Your Android cellphone has a treasure trove of hidden options. 
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For me, it is simple to really feel like each Android cellphone has drastically completely different options and capabilities, and in some ways in which’s true. Comparing a Pixel cellphone with Samsung’s Galaxy S20 with TCL’s 10 Series telephones goes to disclose main variations. But on the finish of the day, all of these telephones are powered by Android, and at their core, have the identical options. Some of that are hidden. Take split-screen apps for instance. Using two apps on the identical time just isn’t solely one thing iPhone customers can solely dream about, nevertheless it’s additionally downright helpful and constructed into your Android cellphone — you simply need to know the place to look. One of my favourite hidden options known as Smart Lock, a device that retains my cellphone unlocked when I’m at house, then reverts again to requiring my fingerprint or PIN code the second I depart. It’s extremely handy. Keep in thoughts, the entire options I focus on under might not look or work precisely the identical on each cellphone, and that is as a result of completely different Android machine producers like to make use of interfaces which might be distinctive from these of their rivals. My recommendation? Use the search bar on the prime of the Settings app in case you’re struggling to discover a characteristic. Take management of alerts and notifications. 
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Quiet the notifications that may waitTired of each single notification inflicting your cellphone to bleep or boop? Tell your Android cellphone while you need an app to offer silent alerts by long-pressing on the alert till you set off a immediate, asking if you would like the notification to be marked as an Alert or Silent. Alert will enable the apps’ notifications to play sounds and present up on the lock display screen, whereas Silent will mute the alert, however nonetheless make it seen in your notification tray. Live Caption is big from an acessbility standpoint. 
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Add captions to any video or podcastLive Caption is a powerful, but comparatively new characteristic that is slowly making its solution to extra units. When energetic, it provides real-time captions to any video, podcast or voice notice in your cellphone. It does not matter if the video you are watching is muted — Live Caption will nonetheless transcribe it for you. Since it was first introduced final yr, Google has expanded its Live Caption characteristic past the Pixel cellphone lineup to included Samsung’s Galaxy S20 and the OnePlus 8 sequence. There is not an official record of supported units, so far as I can inform, and your cellphone must be operating Android 10 to ensure that it to work. To activate Live Caption (or test in case your cellphone is supported), open the Settings app and seek for Live Caption. The Live Caption toggle is in a distinct place on the Pixel 4, Galaxy S20 and OnePlus 8 ($699 at OnePlus). After turning on Live Caption, anytime you start taking part in a video — even in case you depart the amount turned off — a small black field will present up in your display screen, together with real-time dictation of no matter’s being mentioned.It’s very well performed and a characteristic that each cellphone ought to have, not simply Android. You can study extra in regards to the characteristic, together with the right way to restrict profanity, and the right way to use it in our full information. Split Screen is straightforward to make use of on an Android cellphone. 
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Use two apps on the identical timeOne of my favourite options in Android is with the ability to have two apps on the display screen on the identical time. It’s useful when I’m taking a look at a Google Doc and sending an e-mail, or when I’m trying up a recipe and sending the ingredient record in Messages. But it is not completely clear the right way to get apps in split-screen mode. Tap on the app switcher button, or in case you’re utilizing Android 10 gestures, swipe up from the underside of the display screen to enter the multitasking view and faucet on the app icon on the prime of an app’s card or thumbnail adopted by Split Screen. The first app will slide to the highest of the display screen, and the multitasking view will take up the underside part of your display screen. Either choose one other app from the multitasking view or launch an app out of your homescreen or app drawer. Not each app will help break up display screen mode, and the one approach I can determine to inform if an app lacks help is to easily strive opening it in break up display screen. Watch a video and browse Twitter on the identical time? Go on, I’m listening. 
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Watch a video and browse Twitter on the identical timeAlong the identical thought of split-screen apps is Android’s Picture-in-Picture (PiP) characteristic. Using it couldn’t be easier, you simply need to know it is there.I like to observe my favourite Twitch streamers whereas I browse Reddit or test my emails. To set off PiP, begin watching a video after which return to the house display screen. Really, it is that straightforward. Once you allow the app, if it helps PiP mode, the video will present up as a small window in your cellphone’s display screen. You can drag it round, resize or shut it. To view an inventory of apps put in in your cellphone that help this characteristic, open the Settings app, and go to Apps & Notifications > Special app entry > Picture-in-picture. This can be the place you’ll be able to go to disable PiP for an app. For instance, if you don’t need Google Maps persevering with to indicate you turn-by-turn instructions after you’ve got left it, and relatively the app utterly shut down. Turn on Smart Lock to maintain your cellphone unlocked at house. 
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Use Smart Lock to maintain your cellphone unlocked while you’re houseOne of my favourite hidden options can maintain you from having to enter your PIN or scan your fingerprint everytime you’re house or at work. You can set it to maintain your cellphone unlocked while you’re in a selected location. You can even set it to maintain the cellphone unlocked when it detects you are energetic, like while you’re strolling round whereas holding the cellphone pressed to your face or talking over Bluetooth on wi-fi headphones. Open Settings > Security > Smart Lock and enter your PIN code when prompted. From there, you’ll be able to decide which side of Smart Unlock you need to use and when. Just remember the fact that when you’ve got Smart Lock set to maintain your cellphone unlocked at house, which means anybody you reside with will be capable to get into it. Android 10 makes it a breeze to share Wi-Fi networks with a QR code. 
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Quickly share your Wi-Fi community creds with friendsGiving your Wi-Fi community password to a buddy or member of the family generally is a problem, particularly if it is a lengthy, advanced sequence of numbers and letters. Or it’s possible you’ll be hesitant at hand over your credentials as a result of it is a password you employ some other place — I get it. Granted, having folks over or visiting a buddy’s house is one thing most of us are avoiding proper now, however as stay-at-home orders start to elevate, and issues start to return to regular, it is certain to come in useful. Thankfully, with Android 10 you’ll be able to show a QR code in your cellphone’s display screen that can enable anybody who scans it to hook up with your Wi-Fi community. 

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You can scan or create a QR code in your machine by opening the Settings app and deciding on Network > Wi-Fi. If you are sharing your community credentials, faucet on the community identify after which Share. If you are connecting to a Wi-Fi community, faucet on the QR Code icon subsequent to Add Network. This characteristic additionally turns out to be useful in case you’re establishing a brand new cellphone and do not need to undergo the method of copying your password. Now that you’ve got mastered Android’s hidden options, ensure you’re utterly acquainted with Android 10’s options, like new privateness settings and a devoted darkish mode.