How to use your Galaxy S Pen like a magic wand (and 2 other tricks you need to know)

The S Pen isn't only for touching and swiping across your S23 Ultra's screen. It can also be used as a remote control of sorts to trigger different actions and features on your S23 Ultra from across the room. 

The easiest way to get a handle on Air Actions is to go into the Settings app on your S23 Ultra, then go to Advanced features > S Pen and select Air actions. 

On that page you'll see a list of movements you'll need to make with the S Pen while holding in the side button. The gestures look and feel a lot like you're casting a spell at Hogwarts. 

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For instance, if you hold in the button on the pen and act as if you're writing a “less than” sign in the air, you'll trigger the S23 Ultra's back action. That could be going back a page in Chrome, or going back a screen in an app. 

By default, if you long-press the S Pen's button, the Camera app will open. Press the button again to act as a remote shutter and snap a photo. 

My advice? Take some time and go through the available apps and their respective actions to learn which ones you want to use.