5 ignored 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 might be described because the search large’s imaginative and prescient for the way Android ought to look, really feel, and behave.

For probably the most half, Google takes a delicate method to its Pixelized model of Android. Sticking intently 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 underneath the solar, Google’s Pixel UI is relatively restrained.

In some circumstances, 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 might 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 must be. Listed here are 5 such options that I all the time make use of when selecting 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 stage. Toggled off by default, this useful setting will robotically show content material on display everytime you dock your telephone onto a charger. Default choices embrace a clock, swirling colours, good house controls, and a digital photograph body.

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

1. Navigate to Settings > Show & Contact > Display screen saver.
2. Toggle on the Use display saver swap.
3. Beneath Select a display saver, you’ll be able to scroll via included (and third-party) display savers which can be put in in your Pixel, in addition to preview and modify specific per-screen-saver settings.

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4

Fast Faucet to begin actions

A surprisingly versatile gesture that is hidden from view

First dropped at the fore by Apple’s Back Tap feature for iPhone, Google’s trendy Pixel telephones are able to exactly this identical hidden gesture. By double-tapping the rear panel of your Pixel, you’ll be able to arrange one in all 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, comply with these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings > System > Gestures > Fast Faucet to begin 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 the event you’re experiencing false positives with the gesture, toggle on Require stronger faucets.

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3

Show dimension and textual content

Modify 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. Fashionable Pixel telephones ship with comparatively massive show panels, and Android itself has come a great distance when it comes to providing show scaling choices. The system offers two separate sliders: one for font dimension, and one other for show dimension. These dynamically alter your entire consumer interface, together with many third-party apps that tie into the characteristic. Different type choices included inside 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, comply with these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings > Show > Look and faucet on Show textual content and dimension.
2. From right here, you’ll be able to modify each sliders independently of each other to fit your desire.
3. You possibly can 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 dwelling via harsh winters

In the event you’re like me and occur to dwell in part of the world that experiences frigid temperatures, harsh winters, and loads of snowfall, you then’ll know the battle of making an attempt to work together along 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 protecting your palms heat. If in case you have a display protector put in in your Pixel, rising the contact sensitivity has the added bonus of negating any precision loss that will happen as a result of further protecting layer of glass or plastic in your display.

To entry contact sensitivity settings in your Pixel, comply with 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 possibility buried inside settings that serves a similar objective to Shortcuts on Apple units, Galaxy Routines on Samsung units, and the third-party Tasker app on Android. As a local instrument, Guidelines on the Pixel is a considerably restricted expertise, with solely a pair IF / THEN situations out there 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 connect with a selected WI-Fi community is an immensely great tool.

To get began with Guidelines in your Pixel telephone, comply with 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 line with your preferences.
4. Optionally, you’ll be able to allow the ship notification when rule takes impact possibility if you would like to learn every time a rule kicks into impact.

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