15 Best Android Tips & Tricks You Probably Didn't Know About

 

Android, as a smartphone operating system, is packed

with useful applications, powerful tools, and time-saving

techniques.

Many of us take our phones and tablets for granted,

but there are many things they can do that we've never

discovered.

Follow all the steps to become a master user of Android.

1. Enable Developer Mode

Ok, this is one of the most widely known tricks,

but it's important nonetheless, so we are going to include it.

Step-1: go to Settings 

Step-2: go to About phone and 

Step-3: tap on your phone's build number seven times. You'll get an onscreen countdown, eventually followed

by a message saying "Congratulations, you are now a

developer".

 

2. Change the Animation Speed

For the most part, the latest Android phones already feel

very snappy. However, some lower-end phones only ship

with 4GB of RAM, and in extreme cases, just 2GB.

One solution is to change your phone's Window animation

scale, Transition animation scale, and Animator duration scale from 1x to 0.5x. Granted, it won't actually make your

phone faster, but it will make it feel faster.

Step-1: Go to Settings 

Step-2:  System 

Step-3:  Developer options and select the Window Animation Scale  (you'll need

to have first enabled Developer Mode).

3. Clear App Defaults

It's annoying when a link opens in a certain app rather

than in the browser. It could be a YouTube link, a tweet,

or a Facebook page—you'll end up waiting around while

your phone shuts down Chrome (or your browser of

choice) and fires up something else.

It's easily fixed.

Step-1: Go to Settings 

Step-2:  Apps and notifications and 

Step-3: Find the app that keeps opening. Once there, tap on Advanced, scroll down to Open by default, press it, and then select Clear Defaults.

If that doesn't work, try doing the same with your browser

app as well.

4. Quickly Change Your Wi-Fi

Network

Oddly, how to quickly switch between Wi-Fi networks

is not very obvious. Sure, you can go to Settings >

Network and internet > Wi-Fi and change it there, but there has to be a faster way, right?

Well, there is!

Swipe down twice from the top of your screen to open

the Quick settings menu, and instead of tapping on the Wi-Fi icon (which

disables it), tap and hold on the icon. You'll immediately

be given a list of all the networks in your vicinity.

5. Quickly Access the Quick Settings

Menu

Speaking of the Quick settings menu, did you know you

don't actually need to double swipe in order to access it?

Instead, a simultaneous two-finger swipe will have the

same effect.

6. Cast Your Screen

Are you a Chromecast owner? If so, you can easily mirror

your Android screen (and individual apps) by using the cast

function.

Just open the Quick settings menu and hit Screen cast. Your device will find your Chromecast (assuming it's

on the same local network), and you're good to go.

It's great for playing games on a larger screen, showing

off photos to family and friends, or playing your music

through a louder set of speakers. Though many apps,

like YouTube, have a dedicated cast button within the

app for even easier access.

7. Locate Annoying Notifications

Do you keep getting an annoying app notification, but

you're not sure which app is causing it?

There is an easy solution—just long-press on the notification

in question, and your device will tell you.

8. Manage App Notifications

Moving on one step further from the previous tip, after

you've long-pressed the app you'll see an information icon.

Press it, and you'll be presented with the notification settings

for the app in question.

You can do things like block all (or some) of its notifications,

allow it to override priority mode, and make it hide private

information.

 

9. Do Not Disturb Mode

The Do Not Disturb mode is probably one of the most

underrated and underused features on the entire operating

system.

In short, it allows you to put your phone into quiet mode

but still allows some "noises" to get through. This could

be calls, texts, or WhatsApps from specific contacts,

notifications from certain apps, or important alerts such as

alarms.

To set up Do Not Disturb, go to Settings > Sound > Do Not Disturb, then select the options that you require.

It can be quickly toggled on and off from the Quick settings

menu.

10. Map Zoom

Ever need to use Google Maps one-handed? (No, not while

you're driving!)

Just double-tap the screen to zoom in and double-tap to

zoom out—it's a lot less fiddly than trying to pinch your

fingers and hold your phone at the same time!

For more precise control, double-tap and hold your finger

on the screen. Then move your finger up and down to

zoom in and out.

11. Smart Lock

Smart lock is super useful. It removes the need to use a keypad lock when you're at

home or in another "trusted" environment.

It can use GPS, certain networks, your face, or even your

voice to prevent your phone from locking itself, making

for a much faster and hassle-free experience.

Head to Settings > Security > Smart lock to set it up.

 

12. App Pinning

If you have kids using your phone regularly, this is a great

way to make sure they don't accidentally run up huge bills

or set their eyes on age-inappropriate content.

Firstly, you'll need to enable the feature (oddly, it is turned

off by default). Do that by going to Settings > Security

> Advanced and scroll down to App pinning and flipping the toggle at the top of the window.

To pin a screen, open the app, press the Overview button (the square), and then the pin icon.

You can choose to PIN-protect the pinned screen if you so

wish.

13. Use Assistant While You Wait on

Hold

If you're trying to call your ISP, cable provider, electric

the company, or just about any other company that you have

an account with, there are two things you can be certain

of—terrible customer service and an inordinate amount

of time sitting in a hold queue.

Thankfully, hold queues can become a thing of the past with

Google Assistant. If you find yourself in a queue, just tap

the three dots in the upper right-hand corner and choose

Hold for me. The assistant will alert you when someone finally answers,

and will even keep a transcript of anything said in the

meantime.

Note: At the time of writing, the feature is only available

on toll-free numbers in the US.

14. Turn On Notification History

We've all swiped away notifications accidentally before.

It's frustrating, especially if you didn't notice which app

it came from. Android 11 and above have a solution in the

form of the Notification History feature.

It is easy to turn on. Just go to Settings > Apps and

notifications > Notifications > Notification history and slide the toggle into the On position. Once enabled, tap History in the notification shade to see what you missed.

15. Enable Chat Bubbles

All compatible messaging apps support chat bubbles.

A chat bubble is a persistent shortcut icon that is always

visible on-screen, regardless of whether you are using the

main app or not. It will take you straight to the chat

window of the person you are talking to.

You can turn chat bubbles on by heading to Settings >

Apps and notifications > Notifications > Bubbles. Then turn any chat into a bubble by going to Settings >

Apps and notifications > Conversations and choose the conversation you want to enable the feature

for.

Use These Tricks to Become a

Power User

Android is packed with lots of tricks that we have not

covered here. But if you start using these 15 tips regularly,

you can become an Android power user in no time.