How to use full screen apps on Galaxy Z Flip 4 cover screen

by James · October 22, 2022

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is one of the most fascinating phones on the market. The clamshell form factor is wrapped in nostalgia, while the inner folding screen is a true technological marvel. The secondary external display of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is functional enough to get you basic information, but if you want to get the most out of it, we have a few effective ways to use the external display of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 for to run full versions of apps.

These methods can also be used on the Galaxy Z Flip 3, which has the same external display.

Earlier we talked about how the contained amount of information visible on the external screen makes it an excellent tool for a digital detox. But if you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum and want to use the external display for practically anything from watching Netflix to playing intensive shooters, you get the option to do that too. There are three ways to run full-screen apps on the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s external display, and we’ll take you through the steps for each method one by one.

Table of Contents

How to use full screen apps with Samsung Good Lock modules

The first method to enable fullscreen tools for the external display is an officially supported method. In this, we use Good Lock, a Samsung app that allows you to download a variety of apps that enhance the look, feel, and functionality of any Samsung smartphone running the One UI interface. Because this is an official method, it is also the safest method to run apps in full-screen mode on the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s external display.

To get started, follow the steps below. Note: Good Lock is a versatile app that helps you customize your Galaxy smartphone, but it also has several other modules. We advise against messing with them without learning about them first, as they can make permanent changes to your smartphone’s interface.

Step 1: Download Good Lock from the Samsung Galaxy Store. If you can’t find it in the Galaxy Store in your country, you can also sideload it using an APK file.

Step 2: Once installed, open Good Lock and look for a module called MultiStar. You can also download it directly from the Galaxy Store or sideload the APK file.

Step 3: MultiStar will not be listed in the app launcher. So go back to the Good Lock app and search for the MultiStar module — it should be listed at the top of the Life Up tab.

Guide on how to run full screen apps on the external display of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4?

Step 4: Press MultiStar to open it.

Step 5: Press “In ♡ Galaxy Foldable” option at the top of the app. Inside this menu, press Widget for cover starter option.

Step 6: Press “+” icon to add apps which you want to run on the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s cover screen. Don’t be afraid to add a mix of games and entertainment apps. The menu shows a number of recommended apps, but you can press the down arrow to open the list of all apps.

Step 7: Press Settings option for Cover Widget to activate the function. Activate Turn off cover starter and press Order again to arrange the order of the deck screen widgets. I’ve kept the Cover Launcher on top, but you can arrange them however you prefer.

Step 8: Close the clamshell and remove the cover screen press the power button or double-tap it. Swipe right to Cover Launcher widget on the smaller screen.

Step 9: Now, select the app you will run and it will ask you to unlock your phone using the fingerprint scanner before opening the app. This secures it so that no one can access important apps from the cover screen without proper authentication.

Step 10: You are ready and can now use the app as you wish. Due to the narrow screen, some aspects of the apps – such as YouTube Shorts – may not be fully displayed. But interestingly, you can use navigation gestures on the small screen. Even more interesting is the fact that the screen supports multi-finger input and you can use it to play hardcore games as well.

How to use full-screen apps with CoverScreen OS

Although the Good Lock method we described above is the official way to run apps on the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s external display, it has certain limitations. Not all apps are supported on the external display, you can only use up to five app shortcuts, and you cannot use the keyboard on the external display. To get around these challenges, developer jagan2 on the XDA Forums has created an app called CoverScreen OS. As the name suggests, CoverScreen OS overhauls the interface of the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s external display rather than working within the confines of a single widget screen.

CoverScreen OS gives you much more flexibility, including the ability to respond to notifications directly from the cover screen, use Flex Mode features on the external display, and enable an edge lighting option that lights up every time a new notification arrives. Follow these steps to use CoverScreen OS:

Step 1: To start, Download CoverScreen OS from the Google Play Store or from the XDA Forums.

Step 2: Start CoverScreen OS and grant the necessary permissions. These include permissions to display the app over other apps, access notifications, and be immune to being put to sleep even when the app is not actively being used.

Step 3: Before you start, press the Training button on the app’s home page to learn about the gestures supported in CoverScreen OS and how they differ from the main screen.

Step 4: That’s all folks! You can now fold the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and start using apps on the smaller screen.

CoverScreen OS not only allows you to use apps or control quick settings directly from the external screen, but you can also respond to notifications using voice typing, a T9 keyboard or a full QWERTY keyboard, as well as attend calls from VoIP services such as WhatsApp . You can also add widgets intended for the main screen to this smaller screen using CoverScreen OS.

How to use fullscreen apps with SamSprung Launcher

While CoverScreen OS is an incredibly useful app, it has one major limitation: You have to buy the full version of the app for about $20 ($50 for lifetime access on multiple devices) to enable the best features, and that’s not something everyone wants to do. We have another option if you prefer a different route and that is the SamSprung TooUI launcher. SamSprung is a third-party launcher made for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Flip 4’s external display. It allows you to run full versions of apps directly from the small screen.

Here are the steps to get started with SamSprung TooUI:

Step 1: Download SamSprung TooUI from Google Play Store or download the APK file from Github and install it.

Step 2: Launch SamSprung and grant notification, usage access, and accessibility permissions.

Step 3: Now fold the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and you will notice a white line at the bottom of the screen, along with a small icon in the corner. Swipe up on the line to bring up the SamSprung app launcher.

Step 4: Now open any app, you will be prompted to unlock your Galaxy Z Flip 4 using the fingerprint scanner.

Step 5: If the app supports a horizontal mode, it will run horizontally. For other apps that don’t (like Instagram), the apps will work in portrait mode. This gives you the best experience of both worlds.

In addition to using apps, you can add widgets and swipe horizontally on the screen to access them. You can also tap the icons at the bottom of the screen to switch quick settings. You can also use a keyboard to type and respond to notifications directly from the external display, but SamSprung’s keyboard app needs to be downloaded separately and will cost you nearly $2.

The Galaxy Z Flip 4’s external display can be supercharged using these simple and easy-to-use techniques. Although the official method is more complex than the others, it is free and foolproof. At the same time, you don’t have to worry about the security of your smartphone being compromised. But if you want to get the most out of Samsung’s foldable smartphone, check out both options we’ve listed above and decide which one you prefer the most.