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How to use Galaxy Note 5 themes?

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You can use Galaxy Note 5 themes to customize your Galaxy Note 5 and give you a totally new Galaxy Note 5. This guide shows you how to use Galaxy Note 5 themes.

Most Android phones come with vendor’s unique Android skin so that you can easily recognize whether the phone is from Samsung or from HTC or from LG.

But sometimes, the phone may look boring. You may want to make your phone look different.

Luckily, in Android, you can use any third-party launchers if you do not like the default launcher.

Some third-party launchers may also allow you to customize some visual elements and features in the launcher.

Samsung now gives you the similar option to customize the visual elements of your Galaxy Note 5 through Galaxy Note 5 themes.

Table of Contents hide
1) What is Galaxy Note 5 themes?
2) How to use Galaxy Note 5 themes?
2.1) Step 1: Return to Galaxy Note 5 home screen
2.2) Step 2: Enter edit mode of Galaxy Note 5 home screen
2.3) Step 3: tap Themes
2.4) Step 4: Choose themes
2.5) Step 5: Download and apply Galaxy Note 5 themes
3) Alternative way to access Galaxy Note 5 themes settings
4) FAQs on Galaxy Note 5 themes
4.1) 1. How to add the theme store shortcut to Galaxy Note 5 home screen?
4.2) 2. I remember there is a XYZ theme, but now I cannot find it. What can I do?
4.3) 3. The new theme applied does not change my Messages app?
4.4) 4. Can I use my own wallpapers for the new Galaxy Note 5 themes?
4.5) 5. Are Galaxy Note 5 themes really free? Are there any hidden costs?
4.6) 6. Can I sideload my own Galaxy Note 5 themes?
5) Can you use Galaxy Note 5 themes to customize your Galaxy Note 5 now?

What is Galaxy Note 5 themes?

Samsung first introduced themes in Galaxy S6 early this year.

It is one of the most welcomed features in Galaxy S6 because many owners can get desired look of the phone.

In Galaxy Note 5, Samsung continues to support themes in their TouchWiz skin.

Galaxy Note 5 themes allow you to customize the look of the phone interface through a template.

In previous Galaxy Note devices, you can only change the wallpapers for the lock screen and home screen if you are using the default launcher.

This is considered as limited customization which is available in all Android devices.

Galaxy Note 5 themes allows you to do more. You can change the visual elements of the Galaxy Note 5 home screen, apps screen, lock screen, app icons, notification panel, phone app, contacts app and message app.

Please note there are 3 limitations for Galaxy Note 5 themes:

  1. Galaxy Note 5 themes will not add any new features. Only visual elements can be changed through Galaxy Note 5 themes.
  2. Galaxy Note 5 themes can only alter the look of apps from Samsung. For example, if you are using your carrier’s messaging app, Galaxy Note 5 themes will not change anything for that app.
  3. Galaxy Note 5 themes can only replace the app icons for apps that are from Samsung,  Other app icons can only be decorated, not replaced.

The customization is through packages (templates) called themes.

Any developer can design and release their themes to Samsung theme store. Currently, all themes are free.

After applying new Galaxy Note 5 themes, you can still further customize the wallpapers for home screen and lock screen.

How to use Galaxy Note 5 themes?

To use Galaxy Note 5 themes, you may follow these steps.

Step 1: Return to Galaxy Note 5 home screen

Exit your current app by tapping back button or Home button (please check Galaxy Note 5 layout if you have doubts on buttons on Galaxy Note 5).

Step 2: Enter edit mode of Galaxy Note 5 home screen

Tap and hold any blank area in home screen.

This will change your Galaxy Note 5 home screen to edit mode as shown below.

galaxy_note_5_themes_1_home_screen_edit_mode galaxy_note_5_themes_1_pre_installed_themes

Step 3: tap Themes

Tap Themes as shown above.

Step 4: Choose themes

In the Themes page, you can find the 3 pre-installed themes: default, Pink theme and Space theme. This may be different in some regions.

If you want to use Pink theme or Space theme for your Galaxy Note 5, you can select them here. Both of these two Galaxy Note 5 themes are made by Samsung.

If you want to choose other themes, tap Theme store as shown above.

As shown below, there are many themes for Galaxy Note 5.

The major problem of Samsung theme store is that you have to scroll to browse all themes. No search function, no real categories. Samsung probably will add these features in the future.

Anyway, currently, you have to scroll down to load more themes.

In the theme store, you can add a theme store shortcut in your Galaxy Note 5 home screen so that you can access it directly from home screen.

Once you find an interesting theme for your Galaxy Note 5, you can scroll left or right to check the screenshots to see how it looks for lock screen, home screen,app screen, phone app, message app and the icons as shown below.

galaxy_note_5_themes_3_theme_store galaxy_note_5_themes_4_space_theme

Step 5: Download and apply Galaxy Note 5 themes

Once you decide to use the theme, tap Download as shown above.

You can check the progress of the download as shown below.

Once the new theme (space them in this case) is downloaded, you will be shown a warning messages as shown below.

Applying this theme will close all apps and unsaved data will be lost.

This theme includes sounds. Applying this theme will change the following sound settings.

  • Touch sound
  • Dialing keypad tone
  • Keyboard sound
  • Hardkeys
  • The backspace button

As Space theme includes customization of sounds, you will see the warning about sound settings.

For other themes that don’t include sounds, the warning message will be slightly different.

Tap Apply as shown below to proceed.

It may take a few mins to apply the new theme. Be patient.

galaxy_note_5_themes_5_download_space_theme galaxy_note_5_themes_6_theme_warning

galaxy_note_5_themes_7_apply_new_theme galaxy_note_5_themes_8_app_icons_with_space_theme

Once the new theme is applied, you can immediately see the difference as shown above.

As mentioned, some app icons were changed as shown above. Some non-Samsung app icons get some decoration.

Alternative way to access Galaxy Note 5 themes settings

You can also access Galaxy Note 5 theme settings in Settings—Themes.

FAQs on Galaxy Note 5 themes

1. How to add the theme store shortcut to Galaxy Note 5 home screen?

You can access the theme store using one of the two methods mentioned above.

Once you are in the Theme store, you can tap the link indicated above to add a shortcut for theme store to your Galaxy Note 5 home screen.

2. I remember there is a XYZ theme, but now I cannot find it. What can I do?

Some themes may be removed from theme store for various reasons.

But if you downloaded it before, the theme should appear under My Themes in the Theme store.

If you did not download that theme before, then you cannot get it now if it is removed from the theme store.

3. The new theme applied does not change my Messages app?

You can try to reboot your Galaxy Note 5 to see whether it helps.

If the Messages app is customized by your carrier, or if it is your carrier’s messaging app, then the new theme will NOT change its look. In both cases, you cannot change the look through Galaxy Note 5 themes.

4. Can I use my own wallpapers for the new Galaxy Note 5 themes?

Yes, you can use your wallpapers for lock screen and home screen after applying new themes.

You can also use any other customization just like for the default theme.

5. Are Galaxy Note 5 themes really free? Are there any hidden costs?

All Galaxy Note 5 themes in the theme store are free, at least currently. There are no  hidden costs to use them.

6. Can I sideload my own Galaxy Note 5 themes?

No, Samsung does not allow you to sideload Galaxy Note 5 themes.

Of course, if you rooted your Galaxy Note 5, you can bypass the limitation.

We do NOT discuss or teach rooting Galaxy Note devices.

Can you use Galaxy Note 5 themes to customize your Galaxy Note 5 now?

If you have any questions or encounter any problems on using  Galaxy Note 5 themes, please leave a comment 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

  3. Di says

    Hi everyone,
    So i need to know if you guys can have your incoming calls themes changed when you change your themes…cause i used to get my incomings changed too with the changing of the theme…but these days it’s just the same as it was boring…is it me or the new themes don’t actually support the incoming calls…

    Reply

  5. Pearl says

    When i click on any theme it show me tha msg “this theme may not b in the same icon which show” but it dose note allow me to download …whats the issue plzz guide me..

    Reply

  6. Nabeel Khalid says

    Whenever I tap on theme store on my galaxy NOTE 5, it doesn’t respond (does nothing)…
    When I tried to download themes from Samsung official website, it gives the message that your phone doesn’t support theme store.
    Can anybody help me please that how I can download themes now?

    Reply

  7. Devan says

    My themes work fine except for my message app it’s the stock app I use but the theme will not apply…applies to everything else good lock screen,home screen,contacts, and calling….

    Reply

  9. Grace says

    New themes’ clocks do not appear as in screenshots (e.g. blackboard clock looks lousy now…). Can I go back to how it used to be??? Will they change the clock fonts back so they look cool again?

    Reply

  10. ALICIA ALMODOVAR says

    I have three different themes running at the same time why is this and how can I fix it… its so annoying

    Reply

  11. Aimee L White says

    I can’t buy themes. When I click on it, it asks if I want to pay via paypal or credit card. I select paypal and it doesn’t go through. Gives me a couple errors. Do I have to add my cc because I prefer to use PayPal?

    Reply

  12. Natthaphong Konkhunthot says

    After changing theme (space theme in my case), I found that the number of the time, date and temperature on home page does not change. They are still the same like a default theme. How do I fix this problem? Because when I try to download other themes. This problem is also appeared.

    Reply

  14. Senobia Rainwater says

    Since I updated to marshmallow I can’t download any themes I get this message can’t download themes in show button shapes can you tell me what’s wrong

    Reply

  15. Bryce Stilson says

    Thanks for your reply. Yes I can
    But when I push theme store nothing will open
    If I search themes nothing will install. What am I doing wrong?

    Reply

  16. Karen says

    I can open up the theme page but my note 5 won’t let me go beyond that. Once on that page, I cannot select any themes or proceed to the theme store. How can I fix this?

    Reply

  18. roberta says

    I had used some of the icons on my regular wallpaper but now I can’t find how I changed icons. Please help…

    Reply

  21. Luci says

    Each theme has many wall papers, when I applied the theme to my phone the wall paper is the same in every screen , before use to be different wallpapers,like there is a flower and next screen is a Branch with smaller flowers ,etc . It’s doesnot do that anymore it is just the same flower in every screen .

    Reply

  22. Luci says

    After applying the theme there was only one design showing in all screens , have I changed any settings in my phone ?

    Reply

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