5 hidden Android options I want I knew a...

It is well-known that Android gadgets supply a big selection of options and settings to discover. With Android 16 now out there and Google frequently engaged on new options, it is easy to miss a number of the extra helpful and attention-grabbing options which have been a part of Android for some time.

Though options like Live Updates and Adaptive Battery are spectacular, listed here are 5 helpful Android options that I imagine are sometimes neglected and that I want I had found earlier.

I’ve examined all of those on each my Galaxy S25+ and Pixel 8a, so you may strive them on any Android machine you personal. You do not want any further apps both, as all of those options are constructed straight into Android’s settings menu.

1

Preserve your cellphone unlocked at dwelling

Prolong Lock retains your cellphone unlocked in trusted locations

One in all my favourite options on Android is named Extend Lock (previously often known as Sensible Lock). It has a quite simple premise, and what it does is maintain your cellphone unlocked in trusted areas. For instance, you may set Prolong Lock to unlock your cellphone whenever you’re at dwelling. This makes it simple to rapidly choose up and use your machine at dwelling with out getting into a PIN or utilizing biometrics.

In fact, utilizing this function requires trusting these you reside with, but when you do not have prying eyes at dwelling, it is a helpful device. As quickly as your cellphone leaves the tackle or map space you set on Prolong Lock, it instantly requires a PIN or biometrics to unlock once more.

Prolong Lock additionally presents two further choices: On-Physique Detection and Trusted Units. On-Physique Detection retains your cellphone unlocked when you’re strolling with it, and Trusted Units unlocks it when linked to a close-by trusted machine, like your smartwatch. Personally, I solely use the trusted location setting, as I discover it extra dependable and safer.

To check out Prolong Lock your self, comply with the steps beneath:

1. Go to Settings > Safety and Privateness > Extra Safety and Privateness.

2. Scroll down and faucet Prolong Unlock.

3. Enter your machine PIN.

4. Choose Trusted locations to arrange an space the place your cellphone stays unlocked.

2

Always remember a notification

Notification historical past helps you recall notifications you’ve got dismissed

I’ve executed this about one million occasions on my cellphone: I get a notification, I have a look at it, swipe it away, after which fully neglect about it. Fortunately, that is why Notification historical past exists. Because the identify of the function implies, it retains a historical past of all of the notifications you could have acquired. So, should you unintentionally delete a notification you wish to learn, you may test your Notification historical past to see what it was, reasonably than being left at midnight.

The most effective half is that enabling Notification historical past solely takes just a few seconds and saves you numerous complications. Here is how one can allow it:

1. Go to Settings > Notifications.

2. Choose Notification historical past.

3. Toggle on Use notification historical past.

4. Your notifications will now be saved to this menu.

3

Pin an app to your display screen to guard your privateness

Cease prying eyes from seeing an excessive amount of in your cellphone

One other helpful Android safety function that I imagine is not talked about sufficient is App pinning. First launched with Android 5.0 Lollipop in 2014, this helpful function permits you to pin a single app to your display screen so it will probably’t be simply swiped away. So, should you’re handing your cellphone over to a child, member of the family, or good friend to have a look at, and you do not need them to pry into something in your machine, this prevents that by locking one app to the display screen.

If you pin an app to the display screen, you may solely exit it by swiping up and holding the house bar, or by holding down the triangle and sq. buttons for just a few seconds (relying on the kind of gesture navigation you could have enabled). You can too allow PIN safety, so if the individual taking a look at your cellphone now is aware of how one can exit App pinning, your PIN is required as an extra step to flee it.

To check out App pinning, comply with these steps:

1. Go to Settings > Safety and privateness > Extra safety and privateness.

2. Scroll down and choose App pinning.

3. Toggle on Use app pinning.

4. Moreover, on the identical display screen, you may allow or disable Ask for PIN earlier than unpinning.

5. To pin an app, go to Overview, faucet the app icon, and select Pin.

4

Share Wi-Fi by way of QR code

By no means fear about typing your lengthy Wi-Fi password once more

It is the query everybody hears when family and friends go to their dwelling for a very long time: “What’s your Wi-Fi password?” For those who’re bored with handing out your Wi-Fi password like sweet on Halloween, this Android function makes it very simple to share it rapidly with out the trouble of typing your lengthy and probably complicated password on their cellphone by sharing your Wi-Fi by way of a QR code. So, if somebody is visiting, they’ll scan the code in your cellphone, and voilà, they’ve entry to your Wi-Fi.

The most effective half is, you do not even must allow something for this setting to work. Simply comply with these steps, and you will be sharing your Wi-Fi by way of a QR code like a professional:

1. Go to Settings > Community and Web.

2. Choose your Wi-Fi connection, which brings up a Community particulars web page.

3. Below the identify of your Wi-Fi, you may see three choices: Neglect, Disconnect, and Share.

4. Tapping Share will generate a QR code which you can share with others to connect with your Wi-Fi.

5

Open Google Pockets immediately

The facility button is extra helpful than you assume

Lastly, I discover this function important on my Android machine: opening Google Wallet with a double-press of the facility button. Launched not too long ago in Android 16, it makes funds extra handy — no must open your cellphone and faucet Pockets in Fast Settings. Simply double-press the house button, and Google Pockets launches immediately for contactless funds after unlocking your cellphone.

For Pixel customers, this can be a new function with Android 16. Presently, it is restricted to Google Pockets and the digital camera app on Pixel gadgets, however I hope Google will develop this performance to all apps sooner or later. For Samsung Galaxy customers, the choice to pick any app to open with a double-press of the facility button has been out there for some time. So, when you’ve got a Galaxy cellphone, you may select Google Pockets or another app you favor.

That stated, this is how one can open Google Pockets in seconds in your Android machine:

1. Go to Settings > System > Gestures.

2. Choose Double-press the facility button.

3. Toggle on Use double press.

4. Choose Pockets.