Google's Android smartphone operating system appears straightforward on the surface, but digging deeper reveals several hacks for convenience and customization. Learn how by reading our finest Android tips & tricks.
Android is an incredibly capable and inventive mobile operating system that regularly outperforms Apple's iOS in terms of new technology support. 5G, NFC payment, bespoke keyboards, and so forth. All of that cutting-edge capabilities, however, result in a complicated, expansive operating system. On the surface, the interface is basic enough for casual users who just want to text, call, and use their applications, but power-user settings and features are hidden a layer or two down in the UI. All you have to do is know where to look.
We want you to be able to operate Google's mobile operating system like a boss, and our list of recommendations and shortcuts can assist you in doing so. These are just a few of the ways you may use Google OS-such there's a long list of functionality that you're bound to uncover more.
1. Remove Unwanted Applications
The majority of Android phones come with a slew of preloaded applications. Many will be appreciated by almost everyone-maps, email, browser, and so on but there will surely be some that you do not want or want. You don't need a podcast app if you don't listen to podcasts. And phone manufacturers often bundle a slew of their own apps that you may never use. To remove an app, simply long-press its icon and then pick the I item.
Unfortunately, you cannot remove some preinstalled applications. You can't, for example, delete Google's Chrome browser if you exclusively use Firefox or Edge as your online browser. You may at least select Disable for such programs, which will hide them from the UI and save up system resources.
2. Make use of digital well-being features
Staying up all night messaging and room scrolling isn't the healthiest thing in the world. The Bedtime mode in Android 11 is part of the Digital Wellbeing feature. It not only silences your phone at a certain period, but it also converts the screen to black-and-white in case you need to glance at it after hours. If you need extra time before retiring, the Pause option in the dropdown menu is available. If you're seeking more sleep advice, check out our piece on how technology may improve (or damage) your sleep.
Another suggested Wellbeing feature is Focus mode, which mutes the alerts from loud apps. Some phones, like newer Pixels and Motorolas, activate Do Not Disturb mode when placed with the screen facing down—a quick and easy method to get rid of distractions. Finally, when it's time to unwind, Work Profile conceals all those productivity applications.
3. Install the Your Phone App for Windows
I believe that the majority of individuals who use Mac desktops or laptops also use an iPhone, which has excellent integration with macOS. However, with the Your Phone desktop software for Windows 10, Android users may enjoy the same if not more continuity with their desktop computer. It is easier to begin setup from your computer. Go to the Phone section of the Settings app, choose to Add a Phone, and you're ready to go. You'll be able to make calls, send texts, and see and utilize photographs from your phone on your PC in real-time.
With the Link to Windows option, recent Samsung devices and the Surface Duo phone get even more capabilities, including the ability to run numerous Android applications on the desktop under the Your Phone app. If you don't have Windows, you can get Android texts over the web, which is another feature that Apple's mobile OS lacks. You can also run Android apps in an emulator on Windows or macOS, although this is less handy than using Windows 10's Your Phone.
4. Modify the Quick Settings
One thing I don't like about Android is that the Quick Settings need two swipes to see more than one row and even then, there are two pages of them. You may ensure that the settings you use the most are in the first swipe-down row. Simply click the pencil symbol to add handy features such as Focus mode and Dark mode switches.
5. Download Apps from the Internet
One of the nicest benefits of Android over iOS, in my opinion, is that you don't have to have your phone in your hand to put an app on it. Simply navigate to the Google Play store in your web browser to remotely install any app or game, as long as you're signed in to the same Google account that your phone is using. When you go to install, you'll get a list of your Android devices if you have more than one. It's a terrific time saver when you find an app on your computer and don't want to struggle with your phone to get it on it.
6. Install Apps from Other Places
One of Android's distinguishing advantages is that, unlike iOS, you are not limited to utilizing a single company's app store. Most users will be able to locate whatever program they desire on Google's Play store, and there are certain valuable safeguards that come with it. If you require something that isn't there, you may go to Amazon's app store, your phone manufacturer's app store, or even download the program and install it as an APK (the extension for an Android Application Package file).
One key note: If you take this method, make sure you download the program from a reputable source, as third-party app stores are the leading source of Android viruses. First, do some research! Also, after installing the app, be sure to disable the Install Unknown Apps setting for the source.
The mega-popular game Fortnite is an example of why you would want to sideload (install outside of the official app store) an app. Android users may acquire the APK from the game maker's website, but iPhone users who wish to install the game for the first time are out of luck. The procedure is described in detail in PCMag's article on how to play Fortnite on Android.
7. Install a Launcher Application
This is one form of customization that iPhone users do not have: Installing a third-party launcher software from the Play Store will allow you to customize the default start screen on your phone. Action Launcher, Apex, the brilliantly called Lawn Chair, Lightning, the Microsoft Launcher, Nova, Niagara, and Smart Launcher are a few notable launchers.
With the iOS 14 launcher, you can even make your Android appear like an iPhone, complete with Siri shortcuts and an App Store icon in lieu of the Play icon. Want to relive the glory days of Windows Phone? There are also launchers that mimic the look of that operating system.
8. Personalize Message Notifications
Android 11 allows you to customize SMS notifications so that some contacts stand out more and discussions stay together. Messages may now be customized to show as bubbles on top of any other active apps. Simply enable them in Settings and prioritize the contact. There is an additional setting for Bubbles within a notice, with three options: All Conversations Can Bubble, Selected Conversations Can Bubble, and Nothing Can Bubble.
9. Add Widgets and Personalize Your Home
With iOS 14, users may now add widgets to their home screens. Android users have been able to accomplish this for a long time, but not everyone is aware of how. Simply long-press on the home screen, choose Widgets and then select from the options made accessible by any applications installed on their phones. Long-pressing the Home screen brings up other customization choices, such as deleting the Google feed page to the left of the Home screen or disabling screen rotation for the Home screen which we would never do because it's wonderful to view your home screen in landscape.
10. Increase Storage
One significant advantage of Android phones over iPhones is that some models allow you to expand storage using a microSD card. This not only allows you to store more movies and apps on your phone, but it also allows you to transfer vast quantities of file data between your phone and other devices. Another advantage is that you can access the data on some Android phones by plugging them into an external USB storage device. If your phone has a USB-C connector, you may simply put it in a Type-C USB flash memory drive.
11. Install Antivirus App
Because Android is significantly more open than iOS more like Windows than macOS it is also more vulnerable to malware assaults. Google has a number of robust safeguards built in, however, we recommend using an antivirus program on Android. Neil Rubenking, PCMag's security guru, offers four PCMag Editors' Choice choices: Bitdefender Total Security, Kaspersky Security Cloud, Norton 360 Deluxe, and McAfee AntiVirus Plus. The majority of these also apply to your desktop devices. They monitor your app installations and do frequent malware checks. They also prevent criminals from gaining access by just replacing your phone's SIM card. Some feature VPN protection as well.
12. To open the camera, double-tap the power button
Unlike the iPhone, which has a camera icon on the lock screen, most Android phones allow you to turn on the camera by double tapping the power button. It is critical to have quick camera access in order to capture those escaping moments. You may also focus and take the photo using the volume controls. To begin a video recording, long-press on either.
13. Make use of Screen Pinning
If you need to pass your phone to someone else and don't want them snooping about in other applications, just pin the screen, according to our pals at ExtremeTech.com. If it's not enabled by default, you may activate it under the Security menu. To prevent them from switching apps, tap the app icon on any app in the multitasking interface and select "Pin." You can secure app switching by demanding your phone's PIN. It's worth noting that the app icon in the app switching view also allows you to split the screen, halt the app's alerts, and read its information.
14. Configure Guest Access
You can grant someone else a bit more access than screen-pinning permits. To allow someone to borrow your phone without allowing them to access your applications, data, or settings or send text messages, go to Settings > System > Advanced > Multiple Users and activate it. You may activate the Add Users from the Lock Screen slider if you like. To access Quick Settings, slide down twice from the top of your phone. Tap your user icon in the lower right corner and select Add Guest. The phone takes a few moments to enter the mode, which disables any personal accounts (such as email) but permits phone calls, mapping, and web surfing. Only standard Android applications display, so you don't have to worry about your visitor posting to Facebook or tweeting on your behalf.
15. Keep Track of Screen Activity
With Android 11, Google integrated screen recording directly into the operating system. Previously, only Samsung, LG, and OnePlus owners could use it, but now any phone running Android 11 May. It's easy to use: Simply drag down the top shade and select Screen Record > Begin Recording. You may choose whether to display touch points and capture audio or not. Pull down the shade again and hit the big red bar to stop recording. In our tests, it worked well, creating a regular MP4 file in the photo gallery.
16. Make use of Developer Options
This comes from PCMag's Ben Moore. To enable this, go to the About Phone section of the Settings app, scroll down to the Build number, and press it seven times. After that, navigate to Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options. You may reveal screen taps, alter Bluetooth device parameters, and configure USB connection preferences from here, among many other developer-only settings. This is obviously not for the technophobe, but rather for the hardcore tinkerer.
17. Enable Find My Device
If you misplace your phone or it is stolen, both mobile operating systems provide tools that allow you to locate it on a map. Furthermore, these Find My services allow you to deactivate the phone, erase it, and play a sound on it. Apple's mobile operating system goes a step further by allowing you to show your phone number or another message on the screen of the lost device, something we don't understand why Google hasn't included.
18. Activate the Battery Saver Mode
Android provides far more control over battery-saving choices than the iPhone. You may not only activate Battery Saver mode and have it switch off automatically when the phone is charged, but you can also utilize the Adaptive Battery function, which increases battery life depending on your usage habits. You may also establish a timetable for Battery Saver mode to be selected based on your usage or when you reach a certain percentage of charge.
19. Your Android Phone Can Control Your Smart Home
Android 11 makes it easier to operate smart home gadgets. Long-pressing the power button brings up a panel with large buttons for managing your light bulbs and other gadgets. To make this work, you must first configure the devices in the Google Home app and, optionally, establish a room for the devices.
20. Frequently updated
While we were writing this, our test Pixel's security settings page told us that a security update was available. You should absolutely install them as soon as feasible. Android updates are faster and easier than ever before, and you never know what new features an upgrade will allow. Rest assured that when we discover additional hacks and shortcuts, we will incorporate them into future updates to this story.
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