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    How to Set Up Automatic Routines on Your Android Phone

    Android Routines let your phone take automatic actions — like silencing notifications at bedtime or turning on Wi-Fi when you get home — without any tapping.

    4 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Open Modes and Routines on a Samsung phone

    ~22s
    On a Samsung Galaxy phone, open the Settings app. Scroll down and tap Modes and Routines. You will see two tabs at the top: Modes and Routines. Modes are preset bundles (like Sleep mode or Driving mode). Routines let you build your own custom automatic actions.

    Quick Tip

    You can also search for "Routines" in the Settings search bar at the top to find it quickly.

    2

    Create a new Routine

    ~23s
    Tap the Routines tab, then tap the plus (+) button to create a new routine. You will be asked to choose a trigger — something that causes the routine to run. Common triggers include a specific time, your location, when you connect to a certain Wi-Fi network, when you open an app, or when your battery reaches a certain level. Tap Add Trigger and choose the one you want.
    3

    Set the trigger details

    ~28s
    After choosing a trigger type, configure the details. For a time trigger, choose the days and exact time. For a location trigger, type in an address or tap a point on the map. For a Wi-Fi trigger, choose your home network name from the list. Tap Done when the trigger is configured.

    Warning

    Location-based triggers use your phone's GPS. Make sure you have granted the Modes and Routines app permission to access your location. If it asks, choose Allow All the Time for location-based routines to work reliably.

    4

    Add the automatic action

    ~30s
    Now set what you want the phone to do when the trigger happens. Tap Add Action. You will see a long list of things your phone can do automatically: turn on Do Not Disturb, change the volume, turn Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on or off, change screen brightness, open an app, send a message, and much more. Tap an action and configure its details.

    Quick Tip

    You can add more than one action to a single routine. For example, one routine could both turn on Do Not Disturb AND lower your screen brightness at bedtime.

    5

    Save and test your Routine

    ~21s
    Tap Save at the top right to save the routine. It will now appear in your Routines list and will run automatically when the trigger condition is met. To test it, you can tap the routine and choose Run Now to make sure the actions work as expected. You can edit or delete any routine at any time from the Routines list.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: How to Set Up Automatic Routines on Your Android Phone

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    Your Android phone can take automatic actions based on things happening around you — the time of day, your location, which app you open, or even when you plug in a charger. These automatic actions are called Routines (on Samsung phones) or Automations (on Pixel and other Android phones). Once set up, they run in the background without you having to think about them.

    Here are some examples of what you can do with Routines:

    When it is 10 PM every night, automatically turn on Do Not Disturb mode so calls and notifications do not wake you up. Then at 7 AM, turn it back off.

    When you arrive home (detected by your phone's location), automatically turn on Wi-Fi and turn off mobile data to save on your data plan.

    When you open a music app, automatically turn Bluetooth on so your wireless speaker connects.

    When your battery drops below 20%, automatically turn on Battery Saver mode.

    Samsung Galaxy phones have a built-in feature called Modes and Routines (previously called Bixby Routines) that is very capable and included with the phone at no cost. Google Pixel phones have a simpler version in Settings called Digital Wellbeing and also support routines through the Google Home app if you have smart home devices.

    For Android phones from other manufacturers, or if you want more advanced automation, a free app called Tasker (available in the Google Play Store) provides powerful automation — though it is more complex to learn.

    This guide focuses on Samsung's Modes and Routines, which is the most widely used and accessible option for beginners.

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    How to Set Up Automatic Routines on Your Android Phone — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure