Ideas and methods on your new smartphone
(Pocket-lint) – When you’re holding your shiny new Android smartphone and questioning tips on how to get essentially the most from it, then you definitely’ve come to the suitable place.
Whether or not that is your first smartphone, you have simply hopped over from an iPhone, otherwise you’ve had a lot of Android handsets, we have pulled collectively among the finest Android ideas and methods that can assist you get essentially the most out of your new cellphone.
There are completely different variations of the software program, there are many completely different producer skins layered over that Android core, like these from Samsung or LG, and there is a limitless degree of customisation you’ll be able to apply from Google Play, or different third-party sources.
Few Android gadgets are alike, however all Android gadgets have the identical basis. So, beginning firstly, here is tips on how to grasp your Android cellphone.
Kind out your Google account
Android and Google are like peas in a pod. To make use of Android, it is advisable to use a Google account. Meaning every little thing that goes with it – Gmail, calendars, contacts, YouTube, Google Maps and extra.
Getting your account so as is one thing you are able to do out of your PC earlier than you signal into your new system, letting you utilize the large display screen and keyboard to get issues straight.
Google incorporates a contacts system which hides inside Gmail in your desktop browser. When you have a lot of contacts, import them into Google contacts and handle them there. Managing them on a pc makes it a lot quicker to get every little thing appropriate earlier than you get began.
When you have your contacts in one other type, there are simple methods to import them to Google, in addition to scan for duplicates and so forth. As your Android life progresses, it is price popping again to your core Google contacts checklist to verify that every little thing continues to be good and tidy. You may at all times head to contacts.google.com to get a grip.
When you’re pondering of saving contacts to the SIM card and shifting them over, it is not definitely worth the effort: higher to search out the software program to import them out of your previous cellphone to your PC, to then feed them to Google. It’ll make your life simpler sooner or later.
Grasp switch instruments, or simply use Google
Many producers supply switch instruments that can assist you transfer previous content material to new locations. For a lot of it is one of many choices if you arrange a tool for the primary time. Android has the choice to revive a earlier backup, or arrange a tool from scratch, in addition to providing you the possibility to switch information wirelessly to setup issues like your accounts and settings.
Typically talking, if you happen to’ve been utilizing Android beforehand, these gadgets related along with your account will transfer over with out a hitch. Simply be sure you backup your previous cellphone earlier than you begin the method – it ought to embody all of your calls and SMS messages, however different messaging apps – like WhatsApp – must be setup individually, utilizing their very own backup processes.
Transferring images and movies
For issues like images, you may want to transfer them to a cloud service if you wish to protect them. This has the added benefit of being a backup if you happen to lose your cellphone.
Google Pictures is the plain selection for Android customers, as a result of it is related along with your account. You simply have to put in the app and register if it is not already in your system. Head to the menu to settings > backup & sync and you will find all of the choices to backup images. It is good to have backup turned on on a regular basis, so your images are at all times there, even if you happen to lose your cellphone.
You too can set up Google Pictures on the iPhone, once more offering a strategy to backup images in your iOS system. This can instantly backup native images, however you probably have been utilizing iPhone for a while, you might need to obtain images from iCloud – for which you will in all probability have to make use of a PC and extra software program.
Another choice for images is OneDrive from Microsoft or Dropbox, as each supply photograph backup choices and are broadly accessible throughout platforms.
You might additionally save to a microSD card and transfer it throughout, you probably have the {hardware} to help it – however once more, shifting to the cloud means you’ve a backup off your cellphone and you may entry images by way of browser in your PC.
Flip off all these sounds and vibrations
New telephones wish to buzz, click on and beep at each contact. For some cause, producers assume that you just wish to always know that you’ve got touched it and all this stuff are annoying and may even gradual the cellphone down.
As soon as you have sorted among the fundamentals, tame these notifications and undesirable vibrations. You may thank us in the long term.
On an ordinary Android cellphone (Pixel, Nokia, Moto), head into settings > sound & vibration > superior > different sounds and vibrations. Right here you’ll flip off display screen locking, contact sounds and vibrate on faucet.
If you wish to edit the keyboard vibrations, head into settings > system > languages & enter > digital keyboard, then choose your keyboard and head into preferences and you may flip off issues like vibrate on keypress.
Sadly, producers who make their very own pores and skin transfer this stuff round and alter the situation of those settings, as do completely different variations of Android. However head into the sounds part and you will see a world of choices.
Select the perfect Android Keyboard
When you’ve bought a cellphone from a producer like LG, HTC, Samsung, Huawei or many others, you may discover that you’ve got a keyboard that is not nice. On Android you should utilize any keyboard you need and there is masses on Google Play.
When you’re on the lookout for extra customisation and higher autocorrect and strategies, the SwiftKey is a good keyboard that learns from you higher and gives a lot of tweaking.
Nevertheless, if you happen to simply need pace and ease then you definitely’ll discover that Gboard – the Google Keyboard – is definitely top-of-the-line on the market. It is the inventory keyboard for Android, so it comes on many gadgets already. When you’ve not bought it, then it is a should.
Altering keyboards is fairly easy. Generally, if you’ve downloaded a brand new keyboard, simply high on “open” in Google Play or faucet the notification and you will launch into the setup.
Dump the junk apps
Some producers will embody apps in your cellphone you don’t need or want. Some shall be preinstalled video games, some companies or different issues that the corporate has agreed to incorporate with their telephones whether or not you need them or not – and a few shall be the place the producer thinks that its model of an app is best than a inventory Android app. Generally, that is undesirable bloatware.
You may typically be capable to delete these apps throughout steup – or choose out of putting in them reasonably. In any other case, you might need to manually take away them, by lengthy urgent on the app icon within the app drawer and deciding on uninstall. Some cannot be uninstalled, wherein case you may wish to create a folder for junk apps and transfer all of them to there so you are not them on a regular basis.
Google gives its personal model of the Telephone and Messages app, which you may wish to set up as a substitute of these supplied by the producer. When you open them, you open them you will be prompted to make them your default.
Which is the perfect Android browser?
There are many browsers obtainable for Android, with every providing a spread of various choices. The inventory browser is Chrome and that is the perfect Android browser for many individuals, because it syncs with Chrome on the desktop and provides easy accessibility to your Google historical past for a seamless expertise.
Nevertheless, if you’re a brand new system, you may discover that you’ve got one other browser, seemingly one which has been tinkered with by the system producer. Most of the time, you’ll be able to ignore it and go straight for Chrome. When you have a couple of browser put in, the cellphone will ask you which of them to open till you choose a default. Usually you simply must faucet the message that pops up and also you’re performed.
Get to your settings quicker
Swiping down the notifications bar will get you entry to shortcuts for numerous {hardware} toggles. It is right here you’ll be able to flip off issues like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi rapidly and simply. Many producers edit this space, so Samsung, LG, HTC and Pixel gadgets all look completely different, however all of them work in the identical manner.
Swipe down with two fingers and it’ll take you straight to these toggles, or swipe down twice to get the entire thing open.
The highest tip right here is to lengthy press the short setting and you will go to the total menu for that space. For instance, if Wi-Fi is inflicting you issues, lengthy press on the short setting icon and you will undergo to the total Wi-Fi menu.
If you wish to head to the total setting menu, faucet the cog within the notifications space if you swipe down, reasonably than looking for the choice within the apps tray.
Information not working?
Smartphones are advanced beasties and typically issues simply cease working. The bar says you’ve full reception, however nothing is shifting, you’ll be able to’t get that web site to load or that tweet to ship.
Strive flipping the cellphone into Aeroplane/Airplane mode and again once more. This can sever your connection and re-establish it, and hopefully issues will begin shifting once more. You may get to Aeroplane mode by way of the short settings grid talked about above.
Wi-Fi not working?
Identical to mobile information, typically Wi-Fi goes on the blink. Usually, simply opening the short settings and toggling Wi-Fi off after which again on once more, will re-establish the connection. Some telephones have an choice to robotically swap to mobile if Wi-Fi efficiency is poor and often you will get a notification if that occurs, for instance when streaming a film.
Be careful for telephones clinging on to weak Wi-Fi networks. Generally if you depart residence, for instance, you will nonetheless be linked to that community which can clarify why issues could be gradual as you are strolling down the road.
Customise your Android residence pages
The homepage is entrance of the queue in terms of customisation. Your new cellphone will in all probability include a spread of shortcuts and widgets unfold throughout a lot of pages.
If you don’t need them, delete them with an extended press and drag them to the trash can. You too can often delete the pages they’re sitting on: there isn’t any must have seven residence pages in the event that they’re all empty.
Totally different variations of Android and completely different producers have barely completely different approaches to residence web page customisation. Usually an extended press on the background wallpaper, or a pinch on the background will get you began, nevertheless it differs from system to system.
When you’re simply struggling for wallpaper strategies, then strive the Android Wallpapers app, or browse our gallery of wallpapers you can use.
What Android Launcher ought to I take advantage of?
When you’re new to Android, the time period launcher could be complicated. The launcher is principally the house pages and the apps tray. It is the house of your cellphone.
Your system will include a launcher in place, that of the producer. When you do not prefer it and need a completely different look to your cellphone, it is very easy to change to another and there are masses in Google Play.
Whenever you set up a brand new launcher, the unique stays on the cellphone so you are not shedding it, you are simply telling the cellphone to make use of a unique launcher as a substitute, which means you’ll be able to escape from the appears to be like of Samsung One UI if you happen to do not prefer it, for instance, and have one thing a bit extra distinctive.
If you would like extra management and customisation – in addition to the power to emulate among the newest options from some high Android telephones – then there are few launchers as succesful as Nova Launcher. The choices are nearly infinite.
How do I take an Android screenshot?
Merely maintain standby and quantity down on the similar time and you will get a screenshot of no matter you are . Not every little thing might be captured, nevertheless. Some protected content material, corresponding to video taking part in in some apps, will not seem in your screenshot.
Screenshots are saved within the gallery in their very own folder, however if you happen to’re trying to share, you are able to do straight from the notifications bar as soon as it has saved.
There are just a few variations on this mixture of button presses now. Samsung used to make use of quantity down and the house button, however now it makes use of the identical mixture as everybody else.
Use Android folders
Folders are a good way to organise your apps on your private home web page. To be additional environment friendly, you can too place folders on the shortcut bar on the backside of the show.
This implies you’ll be able to have a lot of your core apps at hand with out them cluttering up your private home web page, in order that pretty wallpaper of your cat stays seen.
To create a folder, simply drag one app shortcut over one other and a folder shall be robotically created.
Some gadgets can even allow you to make folders within the apps tray (menu) which is a good way to organise every little thing in there and make it simpler to search out your app. That mentioned, if you happen to’ve performed a superb job with folders on your private home web page, you will end up hardly ever utilizing the primary apps tray.
SD card or not?
When you’re fortunate sufficient to have a microSD card slot in your system, there are some things you must learn about it.
MicroSD is a good place for storing further content material on your system, or to develop the storage you’ve. When you have a tool that is working Android 6 Marshmallow or later you might need entry to one thing referred to as Flex Storage or Adoptable Storage. This allows you to use the microSD card as expanded inner storage. The microSD card’s capability shall be assimilated and used for every little thing the cellphone desires.
Flex Storage is a good possibility for these with a low storage system because it means you’ll be able to develop it and settle for extra apps. When you choose to not use Flex Storage, you’ll be able to’t at all times use it for putting in extra apps – it should solely be used for storing information, like music or images.
Importantly, if you happen to’re opting to make use of microSD, you should purchase the quickest card you’ll be able to to make sure that you are not slowing the cellphone down in terms of accessing the info you’ve on it. Fortuitously microSD is reasonable and plentiful via retailers like Amazon.
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Shifting information to and out of your cellphone
Android is nice in that it provides you a lot flexibility for carrying and utilizing all kinds of information. Embracing the cloud is preferable to utilizing wire and you’ve got loads of choices to get entry to these PDFs or no matter else you need. You should utilize Google Drive to maneuver information simply and you may then entry these via any browser, or on any Android system, or with apps elsewhere.
Google’s apps will allow you to edit them simply and there are free functions for issues like Docs and Sheets, superb for working in your paperwork on the transfer. Alternatively, Microsoft gives free Workplace apps for Android, though some options are solely obtainable to Workplace 365 subscribers. It really works in cahoots with OneDrive, once more, so you’ll be able to have seamless entry to your vital information throughout gadgets.
Alternatively, Dropbox will do a lot the identical factor. Set up the app and you’ll transfer information via the cloud over to your system, though it is costlier if it is advisable to enhance the storage.
Writing by Chris Corridor. Enhancing by Britta O’Boyle. Initially printed on .
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