Mastering Your Smartphone: Android Tips for Power Users

What is Android

Android is a versatile and powerful operating system that offers many features and customization options for users. Whether you want to boost your productivity, enhance your security, or simply have more fun with your device, there are plenty of tips and tricks that can help you achieve your goals. In this article, I will share 10 Android tips for power users that you may not know about, but can make a big difference in your day to day life.

10 Android Tips for Power Users

1. Use split-screen mode to multitask. If you want to use two apps at the same time, you can use the split-screen mode on Android 10 and above. To do this, open the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and holding, then tap on the icon of the first app you want to use and select Split screen. Then, choose the second app from the app switcher or the home screen. You can adjust the size of each app by dragging the divider in the middle. To exit the split-screen mode, drag the divider to the top or bottom of the screen¹.

2. Enable dark mode to save battery and reduce eye strain. Dark mode is a feature that changes the color scheme of your device to black or dark gray, which can save battery life on OLED screens and reduce eye strain in low-light conditions. To enable dark mode on Android 10 and above, go to Settings > Display > Dark theme and toggle it on. You can also schedule dark mode to turn on automatically at sunset or at a specific time².

3. Use gestures to navigate faster and easier. Gestures are a way of controlling your device with simple swipes and taps instead of buttons. Android 10 and above offer three types of gesture navigation: 3-button navigation, which is similar to the traditional Android navigation with back, home, and recent apps buttons; 2-button navigation, which replaces the recent apps button with a swipe up gesture; and fully gestural navigation, which eliminates all buttons and uses only swipes and taps. To choose your preferred gesture navigation, go to Settings > System > Gestures > System navigation and select the option you want³.

4. Customize your home screen with widgets and shortcuts. Widgets are mini-apps that display information or perform actions on your home screen, such as weather, calendar, music player, and more. Shortcuts are icons that let you access specific functions or screens within an app, such as creating a new note, calling a contact, or opening a playlist. To add widgets and shortcuts to your home screen, long-press on an empty space and tap on Widgets or Shortcuts. Then, browse through the available options and drag them to your desired location⁴.

5. Use Digital Wellbeing features to manage your screen time and focus. Digital Wellbeing is a set of tools that help you monitor and limit your screen time, reduce distractions, and improve your mental health. Some of the features include Dashboard, which shows you how much time you spend on different apps; App timers, which let you set daily limits for specific apps; Focus mode, which silences notifications from selected apps; Bedtime mode, which turns your screen to grayscale and enables Do Not Disturb at night; and Family Link, which lets you manage your child’s device usage.

6. Use Smart Lock to keep your device unlocked in trusted situations. Smart Lock is a feature that keeps your device unlocked when it detects that it is safe to do so, such as when it is connected to a trusted Bluetooth device, when it is near a trusted location, when it recognizes your voice, when it detects your face, or when it senses that it is in your pocket or handbag. To enable Smart Lock, go to Settings > Security > Smart Lock and choose the options you want.

7. Use Google Assistant to perform tasks with voice commands. Google Assistant is a virtual assistant that can help you with various tasks using voice commands or text input. You can ask Google Assistant to make calls, send messages, play music, check the weather, set reminders, control smart home devices, answer questions, and more. To activate Google Assistant, say “Hey Google” or “OK Google”, or swipe up from the bottom left or right corner of the screen.

8. Use Nearby Share to share files with nearby devices. Nearby Share is a feature that lets you share files with nearby devices without using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It uses peer-to-peer technology to create a secure connection between devices and transfer files quickly and easily. To use Nearby Share, open the file you want to share and tap on the Share icon. Then, select Nearby Share from the list of options and wait for your device to find nearby devices that are also using Nearby Share. Tap on the name of the device you want to share with and wait for them to accept the transfer.

9. Use Screen Pinning to lock your device to a single app. Screen Pinning is a feature that lets you lock your device to a single app, preventing anyone from accessing other apps or settings without your permission. This can be useful when you lend your device to someone else or when you want to focus on a specific task. To enable Screen Pinning, go to Settings > Security > Advanced > Screen Pinning and toggle it on. Then, open the app you want to pin and open the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and holding. Swipe up on the app’s card and tap on the pin icon. To unpin the app, swipe up and hold again.

10. Use Developer Options to access advanced settings and features. Developer Options is a hidden menu that offers advanced settings and features for developers and power users. Some of the options include enabling USB debugging, changing animation speeds, showing CPU usage, forcing dark mode, and more. To enable Developer Options, go to Settings > About phone and tap on Build number seven times. Then, go back to Settings > System > Advanced and tap on Developer Options.

These are some of the Android tips for power users that can improve your day to day life. Try them out and see how they can make your device more efficient, secure, and enjoyable. If you have any other tips or tricks that you would like to share, please leave a comment below.

Signing off,

//TheModdersDen

Sources

1. The best Android power user features you may have forgotten about. https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/07/04/best-android-power-user-features-may-forgotten/.
2. 23 Android Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most From Your Phone. https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/best-android-tips-and-tricks.
3. 15 Neat Android Tips & Tricks You Probably Didn’t Know About - MUO. https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/13-android-tips-tricks-probably-didnt-know/.

4. 20 advanced tips for Android 10

   Computerworld. https://www.computerworld.com/article/3516144/20-advanced-tips-for-android-10.html.