Android telephones come in huge shapes and sizes; however, all of them run equal basic operating machines. That Android code consists of settings that will let you tailor your cellphone to your wishes. In this manual, we gathered 24 lesser-recognized customizations to toy with. Before we start, a brief caveat: Although the equal Android code runs all of those telephones, producers frequently modify the operating device using slapping a software skin on the pinnacle. Our commands especially practice the cutting-edge inventory version Android, 8.0 Oreo, which you’ll discover on Google’s present-day Pixel telephones. However, if you own a telephone that runs an extraordinary Android model, you can nevertheless follow these settings—you have to rummage through a bit extra to locate them.
1. Increase font length
You don’t need to squint and strain your eyes when viewing Android monitors: Open the Settings app and pick Display, accompanied via Font size, to make changes. Drag the pointer alongside the slider to make changes and check the preview window to peer the result. Once you place the Android font length, most apps will follow it.
2. Make positive you could find your cell phone
Worried about approximately dropping your cell phone? To maximize your possibilities of recovering a missing tool, make certain to activate Android’s integrated tracking device: Open Settings, visit Security & location, and tap Find My Device. After that, if you need to misplace your smartphone, head to this web page in any browser and log in on your Google account. You’ll be able to view your handset’s area on a map, among other alternatives. For greater information, check out our guide to locating a lost phone.
3. Tweak the Quick Settings panel
Drag fingers down from the pinnacle of the screen, and you will open Android’s Quick Settings panel, which immediately gives get right of entry to settings inclusive of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and flashlight mode. These shortcuts are beneficial. However, you could make them even handier by customizing which ones show up and the order in which they seem. Open the panel, tap the pen icon at the lower left, and you may be capable of upload shortcuts and drag the icons into a brand new association.
4. Reduce data usage
Android includes a integrated system to limit how tons of records history apps can gobble up (at least when you’re no longer related to Wi-Fi). This mode will affect distinctive apps in various ways—for instance, in a browser, images might not show up until you faucet on them. To activate this handy function, open Settings and choose Network & Internet, then Data usage, then Data Saver.
5. Stop new apps from developing shortcuts
By default, when you set up an app, it mechanically seems like a shortcut on one among your cellphone’s domestic monitors. This permits you to fast launch a brand new app. However, it can additionally muddle up your interface. To disable this default, carry out an extended press on any clean part of a domestic screen. When a menu pops up, choose Home Settings and flip off the Add icon to Home display screen option. Note: This putting used to appear inside the Play Store app; however, in Android 8.0 Oreo, you can now access it from any home display.
6. Rotate the house screens
Within an app, you can flip your cell phone to exchange the view from portrait to landscape or vice versa. But the home screen doesn’t include the identical default—you need to flip this selection on. Return to the Home Settings display mentioned inside the previous tip. Here, you can select whether or not or no longer the home screens rotate with the cell phone with the aid of turning Allow Homescreen rotation on or off. Note: You won’t be capable of getting admission to this option (it’ll seem grayed out) in case you’ve locked the orientation of your smartphone. To repair this ability, you have to release your display orientation: Open Settings, visit Display and exchange the Auto-rotate screen alternative.
7. Project your cellphone on a bigger display
Android now comes with built-in casting so that you can mirror the display on any display or television ready with a Chromecast tool. Although many apps have their own Chromecast buttons, you can also undertake any display screen or app from the Settings. Just go to Connected devices and pick out Cast.
8. Change app permissions
How lots of your non-public facts can any person app get admission to? You can see precisely which permissions an app has been granted by going to Settings, tapping Apps & notifications, and picking an app (or hitting See all to view the overall listing). Then, to view and edit that app’s get admission to faucet Permissions. For example, you would possibly permit an app to get entry to your touch listing but not your place.
9. Control battery use
Android now optimizes apps so that they won’t drain the battery as lots. For example, your email app can nevertheless run in the history, checking for updates. However, it does so much less regularly. However, you could exempt certain apps in case you want them to run at full throttle constantly. Open Settings and tap Battery, then the menu button at the pinnacle right, then Battery optimization. Next, hit the Not optimized hyperlink, then All apps. Finally, select an app and select the Don’t optimize alternative.
10. Wake your telephone along with your voice
You do not have to contact your cell phone to gain get admission to Google Assistant. You need to adjust your settings. Open the Google app, faucet the menu button (3 horizontal strains on the bottom right), and then hit Settings accompanied by Voice. Choose Voice Match, and then the phrase “OK Google” will work at any time, even when your tool is locked. In fact, you can use voice reputation to unencumber your phone this way.
11. Free up extra memory
If you are jogging Android 7.0 Nougat or later, you could take benefit of Smart Storage. If your tool is struggling at no cost space, this feature will routinely delete local copies of pictures and movies that have effectively been transferred to Google Photos. To permit it, open Settings, tap Storage and turn on the Smart Storage toggle transfer.
12. Adjust lock screen timing
Why hassle decreasing the time your phone takes to lock the screen automatically? Less downtime makes it less likely someone will swipe your handset before it locks itself. This can even lessen battery drain because the display will stay lit for a shorter length. From Settings, head to Display, faucet Advanced, and choose Sleep. Then you may select a time-out period that works for you.
