Android 14 could not precisely be new at this level, but it surely’s a comparatively latest rollout for plenty of Android units — and regardless of how lengthy you’ve got had it in your telephone or pill, it is most likely nonetheless packing some out-of-the-way additions you’ve got but to come across.So whether or not you’ve got been residing with Android 14 since its preliminary launch in October otherwise you simply noticed it present up over the previous a number of weeks, it is effectively price your whereas to plop on the closest explorer’s hat and dive deep into Google’s newest and biggest replace. (And for those who’re amongst these nonetheless ready for the software program to succeed in you, (a) my condolences; (b) contemplate a Pixel on your subsequent buy if well timed and dependable updates matter to you (which, ahem, they completely ought to!); and (c) kindly file this information away in your noggin for future reference — hopefully not too far sooner or later.)Here, with out additional ado, are 14 superior morsels of sensible, not-at-all-obvious recommendation for surfacing Android 14’s most fascinating additions and taking advantage of the software program’s new capabilities.Note that these options are introduced as they apply to Google-made Pixel telephones and Samsung-made Galaxy units, particularly. Different device-makers modify Android in several methods, so for those who’re utilizing a telephone made by another firm, the provision and actual presentation of some gadgets could differ.Android 14 suggestions, half I: Smart shortcuts1. One of Android 14’s coolest and most simply neglected additions is its newly current textual content sharing prowess. Specifically, you possibly can ship textual content from one app to a different just by highlighting it after which dragging and dropping it:
To begin, open up an app that has some textual content you possibly can choose — like Gmail, Docs, or Keep, for instance.
Touch and maintain your finger onto some textual content to pick it. Once you’ve got the precise phrases you need highlighted, let go.
Now, press your finger onto that very same textual content you simply chosen, and you must see it elevate proper up — prefer it’s able to be moved (which it’s!).
Keep that finger down and use your different hand to both swipe up or swipe sideways on the underside of your display to change to a different just lately used app. If you are utilizing a Samsung system and sticking with the legacy three-button nav setup Samsung for some purpose continues to make use of by default (as an alternative of the extra fashionable and more and more normal Android gesture system), you possibly can accomplish the identical factor by tapping the three-vertical-line button on the backside of your display to maneuver to a different app.
Drag the textual content into any open textual content house in that subsequent app, then let go — and hey, how ’bout that? It’ll immediately drop down proper in that house.
JR Raphael / IDG
With the suitable contact, you possibly can drag and drop textual content from one app to a different in Android 14.
This transfer is even simpler for those who’re viewing two apps facet by facet in Android’s split-screen mode, the place you possibly can simply drag and drop the textual content instantly between the apps with out having to futz with the switching a part of the method. But both method you go about it, it may be a robust productiveness booster for on-the-go work — for those who keep in mind to make use of it. 2. Android 14 goes a good distance in letting you’re taking management of your lock display and customise it to each look and work the best way you need. That means you possibly can change issues just like the clock type, dimension, and placement in addition to the precise choice of step-saving shortcuts which are current in that pre-authentication space.On a Pixel or one other telephone utilizing Google’s core Android software program, press and maintain your finger onto the house display, choose “Wallpaper & style,” then faucet the “Lock screen” possibility on the high of the display that comes up subsequent to discover all of the newly current potentialities. JR Raphael / IDG
Android 14’s lock display customization interface, as seen on a Google Pixel telephone.
On a Samsung system, look within the Lock Screen part of the system settings to search out all of the freshly expanded choices.3. A useful hidden shortcut from Android’s previous makes a quiet comeback with Android 14, and that is the flexibility to faucet the time within the upper-left nook of your notification pulldown to leap on to your system Clock app.This one’s current on Pixels and different units utilizing Google’s core Android software program. Samsung, sadly, opted to not embody it on its closely modified Android 14 implementation.4. While sure normal Android options do not find yourself being out there for the Samsung house owners amongst us, Samsung does squeeze in its share of customized enhancements that are not current in Android itself (in its normal kind). An ideal instance is the added potential in Samsung’s Android 14 setup to skip the compact notification panel that usually seems with a single swipe down from the highest of the display and as an alternative bounce on to the complete Quick Settings panel — which generally requires a second swipe — utilizing that very same single-swipe movement. To swap your Galaxy gadget over to this new conduct, swipe down twice from the highest of your display to open the complete Quick Settings panel, then faucet the pencil-shaped modifying icon inside it and search for the “Quick settings instant access” possibility. JR Raphael / IDG
Samsung’s Android 14 implementation contains an fascinating option to entry your full Quick Settings panel with a single swipe down from the upper-right nook of the display.
Note that on any Android system — regardless of who made it or what Android model it is operating — you possibly can accomplish one thing related by swiping down from the highest of the display with two fingers collectively. But for those who’ve obtained a Galaxy-branded gizmo, you’ve got formally obtained an alternative choice.5. Samsung’s model of the Android Quick Settings panel sports activities fairly a couple of changes as of this Android 14 replace, and all visible refinements apart, it now boasts the flexibility to alter your display’s brightness proper from that single-swipe-down compact view.You can flip that new possibility on or off by opening the complete Quick Settings panel, tapping the pencil-shaped modifying icon inside it, and deciding on the “Brightness control” command in that space. 6. While we’re poking round in your Quick Settings, here is a useful new addition as of Android 14: You can shortly improve or lower the font dimension in any textual content you are viewing just by tapping a tile in that space.You’ll most likely have so as to add the brand new “Font size” tile in from an out-of-sight inactive tile part earlier than you will see it, however that is simple:
On a Pixel telephone or another system utilizing Google’s core Android software program, swipe down twice from the highest of the display after which faucet the pencil-shaped modifying icon within the lower-right nook.
Scroll down till you see all of the inactive tiles and discover “Font size” in that listing.
Press and maintain it, then drag it up into any place you need inside the lively tiles part on the high.
And that is it: Anytime your weary peepers want a break from tiny-text squinting, simply swipe right down to open up your Quick Settings after which faucet your newly added tile to make an on-the-fly adjustment. JR Raphael / IDG
Tapping Android 14’s new font-size-adjusting tile makes it extremely simple to extend the dimensions of textual content anyplace in your system.
(Samsung, sadly, opted to not embody this feature in its Android 14 implementation. Sorry, Galaxy gang — however this subsequent one’s only for you!)Android 14 suggestions, half II: Notification nuance7. All proper, Samsung crew: Your device-maker’s obtained an fascinating customized addition particular to its Android 14 software program, and it resides within the neighborhood of notifications.Specifically, you possibly can swap away from the usual system-determined priority-based sorting for notifications and as an alternative instruct your Galaxy companion to point out you incoming alerts based mostly on after they arrived — for a purely chronological, algorithm-avoiding view.Just head into the Notifications part of your system settings and faucet the brand new “Sort notifications” line to take management.8. Ever want you may set separate quantity ranges for incoming calls and notifications? With Android 14, you possibly can!You’ll discover the choice within the Sound & Vibration part of your system settings. (On a Samsung system, you will must faucet right into a secondary “Volume” menu earlier than the controls seem.) JR Raphael / IDG
Separate quantity controls for calls and notifications, as seen on a Pixel and a Samsung telephone with Android 14 — hallelujah!
9. While we’re as regards to notifications, be aware of a brand new visible option to be sure you by no means miss something vital: As of Android 14, you’ve got obtained the choice to have your telephone flash you — by way of its digital camera mild or the display itself, that’s — anytime an alert arrives.You can discover the function inside your telephone’s Accessibility settings. On a Samsung system, you will must faucet an “Advanced settings” submenu inside that space to search out it.Android 14 suggestions, half III: Camera intelligence10. The subsequent time you’ve got obtained a digital assembly, keep in mind this: With Android 14 and a Pixel, you possibly can truly repurpose your telephone as a webcam on your pc.That means as an alternative of counting on that awful potato-lens tucked into your laptop computer’s show space, you should use one of many best possible cameras out there at this time to point out off your greasy beak everytime you’re on a Very Important Business Call™.To attempt it out, first, join your system to a pc — any pc, be it a Windows, Mac, and even ChromeOS system. (Hey, this is not Apple-land. Here, you are not pressured to make use of solely Google merchandise!)Now:
Swipe down from the highest of your display and faucet the “USB accessory connected” notification to increase it, if wanted, then faucet it once more to open it.
Under the “Use USB for” heading, choose “Webcam.”
Open your pc’s digital camera settings, and you must see the telephone’s major digital camera there and prepared.
JR Raphael / IDG
A Pixel telephone’s digital camera appearing because the webcam for a Windows 11 desktop. How ’bout them apples?!
Once you’ve got confirmed it is there and dealing, you should use any camera-connected app on the pc — together with common video chatting providers like Meet, Zoom, and even Slack — and your telephone ought to be there and powering your digital camera view.11. Samsung gang, this one’s for you: With Android 14 in your telephone, you will discover a useful new possibility inside your Galaxy Camera that empowers you to simply scan any bodily doc together with your telephone and even extract textual content from it after. (And Pixel house owners, do not feel omitted. The identical factor’s been out there in your system for a very long time and would not require any additional steps to make use of!)To make certain it is enabled on a Galaxy telephone, open up your digital camera after which faucet the gear-shaped settings icon within the upper-right nook of the display. See the choice to “Scan documents and text”? Confirm that the toggle subsequent to it’s within the on and lively place.Then, simply body any paper or different bodily floor with phrases on it, and inside a pair seconds, your telephone ought to robotically detect its presence and description it in a yellowish coloration.As quickly as you see that define, faucet the circled “T” icon within the lower-right nook of the viewfinder, and bam: Your telephone will snap a neatly cropped scan of the doc with out anything round it, and it will additionally provide to extract the textual content for you. JR Raphael / IDG
Samsung’s automated doc scanning in motion on Android 14.
Not dangerous, proper?!Android 14 suggestions, half IV: Privacy, safety, and accessibility12. Awareness and selection are crucial elements in any Android privateness choice, and Android 14 introduces an vital new option to increase each within the always-pertinent space of location.With Android 14 in your system, the subsequent time an app asks for permission to entry your location, you will see additional context round why, precisely, the app needs that knowledge — and what it intends to do with it. JR Raphael / IDG
With Android 14, at any time when an app requests a location permission, it’s going to present you particular information about why it needs it.
That method, you may make a totally educated selection about if and the way you need to enable the permission.13. Let’s be actual for a second: Android safety may be probably the most sensationalized topic in all of cellular tech. In quick, the fact is way much less terrifying than most marketing-driven messaging would lead you to imagine — and that is largely due to the numerous layers of safety current in Android and dealing to maintain you protected.With Android 14, Samsung’s providing a brand new possibility so as to add one other layer of safety onto its Galaxy units. And whereas most of its options may be redundant with Android’s present safety methods, it definitely cannot damage to have that additional layer in your already-robust metaphorical onion.To discover it, head into the Security and Privacy part of any Android-14-graced Galaxy system and faucet the newly added line for “Auto Blocker.” Flip the swap on the high of the display into the on place and assessment the out there choices beneath it to get began. JR Raphael / IDG
Do you want Samsung’s new Android 14 “Auto Blocker” operate to maintain your telephone protected? Absolutely not. But it is there, if you wish to activate it and add an additional layer into the equation.
14. Last however not least in our listing of Android 14 gems, you’d most likely by no means discover, however your telephone is now sporting a spiffy new option to zoom into something in your display with an entire new stage of accuracy.You’ll must allow it first:
Make your method into the Accessibility part of your telephone’s system settings.
On a Pixel or one other telephone utilizing Google’s core Android software program, faucet the road labeled “Magnification.” On a Samsung system, faucet “Vision,” scroll waaaaay down, after which faucet “Magnification.”
Next, flip the toggle subsequent to “Magnification shortcut” into the on place.
Tap the phrases “Magnification shortcut.” In a typical Android setting, make certain “Tap accessibility button” is unchecked and “Hold volume keys” is checked, then faucet “Save.” With a Samsung system, choose “Press and hold Volume up and down buttons for 3 seconds” after which faucet “OK.”
Finally, faucet “Magnification type” and alter its setting to “Magnify part of screen” (or “Partial screen,” in Samsung’s for-no-apparent-reason-always-slightly-different strategy).
Now, from anyplace in your system, do that:
Press your telephone’s bodily volume-up and volume-down buttons on the identical time and maintain ’em down for a few second — or for about three seconds, with a Samsung system.
When you see a pop-up confirming that you simply need to use the Android Magnification function, faucet the choice to verify. (This ought to solely occur the very first time you utilize this feature, and also you may need to redo the earlier step after you’ve got completed it.)
Now, once you see an orange field present up in your display — or a blue field, with Samsung — contact the icon in its nook to maneuver it round to any space of the show you’d prefer to make bigger, then slide two fingers aside inside that field to extend the magnification and slide ’em again collectively to lower it.
JR Raphael / IDG
Android 14’s enhanced magnification system could make it simpler to see something in your display.
When you are able to dismiss that magnification device, simply press and maintain your quantity keys collectively as soon as extra. And for those who ever need to disable the function solely, head again to that very same settings menu and flip the swap subsequent to “Magnification shortcut” to show it again off.All that is left is to pat your self on the again — as you are formally now an Android 14 grasp! But you do not have to cease there. Android has tons of tucked-away treasures, they usually stretch far past the scope of this single newest replace.Head over to my assortment of time-saving Android shortcuts subsequent to maintain the journey going and uncover much more off-the-beaten-path productiveness powers on your favourite Android telephone.
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