Where to start! !

[Nettieq]

I an fed up with my Samsung S5. I read great reviews and was recommended it in the shop but it is wrecking my head.
It eats my wifi allowance with updates for apps I don't want and can't disable.
When I try to disable apps like My Magazine the options in your directions aren't available to me. I don't even know what most of the apps are and it opens them automatically! What is lollipop and how do I get rid of it? Just one example.
Why should I need to be an expert on phones to use one? I don't want to have to access settings every other day and search the Web for tips just to use my phone to make calls and access the Internet and social media. I am fairly computer literate but my studying days are over.
I feel as though I have no control over my phone and am very frustrated. I may just dump the thing! It's slow and it freezes.

 

[ironass]

I an fed up with my Samsung S5. I read great reviews and was recommended it in the shop but it is wrecking my head.
It eats my wifi allowance with updates for apps I don't want and can't disable.
When I try to disable apps like My Magazine the options in your directions aren't available to me. I don't even know what most of the apps are and it opens them automatically! What is lollipop and how do I get rid of it? Just one example.
Why should I need to be an expert on phones to use one? I don't want to have to access settings every other day and search the Web for tips just to use my phone to make calls and access the Internet and social media. I am fairly computer literate but my studying days are over.
I feel as though I have no control over my phone and am very frustrated. I may just dump the thing! It's slow and it freezes.

Hello and welcome to Android Central Nettieq!

Thank you for your post.

There are currently 41 different models of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and over 3,000 different stock Samsung firmware versions, worldwide, covering 6 different Android platforms, Android 4.4.2, Android 4.4.4, Android 5.0, Android 5.0.1, Android 5.0.2 and Android 5.1.1. Not all issues will affect all models or firmware releases and your answers to the following questions will help in the forum's answers to your specific query.

#1. Could you post your Model number and Android version...

To locate these, go to...

Settings > More > About device > Model number and Android version

This will give you the model of Samsung Galaxy S5 that you have and which Android version you are on.


#2. Your current Firmware, (not just Baseband), version .

To locate your current firmware version, go to the stock, Samsung, dial pad and type in...

*#1234#

This will give you your, "Version", details in full, usually 3 lines of information, AP: CP: CSC:, which may all be relevant.

*** If code *#1234# has been disabled on your firmware, you can download and install, free from the Play Store, Phone Info Samsung and it will give you, under Firmware... PDA, CSC and Baseband, versions as well as your Product code under the CSC CODE heading.


#3. Also helpful would be your carrier, (service provider), location, (UK, India, Russia, USA, etc: ), and if your phone is rooted or not and running a custom ROM, (give details).


Thanks. The above helps us to help you and hopefully someone will be able to reply to you shortly.


For more information, see, 41 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide

(TIP If you are a poster it is always a good idea to mention your model number and firmware version in case this has a bearing on your problem.)

 

[Feldon]

I an fed up with my Samsung S5. I read great reviews and was recommended it in the shop but it is wrecking my head.
It eats my wifi allowance with updates for apps I don't want and can't disable.

Where are you living that you have a Wifi allowance? Either way, you should be able to disable application updates. Is it possible your phone is set to Easy Mode and missing 2/3 of the settings available?

As ironass said, we're going to need to know exactly which Samsung Galaxy S5 you have as there are 41 different models. I'm guessing it's from AT&T, Verizon, or another carrier?

When I try to disable apps like My Magazine the options in your directions aren't available to me. I don't even know what most of the apps are and it opens them automatically!

Carrier phones from AT&T and Verizon are chock full of crapware and bloatware that you cannot completely disable and cannot remove. This is the unadvertised price of buying a phone over time vs. buying one outright.

What is lollipop and how do I get rid of it? Just one example.

Kitkat, Lollipop, and Marshmallow are codenames for the Android operating system on the phone. Kitkat (Android OS 4.4) came with your phone. Lollipop (Android OS 5.0 or 5.1 if you are lucky) is the current version. Marshmallow (Android 6.0) is brand new and we won't see it on carrier-provided phones for probably 8-10 months, if ever.

Why should I need to be an expert on phones to use one? I don't want to have to access settings every other day and search the Web for tips just to use my phone to make calls and access the Internet and social media. I am fairly computer literate but my studying days are over.

Sounds like an iPhone would have been your best bet. I'm not saying this to be catty. My first 3 smartphones were the iPhone 3GS, 4, and 5. I switched to Android and it's been a rocky road for me, but after reinstalling the operating system and installing some tweaks, I'm reasonably happy with my phone now. Android does require some tinkering and can be extremely annoying if not setup correctly. If you want a phone that "just works", iPhone is for you.

I feel as though I have no control over my phone and am very frustrated. I may just dump the thing! It's slow and it freezes.

This is the unfortunate experience of those who go to their carrier or Best Buy and buy a phone on contract or Next plan, not realizing that it's a different phone and different experience than if we bought an unlocked phone for cash. On an iPhone, Apple controls the updates and keeps the crapware to an absolute minimum. On Android, unless you get a Nexus phone, the carriers and manufacturers control all the updates and some choose to pack the phone full of bloatware.

I would suggest reading my epic rant I wrote about my Samsung S5 a few weeks back:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...ary-tale-galaxy-s5-future-samsung-phones.html

After a lot of advice (and some less than helpful advice ) I solved a lot of problems by doing a complete Backup of the phone (with 4 separate programs as there is no one comprehensive backup program for Android), upgrading to 5.1.1 (Lollipop), and installing some replacement apps for my Home screen, Photo Gallery, and Messaging. I'm talking Nova Launcher, which is much snappier than Samsung's crappy Touchwiz homescreen/launcher. It also doesn't have a Magazine tab! I'm talking QuickPic for photo management which is 100 times faster than the Google Photos app. I'm talking Textra which is a lot better than the built-in Messenger app and lets you reply to messages without switching apps.

You can make your phone run well. It might just take some fiddling. Did I mention BACKUP? I had to backup with 3 different programs, plus backing up my photos and music with a USB cable, to make sure I got everything.