By and enormous, Android 12 is a real deal with to make use of.Google’s newest and best Android effort is undoubtedly probably the most outwardly important Android replace since 2014’s Android 5.0 Lollipop launch — not less than, in the event you’re utilizing a Pixel cellphone, the place the software program’s most noticeable interface enhancements and have additions are absolutely current.But identical to Lollipop — and most any new Android model, actually — Android 12 additionally comes with its share of quirks and controversial selections. For the entire optimistic progress, you are sure to run into a number of issues that rub you the fallacious method and even perhaps make you much less productive than you felt earlier than.Well, concern not, my fellow efficiency-obsessed organism, ‘trigger I’ve acquired your again.Today, we’re gonna dive deep into Android 12’s most vexing annoyances — the quirks and oddities that elevate your eyebrow and perhaps additionally your hackles. And we aren’t doing this solely for the sake of complaining, both: With every irritation, we’ll establish a straightforward strategy to get round it and regain your digital sanity.[Want even more advanced Android knowledge? Check out my free Android Shortcut Supercourse to learn tons of time-saving tricks for your phone.]We’ve already talked lots about making the most of Android 12’s greatest components. Now it is time to discover the opposite aspect of the equation and work out learn how to keep away from the replace’s worst — or, shall we embrace, quirkiest — qualities.Ready?Android 12 annoyance No. 1: The larger-than-life lock display screen clockThe most typical Android 12 grievance I hear about from the sensible and engaging Android Intelligence readers out there may be undoubtedly the comically massive measurement of the software program’s lock display screen clock.I imply, severely: Did somebody overlook to placed on their studying glasses the day this factor was designed?JR Now, look: I do not personally have an issue with the plus-sized digits. Frankly, they make me jolly. But I do know a number of people discover ’em to be the supply of a lot ire.(And word: As is the case with a lot of these things, the specifics and even normal presence of stuff like this may range relying on who made your gadget. These components are all current for the Pixel-ownin’ folks amongst us. If you are utilizing another sort of Android kind, your expertise might range.)So how ’bout the repair? There’s no easy swap for downsizing the clock at this level, sadly, however there may be one simple method round it. And this is the key: That gigantic model of the clock by no means seems when you’ve gotten an energetic notification current.If you wish to preserve the colossal digits away, then, all you’ve got gotta do is ensure that a notification is all the time exhibiting. And you’ve got acquired some attention-grabbing choices for doing that on an easy, mechanically ongoing foundation:Weather: Apps like Appy Weather and Today Weather supply the choice to maintain a persistent climate notification in your cellphone’s notification panel 24/7. Set it up as soon as, and it will all the time be there — each providing you with a straightforward on-demand look on the forecast and preserving that outsized Android 12 clock goblin at bay.
Calendar: A helpful little app referred to as Calendar Notify places the present date in your standing bar and exhibits your upcoming calendar occasions as an always-present notification.
Your personal {custom} word: A hidden Play Store gem referred to as Remind Me allows you to create your individual {custom} notification that may say something you need and keep current indefinitely.
Pick your choice, get it in place, and prepare to see the time in a usually sized fashion in your lock display screen as soon as extra.Android 12 annoyance No. 2: The condensed Quick Settings conundrumAs a part of its sprawling design makeover, Android 12 introduces a newly stretched-out search for the system’s Quick Settings tiles — y’know, these one-tap toggles you’ll be able to entry by swiping down from the highest of your display screen.In earlier variations of Android, you’d see the primary six Quick Settings tiles with only a single swiping gesture:JR But due to Android 12’s enlarged strategy, you now see solely 4 selections in that very same preliminary swipe-down view:JR It’s purty, certain, however it’s arduous to disclaim it is also a step backwards from a purely sensible perspective.Well, excellent news: If you wish to undo it, there is a method. It includes both changing or supplementing the inventory Android 12 Quick Settings shade with your individual {custom} different, which you’ll be able to then make look and act nearly precisely just like the Quick Settings setup in Android variations previous. It’s form of like utilizing a {custom} Android launcher, solely aimed on the Quick Settings space as an alternative of your own home display screen.I’ve acquired all the information and the steps you might want to make it occur on this fast ‘n’ fruitful column.Android 12 annoyance No. 3: The Material You bluesIn addition to the under-the-hood stuff, Android 12 introduces an entire new design language that revolves round an ordinary Google’s calling Material You. And a part of its attract is the best way it mechanically themes your complete Android expertise — every part from the widgets and icons on your own home display screen to the accents of your notification panel and even the coloring of most Google-made apps — to match no matter wallpaper you are utilizing in the intervening time.The drawback, although, is that in the event you select to make use of a {custom} Android launcher as an alternative of your gadget’s default dwelling display screen setup, you lose out on the Material You magic along with your most seen icons. (And in the event you’re utilizing any cellphone apart from a Pixel, odds are, you are not seeing the auto-themed icons it doesn’t matter what.)But take coronary heart, my pricey customization-craving creature: A intelligent developer has provide you with a strategy to convey auto-theming icons into any dwelling display screen setup on any gadget. So lengthy because the launcher you are utilizing helps {custom} icon packs (and a lot of the widespread third-party launchers do), simply obtain the aptly named Pix Material You Icons set from the Play Store and set it as your icon choice inside your launcher’s settings.For two bucks, the app will combine with no matter launcher you want and mechanically theme all your icons to match your present wallpaper at any given second. It’s a stunning morsel of digital magic, and it is one of many many cool touches that’d solely be potential on Android.Android 12 annoyance No. 4: The gadget controls digging dilemmaOne of the perfect options of final yr’s Android 11 launch was its addition of a completely featured energy menu that allow you to entry all types of helpful gadget controls (together with your individual custom-added instructions, even!) alongside the usual shutdown and restart instructions.And one of the vexing selections of this yr’s Android 12 replace was the elimination of that sensible creation a mere yr after its debut. (Sigh.)While there’s not a lot you are able to do to convey again the facility menu of yesteryear, you’ll be able to not less than make your present gadget controls a bit simpler to entry.The trick is to seek out the often-buried (and probably even disabled by default) new Device Controls tile in your cellphone’s Quick Settings space — after which to bump it up into one of many first 4 positions. Just like we talked a couple of couple suggestions again, that’ll ensure that it is by no means greater than a single swipe away, irrespective of the place you might be or what you are doing in your gadget.In Google’s model of Android:Swipe down twice from the highest of your display screen, then faucet the pencil-shaped icon within the lower-right nook of the Quick Settings space.
Scroll all the best way down till you see a tile labeled “Device Controls.”
Once you discover it, press and maintain your finger to it and drag it up into a kind of first 4 spots.
Tap the left-facing arrow within the upper-left nook of the display screen.
That’s it! Now you’ll be able to simply swipe down as soon as to open that preliminary Quick Settings view after which faucet on Device Controls to tug up that snazzy menu. And if it does not have a lot in it for you but, faucet the three-dot menu icon in its upper-right nook to configure it and add in no matter you need.Android 12 annoyance No. 5: The quantity management vexationSpeaking of control-related quandaries, one Android 12 annoyance that is truly been round for the reason that Android 10 period is the software program’s behavior of adjusting your media playback quantity by default anytime you hit your gadget’s bodily quantity buttons.That change nonetheless drives sure Android-owning mammals batty, as I’m reminded by the frequent look of emails about it in my inbox. But in the event you’d moderately have your cellphone’s quantity buttons alter your ringer quantity by default, like they used to some Android variations again, there is a surprisingly simple strategy to make that occur.That method is an app referred to as Volume Styles. It allows you to change the inventory Android quantity interface with one you’ll be able to customise to your coronary heart’s content material — together with altering which quantity sort will get adjusted by default.Just set up the factor, open it up, and faucet the Customize tab on the backside. Tap “Slider types,” then contact your finger to the dots alongside “Ring volume” and drag it up into the topmost place.Once you’re finished, faucet the OK button — then scroll as much as the highest of the display screen and faucet the massive Start button. The app will immediate you to permit it permission to behave as an accessibility service, which is a hefty permission however one thing that’s legitimately required to ensure that it to have the ability to do what it must do (and this app and its developer have been round for fairly some time and are completely respected).At that time, anytime you faucet your cellphone’s quantity keys, you’ll see the ring quantity first — as Volume Styles will truly be controlling that operate.Volume Styles’ fundamental capabilities are free, although a few of its extra superior customization prospects (unrelated to this fundamental change) require a $2 in-app buy to activate.Android 12 annoyance No. 6: The energy button shuffleLast however not least in our listing of Android 12 annoyances is an issue that is current totally on the brand new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. On these telephones, Android 12 comes with a curious on-by-default association wherein a long-press of the facility button does not pull up the usual energy menu in any respect; moderately, it summons the Google Assistant.In order to get to the facility menu, you’ve got gotta press the facility button and volume-up button collectively — which is about as awkward and bewildering because the sight of me on a dance flooring.You do not need to dwell that method, although. On any cellphone with Google’s model of Android 12, yow will discover an choice to disable that over-the-top Assistant connection and let the facility button as soon as once more act as, y’know, the facility button.Just open up the System space of your cellphone’s settings, faucet “Gestures,” then faucet “Press and hold power button.” On the display screen that comes up subsequent, flip the toggle subsequent to “Hold for Assistant” into the off place, then bask within the restoration of logical, intuitive order.Whew! Annoyances squashed — sanity restored. Now, that is what I name progress.Get six full days of superior Android data with my free Android Shortcut Supercourse. You’ll be taught tons of time-saving methods to your cellphone!
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