5 neglected Google Pixel settings I want I knew about sooner

A part of the enchantment of utilizing a Pixel smartphone is its uniquely crafted software program expertise. Because the proprietor of the Android working system, Google’s first-party {hardware} runs a tailored model of the OS, which could be described because the search large’s imaginative and prescient for a way Android ought to look, really feel, and behave.

For essentially the most half, Google takes a delicate strategy to its Pixelized model of Android. Sticking carefully to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), the launcher and different interface parts are clear and minimalistic. Fairly than packing its pores and skin with each characteristic below the solar, Google’s Pixel UI is relatively restrained.

In some instances, this simplicity works in Google’s favor. It permits for an iPhone-like Android telephone expertise that “simply works,” so to talk. However, many helpful features and utilities are missing from the Pixel launcher, which could be irritating for energy customers and for followers of software program customization.

Even nonetheless, Google’s expression of Android consists of some noteworthy hidden settings, lots of that are severely underappreciated or just lesser identified than they should be. Listed here are 5 such options that I all the time make use of when choosing up my Pixel 9 Pro, and that I want I had began utilizing earlier.

5

Screensaver

Permit your Pixel to show helpful content material always

Beforehand referred to as Daydream, Android has lengthy supplied a local screensaver mode on the system degree. Toggled off by default, this helpful setting will robotically show content material on display everytime you dock your telephone onto a charger. Default choices embrace a clock, swirling colours, sensible residence controls, and a digital photograph body.

To allow Android’s display saver mode in your Pixel telephone, observe these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings > Show & Contact > Display screen saver.
2. Toggle on the Use display saver change.
3. Below Select a display saver, you possibly can scroll by included (and third-party) display savers which are put in in your Pixel, in addition to preview and alter explicit per-screen-saver settings.

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4

Fast Faucet to start out actions

A surprisingly versatile gesture that is hidden from view

First delivered to the fore by Apple’s Back Tap feature for iPhone, Google’s trendy Pixel telephones are able to exactly this similar hidden gesture. By double-tapping the rear panel of your Pixel, you possibly can arrange one in every of a number of system features to happen, together with taking a screenshot, accessing your digital assistant, taking part in or pausing media, seeing current apps, displaying notifications, toggling the flashlight, or opening a user-specified app. So far as quick-and-easy gestures that do not depend on a button or contact display go, this one is fairly nice.

To arrange Fast Faucet in your Pixel, observe these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings > System > Gestures > Fast Faucet to start out actions.
2. Toggle on the Use Fast Faucet slider.
3. Choose which motion you’d just like the system to carry out when performing the double faucet gesture.
4. In case you’re experiencing false positives with the gesture, toggle on Require stronger faucets.

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3

Show dimension and textual content

Regulate content material scaling as an alternative of reaching for the bifocals

Gone are the times of needing bifocals simply to see what’s being displayed in your telephone’s display. Trendy Pixel telephones ship with comparatively giant show panels, and Android itself has come a good distance by way of providing show scaling choices. The system supplies two separate sliders: one for font dimension, and one other for show dimension. These dynamically alter the whole person interface, together with many third-party apps that tie into the characteristic. Different model choices included throughout the Show dimension and textual content umbrella embrace daring textual content and description textual content, that are helpful from an accessibility standpoint.

To regulate the font and show dimension of your Pixel, observe these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings > Show > Look and faucet on Show textual content and dimension.
2. From right here, you possibly can alter each sliders independently of each other to fit your desire.
3. You’ll be able to faucet the Reset settings button on the backside of the web page to revive the out-of-box scaling configuration.

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2

Contact sensitivity

A game-changer for anybody residing by harsh winters

In case you’re like me and occur to dwell in part of the world that experiences frigid temperatures, harsh winters, and loads of snowfall, then you definately’ll know the wrestle of making an attempt to work together together with your telephone’s contact display whereas carrying gloves or mittens. Fortunately, Pixel telephones embrace a devoted contact sensitivity part inside settings, permitting you to faucet and swipe away at your telephone’s display whereas preserving your arms heat. You probably have a display protector put in in your Pixel, growing the contact sensitivity has the added bonus of negating any precision loss which will happen because of the further protecting layer of glass or plastic in your display.

To entry contact sensitivity settings in your Pixel, observe these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings > Show & contact > Contact and faucet on Touch sensitivity.
2. Toggle on Elevated sensitivity to make your display extra responsive, and optionally toggle on Adaptive contact to regulate sensitivity as contextually required.

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1

Guidelines

Pixel telephones can automate monotonous duties

Guidelines is a helpful and underutilized choice buried inside settings that serves an identical function to Shortcuts on Apple gadgets, Galaxy Routines on Samsung gadgets, and the third-party Tasker app on Android. As a local software, Guidelines on the Pixel is a considerably restricted expertise, with solely a pair IF / THEN situations accessible to choose from. Nonetheless, the power to have your telephone robotically allow Do Not Disturb, silent, vibrate, and ring modes everytime you enter a sure geographical space or hook up with a selected WI-Fi community is an immensely useful gizmo.

To get began with Guidelines in your Pixel telephone, observe these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings > System > Guidelines.
2. If an on-screen immediate seems and requests the power to run within the background, faucet on Subsequent after which faucet on Permit.
3. From right here, faucet on Add rule, after which set your parameters in keeping with your preferences.
4. Optionally, you possibly can allow the ship notification when rule takes impact choice if you would like to learn every time a rule kicks into impact.

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