The humorous factor about proudly owning a Google Pixel telephone is that you simply by no means know what attention-grabbing new treasures could be making their manner into your world at any given second.Most mere mortals by no means discover, however Google’s continuously sending out software program updates to its Pixel merchandise — not simply new Android variations but in addition under-the-hood Pixel-specific characteristic rollouts together with platform-wide Android enhancements offered by means of a wide range of Play-Store-based system-level parts.It’s one among Android’s most attention-grabbing benefits over that different smartphone platform, even when Google would not do a lot when it comes to making odd individuals conscious of it.But you are right here! You’re studying this column. You clearly aren’t odd (and I imply that in the absolute best manner). So take a peek at these step-saving shortcuts which have quietly proven up on Pixels at various factors over the previous months and see if any of ’em could be helpful for you.If you do not have a Pixel, don’t be concerned: With only a couple exceptions, many of the objects listed here are additionally accessible (or accessible in some comparable kind, probably with a fast app set up) on different Android gadgets as nicely. I’ll make sure you level that out as we make our manner by means of the checklist.And in case you are packin’ a Pixel, make sure you make your method to my free Pixel Academy e-course subsequent. It’ll present you all kinds of different experience-enhancing surprises lurking inside your favourite Googley telephone and simply ready to be discovered. Google Pixel shortcut #1: Reading ModeYour Pixel telephone’s Reading Mode is hands-down one of the helpful Android options you in all probability aren’t utilizing. And all core coolness apart, sooner or later alongside the way in which, Google added in a helpful hidden shortcut to make it even simpler to entry anytime the urge strikes.Reading Mode, in brief, is an on-demand device that takes virtually something in your display — an e-mail, a doc, even an ad-cluttered article you are studying someplace out on this large, wild internet of ours (insert awkward eye-darting right here) — and turns it right into a distraction-free pleasant expertise on your keen emu eyes. Reading Mode eliminates any and all mid-text interruptions, and it additionally empowers you to choose any coloration, font, dimension, and common fashion your peepers choose. And if all of that is not sufficient, it offers you the choice to play no matter you are studying out loud like a customized podcast, too — at any studying pace you want and even persevering with within the background if you transfer onto different issues. JRSpecific to our functions right here right now, although, what issues is the shortcut to summon Reading Mode out of your telephone’s Quick Settings space everytime you need it.First, be sure to have the Google-made Reading Mode app put in from the Play Store. Then:
Open your Pixel’s Quick Settings by swiping down twice from the highest of the display.
Tap the pencil-shaped enhancing icon within the lower-right nook of the panel.
Scroll down till you see the part of inactive tiles — with the phrase “Hold and drag to add tiles” at its prime.
Look for Reading Mode inside that space. Press and maintain your finger to it and drag it up into the part of energetic tiles towards the highest.
JRYou can place it anyplace in that checklist you want — then simply faucet the again arrow within the upper-left nook of the display if you’re completed to save lots of and exit. Open your Quick Settings once more, swipe by means of it horizontally to search out your newly added choice (if wanted, relying on the place you positioned it), and faucet it anytime you’ve got received any textual content open in your display to fireside it up and provides your self an immensely improved studying journey. 🔵 Samsung phone-owners: These similar steps will give you the results you want, as long as you’ve got put in the Reading Mode app — solely in your system, you will faucet the three-dot menu icon inside the totally expanded Quick Settings panel, then faucet “Edit buttons” and discover Reading Mode inside the checklist of inactive choices on the prime of the display that comes up.Google Pixel shortcut #2: On-the-fly font adjustmentsWhile we’re fascinated with speedy methods to spruce up your studying setup, take word: Your Google Pixel telephone has a hidden shortcut that’ll allow you to improve or lower the font dimension of something you are seeing in your display in a flash.It’s usually disabled by default, however as soon as you discover it and produce it up into a visual space, you’ll faucet its tile inside your Quick Settings space anytime after which make no matter textual content you are viewing bigger or smaller with subsequent to no effort. JRJust comply with the identical steps we went over in #1 to search out the Font Size tile in your checklist of inactive Quick Settings choices and drag it up into the energetic space — then modify, modify, modify away. 🔵 Samsung phone-owners: This one did not make its manner into Samsung’s software program, sadly. But you may dig up an identical adjustment the good distance by heading into the Accessibility part of your system settings, tapping “Visibility enhancements,” then scrolling right down to the underside of that display and tapping the “Font size and style” choice.Google Pixel shortcut #3: Super-dim in a snapNext up: If you are utilizing your Pixel telephone in a very darkish atmosphere — your bed room at evening, your workplace throughout an influence outage, or maybe a dank distant cave the place you are attempting in useless to evade Mark Zuckerberg’s robotic gaze — get your telephone prepared to offer you an exceptionally dim view with a single swift faucet.It’s potential in your Pixel because of an Extra Dim choice that popped up as part of 2021’s Android 12 replace, and it, too, is on the market for straightforward ongoing entry as a Quick Settings shortcut.Follow the identical steps from #1, above, to search out it in your checklist of inactive Quick Settings tiles and drag it up into the energetic space so it will be prepared everytime you subsequent want it.🔵 Samsung phone-owners: Good information — this one’s accessible for you, too, as long as your system is operating Android 12 or increased! Just comply with the identical Samsung-specific steps outlined in #1 to deliver the tile into your energetic Quick Settings space inside Samsung’s software program construction.Google Pixel shortcut #4: On-demand quantity crunchingHere’s an attention-grabbing one: At some level alongside the way in which, Google added the choice to summon your system calculator from anyplace, anytime, just by tapping a tile inside your Pixel telephone’s Quick Settings part.See? JRConsidering {that a} calculator is normally one thing you want while different stuff in your telephone, it is a helpful manner to have the ability to get to it with out stopping what you are doing and heading again to your property display to search out and open the app. And as soon as extra, all you’ve got gotta do is add it into your energetic Quick Settings space as soon as to make it accessible.So comply with these steps from #1, above, and drag the Calculator tile up into your energetic Quick Settings space. The subsequent time you’ll want to churn out some fast calculations, you will be glad you probably did.🔵 Samsung phone-owners: You can get the Calculator tile in your Quick Settings space, too! You’ll simply want to put in the Google Calculator app onto your telephone first, then you may comply with the Samsung-specific steps in #1, above, to search out its tile and produce it into your energetic space.Google Pixel shortcut #5: Fast file accessSimilar to the Calculator shortcut, Google silently snuck in a Quick Settings shortcut for its Files app with out telling anybody some time again. And for those who take 10 seconds to unearth it now, you will at all times have it accessible and not more than a swipe-and-tap away anytime you wish to peek at your downloads or do anything file-related.So comply with those self same steps from #1 as soon as extra, solely this time, search for the Storage tile in your inactive Quick Settings space.Good to know, proper?!🔵 Samsung phone-owners: If you put in the Files by Google app from the Play Store, you’ll do that, too.Google Pixel shortcut #6: Simple scanningQR codes are all the fad as of late, and whilst you can at all times scan one just by firing up your Pixel telephone’s digital camera and getting the code into the viewfinder, you’ve got received one other snappy choice.With final yr’s Android 13 replace, Google gave us a easy and particular standalone code scanner as a Quick Settings shortcut. Just discover it in your inactive tile space, drag it into an energetic place, after which faucet it anytime you’ve got received a real-world code to interpret. JR🔵 Samsung phone-owners: Samsung has supplied a standalone QR code scanning shortcut for fairly some time now. The tile is known as Scan QR Code inside the Samsung software program setup, and it is in all probability already there and accessible inside your energetic Quick Settings space. If you do not see it, although, simply use those self same steps from #1 to search out it and transfer it into a visual spot.Google Pixel shortcut #7: Simple display recordingSometimes, a static screenshot is not sufficient to convey one thing you are attempting as an instance.Android’s had its personal native display recording system since 2020’s Android 11 launch, and — oh, sure — you may give your self a zippy shortcut for activating it with a single faucet anytime.Look in your Pixel’s inactive Quick Settings tile space, following those self same steps from #1 once more, to search out the Screen Record tile and drag it up into an energetic spot.🔵 Samsung phone-owners: Samsung nonetheless makes its personal related (but barely completely different) equal of this perform, and it needs to be accessible on any Galaxy telephone you are utilizing by way of a Screen Recorder tile in your Quick Settings part.Google Pixel shortcut #8: Instant audio recordingGoogle’s Pixel Recorder app is completely superior. It’s a super-effective method to report any method of audio conceivable — an interview, a dialog, even simply your personal rambling ideas — after which entry that audio together with a searchable textual content transcription of it anytime in your telephone or some other system (even a pc!) the place you are signed in.And with the Pixel Recorder Quick Settings shortcut, you can begin a recording immediately anytime with out having to first discover and open the related app.Just edit your Quick Settings tiles (once more, as outlined in #1, above — beginning to really feel acquainted but?!) and discover the Recorder tile within the inactive space. Drag it up into the energetic a part of the display, and you will then have a one-tap path to beginning a brand new audio recording anytime the urge strikes. JR🔵 Samsung phone-owners: This one is a Pixel-exclusive factor, however you may give your self a broadly related form of voice recording functionality, at the very least, with the third-party (and unencumber to some extent) Otter app, for those who’re so inclined.Google Pixel shortcut #9: On-demand amplificationThis subsequent Pixel shortcut is technically an Android accessibility characteristic, but it surely could possibly be helpful for anybody in the appropriate form of scenario. It’s a wise sound amplifying system that allows you to zoom into spoken conversations in noisy environments and enhance their quantity whereas decreasing unrelated noise round you.And you will at all times be capable to activate it with none hassle by way of its disabled-by-default Quick Settings shortcut, when you reveal it. So comply with these steps from #1 to shift it into your energetic Quick Settings space, then keep in mind to swipe down twice from the highest of your display to hunt it out when the necessity subsequent arises.🔵 Samsung phone-owners: If you do not already see the identical tile within the inactive space of your system’s Quick Settings, obtain the official Google Sound Amplifier app from the Play Store. That oughta make it accessible!Google Pixel shortcut #10: On-screen TV distantThis remaining Pixel shortcut could be my favourite of all: If you will have any form of Google-connected TV in your house or workplace — a set with Android TV or Google TV in-built or any form of display with a Chromecast linked — you may name up a digital distant for straightforward phone-based controlling with out the necessity for any form of bodily distant.The secret right here is to first open up the Google TV app in your telephone (and if for any purpose you do not see it, go obtain it from the Play Store first). You’ll should open it as soon as to ascertain the preliminary connection earlier than the Quick Settings tile will seem, however as soon as you’ve got accomplished that, you must be capable to discover the TV Remote tile in your inactive Quick Settings space and drag it up for straightforward ongoing entry. JR 🔵 Samsung phone-owners: The similar actual setup applies for you right here, too. Just make sure you obtain that Google TV app and open it as soon as, then comply with the Samsung-specific steps from the beginning of this story to search out the tile and produce it into your energetic Quick Settings space.So many shortcuts, such little time — a superb form of drawback to have, would not ya say?!Don’t let your self miss an oz. of Pixel magic. Sign up for my free Pixel Academy e-course and uncover tons of hidden options and time-saving tips on your favourite Pixel gadget.
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