5 hidden Android options I want I knew about sooner

It is well-known that Android gadgets provide a wide selection of options and settings to discover. With Android 16 now out there and Google frequently engaged on new options, it is easy to miss a number of the extra helpful and fascinating 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 neglected 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 strive them on any Android system you personal. You do not want any extra apps both, as all of those options are constructed straight into Android’s settings menu.

1

Hold your cellphone unlocked at dwelling

Prolong Lock retains your cellphone unlocked in trusted locations

Considered one of my favourite options on Android is named Extend Lock (previously generally known as Good 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 Prolong Lock to unlock your cellphone once you’re at dwelling. This makes it straightforward to shortly decide up and use your system at dwelling 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 dwelling, it is a helpful software. As quickly as your cellphone leaves the tackle or map space you set on Prolong Lock, it instantly requires a PIN or biometrics to unlock once more.

Prolong Lock additionally gives 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 related to a close-by trusted system, like your smartwatch. Personally, I solely use the trusted location setting, as I discover it extra dependable and safer.

To check out Prolong Lock your self, comply with the steps beneath:

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

2. Scroll down and faucet Prolong Unlock.

3. Enter your system 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 achieved this about one million instances on my cellphone: I get a notification, I take a look at it, swipe it away, after which utterly overlook 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 will have obtained. So, for those who by accident delete a notification you wish to learn, you possibly can verify your Notification historical past to see what it was, somewhat than being left in the dead of night.

The very best half is that enabling Notification historical past solely takes just a few seconds and saves you a number of complications. This is the 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 means that you can pin a single app to your display screen so it might’t be simply swiped away. So, for those who’re handing your cellphone over to a child, member of the family, or good friend to have a look at, and you don’t need them to pry into something in your system, this prevents that by locking one app to the display screen.

While 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 just a few seconds (relying on the kind of gesture navigation you will have enabled). You may also allow PIN safety, so if the individual your cellphone now is aware of the way to exit App pinning, your PIN is required as a further step to flee it.

To check out App pinning, comply with 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 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?” Should you’re bored with handing out your Wi-Fi password like sweet on Halloween, this Android function makes it very straightforward to share it shortly with out the effort of typing your lengthy and probably complicated password on their cellphone by sharing your Wi-Fi through a QR code. So, if somebody is visiting, they’ll 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 comply with 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. Underneath the title of your Wi-Fi, you may see three choices: Neglect, Disconnect, and Share.

4. Tapping Share will generate a QR code you can share with others to hook up with your Wi-Fi.

5

Open Google Pockets immediately

The ability button is extra helpful than you suppose

Lastly, I discover this function important on my Android system: opening Google Wallet with a double-press of the facility button. Launched not too long ago 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, it is a new function with Android 16. At the moment, it is restricted to Google Pockets and the digital camera app on Pixel gadgets, however I hope Google will increase 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 facility button has been out there 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 stated, this is the way to open Google Pockets in seconds in your Android system:

1. Go to Settings > System > Gestures.

2. Choose Double-press the facility button.

3. Toggle on Use double press.

4. Choose Pockets.