What does this battery icon mean in status bar??

[andee1517]

@BerryBubbles

Nice. How do you like the Samsung drive? Not the best reviews on Amazon.

 

[donm527]

Try different cables because that makes a big difference

Hmm… tried a different PC this time with Win11Pro and an Ankar C to C cable and again it immediately picks up the phone but no option I can see that gives me an option to install drivers. The phone is accessible except in SmartSwitch it doesn’t see a drive.

Can you provide a screenshot where to go for driver download?

 

[mustang7757]

My screenshot

 

[donm527]

My screenshot View attachment 346983

Maybe I should Google SmartSwitch app. You don't get that "Download SmartSwitch app" window just by plugging in the cable right? Guess you had to find and download that?

 

[mustang7757]

Maybe I should Google SmartSwitch app. You don't get that "Download SmartSwitch app" window just by plugging in the cable right? Guess you had to find and download that?

When you choose download Smart switch on my PC it opens smart switch utility on device

 

[donm527]

Yeah I should have known better not gonna be plug n play lol… needed to Google Smart Switch for Windows to bring me to their site and download and install the app.

Would have been nice for them to maybe a one liner somewhere on the phone app saying to go to the Smart Switch site to download the companion app for your PC.

 

[mustang7757]

Yeah I should have known better not gonna be plug n play lol… needed to Google Smart Switch for Windows to bring me to their site and download and install the app.

Would have been nice for them to maybe a one liner somewhere on the phone app saying to go to the Smart Switch site to download the companion app for your PC.

Previous version of PC smart switch I believe it would automatically open when connected

 

[donm527]

Previous version of PC smart switch I believe it would automatically open when connected

At least in my Win11Pro the most it does it open the File Folder after I installed the app on my PC. But again, if you never installed Smart Switch on PC, how are you to know to do so or not even given a URL on the phone app to go get it. Not one line of instruction to say go download Smart Switch for PC "here" and install on your PC.

But it’s installed now lol and nice simple interface. Almost one click to backup.

Interesting note that it ASKS YOU if you want to back up Secure Folder and tells you to check device to verify identity assuming it won’t backup if you don’t verify something on your phone but for me there is no prompt and it passes that screen and continues to backup without telling you if it did back up your secure folder. You can only assume it did by checking the backup files and seeing data in the secure backup folder.

Did a backup in about 7 minutes so a minute faster than using my SanDisk plugged in directly.

I’ll keep playing with it. Maybe point backup to store to cloud if I can so I can access anywhere.

I feel they missed an opportunity by not offering wireless backup to PC through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth when you are near computer and schedule auto backups when in vicinity.

 

[mustang7757]

At least in my Win11Pro the most it does it open the File Folder after I installed the app on my PC. But again, if you never installed Smart Switch on PC, how are you to know to do so or not even given a URL on the phone app to go get it. Not one line of instruction to say go download and install on your PC.

But it’s installed now lol and nice simple interface. Almost one click to backup.

Interesting note that it ASKS YOU if you want to back up Secure Folder and tells you to check device to verify identity assuming it won’t backup if you don’t verify something on your phone but for me there is no prompt and it passes that screen and continues to backup without telling you if it did back up your secure folder. You can only assume it did by checking the backup files and seeing data in the secure backup folder.

Did a backup in about 7 minutes so a minute faster than using my SanDisk plugged in directly.

I’ll keep playing with it. Maybe point backup to store to cloud if I can so I can access anywhere. I feel they missed an opportunity by not offering wireless backup to PC through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth when you are near computer and schedule auto backups when in vicinity.

I'm not sure if can do wireless with computer , I like to say yes but I never tried always wired and you can point the back up anywhere in computer,USB drive etc.
It is very easy and if you didn't verify secure folder with pin/password I believe it won't back up and continue

 

[BerryBubbles]

@BerryBubbles

Nice. How do you like the Samsung drive? Not the best reviews on Amazon.

I really like it.

I have a USB-C port on my PC so that makes it easy. I find the speed fine, no complaints. Haven't had any errors. No problems with the drive being recognized.

The only issue is that I have to take my case off to use it. I have a heavy duty case so that's not surprising but my Husband has a Ringke Fusion & the drive still does not fit the port with the case on. His case is easy to pop off so it's not a big deal, but I need to buy a short extension cable as my case is not easy to remove. That's the only caveat for me.

 

[Gary_Berg]

I checked Amazon and the only one I saw with good reviews was SanDisk USB SS drive aluminum casing. The reviews for Samsung were a bit scary. I like the idea of having the end protected too and I can understand about losing the cap. That would be an issue.

I would note that depending on the case you have on your phone, it may not work. Just a tiny bit too big to fit my Note 10 with a Spec case. Or my Tab S7. Perhaps it works with a Samsung brand case? Or maybe the S22 case opening is bigger?

It would have been fairly simple to make it fit, maybe.

 

[andee1517]

I really like it.

I have a USB-C port on my PC so that makes it easy. I find the speed fine, no complaints. Haven't had any errors. No problems with the drive being recognized.

The only issue is that I have to take my case off to use it. I have a heavy duty case so that's not surprising but my Husband has a Ringke Fusion & the drive still does not fit the port with the case on. His case is easy to pop off so it's not a big deal, but I need to buy a short extension cable as my case is not easy to remove. That's the only caveat for me.

Thank you for the review. Nice to hear it from a fellow AC member I can trust. I have a USB-C port on my Chromebook so that works out well. Will definitely be getting one.

 

[BerryBubbles]

Thank you for the review. Nice to hear it from a fellow AC member I can trust. I have a USB-C port on my Chromebook so that works out well. Will definitely be getting one.

You are very welcome. I forget to mention that I received it May 10th, so I have had it a little while.

Hope it works out well for you!

 

[donm527]

Oh yeah didn't notice it's a bit chunky at the neck. I have an iPad Pro and use a thin case but even with the Apple usbc cable I need to really push in to connect squeezing again the port.

I just noticed my SanDisk fits nicely... As slim as the Apple cable but the connector on the SanDisk is actually a hair longer than standard which avoids contact with the case.

I'd hate to have to remove a case to plug in all the time.

 

[donm527]

I'm not sure if can do wireless with computer , I like to say yes but I never tried always wired and you can point the back up anywhere in computer,USB drive etc.
It is very easy and if you didn't verify secure folder with pin/password I believe it won't back up and continue

Tried the MacOS version on my MacBook Air. Tried twice and just hung at “loading backup lists” and gave up after letting run 20-30 minutes. That’s too long right? Didn’t like the UI either. Status bar was useless IMO. But at least I have two options with Windows or jump drive.

 

[mustang7757]

Tried the MacOS version on my MacBook Air. Tried twice and just hung at “loading backup lists” and gave up after letting run 20-30 minutes. That’s too long right? Didn’t like the UI either. Status bar was useless IMO. But at least I have two options with Windows or jump drive.

Yeah definitely multiple places is best , do you use Samsung cloud also ?

 

[donm527]

Yeah definitely multiple places is best , do you use Samsung cloud also ?

Well, in Settings > Accounts and backup I'll let it do it's backup under Samsung Cloud Samsung Account and the Google Backup of whatever they do too. I mean that's how I have been doing my restores in past. Wiping my phone and then at setup, logging into each and allowing it to restore whatever is backed up and then finish the rest filling in the holes where ever.

I do look forward to seeing how a restore is from Smart Switch will be.

Now when you ask if I use Samsung Cloud... are you also asking about storing the Smart Switch backup? Now after using Smart Switch I am wondering if I should save them on a cloud service and which one. I thought Samsung no longer gives is cloud storage.

 

[mustang7757]

Well, in Settings > Accounts and backup I'll let it do it's backup under Samsung Cloud Samsung Account and the Google Backup of whatever they do too. I mean that's how I have been doing my restores in past. Wiping my phone and then at setup, logging into each and allowing it to restore whatever is backed up and then finish the rest filling in the holes where ever.

I do look forward to seeing how a restore is from Smart Switch will be.

Now when you ask if I use Samsung Cloud... are you also asking about storing the Smart Switch backup? Now after using Smart Switch I am wondering if I should save them on a cloud service and which one. I thought Samsung no longer gives is cloud storage.

When you go to settings>accounts and back up>back up will be to Samsung cloud but not picture or videos

 

[donm527]

When you go to settings>accounts and back up>back up will be to Samsung cloud but not picture or videos

How much cloud storage does Samsung give? Enough to save at least a 15GB Smart Switch backup?

Yeah. And I prefer not to have it back up photos to cloud. For some reason I don't care to have my photos out there in the cloud.

That's the one thing I miss about not having the SD Card was I always sent all my pics to the card. In that way I only need to eject to move everything off my phone or if my phone is inaccessible like when I got the N20U Black Screen of Death, I didn't worry about not being able to get back in to recover photos.

I'm ok with the idea of Smart Switch backing up my pics in a backup.

 

[notforhire]

How much cloud storage does Samsung give? Enough to save at least a 15GB Smart Switch backup?

Yeah. And I prefer not to have it back up photos to cloud. For some reason I don't care to have my photos out there in the cloud.

That's the one thing I miss about not having the SD Card was I always sent all my pics to the card. In that way I only need to eject to move everything off my phone or if my phone is inaccessible like when I got the N20U Black Screen of Death, I didn't worry about not being able to get back in to recover photos.

I'm ok with the idea of Smart Switch backing up my pics in a backup.

I don't think you can perform a Smart Switch backup to Samsung's cloud. At this stage, that cloud backup only covers various apps (Messages, Contacts, etc.) as detailed in the Cloud app. I wish I could back up files to Samsung Cloud, but that was eliminated when Samsung eliminated the photo backups. I have performed a Smart Switch backup to my PC/OneDrive and a SSD. I've never restored from one of those backups. For me, Smart Switch has been for transferring everything from an existing phone to a new phone (works for tablets, too). All photos and files are in a Smart Switch backup and SSD.