6 hidden Android options each person ought to know – and the way they make life simpler

I have been utilizing Android since model 1.5, so it isn’t usually {that a} characteristic catches me off guard. You’ll be able to think about that once I do come throughout an unfamiliar Android characteristic, it is an thrilling second.

For extra informal (or newer) customers of Google’s cell working system, there are most likely a number of hidden gems ready to be found in Android, and a few of these will be helpful.

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I’ve curated 5 considerably hidden Android options that I imagine each person ought to a minimum of learn about. 

Let’s dive into these options.

1. Share Wi-Fi by way of QR code

It’s possible you’ll not give this characteristic a second thought, however permit me to set a scene for you. Say you are having guests for the vacations and wish to grant them entry to your Wi-Fi community. As a substitute of creating the password public (so anybody can use it), you possibly can share the Wi-Fi credentials by way of QR code. Not solely does this strategy simplify the method of including one other system to the community, but it surely does so with a nod to safety. 

Open Settings > ‘Community and Web’ > Web, and faucet the community you wish to share. On the high of the ensuing web page, faucet Share and confirm it is you by way of biometrics or password/PIN.

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A brand new web page will open with a QR code for the chosen Wi-Fi community. Current the QR code to whoever you wish to scan it with their cellphone, a course of that mechanically provides the community to their system. You could possibly additionally screenshot the QR code, print it out, and make the printout out there (so you do not have at hand your cellphone round for folks to scan).

2. Allow ‘Developer choices’

Android’s ‘Developer choices’ menu is not only for builders. Anybody can allow it and achieve entry to a bunch of options, a few of that are very helpful. 

With Developer choices enabled, you’ll be able to configure the utmost variety of Bluetooth units allowed to hook up with your cellphone, unlock your bootloader, allow automated system updates, allow USB debugging, edit the graphics driver settings, power peak refresh price, and far more. Developer choices needs to be enabled in order for you energy user-level management over Android. 

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To allow the characteristic, go to Settings > About Cellphone, scroll to the underside of the web page, and faucet ‘Construct quantity’ seven occasions. As soon as you’ve got achieved that, you may discover ‘Developer choices’ in Settings > System. Faucet that entry to disclose the brand new choices.

3. Textual content translation

When you’re touring exterior your nation, you would possibly need assistance translating textual content. Luckily, Android is kind of able to translating textual content by way of the digital camera app.

That is a powerful characteristic. As an instance you’ve got a menu or another data you need translated. Unlock your Android cellphone and faucet the Lens icon within the Search bar. Level your digital camera at what you wish to translate and faucet the Translate button.

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Android will mechanically translate the textual content and show it as a picture (virtually precisely the way it’s specified by the unique doc). You’ll be able to then view the translated textual content, copy it to your laptop, take a screenshot, or seek for the translated textual content. You could possibly use this characteristic for nearly any state of affairs the place you want textual content translated mechanically.

As a bonus, there’s additionally the official Google Translate app, which may hearken to voices and translate from one language to a different. When you journey to international locations and do not converse the native language, this app needs to be thought-about a should.

4. Use Prolong Unlock

When at dwelling, I needn’t lock my cellphone as a result of I am not involved that somebody will seize it and steal my data. 

The place bodily threats to your cellphone are minimal, take into account making entry simpler by enabling Prolong Unlock (which was once referred to as Good Lock) and including your house as a Trusted Place. 

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To do that, go to Settings > ‘Safety & privateness’ > ‘Extra safety & privateness’ > Prolong Unlock. You may be prompted to confirm that it is you after which be introduced with an outline of Prolong Unlock. 

On the following web page, you’ll be able to configure Prolong Unlock for on-body detection, trusted locations, or trusted units. Faucet ‘Trusted locations’ and, on the ensuing web page, add a brand new trusted place. As soon as you’ve got achieved that step, everytime you arrive at your trusted place, your cellphone might be unlocked mechanically till you permit that location.

Word that this strategy can result in safety points, particularly in case you have visitors in your house. With that in thoughts, use this characteristic judiciously.

5. Set your medical data

Android permits you to retailer vital medical data, reminiscent of title, peak, weight, gender, blood sort, date of delivery, organ donor standing, being pregnant standing, drugs, deal with, and medical notes. When you ever want this characteristic, you may be glad you took benefit of it. 

So as to add your medical data, go to Settings > ‘Security & emergency’ > ‘Medical data’. On the following web page, add no matter data you deem vital. There are two caveats to this characteristic. First, emergency responders have to know concerning the characteristic to make use of it. Second, those self same responders would have to have the ability to unlock your cellphone to entry it. 

To get round that subject, faucet ‘Change setting’ on the backside and, on the ensuing web page, make the knowledge out there, even when your cellphone is locked, throughout an emergency name. To entry this characteristic, faucet Emergency on the backside of the dial pad (for the unlock display screen) after which faucet View Emergency Info. 

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Even with these hurdles, it is an vital characteristic to have out there must you want it.

6. Gboard clipboard

You won’t know this truth, however the Android keyboard (Gboard) has some spectacular clipboard options. As soon as enabled, you’ll be able to copy textual content and pictures (holding them on the clipboard for as much as an hour earlier than forgetting them), save and edit clips (so you’ll be able to reuse them later), pin clips (by touching and holding them), and extra. 

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It’s a must to allow the Gboard clipboard manually. In any other case, Android will use the standard, built-in clipboard. I a lot favor the Gboard clipboard due to the prolonged options. You allow the clipboard by opening the keyboard (from inside any app), tapping the clipboard icon, after which tapping the On/Off slider till it is within the On place.

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