5 hidden Android options I want I knew about sooner

It is well-known that Android units supply 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 among 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 ignored and that I want I had found earlier.

I’ve examined all of those on each my Galaxy S25+ and Pixel 8a, so you possibly can attempt them on any Android gadget 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 cellphone unlocked at dwelling

Lengthen Lock retains your cellphone unlocked in trusted locations

One in all my favourite options on Android known as Extend Lock (previously often known as Good Lock). It has a quite simple premise, and what it does is maintain your cellphone unlocked in trusted areas. For instance, you possibly can set Lengthen Lock to unlock your cellphone once you’re at dwelling. This makes it straightforward to rapidly decide up and use your gadget at dwelling with out coming 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 instrument. As quickly as your cellphone leaves the tackle or map space you set on Lengthen Lock, it instantly requires a PIN or biometrics to unlock once more.

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

To check out Lengthen Lock your self, observe the steps under:

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

2. Scroll down and faucet Lengthen Unlock.

3. Enter your gadget 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 have dismissed

I’ve accomplished this about one million occasions on my cellphone: I get a notification, I take a look at it, swipe it away, after which utterly neglect about it. Fortunately, that is why Notification historical past exists. Because the title of the function implies, it retains a historical past of all of the notifications you’ve gotten obtained. So, should you by accident delete a notification you need to learn, you possibly can test your Notification historical past to see what it was, somewhat than being left at nighttime.

The very best half is that enabling Notification historical past solely takes a couple of seconds and saves you lots of complications. This 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 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 lets you pin a single app to your display so it could actually’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 gadget, this prevents that by locking one app to the display.

If you pin an app to the display, you possibly can solely exit it by swiping up and holding the house bar, or by holding down the triangle and sq. buttons for a couple of seconds (relying on the kind of gesture navigation you’ve gotten enabled). It’s also possible to allow PIN safety, so if the particular person your cellphone now is aware of how one can exit App pinning, your PIN is required as a further step to flee it.

To check out App pinning, observe 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 possibly can 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 through 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 uninterested in handing out your Wi-Fi password like sweet on Halloween, this Android function makes it very straightforward to share it rapidly with out the trouble of typing your lengthy and presumably complicated password on their cellphone by sharing your Wi-Fi through a QR code. So, if somebody is visiting, they will scan the code in your cellphone, and voilà, they’ve entry to your Wi-Fi.

The very best half is, you do not even must allow something for this setting to work. Simply observe these steps, and you will be sharing your Wi-Fi through 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 may see three choices: Overlook, Disconnect, and Share.

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

5

Open Google Pockets immediately

The ability button is extra helpful than you assume

Lastly, I discover this function important on my Android gadget: opening Google Wallet with a double-press of the ability button. Launched lately 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 units, however I hope Google will develop this performance to all apps sooner or later. For Samsung Galaxy customers, the choice to pick out any app to open with a double-press of the ability button has been obtainable for some time. So, if in case you have a Galaxy cellphone, you possibly can select Google Pockets or every other app you like.

That mentioned, this is how one can open Google Pockets in seconds in your Android gadget:

1. Go to Settings > System > Gestures.

2. Choose Double-press the ability button.

3. Toggle on Use double press.

4. Choose Pockets.