5 hidden Android options I want I knew about sooner

It is well-known that Android units provide a big selection of options and settings to discover. With Android 16 now obtainable and Google frequently engaged on new options, it is easy to miss a few of the extra helpful and attention-grabbing options which were a part of Android for some time.

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

I’ve examined all of those on each my Galaxy S25+ and Pixel 8a, so you’ll be able to attempt them on any Android system you personal. You do not want any extra apps both, as all of those options are constructed immediately into Android’s settings menu.

1

Maintain your telephone unlocked at house

Prolong Lock retains your telephone unlocked in trusted locations

One in all my favourite options on Android is known as Extend Lock (previously referred to as Good Lock). It has a quite simple premise, and what it does is preserve your telephone unlocked in trusted areas. For instance, you’ll be able to set Prolong Lock to unlock your telephone once you’re at house. This makes it simple to rapidly decide up and use your system at house with out coming into a PIN or utilizing biometrics.

In fact, utilizing this characteristic requires trusting these you reside with, but when you do not have prying eyes at house, it is a helpful device. As quickly as your telephone 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 gives two extra choices: On-Physique Detection and Trusted Gadgets. On-Physique Detection retains your telephone unlocked when you’re strolling with it, and Trusted Gadgets unlocks it when related to a close-by trusted system, 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 under:

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

2. Scroll down and faucet Prolong Unlock.

3. Enter your system PIN.

4. Choose Trusted locations to arrange an space the place your telephone 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 telephone: I get a notification, I have a look at it, swipe it away, after which utterly overlook about it. Fortunately, that is why Notification historical past exists. Because the title of the characteristic implies, it retains a historical past of all of the notifications you’ve obtained. So, when you by chance delete a notification you wish to learn, you’ll be able to examine your Notification historical past to see what it was, moderately than being left at nighttime.

The perfect half is that enabling Notification historical past solely takes just a few seconds and saves you a variety of complications. Here is find out how to 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 to guard your privateness

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

One other helpful Android safety characteristic that I imagine is not talked about sufficient is App pinning. First launched with Android 5.0 Lollipop in 2014, this helpful characteristic lets you pin a single app to your display so it will possibly’t be simply swiped away. So, when you’re handing your telephone over to a child, member of the family, or pal to have a look at, and you don’t need them to pry into something in your system, this prevents that by locking one app to the display.

While you pin an app to the display, you’ll be able to 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’ve enabled). You may also allow PIN safety, so if the particular person your telephone now is aware of find out how to exit App pinning, your PIN is required as a further 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, you’ll be able to 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 house for a very long time: “What’s your Wi-Fi password?” For those who’re uninterested in handing out your Wi-Fi password like sweet on Halloween, this Android characteristic makes it very simple to share it rapidly with out the trouble of typing your lengthy and presumably complicated password on their telephone by sharing your Wi-Fi by way of a QR code. So, if somebody is visiting, they’ll scan the code in your telephone, and voilà, they’ve entry to your Wi-Fi.

The perfect 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. Beneath the title of your Wi-Fi, you will see three choices: Neglect, Disconnect, and Share.

4. Tapping Share will generate a QR code that you would be able to 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 characteristic important on my Android system: opening Google Wallet with a double-press of the facility button. Launched lately in Android 16, it makes funds extra handy — no must open your telephone and faucet Pockets in Fast Settings. Simply double-press the house button, and Google Pockets launches immediately for contactless funds after unlocking your telephone.

For Pixel customers, this can be a new characteristic with Android 16. Presently, it is restricted to Google Pockets and the digicam app on Pixel units, however I hope Google will broaden 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 obtainable for some time. So, when you’ve got a Galaxy telephone, you’ll be able to select Google Pockets or every other app you like.

That mentioned, here is find out how to open Google Pockets in seconds in your Android system:

1. Go to Settings > System > Gestures.

2. Choose Double-press the facility button.

3. Toggle on Use double press.

4. Choose Pockets.