Google Calendar is a core a part of the Android productiveness package deal — but when all you are utilizing is what you see on the app’s floor, you are lacking out on some fairly highly effective potentialities.Yes, oh sure: Just like so a lot of our fashionable digital instruments, there’s extra to Google Calendar than meets the attention. And whereas nearly all of the service’s superior choices could revolve across the Calendar web site, the Calendar Android app has its share of helpful out-of-sight choices which can be particular to the cell expertise. From time-saving shortcuts to efficiency-boosting choices, they’re all issues which have the potential to make your life simpler in small however important methods.Find time in your agenda to take a look at these 14 hidden Google Calendar goodies on Android. Trust me: You’ll be glad you probably did.Google Calendar Android trick #1: Quick peekingTell me in case you can relate to this: You head into the Calendar app in your telephone to create a brand new occasion. You open the display so as to add the occasion in — after which you end up going through a foggy psychological clean.What else did you may have occurring that day? Did you have to schedule the occasion for two:00 p.m., or would 3:00 be higher? When was that podiatrist appointment, once more?[Get exclusive Googley tips in your inbox with my free Android Intelligence newsletter. Three new things to try every Friday!] I’ve definitely been there (effectively, to not the podiatrist, particularly, however within the basic occasion mind fog scenario). And the Android Calendar app would not do a lot to supply any broader calendar context when you’re within the midst of including in a brand new occasion.Or so it’d appear. After years of utilizing Google Calendar on Android, I just lately observed a curiously camouflaged possibility that’ll change the way in which you create occasions in your telephone. See that hardly noticeable light-gray line on the high of the Calendar app’s occasion creation display? The one that appears vaguely like an arrow pointing downward? JR
You’d by no means comprehend it, however that refined grey line hides a spectacular agenda-juggling superpower.
Yup, that is the one. The subsequent time you are including a brand new occasion in your telephone and you end up questioning what else is in your agenda round that very same time, faucet that line — or, alternatively, use it as a touch to swipe downward anyplace inside the principle occasion creation space of the display.And… JR
Surprise, shock: Your complete agenda is rarely greater than a swipe away.
Wouldya take a look at that?! You can really reduce that occasion creation interface down to a tiny panel and browse round in your calendar above it. And that is not all…Google Calendar Android trick #2: Simple slidingAfter you’ve got entered that hid quick-peek view, bear in mind this: If you determine you have to shift your new occasion round to a different time, you possibly can merely contact and maintain the define in your display and slide your finger up and down to maneuver it.Nifty, no? And there’s yet one more piece to this puzzle but…Google Calendar Android trick #3: Gesture adjustingIn addition to sliding an occasion round to maneuver it within the Calendar Android app’s occasion creation quick-peek interface, you possibly can contact your finger to the dots on the highest or backside of your occasion’s define after which slide up or down from there to make the occasion longer or shorter. JR
Longer? Shorter? You identify it — this gesture makes occasion changes straightforward as could be.
Now if solely our precise conferences may very well be condensed down so simply!Google Calendar Android trick #4: Instant perspectiveWhen you have to look at a full-month view while thumbing by way of your occasions, pay attention to the next invisible Calendar shortcut: You can faucet or swipe downward on the app’s high bar — the place it says the present month’s identify — to convey a month-to-month view into focus. Tap on the bar a second time (or swipe again up, along with your finger beginning simply beneath that space) to cover it whenever you’re performed. JR
One swift swipe, and increase: Your month-to-month calendar view is there and prepared.
Who knew?! And talking of shadowy shortcuts…Google Calendar Android trick #5: Snazzy snappingAnytime you are scrolling by way of your agenda view within the Calendar app and need to soar again to the present day, faucet the small calendar icon (the field with the present date in it, on to the left of your profile image within the upper-right nook of the display). JR
You can snap your self again to the current with the Android Calendar app’s simply ignored day icon.
That’ll zip you again to immediately, irrespective of how far into the longer term you’ve got traveled.Google Calendar Android trick #6: Speedy deletingHere’s an simply ignored and extremely helpful gesture within the Calendar Android app: From the agenda view, you possibly can swipe any occasion or reminder towards the appropriate to delete it in a single, swift motion. JR
Ahh — cancelling plans has by no means been so satisfying.
So lengthy, obligations!Google Calendar Android trick #7: Quick creationIn addition to deleting occasions on the pace of sunshine, you can too create new occasions in a delightfully swift means inside the Google Calendar app — proper out of your every day calendar view.All you’ve got gotta do is faucet on any open house in that a part of the Android Calendar app, and you will see an occasion creation field proper then and there: JR
Add an occasion into your calendar with none fuss by faucet, faucet, tapping.
Also value noting: The identical tips we went over a second in the past for sliding round or extending your occasion’s time will work on this context, too, as soon as you’ve got introduced that field into focus.Good to know, proper?!Google Calendar Android trick #8: Practical pinchingWhile we’re fascinated by all this tapping and swiping, take observe: Whilst gazing uponst your Android Calendar day, three-day, week, or month view, you possibly can really pinch your fingers aside on the display to increase the interface and make every part larger or pinch collectively to condense it and make all the weather smaller.The secret is to put your fingers on high of one another and transfer them in an up and down movement — not diagonally or sideways: JR
Expand, collapse. Expand, collapse. Expand, collapse.
Whee!Google Calendar Android trick #9: Meet no moreHave you ever observed how Calendar developed an irksome behavior of mechanically including Google Meet hyperlinks into each forkin’ occasion you create?That’s tremendous and dandy in case your occasion really features a Meet-based video assembly, however it’s fairly annoying — and doubtlessly complicated — when your occasion is one thing that is in individual. Worse but is when your occasion is digital however in a distinct video assembly service, like Zoom, after which everybody you invite finally ends up getting each the right hyperlink and a meaningless Meet hyperlink for a similar occasion.Here’s just a little secret: You can put a cease to this insanity. And all it takes is a handful of fast faucets in your Android Calendar app.Open up Calendar in your telephone, faucet the three-line menu icon in its upper-left nook, and scroll right down to the underside to pick out “Settings.”Tap “General,” then faucet “Add video conferencing” and switch the toggles into the off place for each account you’ve got received related.Now, in case you ever need to add a Meet hyperlink to an occasion, you are able to do so manually while creating stated occasion. But by default, these blasted hyperlinks will not get auto-added onto each single occasion for you.Google Calendar Android trick #10: Smarter silencingThis one is technically an Android function, however it works hand in hand with Calendar and is likely one of the most sensible choices on the market: the flexibility on your telephone to mechanically silence itself anytime an occasion out of your Google Calendar is underway.All you’ve got gotta do is allow it: Head into your telephone’s settings and discover the Do Not Disturb part (by both wanting within the Sound part or just trying to find “Do Not Disturb” within the field on the high of the display). Tap “Schedules,” convey your fairly little fingie to the road labeled “Event,” and both faucet the road itself (not the toggle subsequent to it) or the gear icon alongside it, in case you see one.That’ll pull up a display that appears one thing like this: JR
Android’s Do Not Disturb settings maintain some spectacularly helpful choices related to your calendar.
The first possibility on the display, “During events for,” lets you choose which of the calendars related along with your system will set off the phone-silencing conduct. You can depart it set to the default setting of “Any calendar” to have any occasion on any calendar trigger your telephone to be silenced, or you possibly can slim it down to 1 particular calendar — like your work calendar — and depart the others out.The second line allows you to specify what kinds of occasions will trigger your telephone to go quiet. You can inform the system to silence your telephone provided that you’ve got replied “Yes” to an occasion, in case you’ve replied “Yes” or “Maybe,” or in case you’ve replied “Yes” or “Maybe” or have not replied in any respect. (Those decisions are for occasions that different folks created and invited you to attend, by the by; any occasion you create by yourself will at all times rely as an automated “Yes.”)And lastly, the third line allows you to determine whether or not your telephone ought to use its default Do Not Disturb conduct or in case you’d quite create your personal customized settings for a way the telephone ought to behave on this particular circumstance. The customized settings possibility provides you tons of flexibility for a way precisely your telephone ought to act whereas a Calendar occasion is underway: You can choose to permit calls or texts from starred contacts to come back by way of, for instance, or to let occasions and reminders provide you with a warning even when no different sounds are permitted. You may even customise how various kinds of notifications seem visually throughout an appointment. JR
Behold, the various calendar-connected powers deep inside Android’s Do Not Disturb choices!
Not seeing any of this in your system? If you are utilizing a telephone with an older Android model or one whose producer has fudged round with this a part of the working system, you possibly can arrange your personal standalone equal of the identical fundamental idea by embracing this purpose-specific app or the brilliantly versatile MacroDroid automation creation utility.Google Calendar Android trick #11: Rapid responsesJust like Android lets you ship a prewritten fast response whenever you’re rejecting a name, Google Calendar can allow you to ship a speedy observe to anybody concerned in an upcoming assembly — all with a pair fast faucets in your telephone.To configure the function, open up the Calendar app, faucet the three-line menu icon within the upper-left nook, and choose “Settings” from the menu that seems.Next, choose “General,” then scroll down till you see “Quick responses.” Tap that — and there, you will see 4 choices for prewritten messages you possibly can hearth off on the fly whereas en path to any appointment involving a number of mammals. JR
The Android Calendar app’s fast responses could be surprisingly useful.
Oddly, Calendar would not allow you to create further responses, however you possibly can edit any of the default responses to make them say no matter you need. Just faucet any certainly one of ’em after which substitute it with no matter textual content your foolish ol’ coronary heart wishes. JR
Custom occasion responses? Hey, we’ll take ’em!
To put your customized fast responses to make use of, open up any upcoming occasion that has no less than one different individual invited. Tap the envelope icon inside the “Guests” line, then faucet the response you need from the record.That’ll take you on to a ready-to-roll e mail along with your message in place and the recipients added in. All that is left is to hit “Send” — and possibly set free a guffaw in delight, ought to the inspiration strike.Google Calendar Android trick #12: Duplication elationEver end up needing to create a brand new occasion that is remarkably just like one already in your agenda? The Calendar Android app has a straightforward solution to duplicate an occasion after which use it as a blueprint for a brand new one: Just faucet the occasion you need to emulate, faucet the three-dot menu icon in its upper-right nook, and choose — you guessed it — “Duplicate.”And that is it: Your new occasion will present up with the unique occasion’s data crammed in and prepared for to be tweaked as wanted.Doesn’t get a lot simpler than that.Google Calendar Android trick #13: Nicer notificationsGoogle Calendar’s default notification instances for brand new occasions aren’t proper for everybody. If you end up altering the setting for when an occasion will notify you as a rule (and/or quietly muttering artistic curses each time an occasion notifies you earlier or later than you need), do your self a favor and alter your Calendar’s default notification instances in order that they work higher for you.Just head again into the Calendar app’s settings part — and this time, discover the part for the Google account you need to modify and faucet the “Events” line beneath it. That’ll provide you with a display on which you’ll change the default notification instances for traditional new occasions in addition to all-day occasions. You may even add a number of notifications, if you need, and alter the default shade for occasions on that calendar when you’re at it (ooh, ahh, and so on). JR
All types of Android calendar notification customization choices await — if you already know the place to search for ’em.
If you need to change the default notification time for duties or for any secondary calendars you’ve got created inside a selected Google account, simply discover the suitable line beneath the account’s header and choose that as a substitute of “Events” — then make the identical types of modifications there.Google Calendar Android trick #14: Secret codewordsHardly anybody is aware of this, however there is a solution to hack the Calendar app’s illustration system and make any of Google’s contextual graphics seem on any occasion you need.The trick is just studying the Calendar app’s secret codewords after which placing ’em to make use of precisely the way you need.Check out this whole record of Google Calendar codewords, and prepare to present your calendar a complete new personalized look.And with that, your Android calendar expertise is formally upgraded. Now all you’ve got gotta do is get every part in your agenda achieved — and that, my pricey amigo, is squarely in your shoulders.Get much more superior shortcut data with my free Android Shortcut Supercourse. You’ll study tons of time-saving tips on your telephone!
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