25 Greatest Android Tricks to Make Your Cellphone Extra Helpful
Android is the hottest computing platform on the planet, due largely to its highly effective open-source nature. Customers have grown to like Android for the plethora of options and customization choices, however typically it may possibly all get a bit complicated. Google is all the time making tweaks and developing with new options for Android, and OEMs like Samsung and LG can add their very own stuff on prime of that. It may be exhausting to maintain up, so we’ve gathered the 25 greatest suggestions on your Android cellphone proper right here.
Configure Your Lock Display screen
Android telephones all provide numerous types of safe lock screens. Most telephones will immediate you to do that throughout setup now, and you need to. The defaults are PIN, sample, and password. Most units now provide fingerprint safety which is able to in all probability be the quickest solution to unlock your system. To regulate your lock display screen, head to the system settings, and discover the Safety menu. Some telephones have a separate lock display screen menu as an alternative. You will have to have a safe lock display screen to make use of options like Android Pay and manufacturing unit reset safety.
Disable/Uninstall Bloatware
Most telephones include some apps pre-installed that you just gained’t wish to maintain round. Fortunately, they are often handled nowadays. Some pre-installed bloat could be uninstalled usually by utilizing the Play Retailer or discovering it within the app settings menu. Nevertheless, something that’s a part of the system picture is non-removable. What you are able to do is disable it by opening the app menu from the principle system settings and discovering the app in your record. Proper on the prime might be a “Disable” button that removes it out of your app drawer and prevents it from operating within the background.
Discover Your Cellphone
Now we have all sometimes misplaced observe of a cellphone. Perhaps it was hiding within the sofa cushions or sitting on the kitchen counter. Don’t go loopy searching for your cellphone subsequent time; simply use Google’s “Discover my cellphone” device (beforehand often called Android Gadget Supervisor). You may entry this through the net on a cellular system or laptop. Merely log into your Google account, and select your lacking cellphone from the drop-down menu. Google reaches out and exhibits you the place it’s. You can even ring the cellphone, even when it’s in silent mode. If worse involves worst, you’ll be able to remotely erase the cellphone to guard your knowledge.
Add Cell Knowledge Monitoring
Knowledge caps are frequent throughout cellular carriers, and knowledge charges simply maintain getting sooner. To be sure to don’t blow via your month-to-month allotment, go to the info utilization menu within the system settings. Some telephones name this one thing just a little completely different, but it surely’s all the time proper close to the highest. Right here, you’ll be able to set your plan reset date, create a warning threshold, and even have knowledge routinely disabled once you’re about to incur an overage. If that’s to not your liking, Google has an app within the Play Retailer known as Datally (pictured). It collects knowledge from the settings menu, and it may possibly restrict background knowledge with a nifty floating counter to trace your bytes.
Select Do Not Disturb Settings
Android’s notification settings are a bit complicated proper now. Not solely do OEMs usually change the terminology, however Google itself has revamped it a couple of instances in latest updates. You’ll discover the settings for this characteristic both in your quantity popup once you hit the toggle or by going into the system settings for notifications (normally Sound and Notification). Will probably be known as Do Not Disturb on most units. On this menu, you’ll be able to select when DND is toggled on routinely, what’s blocked, and if any contacts are allowed to ring via anyway. On Pie units, Do Not Disturb defaults to hiding your notifications as effectively. Make certain to alter that setting should you nonetheless wish to see what’s occurring within the notification shade.
Digital Wellbeing
Perhaps you spend an excessive amount of time in your cellphone typically, however Android has some instruments that can assist you keep away from that. The Digital Wellbeing suite (Android 9 and later) exhibits you what apps you’ve been utilizing, for a way lengthy, and presents methods to cease that from occurring. The settings menu breaks down apps on a chart, and allows you to set a time restrict for apps you wish to reduce. The chart tracks notifications and unlocks as effectively. There’s additionally a “Wind down” mode that slowly fades the display screen to grayscale as bedtime approaches.
Make Certain Your Images Again Up Robotically
There’s nothing worse than shedding or breaking a cellphone solely to comprehend your pictures aren’t backed up. You may keep away from this by merely opening the Google Images app and following the prompts to allow auto-backup. The default mode is “top quality” and limitless area. This compresses your pictures, however they give the impression of being surprisingly good. If you wish to save the unique picture, you’ll be able to choose to make use of your Drive cupboard space. You get 15GB free and can purchase extra.
“OK Google” Voice Match
Google search is on the coronary heart of all Android telephones, and you can begin looking at any time simply by saying “OK Google.” This works on the house display screen and within the search field routinely, however should you go into the search settings, you may get OK Google working all over the place. Within the search settings, go to Voice > Voice Match. Simply activate the “Entry with Voice Match” choice and the cellphone can have you say “OK Google” a couple of instances to be taught your voice. Now you need to use the hotword any time the system is awake from any display screen. Some units additionally help this when the display screen is off, whereas others solely work when the system is awake.
Attempt a Completely different Dwelling Display screen
Most Android units have a customized UI created by the system maker (eg. Samsung Expertise launcher). That features the house display screen. This is a vital a part of the expertise, and the default dwelling usually isn’t very highly effective. Putting in an alternate like Nova Launcher or Motion Launcher could make your system a lot simpler to make use of. You need to use these apps to alter the icons, assign navigation gestures, arrange apps, and a lot extra. Any time you wish to change between your put in dwelling screens, simply go to the Dwelling menu within the system settings.
Google Assistant
Did you arrange OK Google? In that case, you’ve received two methods to entry the Google Assistant. To entry Assistant, use OK Google or long-press the house button. Then, simply begin speaking. This characteristic was unique to the Pixel for a couple of months, but it surely has since rolled out to all Android telephones operating Marshmallow or greater. Assistant understands extra context and pure language than Google’s previous voice search characteristic, and it may be built-in with third-party companies like IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings, and Nest. It’s nice at dwelling automation and looking the net, and it may possibly even learn you the information of the day.
Handle Apps on the Internet Play Retailer
Google consists of the Play Retailer consumer on Android units, however there’s additionally a model of the Play Retailer accessible on-line. For some folks, it is a no-brainer, however not everybody thinks to make use of the web-based Play Retailer. You are able to do all the identical issues right here that you just do in your cellphone, however sooner. Apps and video games could be bought and pushed over the air to Android. You may queue up a number of installs in a fraction of the time it takes on Android. When you’ve received multiple system in your account, you’ll be able to choose the place the app goes.
Use Display screen Pinning
If it’s good to hand your cellphone to another person, you don’t essentially need them snooping round in different apps. That is straightforward to stop — simply pin the display screen. This needs to be enabled by default on most units, but when it’s not, examine the safety menu. Faucet the app icon on any app within the multitasking interface and you may choose “Pin” to stop them from switching apps. When you’ve got a safe lock display screen, you’ll be able to require that unlock methodology to go away the pinned app.
Swipe Enter on the Keyboard (most units)
Tapping together with your thumbs is okay as an enter methodology, however most telephones have swipe enter built-in too. Give it a shot by dragging throughout the letters for every phrase. The accuracy varies by system, however you too can set up a distinct keyboard that may go well with you higher. There’s Google’s Gboard, however others choose one thing like SwitfKey with its plethora of settings.
Use Energy-Saving Modes
All Android telephones have power-saving modes of some kind — typically two or three of them. Head to the battery menu (normally simply Settings > Battery) on most telephones to see these settings. For instance, Samsung presents an everyday power-saving mode that reduces display screen brightness and slows the CPU, then there’s additionally an extremely energy saver that locks the system to only a few important purposes. Most telephones, like these from Google, provide fundamental energy saving modes like the previous that may be turned on routinely when the system reaches a sure battery stage. That is undoubtedly one thing you need to arrange.
System Darkish Theme
Numerous apps (notably Google’s) have brilliant white kinds. Beginning in Android 10, there’s a system-wide darkish theme that may toggle these apps and components of the system UI to a pleasant, muted black. It’s accessible within the Show settings or extra conveniently within the fast settings. Some telephones even have choices to schedule the darkish theme so it flips on routinely each night time and off within the morning. Solely apps which have been developed for the theming API will work, however that record is rising by the day.
Handle Default Apps
Many actions on Android will ask you to set a default app, however what should you determine you don’t like that default anymore? Most telephones as we speak have a devoted default app settings menu within the software settings, however you’ll be able to all the time filter these defaults by discovering your default apps in the principle app settings menu. If you take a look at the information web page for an app, there might be an choice towards the underside to view and clear the defaults. That may let you choose a brand new default the subsequent time you carry out an motion.
Activate Developer Choices
Google hides among the extra superior instruments in a particular Developer Choices menu that you just’ll must allow to get at issues like animation velocity, USB debugging, and app standby. To activate Developer Choices, open the “About cellphone” menu on the backside of the system settings and discover the construct quantity. Faucet on that seven instances and also you’ll get a message that you’re a developer. The dev choices will now be on the backside of your fundamental system settings.
Rotation Lock Button
Rotation lock generally is a bit sensitive, flipping the display screen round once you tilt the cellphone just a bit too far. In Android 9 Pie, you’ll be able to change the rotation setting to lock it in portrait mode however nonetheless have entry to panorama mode. Begin by disabling auto-rotate within the settings. Then, search for the rotation button on the backside of the display screen the subsequent time you flip the cellphone sideways. Faucet that, and it locks into panorama mode till you spin the cellphone again. Faucet the button once more, and it’s locked in portrait once more.
Autofill Service
When you’ve received Android 8.0 or greater in your cellphone, you don’t must sort in a password ever once more. Effectively, you’ll must do it much less. Go to your enter settings and open the superior menu to allow autofill for usernames and passwords. By default, you’ll be able to allow Google’s autofill service, which is tied to Chrome. Third-party apps like LastPass and Dashlane even have help for this characteristic. Simply faucet in a login discipline in just about any app, and your autofill app can add the matching username and password.
Screencasting
Do you might have a $35 Chromecast or Android TV? In that case, you are able to do greater than stream video to it. Android units can mirror your complete show onto your TV, and it’s basically foolproof. On inventory Android units (and some extra) there’s a Solid icon within the Fast Settings. Faucet that and choose an output system to start out mirroring your show. On different telephones, simply obtain the Chromecast app and use the screencasting characteristic included there.
Notification Channels
Beginning in Android 8.0 Oreo, Google made it simpler to chop down on the notification noise. Apps now have notification channels, so you’ll be able to change how their numerous alerts seem (and whether or not they seem in any respect). To edit a notification channel, go to the app’s data display screen or long-press on a notification and faucet the settings gear to see all of the related channels. On Android 10, you’ll be able to faucet the “Flip off notifications” choice to get a popup with accessible channels. Right here, you’ll be able to flip every channel on or off, change the best way it seems, and extra.
Customise Fast Settings
The short settings are the settings toggles seen on the prime of the notification panel (most units) and within the totally expanded fast settings UI. On most units, you’ll be able to entry them by swiping down twice. Customizing these is one thing everybody ought to do when getting a brand new system, and the method is rather more constant than it was once. Google added customizable fast settings in Android 7.0, and OEMs usually add a couple of extra choices to this space (like Samsung, above). Simply open the short settings and hit the edit button. Then, long-press and drag to rearrange. The primary few settings toggles you might have within the record might be accessible on the prime of the notification pane previous to opening fast settings. App builders may also add tiles that present up within the modifying interface. For instance, Twitter apps have tiles to start out a brand new Tweet and VPN apps have on/off toggles.
Use (and Take away) Manufacturing unit Reset Safety
Method again in model 5.1, Android added manufacturing unit reset safety, which is good ought to your cellphone ever be stolen. The thief gained’t have the ability to reset and log into the cellphone with out first understanding your Google password. Nevertheless, you may also by chance lock the brand new proprietor out of your cellphone (and even your self) should you promote it. Manufacturing unit reset safety is enabled routinely when you might have a safe lock display screen enabled. Be sure to don’t reset your cellphone lower than 24 hours after altering your Google password, otherwise you’ll set off a 72-hour anti-theft lockout. To disable reset safety for a brand new person to log into the cellphone, simply disable the safe lock display screen, allow OEM unlock within the Developer Choices, or manually take away your Google account within the Accounts menu (this additionally manufacturing unit resets the cellphone).
Sideload (Secure) Apps
The Play Retailer has loads of apps, however if you wish to department out just a little, there are secure methods to try this. First, head into the safety settings in your system and allow “Unknown Sources.” That may allow you to set up APKs downloaded from exterior the Play Retailer. A number of the standard ones are the Amazon Appstore, F-Droid, and APK Mirror. Amazon presents a good variety of paid apps without spending a dime, and F-Droid is without spending a dime and open-source software program. APK Mirror re-hosts free APKs so that you don’t have to attend on staged rollouts and might get previous variations of software program.
Save Offline Maps
Google Maps consists of help for saving maps offline, and the characteristic was just lately expanded to be extra highly effective. It’s not straightforward to search out, although. Discover the realm you wish to save offline, then faucet within the search bar on the prime of the display screen. Shut the keyboard and scroll to the underside and also you’ll see the choice to obtain. The app will deliver up an overview to point the realm that might be downloaded and estimate how a lot area it can take up. The offline knowledge will embrace streets, fundamental factors of curiosity, and the flexibility to make use of turn-by-turn navigation.
And A lot Extra…
After all the above, you have to be a professional at utilizing Android. That is only the start, although. There’s much more to find in Android, and each system is just a little completely different. So, don’t be afraid to poke round within the deep, darkish corners of the settings and see what yow will discover.
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