You’ve made the change to an iPhone from Android. Maybe the iPhone 13’s options lastly satisfied you, or possibly you’ve got purchased the 2022 iPhone SE. Whichever Apple telephone you now carry, you will discover a studying curve when utilizing iOS after you’ve got been accustomed to Android. On the one hand, it is thrilling: You’re now a part of the blue bubble membership, and you’ll discover all of the helpful options within the newly launched iOS 15.4.But you additionally should study a brand new working system that shares some similarities with Android but feels completely completely different. For instance, you’ll be able to’t set up apps from simply anyplace. You’ll must get them from the Apple App Store and solely the App Store. Or what about the truth that you are still pressured to make use of a inflexible app grid, and may’t place apps wherever you please? You can also’t see info just like the time and notifications even when the show is off as you’ll be able to with many Android telephones. Annoying. If that is all beginning to sound acquainted, you could be completely satisfied to know that there are methods to make your iPhone really feel much more like your previous Android telephone. For occasion, do you know you’ll be able to add widgets, create customized app icons or use a third-party keyboard that is extra like what you are used to? I’ll stroll you thru a number of adjustments that may make your new iPhone extra Android-like in simply the methods you need.Create a customized residence display screen with widgets and Smart StackWidgets, and for that matter, a customized residence display screen, are a handy solution to maintain info at your fingertips, however maybe extra importantly you get to create a totally customized expertise.Good information. Your iPhone helps widgets on the house display screen as properly, they usually’re fairly superior. You can add a single widget, or create what’s known as a Smart Stack that can rotate by means of a sequence of widgets based mostly on which widgets you work together with and the time of day. Place a widget in your iPhone’s display screen by long-pressing in a clean spot. I often do it simply above the apps within the dock (the place the row of dots are for every residence display screen). Tap on the plus signal within the top-left nook, after which drag and drop widgets to your display screen. Create a Smart Stack of your personal by dragging widgets of the identical dimension on high of each other.Just maintain stacking widgets till you are completely satisfied.
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You cannot set up themes or launchers, however you’ll be able to nonetheless customise the iPhone’s look If you are used to creating customized app icons, you will be happy to know that your iPhone can assist customized icons, too. You’ll want to make use of the Shortcuts app with a view to obtain your customized look, and be prepared to speculate a while in every new creation — you need to do it on an app-by-app foundation. So as an alternative of getting the inventory Mail, Safari or Messages app icons, you’ll be able to as an alternative use the AOL Mail icon, or no matter picture you need, to switch the default icons. Hopefully Apple will add assist for theme or icon packs sooner or later, however as of proper now, the steps outlined on this submit are pretty much as good because it will get. Use FaceTime to talk together with your Android friendsYes, you learn that appropriately. In iOS 15, you’ll be able to FaceTime with family and friends members who haven’t got an Apple machine. It won’t make your iPhone really feel extra like your previous Android telephone in the identical manner as different tips about this listing. But it may assist with the transition because it gives a solution to simply video-chat together with your Android associates with out having to put in a brand new app. FaceTime calling works a bit otherwise if you’re speaking with customers of non-Apple gadgets. You must generate a hyperlink that they will click on or faucet to hitch the decision from an online browser. Just open the FaceTime app and faucet the Create Link button to get began. From there, you’ll be able to merely copy the hyperlink or faucet an app like Messages or Mail to share the invite together with your pal or member of the family.
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Miss Google’s keyboard? You can obtain our favourite, and in addition study some iPhone keyboard suggestions The little issues may be what we find yourself lacking probably the most about our previous gadgets. Take the keyboard for instance. Google’s keyboard, Gboard, is beloved by many Android customers. But do not fret, you’ll be able to set up third-party keyboards on the iPhone, though you could discover they are not as feature-packed because the Android equivalents. Android’s Gboard is out there on the iPhone if you wish to give it a shot. However, for those who discover that third-party keyboards simply do not minimize it, listed below are a few of my private tips for getting probably the most out of the iPhone’s keyboard. Move the cursor by long-pressing on the spacebar till the keys disappear, turning it right into a trackpad of types. Here’s a submit with a flowery animated picture that reveals you the way it works.Create customized textual content substitute shortcuts by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. This makes it simpler to sort cuss phrases (sorry not sorry, Mom), or shortly enter info like your electronic mail tackle.You can swipe-to-type on the iPhone’s keyboard, identical to you’ll be able to on nearly each Android keyboard. If it isn’t working, be certain that it is turned on by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Slide to Type and ensuring the change is within the On place.Psst. Google’s keyboard is out there on the iPhone.
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You’re not locked in to Apple’s default apps. Use Google’s apps as an alternativeYou’re in luck. Google does a superb job of preserving the identical apps you’ve got come to know and love on Android up to date on the iPhone. Instead of linking you to each single Google app, I’ll as an alternative level you to Google’s developer web page within the App Store the place you’ll find the entire apps which might be out there for the iPhone (or iPad). You could also be shocked at simply what number of apps Google has constructed for the iPhone. Google Maps, Gmail, the Chrome browser, Google Docs, Google Drive and Google Keep are simply the tip of the iceberg. See the subsequent part for an much more pervasive Google app.You can use Google Assistant as an alternative of Siri to your search wants.
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Don’t like Siri? Use Google Assistant One of the apps Google has made out there on the iPhone that is value declaring is Google Assistant. I do know Siri has a nasty popularity in some methods, and I will not get into that debate right here, however for individuals who want to use Google’s digital assistant over Apple’s, you’ll be able to obtain and set up the devoted app. But that does not remedy the issue of not with the ability to say, “Hey, Google” and have your iPhone reply. In order to try this, you will must create a Shortcut within the Shortcuts app that can use Siri to launch Google Assistant. With Google Assistant put in in your telephone, open the Shortcuts app and faucet on the plus signal to create a brand new shortcut. Tap Add Action > Apps > Assistant > Ask Google and switch off Show When Run. Name the Shortcut both “Hey, Google” or “OK, Google.” The subsequent time you need to discuss to Google Assistant, activate Siri (maintain within the aspect button or say, “Hey, Siri”) after which use the title of your Shortcut. For instance, you’ll be able to say “Hey, Siri, OK, Google, what’s the weather?” And Siri will go your request to the Google Assistant app. It’s clunky and never perfect, however for those who actually don’t love Siri, it will get the job performed.
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Face ID is not good. Here’s the best way to make it higher If you are switching from an Android telephone with fingerprint unlock, Face ID can really feel irritating if it does not at all times acknowledge your face (like in case your head is half-buried in a pillow) and unlock your iPhone in a correct period of time. Here’s what I recommend: Add an alternate look, which is rather like scanning your face a second time; that is the equal of scanning 4 fingerprints in your previous Android telephone as an alternative of only one. But as an alternative of placing on sun shades or another accent to vary your look, undergo the registration course of with the “typical” look that provides you probably the most hassle. If that is simply off the bed with raveled hair and luggage beneath your eyes, so be it. This type of knowledge is saved solely in your telephone, and that is face unlock, not a magnificence contest.To scan your face once more, open Settings > Face ID & Passcode and faucet Set Up an Alternate Appearance. Now that your iPhone appears to be like and feels extra like your previous telephone, take a while to get to know iOS a bit higher. Check out these settings you might want to change, and be sure you’re maintaining on the newest iOS 15 options. Oh, and there are hidden options it is best to learn about too.