# Instrux Req: How to start a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2020, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123 "2020-08-27T05:17:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/1 "2020-08-27T05:17:36Z")
I have inherited a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 from its previous owner. I’m smartphone-stupid but: I have a charging cable that fits this thing, and I kind of know it’s an Android device. I charged it up to 95% and then figured that was sufficient that it ought to behave like a cell phone. Unplugged the charging cable. The icon of a green battery showing 95% disappeared. I press the power button. // hmm I hit SOME combo of keys and it booted. Little keys along the edge, I think, in combo with the main white button. Don’t know what I actually did though, so still interested in answers. What I’m expecting: “Yo, you gotta enter your password” --\> would have to contact prev owner What happens: absolutely nothing What does one do to make these thingies turn on? ETA: by “power button” I’m referring to a white oval button prominently located below the screen. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/2 "2020-08-27T06:10:49Z")
I’m not sure what you mean by it booted but nothing happened. However, the white oval button is not the power button. The power button is on the side (the button that is by its lonesome) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/3 "2020-08-27T12:52:24Z")
Just to add, press and hold down the power button for several seconds until the screen lights up. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/4 "2020-08-27T13:39:41Z")
And you should not need a password if it was properly factory reset. No one should give someone else a cell phone without doing a factory reset, even to a family member. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/5 "2020-08-27T21:06:14Z")
They probably shouldn’t but they did. Next question: My existing phone account is on a flip phone; it’s a T-Mobile account, a “pay as you go” account. The Samsung Galaxy definitely works with T-Mobile, since that’s what shows up when it boots (previous owner must’ve had a T Mobile acct). Can I haul the two phones over to the nearest T-mobile dealership and have them move my account into the Galaxy, or does having a smart phone require a different plan or something? (Or is that kind of question something that has a different answer from different service vendors?) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/6 "2020-08-27T22:22:58Z")
Wow. Having to physically take your phones to a service center to switch the accounts is _ancient_ history. Like, when it was last done dinosaurs still roamed the Earth. It should be as simple as swapping a SIM card or at worst calling Team Obile. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/7 "2020-08-27T22:53:56Z")
Do you have the password? If so is there a reason you do not want to factory reset? Factory reset, insert SIM card and sign into google if you have an account. You might brick the phone if you reset without the password. Been awhile since I had a Note 4. Good phone back in the day. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/8 "2020-08-28T00:37:50Z")
Y’all are talking to me like you think I’ve ever owned a smartphone. I haven’t. Factory reset? Password? SIM card? Google? I have a SIM card in my ZTE flip-phone. I think I know how to open the ZTE. Not so much the Samsung. You saying I just switch out the SIM cards? Password, like for the physical device, not for somebody’s T-Mobile account? I don’t seem to have a password for my own T-mobile account. I have a phone _number_ and there’s a number I call to put more money on my account. That’s it. Factory reset, that’s a thing? What’s google got to do with anything? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/9 "2020-08-28T00:48:24Z")
Start here. > **[Samsung Product Helps & Online Support | Samsung New Zealand](https://www.samsung.com/nz/support/)** > > Explore useful information about your Mobile, TV & AV, Home Appliance and other Samsung products or apps/solutions with the Support page at Samsung New Zealand! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2020, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/10 "2020-08-28T04:01:08Z")
Oh! Duh… Google makes Android, I forgot! ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2020, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/11 "2020-08-28T10:52:34Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I have a SIM card in my ZTE flip-phone. I think I know how to open the ZTE. Not so much the Samsung. You saying I just switch out the SIM cards? > > Password, like for the physical device, not for somebody’s T-Mobile account? When you turn on the device, does it ask for a password? That is the one you need. The SIM card is in the battery compartment, behind the battery. There may also be memory card next to it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YxtqJ7iuxgw/maxresdefault.jpg "Samsung Galaxy Note 4 - How to insert / remove SIM Card") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxtqJ7iuxgw) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/12 "2020-08-28T13:33:41Z")
It doesn’t ask for a password when I boot it. Does that imply that the previous owner chose against password protection or saved a blank password? Thanks for the link /photo. Yeah, it looks like the same littel card that’s in the flip phone. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/13 "2020-08-28T16:34:58Z")
He either erased the password or never had one. I’d do a hard reboot to reset the phone, but its OK to go ahead and try your SIM card in it and see if you can call someone. Do you have a data plan carried over from your flip phone? If so you can log into google and go to the app store and start downloading apps. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2020, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/14 "2020-08-28T17:04:23Z")
If the Note had a password then when you turned it on you would see a number/letter key pad on the face of the phone, like the dialing key pad on a phone, where you would then enter the password. Since you don’t see that there is no password set on the phone. You do not have to set a password if you don’t want to. If you do want to set a password you go into settings and screen lock. I have a Note 3. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/15 "2020-08-29T19:25:06Z")
I’ve switched the SIMM card and successfully made an outbound call and the recipient phone recognized it as coming from the phone number I own 🙂 Now I’ve done a factory reset and entered my basic settings! It appears to be working! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrux-req-how-to-start-a-samsung-galaxy-note-4/919123/16 "2020-08-29T23:09:58Z")
You’re on your way. Congrats.