6 Android ideas I depend on each day, because of Reddit’s smartest customers

Our Android telephones are filled with hidden options and settings that Google would not promote.

Through the years, I’ve looked for varied methods to boost my Android expertise, and because of Reddit, I’ve uncovered a wealth of ideas that I not often see really useful anyplace else.

Listed below are the most effective Android ideas I’ve sourced from Reddit over time. These are helpful for any Android telephone or pill and solely require a couple of minutes per tip to check out.

6

Block adverts out of your telephone settings

A fast copy-and-paste can drastically scale back the variety of adverts you see

Adverts are all over the place on our telephones. From the Play Retailer to Gmail, adverts are crammed into each facet of our digital lives. It is a irritating state of affairs, particularly when Google is making its adverts extra obnoxious by the week.

You may take some steps to cut back this impact, like putting in an ad-blocker on Chrome, however this does not work exterior of your browser.

Whereas researching for brand new ad-blockers a yr in the past, I got here throughout a tip from u/Indirectleek on Reddit.

Go to Personal DNS within the Community & Web settings web page in your Android system, and enter “.adguard-dns.com” within the Hostname discipline. This redirects all DNS visitors by way of AdGuard DNS.

If the area tackle you are making an attempt to hook up with belongs to an promoting, monitoring, malicious, or phishing web site, AdGuard DNS blocks it.

That is nice for privateness and safety, however its different profit is way extra sensible. It reduces the quantity of adverts you see, from the Play Retailer to Google Chrome. It would not matter what apps you employ, AdGuard will filter all of your visitors.

Whereas it is not 100% efficient as a result of number of methods adverts are delivered to us, I’ve seen a lower within the variety of adverts I’ve seen since I set it up.

5

Skip the double-swipe to open Fast Settings

A small change that drastically modified my expertise with Android

Do you know you possibly can swipe down with two fingers to open the Fast Settings panel on Android? I did not till I got here throughout this tip from u/Sizzling-Advert-3651.

For years, I used to be accustomed to the double-swipe technique. One swipe to open my notifications, one other to increase the Fast Settings menu.

Swiping down from the highest of your display with two fingers skips your notifications and opens the whole Fast Settings menu. It is a small change that makes my Android expertise noticeably smoother.

Sadly, the strategy would not work in reverse. You could swipe up twice to shut the Fast Settings menu.

4

Eradicate pointless background processes

A fast technique to pace up a gradual Android telephone

There are many methods to pace up an Android telephone, however this one is comparatively unknown regardless of having a large impression in your system’s efficiency.

Not solely does this setting enhance your telephone’s efficiency and responsiveness, however it might probably additionally enhance battery life (though most individuals report battery life staying roughly the identical).

This tip comes courtesy of Reddit consumer u/xmenyoyo. Go into your telephone’s Developer choices menu and search “Background course of restrict.” Change the setting from Customary restrict to At most 4 processes.

The usual restrict varies between producers however is normally round 20 processes. This will drastically scale back the efficiency load in your Android telephone, however there are some things to notice.

Allow developer choices by going to the About telephone web page in your Settings app. Scroll down and faucet Construct quantity seven instances. Developer choices present up on the backside of the System web page.

Firstly, it will not cease apps which can be set to run within the background. For instance, WhatsApp usually runs within the background to examine for brand new messages. Limiting the background processes stops cached apps from utilizing up processing energy.

These are apps that need not run, however your system is storing them in reminiscence simply in case. You should not want to fret about lacking out on notifications.

Nevertheless, as it is a developer setting, it might probably trigger surprising bugs in sure apps. Chances are you’ll discover that apps restart randomly or do not obtain updates.

Preserve a cautious eye in your most-used apps after activating this setting to make sure it is not inflicting issues.

Lastly, this setting reverts everytime you revert your system. You could re-activate it if you restart your system or swap units. This tip works for any system that runs Android, not solely your telephones and tablets.

A small however noticeable distinction

Regardless of this being a characteristic since 2020, I solely not too long ago got here throughout it because of Reddit consumer u/techratio. It is already activated in your Pixel telephone, and you could be utilizing it with out realizing it.

Open your app drawer, and calmly faucet and lengthy press an app to open the app choices. Now, shut the app choices and lengthy press with a a lot firmer faucet. You need to discover that the app choices menu opens barely faster.

The distinction in pace is refined, however noticeable. Whereas I am unable to say it is revolutionized my Android expertise, it has modified how I work together with my telephone.

This technique would not work on each app, however it’s going to work on each app that makes use of the usual API for long-press actions (which is most of them).

2

Use Gboard’s private dictionary to create textual content shortcuts

Velocity up filling out types

That is technically a Gboard tip, however you should use it on most keyboard apps which have a private dictionary.

You are in all probability conscious of Gboard’s private dictionary that permits you to inform Gboard to cease correcting phrases, however you could not know of this tip that may pace up getting into phrases.

Because of u/PyrolyticCarbon, I found that you would be able to create shortcuts for continuously used textual content.

For instance, once I sort “n1”, the primary correction is my telephone quantity. If I sort “eml”, it suggests my e mail tackle. I’ve all my particulars set to shortcuts, which is nice for filling out types.

You should use this characteristic for any phrases you sort usually, or create a shortcut for a complete sentence.

Open Gboard and faucet the Settings icon within the upper-right nook. Faucet Dictionary, then create shortcuts below the All languages menu.

1

Change your minimal show width to suit extra in your display

Finest for large screens like foldables and tablets

I do not use this tip for my Pixel telephone, however I apply it to my pill to suit extra on the display with out straining my eyes.

This technique would work equally properly on foldable telephones and comes courtesy of Reddit consumer u/SolitaryMassacre.

Go into your telephone’s developer choices and seek for Smallest width. This setting adjustments how a lot matches in your display. Larger numbers match extra, smaller numbers match much less.

For instance, here is the distinction between 411dp (the default setting) and 600dp on my Pixel 8.

You may in all probability see why I do not use this on my Pixel 8, however I exploit it on a regular basis on my Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE.

Whereas I used 580dp for demonstrating, a smaller change to 500dp strikes a pleasant steadiness. I like to recommend taking part in round with this characteristic to see what fits you finest.

There’s all the time extra to find on Android

In case you discover this listing inspiring, I like to recommend taking a deep dive into your telephone’s developer choices. Whereas the outcomes will be unpredictable, this web page in your Settings app is the place you can find essentially the most impactful settings that may change your Android expertise.