Samsung SM-R420 Galaxy Buds3 FE User Manual

USER GUIDE
SM-R420
English. 08/2025. Rev.1.0
www.samsung.com
Table of Contents
Getting started
Usage notices
3
4
6
8
11
36 Precautions for using the device
37 Notes on package contents and
accessories
38 Maintaining water and dust
resistance
39 Precautions for using the earbuds
40 Cleaning and managing the Galaxy
Buds
41 Restarting the earbuds
42 Coupling the earbuds
42 How to find the standby power
consumption information for this
product
About the Galaxy Buds3 FE
Device layout and functions
Replacing ear tips
Charging the battery
Battery indicator light identification
Using the earbuds
13
Connecting the earbuds to a mobile
device
18 Using networks
18 Wearing the earbuds
20 Using the earbud by gestures
22 Using the noise controls modes
25 Listening to music
26 Using the equaliser
26 Using call features
27 Bixby
Appendix
43 Troubleshooting
47 Removing the battery
Galaxy Buds settings
29
Configuring settings for the Galaxy
Buds
2
Getting started
About the Galaxy Buds3 FE
Galaxy Buds3 FE (hereafter, Galaxy Buds) are wireless earbuds which allow you to listen
to music or answer incoming calls after connecting them to your mobile device even
while doing other activities, such as working out.
Do not wear the earbuds in high-traffic areas, such as roads or crosswalks. Doing so
may result in accidents because of slowed reaction times.
3
Getting started
Device layout and functions
Earbud
Microphone
Swipe area
Touch-sensitive sensor
Pinch area
Charging contacts
Ear tip
Speaker / Microphone
Microphone
4
Getting started
Charging case
Charging contacts
(left)
Charging contacts
(right)
Battery indicator
light
Connect button
Charger port
(USB Type-C)
•
Use the device in a place without magnetic interference for the device to operate
normally.
•
Your device and some accessories (sold separately) contain magnets. Keep
it away from credit cards, implanted medical devices, and other devices that
may be affected by magnets. In the case of medical devices, keep your device
more than 15 cm apart. Stop using your device if you suspect any interference
with your medical device and consult your physician or your medical device
manufacturer.
•
If you have a medical implant in your heart, do not place your device in a pocket
close to your implanted device, such as your chest or inner jacket pocket.
•
Keep a safe distance between objects that are affected by magnets, and your
device and some accessories (sold separately) that contain magnets. Objects
such as credit cards, passbooks, access cards, boarding passes, or parking passes
may be damaged or disabled by the magnets in the device.
5
Getting started
If you use the earbuds when they are broken, there may be a risk of injury. Use
the earbuds only after they have been repaired at a Samsung Service Centre or an
authorised service centre.
•
If foreign materials are placed on the touch-sensitive sensor, they may cause the
sensor to malfunction. Before wearing the earbuds, clean the sensor first.
•
If there is sweat or liquid on the charging contacts, corrosion may occur on the
Galaxy Buds. When there is sweat or liquid on the charging contacts or earbuds,
clean them before inserting the earbuds in the charging case.
Replacing ear tips
•
Do not put the earbuds in your ears without ear tips. Doing so may hurt your
ears.
•
Do not pull the ear tip excessively when you attach or detach it. The ear tip may
tear.
•
Do not press the ear tip excessively or twist it. The ear tip may be damaged.
1 Turn over the ear tip inserted into the earbud and vertically pull on the middle part of
the ear tip to remove it.
2 Select the ear tips that fit your ears.
6
Getting started
3 Turn over the ear tip and align the protruding part on the speaker of the earbud with
the groove of the ear tip, and push it in until the ear tip is firmly attached.
Make sure the edges of the ear tips are securely attached to the earbuds. If not,
remove the ear tips and reinstall them.
7
Getting started
Charging the battery
Fully charge the battery before using the earbuds for the first time or when they have
been unused for extended periods. The earbuds will start to work while charging. When
you charge the battery for the first time or when the battery is completely discharged, it
needs at least 10 minutes to start to work.
The charging case, which has a built-in battery, is charged along with the earbuds that
are in the charging case when connected to the charger. If there is enough battery left
in the charging case, the earbuds will automatically charge when inserted into the
charging case without connecting the charger, and charging will automatically stop
when fully charged.
If you put the earbuds in a completely discharged charging case, they may emit a
sound. Sufficiently charge the charging case before inserting the earbuds.
1 Open the charging case.
2 Check the direction of each earbud and correctly insert them into their corresponding
slots in the charging case.
3 Close the charging case.
4 Connect the USB cable to the charger and then plug the USB cable into the charger
port.
5 Plug the charger into an electric socket.
The batteries of the earbuds and the charging case are charged simultaneously.
6 After fully charging, disconnect the charging case from the charger. First disconnect
the USB cable from the charging case and then unplug the charger from the electric
socket.
8
Getting started
Checking the battery level
Connect the earbuds to your mobile device, you can check the battery status of the
earbuds and the charging case on your mobile device’s quick settings panel. Open the
quick settings panel and touch and hold the volume adjustment bar. Refer to Connecting
the earbuds to a mobile device for more information.
•
When the remaining battery level is low, a notification will appear on your
mobile device’s notification panel.
•
You can check the battery status on the quick settings panel only on mobile
devices running One UI version 7.0 and later.
Reducing the battery consumption
When you are not using the earbuds, store them in a charging case that has been
charged. If not, the touch-sensitive sensor will continue to work, and it will affect the
usage time and battery consumption.
Battery charging tips and precautions
Use only Samsung-approved charger and cable specifically designed for your
Galaxy Buds. Incompatible charger and cable can cause serious injuries or damage
to your device.
•
Connecting the charger improperly may cause serious damage to the charging
case. Any damage caused by misuse is not covered by the warranty.
•
Use only USB Type-C cable. The charging case may be damaged if you use Micro
USB cable.
•
If you charge the Galaxy Buds while the charger port is wet, the Galaxy Buds may
be damaged. Thoroughly dry the charger port before charging the Galaxy Buds.
9
Getting started
•
Chargers and USB cables are sold separately.
•
To save energy, unplug the charger when not in use. The charger does not have a
power switch, so you must unplug the charger from the electric socket when not
in use to avoid wasting power.
•
When using a charger, it is recommended to use an approved charger that
guarantees the charging performance.
•
Keep the charging case closed while you store or charge the earbuds, or when
you charge the charging case.
•
If you touch the charging contacts while charging the charging case, it may
affect charging.
•
If there is sweat or liquid on the charging contacts, corrosion may occur on the
Galaxy Buds. When there is sweat or liquid on the charging contacts or earbuds,
clean them before inserting the earbuds in the charging case.
•
Even if you do not remove your earbuds from the charging case after the earbuds
are fully charged, it will likely not have a huge impact on the life of your Galaxy
Buds.
•
If you will not be using your Galaxy Buds for a long time, store them after they
are charged.
•
Using a power source other than the charger, such as a computer, may result in a
slower charging speed because of a lower electric current.
•
While charging, the Galaxy Buds and the charger may heat up. This is normal and
should not affect the Galaxy Buds lifespan or performance. If the battery gets
hotter than usual, the charger may stop charging.
•
If the Galaxy Buds are not charging properly, take the Galaxy Buds and the
charger to a Samsung Service Centre or an authorised service centre.
•
Avoid bending the USB cable. Doing so may damage or reduce the lifespan of the
USB cable. Never use a damaged USB cable.
10
Getting started
Battery indicator light identification
Check the charging status of the earbuds and charging case through the colour of the
battery indicator light.
The battery indicator light is displayed when you briefly press the Connect button on the
bottom of the charging case or open or close the charging case.
Battery indicator light
Colour
Continuously red
Continuously green
Status
•
The earbuds (if inserted) and charging case are
charging.
•
The earbuds (if inserted) and charging case are fully
charged.
•
Charging blocked (abnormal earbud or charging case
temperature, water, sweat, or foreign materials on
the charging contacts of the earbuds or charging
case)
•
If the earbuds are not inserted: the charging case’s
battery power is low (lower than 10%).
•
If the earbuds are inserted: the earbuds are charging.
•
If the earbuds are not inserted: the charging case’s
battery power is low (between 10% and 29%).
•
If the earbuds are not inserted: the charging case’s
battery power is moderate (between 30% and 59%).
Flashes red
Flashes red (flashes after
opening or closing the
charging case)
Red (stays on for 5 seconds
after opening or closing the
charging case)
Yellow (stays on for 5
seconds after opening or
closing the charging case)
11
Getting started
Colour
Status
Green (stays on for 5
seconds after opening or
closing the charging case)
•
If the earbuds are inserted: the earbuds are fully
charged.
•
If the earbuds are not inserted: the charging case’s
battery power is high (more than 60%).
•
If the battery indicator light does not work as described, disconnect the charger
from the charging case and reconnect it.
•
If charging is blocked because of water, sweat, or foreign materials on the
charging contacts of the earbuds or charging case, clean the charging contacts
of the earbuds or charging case and try charging again.
12
Using the earbuds
Connecting the earbuds to a mobile device
Before the connection
Charge the charging case sufficiently.
•
On mobile devices running Android OS version 15 or earlier, the Galaxy Wearable
app must be installed on your mobile device. If the app is not installed on your
mobile device, download the app from Galaxy Store or Play Store.
•
You can download the Galaxy Wearable app only on mobile devices running
Android OS version 11 (API 30), or later, and with 1.5 GB of memory or more.
Connecting the earbuds to a Samsung mobile device for the
first time
1 Check the direction of each earbud and correctly insert them into their corresponding
slots in the charging case.
If the battery indicator light does not flash, connect the charging case to the charger
and charge them for more than 10 minutes.
2 Close the charging case and open it.
Alternatively, open the charging case and press and hold the Connect button on the
bottom of the charging case for more than 3 seconds.
The earbuds will enter Bluetooth pairing mode automatically and a pop-up window
will appear on your mobile device.
If the pop-up window does not appear or if you want to connect to a non-Samsung
mobile device that also uses the Android OS, refer to Connecting the earbuds to a
non-Samsung mobile device that also uses the Android OS (or, the connection pop-up
window does not appear).
When the battery indicator light flashes in red, take out the earbuds from the
charging case and insert them into the case again.
13
Using the earbuds
3 On your mobile device, tap Connect on the pop-up window and follow the on-screen
instructions to complete the connection.
Once the connection has been set up, the earbuds will be automatically connected to
your mobile device whenever you open the charging case while the earbuds are inside
it.
•
Connection methods may vary depending on your mobile device and software
version.
•
The appearance of the pop-up window may vary depending on your connected
mobile device.
•
If the earbuds do not connect to a mobile device within 3 minutes, Bluetooth
pairing mode will be turned off. Close the charging case again and open it. The
earbuds will enter Bluetooth pairing mode.
•
If you want to connect to another mobile device after a connection has been set
up, refer to Connecting with other devices after disconnecting from the previous
mobile device.
14
Using the earbuds
•
When connecting earbuds with a mobile device that has been signed in to a
Samsung account, the earbuds pairing information will be synced on the other
mobile devices that use the same Samsung account and you do not need to
pair them at the beginning again. To connect the other devices that use the
same Samsung account with the earbuds, on the mobile devices that you want
to connect, open Settings, tap Connections → Bluetooth, and then select the
earbuds synced through the Samsung account.
•
If only a single earbud is connected to your mobile device, you will hear the
sound in mono. It will automatically switch to Stereo mode when both earbuds
are connected to your mobile device.
•
If the earbuds do not connect to a mobile device, the connection pop-up window
does not appear, or your mobile device cannot find the earbuds, store them in
the charging case and press the Connect button for more than 3 seconds to
enter Bluetooth pairing mode manually. When Bluetooth pairing mode has been
entered, the battery indicator light will flash red, green, and blue.
Connecting the earbuds to a non-Samsung mobile device
that also uses the Android OS (or, the connection pop-up
window does not appear)
If you connect to a non-Samsung mobile device that also uses the Android OS,
some of the features of the earbuds may not be available and the earbuds may not
work properly.
1 Check the direction of each earbud and correctly insert them into their corresponding
slots in the charging case.
If the battery indicator light does not flash, connect the charging case to the charger
and charge them for more than 10 minutes.
15
Using the earbuds
2 Close the charging case and open it.
Alternatively, open the charging case and press and hold the Connect button on the
bottom of the charging case for more than 3 seconds.
The earbuds will enter Bluetooth pairing mode.
3 On your mobile device, turn on the Bluetooth feature to connect the earbuds to your
mobile device.
On mobile devices running Android OS version 15 or earlier, open the Galaxy
Wearable app to complete the connection.
Precautions for using Bluetooth
•
To avoid problems when connecting your earbuds to another device, place the
devices close to each other.
•
Ensure that your earbuds and the other Bluetooth device are within the maximum
Bluetooth connection range (10 m). The distance may vary depending on the
environment the devices are used in.
•
Ensure that there are no obstacles between the earbuds and a connected device,
including human bodies, walls, corners, or fences.
•
Do not touch the Bluetooth antenna of a connected device.
•
Bluetooth uses the same frequency as some industrial, scientific, medical, and low
power products and interference may occur when making connections near these
types of products.
•
Some devices, especially those that are not tested or approved by the Bluetooth SIG,
may be incompatible with the earbuds.
•
Do not use the Bluetooth feature for illegal purposes (for example, pirating copies of
files or illegally tapping communications for commercial purposes).
16
Using the earbuds
Connecting and disconnecting the earbuds
Disconnecting mobile devices from the earbuds
Insert the earbuds into the charging case and close it. The Bluetooth connection will
end.
To manually disconnect the earbuds from your mobile device, open Settings on your
mobile device, tap Connections → Bluetooth, and then disconnect the earbuds from
your mobile device under Paired devices.
Reconnecting mobile devices with the earbuds that temporarily
disconnected
To reconnect the earbuds that temporarily disconnected from a device, insert them into
the charging case and close it. Then, open the charging case again. Alternatively, open
the charging case and press and hold the Connect button on the bottom of the charging
case for more than 3 seconds.
To manually reconnect the earbuds to your mobile device, turn on the Bluetooth feature
on your mobile device.
Connecting with other devices after disconnecting from the previous
mobile device
1 Open Settings on your mobile device, tap Connections → Bluetooth, and then unpair
the earbuds from your mobile device under Paired devices to disconnect the earbuds
from the previous mobile device.
2 Open the charging case and press and hold the Connect button on the bottom of the
charging case to enter Bluetooth pairing mode.
3 On your new mobile device, turn on the Bluetooth feature to connect the earbuds to
your mobile device.
17
Using the earbuds
Switch the mobile devices connected with earbuds
When the earbuds are connected with two or more mobile devices, you can switch the
mobile devices without disconnecting from the previous mobile device.
On the mobile device that you want to switch to, open Settings, tap Connections →
Bluetooth, and then select earbuds under Paired devices.
The connections between your earbuds and the mobile devices can be switched
automatically under the circumstances. For example, when your earbuds are
registered on both a tablet and a phone that are logged in to the same Samsung
account, you can receive an incoming call from the phone with your earbuds while
watching a video on the tablet since the earbuds’ connection is switched to the
phone automatically.
Using networks
You can use networks, such as a Bluetooth.
Open Settings on your connected mobile device, tap Connections, and then tap the
Bluetooth switch to turn it on.
When not using the network, tap the switch to turn it off.
Some features may not be available depending on the model.
Wearing the earbuds
Adjust the earbuds to fit your ears.
•
If the touch-sensitive sensor does not make contact with your ear, the earbud
may not work. If you do not hear the sound informing you that the earbud is
detected, remove the earbuds from your ears and put them in again or switch to
ear tips that fit your ears.
•
If the earbuds are not positioned correctly in your ears, features like calling
through the earbuds may not work. Use a pair of ear tips that fit your ears and
wear the earbuds properly.
•
Follow all posted warnings and directions from authorised personnel in areas
where the use of wireless devices is restricted, such as aeroplanes and hospitals.
18
Using the earbuds
1 Hold each earbud and remove them vertically from the charging case.
2 Check the direction of each earbud.
3 Insert the earbuds into your ears with the imprinted direction marks facing you, and
orient the microphone on the bottom of the earbuds toward your mouth.
4 Adjust the earbuds by rotating them to the left and right so that they fit comfortably
in your ears.
The touch-sensitive sensors will detect that you are wearing the earbuds when you
put them on. Then, the earbud will emit a sound informing you that the earbud is
detected.
L
19
Using the earbuds
Using the earbud by gestures
Introduction
Pinch or swipe the earbuds to play or stop music or answer or decline calls. You can also
set the earbuds to perform other actions by pinching or swiping them. The following
term, gesture areas, includes both the pinch area and the swipe area.
Swipe area
Pinch area
Pinch area
•
To avoid hurting your ears, do not apply excessive pressure to the earbuds.
•
To avoid damaging the gesture areas, do not pinch or swipe the earbuds with
anything sharp.
•
If you have a metal object, such as a piercing in your ear, remove it. If a metal
object comes into contact with the earbuds, the earbuds’ gesture feature may
malfunction or become unresponsive.
•
If there is sweat or liquid on the earbuds, clean them. The earbuds’ gesture
feature may malfunction or become unresponsive because of sweat or liquid.
•
When the earbuds are removed from your ears, be careful not to pinch or swipe
their gesture areas. This could result in unintentionally launching features.
20
Using the earbuds
Understanding gestures
Single pinch
•
Play or pause track.
•
Answer or end a call.
•
Stop using the Read notifications aloud feature.
Double pinch
•
Play next track.
Triple pinch
•
Play previous track.
‒ If you pinch the earbud three times 3 seconds after a track
begins playing, it will start the track from beginning. Pinch the
earbud three times within 3 seconds of when a track begins
playing to play the previous track.
Pinch and hold
•
Turn on the preset feature.
‒ It is set by default to turn on the Noise controls mode. Refer to
Setting a pinch and hold feature for more information about
changing feature you want to turn on.
•
Decline a call.
Swipe upwards or downwards
•
Adjust the volume.
If the earbuds do not connect to a mobile device, the connection pop-up window
does not appear, or your mobile device cannot find the earbuds, store them in
the charging case and press the Connect button for more than 3 seconds to
enter Bluetooth pairing mode manually. When Bluetooth pairing mode has been
entered, the battery indicator light will flash red, green, and blue.
21
Using the earbuds
Setting a pinch and hold feature
You can set a pinch and hold feature of each earbud to turn on features.
1 Open Settings on your mobile device and tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account.
If the earbuds’ name does not appear under the Samsung account, tap Connections
→ Bluetooth and tap next to the earbuds’ name under Paired devices.
2 Tap Earbud controls and tap the Left or Right switch under Pinch and hold controls
to turn it on.
3 Select the pinch and hold feature for each earbud.
•
•
•
•
Switch noise controls: Set to turn the following noise controls modes on or off:
Ambient sound and Active noise cancelling. Refer to Activating the noise controls
modes for more information.
Digital assistant: Open assistant app to use device features or search for
information using your voice.
Bixby: Start a conversation with an intelligent voice assistant service. When using
Bixby, refer to Using Bixby for more information.
Apps: Open apps you select such as Interpreter or Mindfulness.
Available options may vary depending on the connected mobile device.
Using the noise controls modes
Introduction
There are two noise controls modes: Ambient sound and Active noise cancelling.
Turn on Ambient sound mode to hear your surroundings clearly so you can detect any
potentially dangerous situations or hear the other person’s voice during a conversation.
Turn on the Active noise cancelling feature to reduce the volume of the sounds around
you. Use it when you want to avoid distractions, such as when listening to music.
If the microphone (the outer microphone while wearing the earbuds) and its area
are covered completely, feedback may occur when activating noise controls mode.
You can only turn on the Active noise cancelling feature when wearing both
earbuds in your ears.
22
Using the earbuds
Activating the noise controls modes
Activating from the earbuds
Make sure that the pinch and hold feature is set to Switch noise controls and then pinch
and hold the earbud.
The following noise controls modes will be launched: Ambient sound and Active noise
cancelling.
If the pinch and hold feature is set to Switch noise controls and includes an option
with Off, the noise controls modes may turn off. Tap Switch noise controls to check
the option you selected.
Activating from the quick settings panel
Open the quick settings panel on your mobile device, touch and hold the volume
adjustment bar, and then tap Ambient sound or Active noise cancelling.
This feature is available only on mobile devices running One UI version 7.0 and
later.
Activating from Settings
•
This feature is available only on mobile devices running the Android 11 One UI
version 3.1 and later.
•
Available options may vary depending on the connected mobile device.
1 Open Settings on your mobile device and tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account.
If the earbuds’ name does not appear under the Samsung account, tap Connections
→ Bluetooth and tap next to the earbuds’ name under Paired devices.
2 Tap Ambient sound or Active noise cancelling.
Activating from the widget
Add the Buds controller widget to the mobile device and tap the desired noise controls
icon.
23
Using the earbuds
Adjusting noise control intensity
When Ambient sound or Active noise cancelling is turned on as a noise controls mode,
adjust the volume of surrounding sounds or the strength of Active noise cancelling to
match your preferences.
1 Open the quick settings panel on your mobile device, touch and hold the volume
adjustment bar, and then tap Ambient sound or Active noise cancelling.
2 Drag the adjustment bar under the Ambient sound volume or Active noise cancelling
level.
Use Ambient sound during calls
The earbuds will make your voice audible during calls, helping you to avoid
unintentionally raising your voice and also making long calls more comfortable.
1 Open Settings on your mobile device and tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account.
If the earbuds’ name does not appear under the Samsung account, tap Connections
→ Bluetooth and tap next to the earbuds’ name under Paired devices.
2 Tap Use Ambient sound during calls and then tap the switch to turn it on.
24
Using the earbuds
Listening to music
Listen to music saved in your mobile device by connecting the earbuds to the mobile
device. You can stream music played from the connected mobile device.
On your mobile device, open a music player app and play music.
If you are listening to music through the earbuds and put the earbuds on the floor,
the music may continue playing. The same situation may also occur if the charging
case’s battery has been completely discharged.
Playing or pausing the track
Pinch the earbud to play or pause the track.
Playing the next track
Double pinch the earbud to play the next track.
Playing the previous track
Pinch the earbud three times to play the previous track.
If you pinch the earbud three times 3 seconds after a track begins playing, it will
start the track from beginning. Pinch the earbud three times within 3 seconds of
when a track begins playing to play the previous track.
Adjusting the volume
Swipe the earbud upwards to increase the volume, or swipe the earbud downwards to
lower the volume.
•
Adjust the volume through your connected mobile device if a sound is low in
your earbuds while at full volume.
•
If you connect the earbuds to your mobile device while listening to music, the
volume may change.
25
Using the earbuds
Using the equaliser
You can select from several different equaliser options and enjoy the same music with a
different and unique sound.
Open the quick settings panel on your mobile device, touch and hold the volume
adjustment bar, tap Equaliser, and then select an option you want. Select Custom to
adjust the equaliser as you wish.
Using call features
When wearing the earbuds while they are connected to a mobile device, you can answer
and control calls from the connected mobile device.
If you are not notified of the incoming call’s phone number or the name saved
in your contacts through voice notification, open the Phone app on your mobile
device and tap → Settings → Answering and ending calls, and then tap the Read
caller names aloud switch to turn it on.
Answering or declining a call
When a call comes in while you are wearing the earbuds, they will emit a sound and a
voice notification will inform you of the incoming call’s phone number or the name saved
in your contacts.
To answer the call, pinch the earbud.
To decline the call, pinch and hold the earbud.
Ending a call
Pinch the earbud to end the current call.
26
Using the earbuds
Bixby
Introduction
Bixby is a user interface that helps you use your device more conveniently.
You can talk to Bixby or type text. Bixby will launch a feature you request or show the
information you want on the connected mobile device. Visit www.samsung.com/bixby
for more information.
•
This feature is available only when a mobile device that supports Bixby is
connected.
•
Only some languages are available depending on Bixby set on your mobile
device. Certain features may not be available depending on your region.
Starting Bixby
Make sure you set a pinch and hold feature for opening Bixby and pinch and hold the
earbud.
Using Bixby
Pinch and hold the earbud and say what you want. Alternatively, say the wake-up phrase
and say what you want.
For example, while pinching and holding the earbud, say “How’s the weather today?” The
weather information will appear on your connected mobile device.
If Bixby asks you a question during a conversation, you can continue to talk to Bixby
without pinching and holding the earbud or tapping .
Waking up Bixby using your voice
You can start a conversation with Bixby by saying the wake-up phrase (“Hi, Bixby” or
“Bixby”) you have set on your mobile device while wearing the earbuds.
1 Open Settings on your mobile device and tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account.
If the earbuds’ name does not appear under the Samsung account, tap Connections
→ Bluetooth and tap next to the earbuds’ name under Paired devices.
2 Tap Voice controls and tap the Bixby voice wake-up switch to turn it on.
27
Using the earbuds
Communicating by typing text
If your voice is not recognised because of noisy environments or if you are in a situation
where speaking is difficult, you can communicate with Bixby through text.
Pinch and hold the earbud, tap
, and then type what you want.
During the communication, Bixby also will answer you through text instead of voice
feedback.
Tips for better voice recognition
•
Speak clearly.
•
Speak in quiet places.
•
Do not use offensive or slang words.
•
Avoid speaking in dialectal accents.
The Galaxy Buds may not recognise what you say or may perform unwanted commands
depending on your surroundings or how you speak.
28
Galaxy Buds settings
Configuring settings for the Galaxy Buds
Introduction
Check the status of the Galaxy Buds that are connected to your mobile device and
configure their settings.
Open Settings on your mobile device and tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account.
If the earbuds’ name does not appear under the Samsung account, tap Connections →
Bluetooth and tap next to the earbuds’ name under Paired devices.
•
When connecting the earbuds to a mobile device running Android OS version
15 or earlier, you can check the status of the Galaxy Buds and configure their
settings on the Galaxy Wearable app.
•
Some features, such as the noise controls modes or Bixby voice wake-up, may
affect the usage time of your earbuds.
Setting the noise controls modes
Turn on or off the Ambient sound or Active noise cancelling feature based on your
situation or surroundings.
On the Settings screen of your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then select a feature and change its settings.
•
Off: Turn off the noise controls mode.
•
Ambient sound: Allows you to hear ambient sounds.
•
Active noise cancelling: Reduce external sounds.
•
Ambient sound volume / Active noise cancelling level: Adjust the volume of
surrounding sounds or the strength of Active noise cancelling to match your
preferences while running the Ambient sound or Active noise cancelling feature.
•
Use Ambient sound during calls: The earbuds will make your voice audible during
calls, helping you to avoid unintentionally raising your voice and also making long
calls more comfortable.
29
Galaxy Buds settings
Sound quality and effects
You can configure the sound quality and sound effects of the earbuds.
On the Settings screen on your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then tap Sound quality and effects.
•
360 audio: Provides 360-degree surround sound for an immersive environment
while enjoying media.
• This feature is available only on mobile devices running Android 11 One UI
version 3.1 and later, and may not be available depending on the model of
the mobile device.
•
You can enjoy better quality audio if you place the connected mobile device
closer to you.
•
This feature may not be supported because of how the media is played.
•
When you are in areas with poor signal reception, the connection to the
mobile device may be lost temporarily.
•
Equaliser: Select from several different equaliser options and enjoy the same music
with a different and unique sound. Refer to Using the equaliser for more information.
•
Boost dialogue: Voices can be heard more clearly than the background sounds in
videos.
•
Loudness normalisation: Prevents the sound from suddenly becoming too loud or
too quiet during media playback.
•
App sound settings: Check and manage the optimised sound settings you saved for
each media app. To adjust sound settings for each app, open the quick settings panel
while playing content in the app, touch and hold the volume adjustment bar, and
then change the settings. The same settings will be applied the next time you run
the app.
•
Earbud fit test: Check the earbuds’ fit to ensure better sound and Active noise
cancelling.
Available options may vary depending on the connected mobile device.
30
Galaxy Buds settings
Earbud controls
Configure settings for the gesture features of the earbuds.
On the Settings screen of your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then tap Earbud controls.
•
Media controls: During media playback, you can use the gesture feature of the
earbuds to control music, such as playing or pausing it. Refer to Understanding
gestures for more information.
Pinch and hold controls
•
Left: Select the pinch and hold feature for the left earbud.
•
Right: Select the pinch and hold feature for the right earbud.
Refer to Setting a pinch and hold feature for more information.
Call controls
•
Answer call or end call: Pinch to answer or end a call.
•
Decline call: Pinch and hold to decline a call.
Available options may vary depending on the connected mobile device.
Voice controls
Open the assistant app or Bixby app with your voice to use device features or search for
information.
On the Settings screen of your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then tap Voice controls.
•
Set up Google digital assistant: Open the digital assistant app with your voice even
when you are not using the mobile device.
•
Bixby voice wake-up: Wake Bixby with your voice to start a conversation with an
intelligent voice assistance service.
Available options may vary depending on the connected mobile device.
31
Galaxy Buds settings
Manage connections
Change settings for various connections of the earbuds.
On the Settings screen of your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then tap Manage connections.
•
Calls: You can check and answer calls from the connected mobile device through
the earbuds. If this feature is turned off, you cannot receive the calls through the
earbuds even if the earbuds are worn.
•
Audio: You can hear the media sound of the mobile device through the earbuds. If
this feature is turned off, the media sound will play only on the mobile device even if
the earbuds are worn.
If both Calls and Audio features are turned off, the earbuds are disconnected from
the mobile device.
•
Seamless earbud connection: You can change which mobile device to connect your
earbuds with. You can turn on the feature to switch the connection from your current
mobile device to a nearby mobile device logged in to the same Samsung account or
a device that has previously connected with your earbuds.
Be careful not to connect your earbuds to another person’s mobile device.
•
Auto switch Buds: The connections between your earbuds and the mobile devices
are switched automatically under the circumstances. For example, when your
earbuds are registered on both a tablet and a phone that are logged in to the
same Samsung account, you can receive an incoming call from the phone with
your earbuds while watching a video on the tablet since the earbuds’ connection is
switched to the phone automatically.
•
Reset: You can reset all your earbuds settings.
32
Galaxy Buds settings
Advanced features
Turn on advanced features of the earbuds and change the settings that control them.
On the Settings screen of your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then tap Advanced features.
Read notifications aloud
You will receive notifications from the mobile device’s apps through the earbuds.
: You can search for apps to receive notifications from.
•
•
Read aloud while using phone: Set the earbuds to receive notifications of the mobile
device even when you are using the mobile device.
•
Read aloud: Check the apps categorised by those set to read notifications and
change the notification settings for each app. You can also tap
→ All to check the
notification settings for all apps, and tap the switch next to the app to set whether or
not to receive notifications differently for an app.
In-ear detection for calls
You can set the earbuds or mobile device to take the call by detecting whether the
earbuds are worn during the call. When this feature is turned off, the caller’s voice is
played on the earbuds even if the earbuds are not worn.
Labs
Use new earbud features.
•
Gaming mode: Minimise audio delay to remove the lag between the video and
sound output, and hear properly synced audio whenever playing games.
This feature is available only when connecting with a Samsung mobile device
that uses the Android OS.
33
Galaxy Buds settings
Accessibility
Configure various settings to improve the accessibility of the earbuds.
On the Settings screen of your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then tap Accessibility.
•
Left/right sound balance: Adjust the left and right volume balance if you have a
hearing impairment or if using a single earbud is more convenient. Drag the Left/
right sound balance adjustment bar to adjust the balance. If you drag the bar to the
left, the left earbud’s volume will increase and vice versa.
•
Noise controls with one earbud: Turn on noise controls modes even when only one
earbud is worn.
Find my earbuds
If you misplace your earbuds, you can use the Samsung Find app installed on your
connected mobile device to find it.
On the Settings screen of your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then tap Find my earbuds.
The Samsung Find app will be launched on your mobile device and you can check your
misplaced earbuds’ location on the map. Also, depending on your model, you can find
your earbuds by following the sound emitted from them or by following the emitted
sound and looking for the blinking blade lights.
•
Samsung Find app support may vary depending on the software version of the
connected mobile device.
•
To find your earbuds using the Samsung Find app, Samsung Find’s Lost mode
must be turned on, and the features related to finding devices offline must also
be turned on.
•
If the earbuds you are trying to find are outside the charging case, it may take
4 minutes or more to search nearby to find the earbuds.
Diagnostics
Test your Galaxy Buds using Samsung Members.
On the Settings screen of your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then tap Diagnostics.
34
Galaxy Buds settings
Earbuds software update
Update your earbuds’ software through the firmware over-the-air (FOTA) service.
On the Settings screen of your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then tap Earbuds software update.
•
Download and install: Check for and install updates manually.
•
Auto update: Set to install updates automatically when the earbuds are in the
charging case.
About earbuds
Access the information of the Galaxy Buds.
On the Settings screen of your mobile device, tap the earbuds’ name under the Samsung
account, and then tap About earbuds.
To change your Galaxy Buds’ name, tap Rename.
•
Legal information: Check the legal information for the Galaxy Buds.
•
Software information: Check the Galaxy Buds’ software information.
•
Battery information: Check the Galaxy Buds’ battery information.
35
Usage notices
Precautions for using the device
Please read this guide when using the device to ensure safe and proper use.
•
Descriptions are based on the device’s default settings.
•
Some content may differ from your device depending on the region, service provider,
model specifications, or device’s software.
•
Before using other mobile devices, make sure they are compatible with the device.
Visit the Samsung website to check the specifications of compatible mobile devices.
•
Software, sound sources, wallpapers, images, and other media provided with
this device are licensed for limited use. Extracting and using these materials for
commercial or other purposes is an infringement of copyright laws. Users are
entirely responsible for illegal use of media.
•
Default apps that come with the device are subject to updates and may no longer be
supported without prior notice.
•
Modifying the device’s operating system or installing software from unofficial
sources may result in device malfunctions and data damage or loss. These actions
are violations of your Samsung licence agreement and will void your warranty.
•
Some functions may not work as described in this guide depending on the maker
and model of the mobile device you connect to the device.
•
This product includes certain free/open source software. The licence
information of the open source software used in this product can be found at
opensource.samsung.com.
•
Your device contains magnets. Keep it away from credit cards, implanted medical
devices, and other devices that may be affected by magnets. In the case of medical
devices, keep your device more than 15 cm apart. Stop using your device if you
suspect any interference with your medical device and consult your physician or your
medical device manufacturer.
•
This product operates using magnets. Do not store your device near magnetic fields.
Doing so may cause malfunctions.
36
Usage notices
Instructional icons
Warning: situations that could cause injury to yourself or others
Caution: situations that could cause damage to your device or other equipment
Notice: notes, usage tips, or additional information
Notes on package contents and accessories
Refer to the quick start guide for package contents.
•
The items supplied with the Galaxy Buds and any available accessories may vary
depending on the region or carrier.
•
The supplied items are designed only for this Galaxy Buds and may not be
compatible with other devices.
•
Appearances and specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Also, the
size of the ear tips are subject to change to provide a better fit.
•
You can purchase additional accessories from your local Samsung retailer. Make sure
they are compatible with the Galaxy Buds before purchase.
•
Use Samsung-approved accessories. Using unapproved accessories may cause the
performance problems and malfunctions that are not covered by the warranty.
•
Availability of all accessories is subject to change depending entirely on
manufacturing companies. For more information about available accessories, refer
to the Samsung website.
37
Usage notices
Maintaining water and dust resistance
Your device is water- and dust-resistant and meets the following international
standards. The charging case is not water-resistant.
•
IP54 water resistance rating certification: According to the requirements of the
IEC 60529 standard, it was tested in 15–35 °C, 86–106 kPa, 10 L/min, fresh water for
5 minutes without moving.
You must follow the guidelines to maintain the water- and dust-resistance of your
device.
•
Avoid exposing the devices to swimming pool water or seawater.
•
Do not expose the devices to unclean water or other liquids, such as soapy water, oil,
perfume, sunscreen, hand cleaner, chemical products such as cosmetics, or liquids
that include alcohol.
•
Do not let the devices come into contact with water moving with force or running
water.
•
Do not wear your devices while swimming, playing water sports, or taking a shower.
•
Do not use the devices in places where the temperature is higher than the normal
range or there is a lot of humidity, such as a sauna.
•
Do not drop the devices or subject it to a heavy impact.
•
Do not put the devices in a washing machine or dryer.
If the devices are exposed to water or contaminants, follow the guidelines below:
•
If the devices are exposed to fresh water, dry them thoroughly by wiping them with a
clean, soft cloth and shaking them to remove any water from the devices.
•
If the devices are contaminated with or exposed to any liquid other than fresh water,
use them only after they have been repaired at a Samsung Service Centre or an
authorised service centre.
It is not recommended to use the devices under water.
38
Usage notices
Precautions for using the earbuds
•
Excessive exposure to loud sounds can cause hearing damage.
•
Using the earbuds while walking may distract your attention and cause an accident.
•
Always turn the volume down before using the earbuds and use only the minimum
volume setting necessary to hear your conversation or music.
•
If your ears or earbuds are wet or have foreign materials on them, or if you have
prolonged skin contact with the earbuds, it may result in skin irritation. Make sure
that your ears and earbuds are clean and dry before wearing the earbuds.
•
In dry environments, static electricity can build up in the earbuds. Avoid using
earbuds in dry environments or touch a metal object to discharge static electricity
before using the earbuds.
•
Do not use earbuds while driving or riding. Doing so may distract your attention and
cause an accident, or may be illegal depending on your region.
•
Although the Galaxy Buds comply with international safety standards, inserting the
earbuds forcefully or wearing them for a long time may cause pain or skin irritation.
•
If you experience any skin irritation while you are wearing the earbuds, stop wearing
them immediately and consult a specialist.
•
Do not clean the earbuds with compressed air or use ultrasonic waves or external
heat sources if dust, sweat, ink, oil, or chemicals (cosmetics, sunscreen, antibacterial
spray, hand sanitiser, detergent, insecticide, etc.) come into contact with the earbuds
and charging case. Discolouration or corrosion may cause damage to the Galaxy
Buds.
•
Remove the ear tips, wash the outside and the mesh part with clean water, and then
dry them thoroughly after use. Wipe the earbuds with a soft, dry cloth if they are
contaminated.
39
Usage notices
Cleaning and managing the Galaxy Buds
Basic maintenance
•
Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the earbuds after use.
•
Keep the earbuds dry. Prevent liquid from contacting or entering the earbuds.
•
Clean the earbuds regularly to prevent earwax or debris from building up in the
microphone hole, speaker, and air duct.
Cleaning the microphone hole, speaker, and air duct
If the volume is lower than it should be with the current setting, clean the microphone
hole, speaker, and air duct. Before cleaning the speaker, detach the ear tip from the latch
at the bottom of the earbud.
Remove any earwax or debris with a clean, dry, and soft brush, cotton swabs, or other
tools.
Microphone hole
Speaker
Air duct
Do not use anything sharp or excessive force while removing earwax or debris. The
microphone hole, speaker, and air duct may be damaged.
40
Usage notices
Cleaning the charging contacts
If the battery does not charge properly, wipe the charging contacts with a dry cloth.
Charging contacts
Cleaning the earbuds and charging case
When the earbuds and charging case are exposed to foreign materials, such as dust,
sand, or metal shavings, the Galaxy Buds may not charge properly or may be damaged.
If the earbuds or the charging case were exposed to foreign materials, wipe them with a
soft and dry cloth before inserting them into the charging case.
Restarting the earbuds
If the earbuds’ gesture feature malfunctions or becomes unresponsive, and the earbuds
do not work properly, restart the earbuds.
To restart the earbuds, insert the earbuds into their corresponding slots in the charging
case, which is not discharged, close the charging case, and then remove them after
7 seconds or more.
If the charging case has low battery, connect the charging case to the charger first.
41
Usage notices
Coupling the earbuds
When you lose one of the earbuds, you do not have to purchase a new set of earbuds
because you can make a new set of earbuds with a newly purchased earbud and the
other earbud that you already have.
1 Check the direction of each earbud, the newly purchased earbud and previously used
earbud, and correctly insert them into their corresponding slots in the charging case.
2 Open the charging case and press and hold the Connect button at the bottom of the
charging case for 7 seconds.
The battery indicator light will flash blue and turn off. Then, the earbuds are coupled.
The battery indicator light will keep flashing red when the earbuds are not coupled
properly. Remove the earbuds from the charging case and insert them again. Then,
open the charging case and press and hold the Connect button at the bottom of
the charging case for 7 seconds.
3 Connect the earbuds to a mobile device.
If the software versions of both earbuds are different, upgrade the software by
following the instructions on the earbuds settings screen.
How to find the standby power consumption
information for this product
•
Access www.samsung.com/global/ecodesign_energy.
•
Search using the product model number.
This feature may not be available depending on the region, carrier, or model.
42
Appendix
Troubleshooting
Before contacting a Samsung Service Centre or an authorised service centre, please
attempt the following solutions. Some situations may not apply to your Galaxy Buds.
You can also use Samsung Members to solve any problems you might encounter while
using your device.
Your earbuds do not work
•
The battery may be completely discharged. Charge the battery completely before
using the earbuds.
•
If an earbud’s touch-sensitive sensor does not make contact with your ear, the
earbud may not work. If you do not hear a sound informing you that the earbuds are
detected, remove the earbuds from your ears and put them in again.
•
If the earbuds’ gesture feature malfunctions or becomes unresponsive, and the
earbuds do not work properly, insert the earbuds into their corresponding slots in
the charging case, which is not discharged, close the charging case, and then remove
them after 7 seconds or more.
Another Bluetooth device cannot locate your earbuds
•
Close the charging case again and open it to enter the Bluetooth pairing mode.
Ensure that your earbuds and the other Bluetooth device are within the maximum
Bluetooth connection range (10 m). The distance may vary depending on the
environment the devices are used in.
If the tips above do not solve the problem, contact a Samsung Service Centre or an
authorised service centre.
•
43
Appendix
A Bluetooth connection is not made or your earbuds and the mobile
device are disconnected
•
Ensure there are no obstacles, such as walls or electrical equipment, between the
devices.
•
When connecting the earbuds to a mobile device running Android OS version 15 or
earlier, ensure that the latest version of the Galaxy Wearable app is installed on the
mobile device. If the Galaxy Wearable app is not latest version, update the Galaxy
Wearable app to the latest version.
•
Ensure that your earbuds and the other Bluetooth device are within the maximum
Bluetooth connection range (10 m). The distance may vary depending on the
environment the devices are used in.
•
Restart the mobile device.
•
If only a single earbud is connected to your mobile device, restart the earbuds to
connect them both. To restart the earbuds, refer to Restarting the earbuds for more
information.
The battery does not charge properly (For Samsung-approved
chargers)
•
Ensure that the charging contacts of the earbuds and the charging contacts of the
charging case are in contact with each other.
•
Ensure that the charger is connected properly to the charging case.
If the charging contacts are dirty, the battery may not charge properly. Wipe the
charging contacts with a dry cloth and try charging the battery again.
If the tips above do not solve the problem, contact a Samsung Service Centre or an
authorised service centre.
•
The charging time and the battery life is different between the
earbuds
•
The charging time may differ between the two earbuds even if they started charging
at the same time.
•
The charging time and the remaining battery may differ between the two earbuds
because of different inner components.
44
Appendix
The battery depletes faster than when first purchased
•
When you expose the Galaxy Buds to very cold or very hot temperatures, the useful
charge may be reduced.
•
The battery is consumable and the useful charge will get shorter over time.
•
When you are not using the earbuds, store them in a charging case that has been
charged. If not, the touch-sensitive sensor will continue to work, and it will affect the
usage time and battery consumption.
You cannot hear others speaking
Adjust the volume on the connected mobile device.
Sound echoes during a call
Adjust the volume on the connected mobile device or move to another area.
Sound is emitted from the connected mobile device, not the
earbuds, during a call
•
Check if you are wearing the earbuds properly. If worn improperly, you will not be
able to hear the call audio through the earbuds, even if the Bluetooth icon appears
on the connected mobile device.
•
Remove the earbuds from your ears and put them in again.
Audio quality is poor
•
Wireless network services may be disabled because of issues with the carrier’s
network. Ensure to keep the earbuds away from electromagnetic waves.
•
Ensure that your earbuds and the other Bluetooth device are within the maximum
Bluetooth range (10 m). The distance may vary depending on the environment the
devices are used in.
•
You may experience drops in volume or noise depending on the connected device’s
volume. To avoid this, appropriately adjust the connected device’s sound.
45
Appendix
Your earbuds sound comes slower than the screen when playing
videos and games
The earbuds may have a time lag between the video and sound output when playing
videos or games when connected to a mobile device.
The noise controls modes do not work well
•
Wear both earbuds in your ears and launch the Active noise cancelling feature, which
is one of the noise controls modes. If you are unsure if the Active noise cancelling
feature is turned on, check it on the earbuds settings screen.
•
Check whether there is a buildup of foreign materials in the microphones located at
the top and bottom of the earbuds, and clean them if required.
•
Ensure that the latest software version is installed on the earbuds.
Your Galaxy Buds are hot to the touch
When you use the Galaxy Buds for an extended period of time, they may feel hot to the
touch. This is normal and should not affect your Galaxy Buds’ lifespan or performance.
If the Galaxy Buds overheat or feel hot for a prolonged period, do not use them for a
while. If the Galaxy Buds continue to overheat, contact a Samsung Service Centre or an
authorised service centre.
A small gap appears around the outside of the Galaxy Buds
•
This gap is a necessary manufacturing feature and some minor rocking or vibration
of parts may occur.
•
Over time, friction between parts may cause this gap to expand slightly.
When the earbuds are removed from your ears, the ear tips are
turned upside down
Depending on how you wear the earbuds and the direction in which the earbuds are
removed, the ear tips may turn over. In this case, turn them over in the original direction
and use it again.
46
Appendix
Removing the battery
•
To remove the battery, contact an authorised service centre. To obtain battery
removal instructions, please visit www.samsung.com/global/ecodesign_energy.
•
For your safety, you must not attempt to remove the battery. If the battery is not
properly removed, it may lead to damage to the battery and device, cause personal
injury, and result in the device being unsafe.
•
Samsung does not accept liability for any damage or loss (whether in contract or
tort, including negligence) which may arise from failure to precisely follow these
warnings and instructions, other than death or personal injury caused by Samsung’s
negligence.
47
Additional information
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
This guide is protected under international copyright laws.
No part of this guide may be reproduced, distributed, translated, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or
storing in any information storage and retrieval system.
Trademarks
•
•
Samsung and the Samsung logo are registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics
Co., Ltd.
Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. worldwide.
•
Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby, Dolby Atmos, and the
double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
•
All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Model: SM-R420
Rated voltage/current:
5 V / 200 mA (earbuds)
5 V / 900 mA (charging case), 3.88 V (internal battery)
Made in Vietnam by Samsung
PO BOX 12987, DUBLIN. IE
">