Is your cellphone smarter than you? Cell phones have change into an increasing number of highly effective lately, however few of us take advantage of them.
On this article, you’ll discover 20 Android ideas and methods that can assist you just do that. They cowl the way to tweak and tune your cellphone, but additionally what you are able to do to enhance battery life. Most of them are new, however we’ve additionally included some invaluable classics.
Earlier than you begin studying, it’s good to remember that not all Android telephones look the identical. There are various completely different variations of Android, and even when two telephones are working the identical model, they could not look the identical.
There are clear variations even between producers. Some have developed their very own options that we will’t discover on another cellphone, which may make guides like this complicated.
Right here, we’ve used Android 14 working on a Google Pixel cellphone. It’s probably the most stripped-down model you will discover, however there could also be some issues that look somewhat completely different in your cellphone.
Nonetheless, many occasions you will discover an equal resolution, though the looks could differ. A superb tip is to open your cellphone’s settings menu and enter a key phrase within the search field on the high. You’ll often discover the precise setting.
Time to improve?
When you’ve got an older cellphone, it could imply that some features are lacking, and if in case you have a extremely previous one, there’s a good likelihood that even essential providers won’t work. For instance, Google Maps requires Android 8 or later, whereas it’s Android 9 for Google Pockets.
The cut-off level is often round six years. When you’ve got a cellphone youthful than that, you’ll be able to often use it with out issues.
If it’s older, it may be time to purchase a brand new one, however that doesn’t must be a giant deal. Nearly all the knowledge on a smartphone is now saved within the cloud, on massive Google servers. For those who purchase a brand new cellphone and log in with the identical account title as your previous one, most of what you’ve got there’ll include you.
Web
Change on knowledge saving…
Many cell phone plans have a restrict on how a lot knowledge you should use. To cut back consumption, you’ll be able to cease apps from utilizing knowledge within the background if you’re looking in your cellular.
HOW? Swipe your finger from the highest edge and change on the Knowledge Saver function. For those who don’t see it, head to Settings and choose Community and Web.
…and alter this setting
Some apps want to make use of knowledge within the background, for instance to inform you of latest messages. You’ll be able to due to this fact exempt chosen apps from knowledge saving.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
HOW? Open Settings and choose Community and Web, Knowledge saving. Faucet Unrestricted knowledge and use the toggles on the precise to pick apps.
Connect with Wi-Fi
One option to save cellular knowledge is to connect with wi-fi networks (Wi-Fi) as quickly as potential. When you’ve related to a community as soon as, your cellphone will robotically use it sooner or later.
HOW? Swipe your finger from the highest of the display and lengthy press on Web. When Wi-Fi is activated, you will note all obtainable networks in an inventory. Faucet on the one you need to use. A padlock icon on the precise signifies that the community requires a password. To delete a community you’ve got saved, faucet the gear on the precise and choose Overlook.
Sharing a connection
You’ll be able to share the community you’ve got logged in to with your pals. As an alternative of searching for it themselves, they will scan a QR code in your cellphone.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
HOW? Open the Settings menu as above and faucet in your community. By choosing Share (and authenticating it), a QR code will seem in your display. It additionally exhibits the password in plain textual content.
Use your cellphone as a cellular hotspot
Your cell phone additionally has a function referred to as cellular hotspot. It permits different units to browse your cell phone as if it had been a Wi-Fi router.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
HOW? Open Settings, Community and Web, Hotspot and tethering. Faucet the toggle subsequent to Wi-Fi hotspot to show it on, then give it a reputation and password of your alternative. Different units can now hook up with the community utilizing the password you simply created.
Battery energy
Change on battery saving mode…
Many telephones have underwhelming battery life, one thing you’ll be able to enhance by enabling the Battery Saver mode. It adjusts your cellphone to prioritise lengthy battery life, although efficiency could also be sacrificed barely.
HOW? Swipe your finger from the highest edge and change on Battery Saver Mode. For those who don’t see it, head to Settings and choose Battery Saver.
…or save much more
There’s additionally a extra environment friendly battery saver mode that places apps right into a low-power pause mode.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
HOW? Open Settings, Battery, Battery Saver and change to Excessive Battery Saver. If you wish to exclude apps from being put into pause mode, faucet the settings icon on the precise. Scroll right down to Non-essential apps and faucet the plus icon to whitelist it. It’ll now be positioned within the Important apps checklist.
To take away one, faucet the cross to the precise of the app. For those who don’t see the cross, it will probably’t be eliminated.
Make the display go off quicker
One other good tip is to shortly change off the display when not in use – robotically.
HOW? Open Settings and choose Show. Faucet Display timeout and alter to a shorter time. It’s also possible to allow the Display consideration toggle, which stops the display from turning off if it detects you taking a look at it.
Darken the display
Your cellphone’s display consumes a number of energy, so you’ll be able to enhance battery life by decreasing the brightness.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
HOW? Open Settings and choose Show. Faucet the toggle subsequent to Adaptive brightness to show it off. Then, swipe twice together with your finger from the highest edge to disclose the slider that adjusts the brightness.
Cease the apps that have an effect on your battery life most
Some apps devour a number of power and Android can assist you discover them.
HOW? Open Settings, Battery, Battery utilization. Right here, you’ll see basic statistics and an inventory of the largest power shoppers. For those who faucet on an app, you’ll be able to disable the Enable background use toggle. This is identical pause mode used within the Excessive Battery Saver mode talked about above.
View the battery proportion
For those who all the time need to know the way a lot battery you’ve got left, you will get this to show on the high of the display.
HOW? Open Settings and choose Battery. Activate the Battery proportion toggle and the determine will now be proven within the top-right nook.
Storage & reminiscence
Delete pointless recordsdata…
Many cellphones are quick on cupboard space, however you’ll be able to simply see what’s filling them up.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
HOW? Open Settings and go to Storage to see what classes are taking over house, reminiscent of Pictures, Audio and Paperwork. Faucet on a class and the recordsdata will seem, and for those who lengthy press, you’ll be able to delete a file with the trash can. It’s also possible to choose a number of recordsdata and delete them.
…and clear the cache
Many apps fill your cellphone with massive recordsdata, however many of those might be safely deleted.
HOW? Open Settings and go to Storage, then faucet Apps. You’ll see which apps are taking over house and to get extra particulars faucet any app. From right here, choose Clear storage (recordsdata the app has saved) and Clear cache (short-term recordsdata the app shops in your cellphone to work quicker).
Delete apps
It’s a good suggestion to uninstall apps you don’t use. In addition to taking over pointless house, they will dissipate battery energy and leak private info.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
HOW? Open Settings and go to Apps, then faucet See all apps. Faucet on the one you need to take away and choose Uninstall. Another choice is to long-press the app’s icon on the Dwelling display, choose the knowledge icon (the letter ‘i’ inside a small circle) and faucet Uninstall. For those who don’t see the choice, it’s a system app that may’t be eliminated.
Robotically clear undesirable recordsdata
Clearing your cellphone your self offers you one of the best management, however you can too do it robotically within the Recordsdata by Google app (additionally Recordsdata). If it’s not pre-installed, open the Google Play Retailer and seek for Recordsdata by Google.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
HOW? Open the Recordsdata app and you’ll clear recordsdata by class or folder. To do it robotically, press the three-bar menu button within the high left and choose Clear. You’ll now see other ways to delete recordsdata.
Updates
Test Android model
Questioning what model of Android your cellphone is working? It’s simple to examine.
HOW? Open Settings and go to About cellphone. Right here you’ll be able to see which model of Android you’re utilizing – together with a lot of different technical info.
Replace your cellphone
When prompted to replace your Android, you need to reply sure to maintain it protected and steady. It’s also possible to manually provoke updates your self.
HOW? Open Settings and go to System, Software program updates, System Replace. Faucet Test for updates and a search will begin, and if there may be an replace, you’ll be able to obtain and set up it your self.
Reboot your cellphone often
Though a cellphone by no means actually must be switched off, it’s a good suggestion to restart it as soon as every week. Through the restart, any additional updates are often utilized, making it safer and steady.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
HOW? Press the facility button along with the amount up button (on some fashions, simply press the facility button) and choose Restart. From right here, you can too lock and change off your cellphone – or contact emergency providers.
Reset your cellphone (if wanted)
In case your cellphone is performing up, the one resolution may be to reset it. This implies eradicating every thing you’ve put in your self and returning your cellphone to the identical state as if you purchased it.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
HOW TO? Open Settings and choose System, Reset choices. To do a full reset, choose Erase all knowledge (manufacturing facility reset) and observe the directions.
Earlier than continuing, ensure you’ve backed up every thing first.
…or repair smaller errors
The Reset choices part additionally lets you reset particular person features which can be malfunctioning. In different phrases, you don’t must clear your complete cellphone.
HOW? Open Settings and choose System, Reset choices. Select any of the next choices for those who assume they may repair the issue: Reset cellular community settings, Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi or Reset app preferences.
This text initially appeared on our sister publication PC för Alla and was translated and tailored from Swedish.