Many Android users depend on a few familiar apps while overlooking some of the best features available on their phones. From productivity and security to wellbeing and accessibility, your Android smartphone is packed with tools to simplify your life and save you time.
TCL looks at some underrated and overlooked Android features:
1. Pinning apps
You can pin an app to display until you unpin it. This is useful if you want to show someone something from an app on your phone or let a child play a game or watch a video. With the screen pinned, they can use only that app. To use other apps again, you will need to unpin the screen. You can usually find this option in the security, advanced menu on the Settings app.
2. Manage permissions from the privacy dashboard
The privacy dashboard lets you manage app privacy in one place. You can see which apps are accessing data, which permissions apps are using and when they are accessing data and features on your phone. You can also manage permissions for the camera, microphone, calendar and so on. This is usually under Security and Privacy or Privacy in the settings app.
3. Use one-handed mode
Need a hand free but also need to access info on your phone? One-handed mode is a feature that lets you navigate your device more efficiently with one hand. You can, for example, use a single hand to pull down the top half of your screen and get to notifications, app content, and more. Search for one-handed mode in the settings app.
4. Take advantage of Live Transcribe
Android Live Transcribe is a free, real-time speech-to-text accessibility app by Google designed for deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired individuals. If it is not already on your phone, you can download it from the Google Play store. Even if your hearing is not impaired, it can be handy for following conversations in noisy places or reviewing conversations in case you miss something.
5. Manage your Digital Wellbeing
The Digital Wellbeing dashboard, available on newer Android devices, lets you track how you are spending your time on your phone, including which apps you use the most and which send the most notifications. You can use Digital Wellbeing to set limits on the time you spend on certain apps to control digital overload. To find Digital Wellbeing as an app, open your Settings app and tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
6. Ask Google Assistant (or Gemini) for help
Google Assistant is a voice assistant that can provide you with information, help you with everyday tasks and allow hands-free operation of your phone. Over time, Google plans to replace the Assistant on Android smartphones with Gemini, which can handle more complex tasks. Some ways these tools can help include asking for updates on the weather or traffic, managing your calendar, doing some quick math, or managing your playlist. If you have a newer phone that came with Gemini as the default assistant, you might still be able to use the settings app to go back to the classic assistant.
7. Easily share content and files
With Quick Share (used to be called Nearby Share), you can immediately send and receive files from nearby devices. It allows instant sharing of photos, videos and documents between devices using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It is natively into your share menu and requires no third-party apps. You can also share content through a QR code.
*Some features may only be available on newer Android operating system versions and certain device models.
About TCL Mobile
TCL Mobile specialises in the research, development and manufacturing of smartphones, tablets and connected devices. On a mission to deliver 5G for all, TCL Mobile helps its customers ‘Inspire Greatness’ in their lives through industry leading technology and solutions.
