S Finder is a feature built into older Samsung phones that lets you search everything on your device from one place. It was available on Samsung phones running Android Lollipop (5.x) and Marshmallow (6.x). With S Finder, you could quickly find apps, settings, messages, and files just by typing a word.

Newer Samsung models no longer use S Finder. It’s been replaced by a built-in search bar in the Apps screen. But if you still use an older Samsung phone, this guide shows how to access, use, and remove S Finder.

What Is Samsung S Finder?

What Is Samsung S Finder?

S Finder was Samsung’s device-wide search tool. It worked like a universal search bar for your phone. You could type in any word or phrase, and S Finder would show results from apps, files, contacts, messages, settings, and even help menus.

It made searching easier, especially when you forgot where something was saved or which app had it.

How to Access S Finder on Samsung Devices

To open S Finder:

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen. This opens the notifications panel.
  2. Look for the S Finder icon or option.
    • On some phones, it may show as a label under the panel.
    • On others, it appears as an icon in the quick settings.
  3. Tap S Finder to open the search screen.

If you don’t see S Finder there, don’t worry—you can add it.

How to Add S Finder to Your Quick Panel

If S Finder doesn’t appear, follow these steps to add it to your notification panel:

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
  2. Tap the Expand icon (usually two arrows or a small down icon).
  3. Tap Edit.
  4. Look for S Finder in the list of available tools.
  5. Select it, then tap Done.

Now it will show up in your panel for easy access.

How to Use S Finder to Search Your Device

Once you open S Finder, you’ll see a search bar at the top.

  • Tap the bar and type a word—like “camera”.
  • The phone will search across:
    • Apps (e.g., Camera app)
    • Emails or messages where “camera” appears
    • System settings related to the camera
    • Photos or files with “camera” in their name or folder

Depending on how much content is on your phone, results may take a few seconds to show up. You may need to scroll down to view all categories.

What Can You Search with S Finder?

Here are some example searches:

  • “Bluetooth”: shows Bluetooth settings, apps using Bluetooth, and help topics
  • “Gallery”: opens the gallery app, shows related photos and settings
  • “Wi-Fi”: shows Wi-Fi settings, network files, and saved hotspots
  • “PDF”: lists all PDF files stored on your device

S Finder brings together data from across your device and shows it in one place.

How to Remove S Finder from Your Notifications Panel

If you don’t use S Finder and want to remove it:

  1. Swipe down to open the notifications panel
  2. Tap the Expand icon
  3. Tap Edit
  4. Unselect or drag S Finder out of the panel
  5. Tap Done

This hides the icon from the quick panel, but doesn’t delete the feature. You can add it back anytime using the same steps.

Note: The option to remove S Finder was added in Android 5.1.1 and is also in Android 6.0 (Marshmallow). If your phone is older, you may not see the remove option.

What Replaced S Finder on Newer Samsung Phones?

On newer Samsung phones running Android Nougat (7.0) and above, the S Finder feature was removed. In its place, Samsung added a built-in search bar at the top of the Apps screen.

This search function lets you look for apps, contacts, settings, and files in a similar way to S Finder. You tap “Apps,” type what you need into the bar at the top, and results will appear instantly. While the name has changed, the purpose remains the same—making it easy to find things across your device.

The new system blends better with Samsung’s updated One UI design, offering a faster and cleaner experience.

Final Thoughts

S Finder was a helpful tool for finding things on Samsung devices. If you use a phone running Android Lollipop or Marshmallow, it’s still there and can make searching quicker. You can access it through the quick panel, add it if it’s missing, and even remove it if you don’t need it.

Newer phones no longer include S Finder, but the app search bar in your Apps tray now does a similar job.

Still using a Samsung device with S Finder? Share your experience or tips in the comments. You might help someone else learn something new.