guess…
    Any suggestions?

    Reply

  10. Steve says

    Is there a way to keep the screen locked on a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 running Android 6.0 whenever the S-Pen is removed? It seems absolutely useless if the phone gets unlocked by simply removing the pen and writing a note on the screen then saving or deleting a massage???

    Reply

  12. boon lim says

    hi, i just bought a note 5 yesterday, the screen off menu work fine yesterday, but now when i pop out the s pen, the screen off menu is no functioning. and when i pop out the s pen while the screen is off, its pop out the air command automatically. how to fix it? tq

    Reply

  13. Isa says

    I loved that I was able to use the s pen to write in my phone but today I wasn’t able to do it anymore. I did all the steps by going into my settings and turning it on but it is still not working. I’m pretty upset about this:( has this happened to anyone else. I have also restarted the phone but still no luck

    Reply

  17. mr mike says

    I just got the note 5 yesterday 10/28/15 and I can not get this to work as per the instructions
    further playing with it my pen works if and when it wants
    back to the at&t store i guess

    Reply

  19. Yusuf says

    No its not working. It was just working fine when I bought the phone but now somehow it’s not working at all. Screen off memo is on and I’m following the instructions but nothing happens when I take out the spen. 🙁

    Reply

  20. Alvin says

    Help! My note 5 cant detect if the s pen has been removed or not. It always expects that the s pen is still attached so i cant use screen of memo. What should i do?

    Reply

  21. Corine says

    I cannot write on off screen using s pen n only can use in other use like writing on note
    my setting have no problem
    what ‘s the reason???

    Reply

  23. silvester says

    My screen memo don’t want to work. My screen turns on automatically when I flip my case open.. I have the screen memo on aslo

    Reply

  24. Steve says

    Has anyone been able to write on the screen with a screen protector? I can’t use “memo off” notes with the screen protector.

    Reply

  28. Winter says

    I hate the Galaxy note5! The off screen memo writing is so fine and light it’s hard to read what you write! The notes features are all colored sticky notes ( gross!) I like a clean white background to write notes. I hate it. I’ve had it one day. Hope to be able to return it because of the colored sticky notes.

    Reply

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