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Galaxy Tab A: How to Use S-Pen

Mitch BartlettNovember 9, 2016 Comments (6)

The best feature on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A has to be the S-Pen. If you’ve never used the S-Pen before, here’s a general “How To” guide to get you started.

  1. Locate the S-Pen on the bottom right corner of the device. Push it in to eject the S-Pen.
  2. Once ejected, options will appear on the screen to:
    • Create note
    • Smart select
    • Screen write
    • Translate

You can also access the S-Pen options any time by selecting the pen icon on the right side of the screen.

Contents

  • 1 Create Note
  • 2 Smart Select
  • 3 Screen Write
  • 4 Translate
  • 5 FAQ

Create Note

 

Select “Create note” if you want to take notes of any type or draw an image. Select an option along the top as desired.

  • Text – Type a regular text note using the on-screen keyboard.
  • Pen – Write a note using the S-Pen.
  • Brush – Draw an image with different colors using the S-Pen.
  • Image – Insert an image into your note from the Gallery or Camera.
  • Voice – Record a voice memo.

Note 7 Take Note

Smart Select

Use “Smart select” to take a screenshot by selecting an area of the screen with the S-Pen. You can also make an animated GIF by selecting “Animation” and selecting an area of the screen that is playing a video.

 

Screen Write

The “Screen write” option does just what it says. You can write on the existing screen. For example, you can bring up a web page in the browser, select the pen icon, choose “Screen write” and write on the web page.

 

Translate

The “Translate” option allows you to hover over a word with the S-Pen so that you may translate it to another language.

Note 7 Translate

 

FAQ

What does the button on the S-Pen do?

If you hold it down, you can erase what you’ve written on the screen.

Categories: Android

Author Mitch Bartlett

Through my career that spans over 20 years I have become an expert in Microsoft Systems Administration, Android, and macOS. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful knowledgebase for everyone.

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Comments

  1. Radha says:
    November 5, 2020 at 2:06 am

    Please tell me how to adjust volume up or down using s pen on Samsung S6 lite

  2. Amara says:
    March 21, 2020 at 6:53 am

    No because i wanted to connect a samsung note 8 s pen to my 2018 version of the tab a but it didnt work

  3. Matthew Eilerman says:
    January 22, 2020 at 11:30 am

    I have an older Tab A, but it only has 16MB of memory (Samsung takes more then 1/2 of that away with junk permanently installed apps). I was told the only fix to this flaw was to “root” the drive? I don’t want to do that, I see the newer Tab-A units can now be ordered with 128 MB….problem solved? Not really, I can’t find one with the S Pen? (The reason I bought the unit). What are the options to make/substitute for Tab-A with S Pen and 128 internal MB. Under $300?

  4. Mary E says:
    January 4, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    Is the s pen compatible with the Tab A 10.1” (2019)? I read it’s only compatible with the Tab A that comes with s pen

  5. Kristi V says:
    November 12, 2019 at 8:58 am

    I use my Tab A to screenwrite the newspaper crossword puzzle. However, the scrollup menu (the one that gives you options to change pen color at the top, and then save (among other things) at the bottom) is constantly in my way. It rolls down and covers part of my puzzle, or I inadvertently hit the save button with the bottom of my hand and my whole puzzle disappears. I know I can retrieve it from my photos, but I don’t have the option to erase something then. Is there a way to turn this feature off?

  6. Methindu says:
    September 20, 2019 at 2:37 am

    please let me know the compatibility of S Pen with the galaxy tab A 10.5 2018 August.

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My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

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Last Updated on November 9, 2016 by Mitch Bartlett