I take advantage of these secret Android methods on daily basis — here is why you must, too

The perfect half about proudly owning an Android smartphone is the ecosystem’s flexibility. Not like iPhones, you possibly can customise and use your Android machine the best way you need. You may change the default launcher, set third-party apps as defaults, and extra.

What I really like most about Android are the small, helpful options sprinkled all through the OS. Listed below are a number of I take advantage of day by day. Possibly they’re going to show useful to you as properly.

8

Translate something in your display screen immediately

Circle to Search works on photographs, textual content, and extra

Circle to Search is a comparatively new addition to Android. The function debuted with the Galaxy S24 sequence in January 2024, nevertheless it’s now out there on most trendy Android smartphones and has since picked up a number of new options.

Whereas Circle to Search is primarily designed to let customers get extra context by looking what’s on their display screen, one underrated facet of it’s translation.

Typically, we have to translate on-screen textual content. Whereas most individuals copy the textual content and paste it into the Translate app, Circle to Search permits you to do it immediately.

Faucet and maintain the navigation bar, then faucet the translate button. It is a easy, time-saving trick that eliminates the necessity for copying and pasting.

7

Mute spammy alerts utilizing Android’s fine-tuned controls

You do not have to dam the entire app notifications, simply the annoying bits

In earlier variations of Android (earlier than Android 13), all apps may ship limitless notifications by default.

Whereas that has modified and apps now require permission to ship notifications, in the event you’re like me and have a whole lot of apps put in in your Android telephone, it nonetheless means a whole lot of alerts.

One in every of Android’s underrated options is how granularly you possibly can management notification move from apps.

For instance, I take advantage of a meals supply app known as Swiggy. I wish to obtain updates about my order, however not the standard promos they ship.

With Android’s notification channels, I can select which forms of alerts I would like and which of them I do not.

This function is offered for many apps, and I significantly love how I get to manage what sort of notifications I obtain.

Not like the iPhone, which solely provides all-or-nothing notification settings, Android provides you actual management.

6

Convey again misplaced alerts with Notification historical past

No extra panic while you swipe away one thing essential

One other lesser-known notification-related function on Android is Notification historical past. Hasn’t it occurred to you that you simply’re swiping away a notification, however simply as you do, one other one arrives instead and will get dismissed by mistake?

Notification historical past has come to my rescue many instances, and it’d enable you to too.

This function retains a log of which apps have despatched which notifications. So even in the event you by accident swipe away one thing essential, you possibly can simply return and test it.

To activate Notification Historical past in your telephone, go to Settings > Notifications > Notification historical past.

These options can lock or observe your machine in seconds

Over the previous few Android variations, Google has considerably improved Android’s safety and privateness.

Most just lately, Google launched new anti-theft options. These are a few of the first settings I activate after I arrange a brand new Android telephone.

These options are designed that can assist you recuperate your telephone in case of theft or, on the very least, shield the information on it.

For instance, Theft Detection Lock makes use of AI to find out motions related to theft, like snatching, to immediately lock the display screen and stop unauthorized entry.

With Distant Lock, in case your machine is stolen, you possibly can lock it remotely utilizing your telephone quantity and a fast verification step.

Equally, there is a function known as Offline Machine Lock that robotically locks your telephone if it is disconnected from the web for an prolonged interval.

No extra scrolling via a cluttered checklist each time

Regardless of which Android smartphone you employ, some issues are common. You are taking pictures, handle paperwork, share hyperlinks, ship recordsdata to buddies, and likelihood is, you employ the sharesheet virtually on daily basis.

Typically, although, Android does one thing odd. It locations some often used apps all the best way on the finish, so it’s important to scroll via the share sheet earlier than you possibly can truly share your stuff.

Fortunately, there is a hidden Android function that allows you to pin your favourite apps to the highest.

Subsequent time you are within the sharesheet, faucet and maintain an app and choose Pin.”That app will now seem towards the entrance of the sharesheet each time you share one thing, making entry a lot simpler.

3

Use again faucet gestures for fast shortcuts on Pixel

Double-tap the again to take a screenshot, activate the flashlight, and extra

You may already configure many gestures in your Android smartphone, like double-tapping the ability button to launch the digicam app, or on telephones like Motorola, shaking them to activate the flashlight.

If that also feels restricted, there’s another gesture you possibly can attempt on a Google Pixel.

Google Pixel telephones provide a function known as Fast Faucet that means that you can carry out actions like taking a screenshot or opening a selected app by tapping the again of your telephone.

I’ve set it to take a screenshot each time I do it, however you possibly can customise it by going to Settings > System > Gestures > Fast Faucet.

2

Hold unused apps from draining your battery

Restrict background utilization for apps you hardly ever open

One of many largest considerations for many Android customers is battery life. Whereas there are a number of methods to protect it, probably the most underrated habits shouldn’t be checking which apps are draining the battery probably the most.

Typically, an app can constantly run within the background, draining energy. This might both be because of a bug or a caught course of.

That is why I all the time test which apps are utilizing up battery, and if it is one I do not use usually, I limit its background exercise.

You must control this, too. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery utilization, and test if any hardly ever used apps are consuming an excessive amount of energy. In that case, choose the app and disable background utilization.

1

Use auto-rotate the good means in your telephone

That is the way it ought to work by default

Android handles auto-rotation fairly properly. You may activate or deactivate it from Fast Settings, and even when it is off, rotating your telephone brings up a small icon to manually rotate the display screen.

Nonetheless, the immediate disappears shortly, and in the event you miss it, it’s important to return to Fast Settings to toggle auto-rotate once more.

Not too long ago, I arrange a trick that turns auto-rotation on or off primarily based on the app I am utilizing.

For instance, after I open YouTube or Netflix, auto-rotate activates robotically, so I can rotate my telephone, and the display screen adjusts.

Nonetheless, after I go away these apps, auto-rotate stays off. So, if I am mendacity down, the display screen would not instantly flip to panorama.

Samsung smartphones provide a built-in function known as Modes and Routines that may automate this habits. On different units like Pixel or Motorola, you may want a third-party app like MacroDroid to make it work.

I take advantage of these underrated Android options on a regular basis, and so must you

The perfect half about utilizing an Android smartphone is that you could set it up precisely the best way you need, and the following tips and methods assist make my telephone really feel really mine.

You probably have a Samsung Android machine, there are even extra ideas and methods you possibly can discover to customise your telephone expertise even additional.