5 hidden Android options I want I knew about sooner

It is well-known that Android gadgets supply a big selection of options and settings to discover. With Android 16 now obtainable and Google regularly engaged on new options, it is easy to miss a number of 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 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 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 house

Lengthen Lock retains your cellphone unlocked in trusted locations

One among my favourite options on Android is known as Extend Lock (previously referred to as Sensible Lock). It has a quite simple premise, and what it does is preserve your cellphone unlocked in trusted areas. For instance, you possibly can set Lengthen Lock to unlock your cellphone once you’re at house. This makes it simple to shortly decide up and use your gadget at house with out getting 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 house, it is a helpful device. 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 Units. On-Physique Detection retains your cellphone unlocked when you’re strolling with it, and Trusted Units 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 beneath:

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 1,000,000 instances on my cellphone: 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 identify of the function implies, it retains a historical past of all of the notifications you could have acquired. So, in the event you by accident delete a notification you wish to learn, you possibly can test your Notification historical past to see what it was, relatively than being left at the hours of darkness.

The very best half is that enabling Notification historical past solely takes a couple of seconds and saves you a whole lot of complications. This is the best way 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 screen 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 permits you to pin a single app to your display screen so it may’t be simply swiped away. So, in the event you’re handing your cellphone over to a child, member of the family, or buddy to take a look at, and you don’t need them to pry into something in your gadget, this prevents that by locking one app to the display screen.

Whenever you pin an app to the display screen, 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 could have enabled). You can even allow PIN safety, so if the particular person taking a look at your cellphone now is aware of the best way to 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 screen, 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 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?” In case you’re uninterested in handing out your Wi-Fi password like sweet on Halloween, this Android function makes it very simple to share it shortly with out the trouble of typing your lengthy and probably complicated password on their cellphone by sharing your Wi-Fi by way of 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 have to allow something for this setting to work. Simply observe 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. Below the identify 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 hook up 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 just lately in Android 16, it makes funds extra handy — no have to 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. At present, it is restricted to Google Pockets and the digital camera app on Pixel gadgets, however I hope Google will develop 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 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 favor.

That mentioned, this is the best way to 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.