Whether you simply purchased a brand new Pixel 6A or are nonetheless getting acquainted with the Pixel 6, tweaking just a few settings can go a great distance. Some of those modifications will give the software program a recent look, whereas others will make duties like dismissing alarms rather a lot simpler.Google launched the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro final fall, however the Pixel 6A arrived in shops on July 28. It begins at $450 and has the identical Tensor processor because the Pixel 6, however its digital camera has a decrease decision and the display is noticeably smaller. Google can be anticipated to announce the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro this fall after teasing the brand new telephones at Google I/O in May.Here’s a take a look at the settings you need to change in your Pixel 6, 6 Pro or 6A. Turn on themed icons to make your icons match your wallpaperOne of the largest options in Android 12 is Material You, which customizes the software program’s shade palette to match your wallpaper. You’ll discover that some components inside sure apps — just like the keyboard in Messages and Gmail’s Compose button — could have coloured accents that match wallpaper as a part of the broader Material You refresh. If you go into Settings, you may select from just a few choices.But you do not have to cease there. To give your app icons a colourful refresh that resembles your wallpaper, long-press any empty house in your Pixel 6’s residence display. Then faucet Wallpaper & model and ensure the swap subsequent to Themed icons is toggled on. Now app icons on the house display ought to match your wallpaper.

You could make app icons on the Pixel 6 match its wallpaper.
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Use Quick Phrases to dismiss an alarm or cellphone name with out saying, ‘Hey, Google’We’ve all been there. It’s 6 a.m., your alarm begins blaring and also you barely have the power to succeed in to your cellphone. Google makes this somewhat simpler on the Pixel 6 lineup by enabling you to pause or dismiss an alarm by merely saying, “Snooze” or “Stop” with out requiring the “Hey, Google” set off phrase. You can do the identical for cellphone calls by saying, “Answer” or “Decline” with out having to seize your system.To flip this on, open the Settings menu and select Apps. Then, choose Assistant and faucet Quick phrases. You ought to see choices for alarms and timers and incoming calls. Tap the swap subsequent to every one to allow this characteristic.This characteristic allows you to dismiss alarms and reply calls with out utilizing the “Hey, Google” wake phrase.
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Have Google Assistant wait on maintain for you and transcribe automated cellphone menusTired of ready on maintain? Try utilizing Google’s Hold For Me characteristic, which has Google Assistant wait on maintain after which notify you when a buyer consultant turns into accessible. If you do not wish to keep in mind which quantity to punch the following time you are sitting via automated voice prompts, you can too activate Direct My Call. This transcribes automated menus in order that you do not have to recollect which quantity to press to get directed to the proper extension. Both of those options are accessible from the Pixel 6, 6 Pro or 6A’s cellphone app. Open the Phone app and faucet the three dots within the prime proper nook to get began. Choose Settings and you need to see Hold for Me and Direct My Call below the Assistive part.The Direct My Call characteristic appears promising, however it solely works for toll-free numbers in English proper now. That could make its transcriptions a bit complicated since many automated cellphone menus sometimes learn choices in Spanish, too.Google Assistant can transcribe automated menus for you when calling toll-free numbers, however solely in English. 
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Choose whether or not you wish to prolong battery life or increase efficiency Google’s Pixel telephones can optimize battery life relying on how you utilize your cellphone. While that is a helpful perk, there could also be occasions whenever you’d choose to show this characteristic off so that you could get higher efficiency out of your system. You can flip this setting on or off anytime by opening the Settings menu, selecting Battery and tapping Adaptive preferences.The Pixel 6 can optimize its battery primarily based in your cellphone utilization. 
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Turn on Smart Storage to keep away from operating out of houseIf you’re taking a number of photographs and movies, you know the way treasured your system’s cupboard space will be. As one solution to cope with that drawback, you may select to have your Pixel cellphone mechanically delete outdated photographs to unlock house. If you allow this characteristic, your Pixel system will erase photographs backed as much as your Google Photos account which were in your system for 60 days in case your cellphone’s storage is lower than 25%. To flip this on, open Settings, select Storage and faucet Free up house. Then faucet the menu icon within the prime left nook and choose Settings. Toggle the swap subsequent to Smart Storage.

Google’s Smart Storage characteristic mechanically deletes outdated photographs to avoid wasting house. 
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Use Storage Saver to optimize your Pixel’s photograph and video storageIf you wish to save house, there’s another choice: Enable Storage Saver in your Pixel system. This modifications settings that use massive quantities of storage, reminiscent of saving RAW photographs as JPEG and recording movies in 1080p as an alternative of 4K. If you care extra about saving house than having the very best decision doable, you would possibly wish to do that.Launch the Camera app and faucet the settings cog within the prime left nook. Then, faucet More settings and choose Device storage. Toggle the swap subsequent to Storage Saver.The Pixel may also change sure media settings to optimize storage. 
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Customize what occurs whenever you press the quantity key whereas taking photographsYou can use the quantity button to snap a photograph, modify the zoom or management the audio quantity in your Pixel system. Open the Camera app, press the Settings icon and select More settings. Then, select Gestures and choose Volume key motion to decide on your most popular possibility.You can customise the quantity key on the Pixel 6.
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Make certain your Pixel’s display mechanically switches orientation when neededFew issues will be extra annoying than having your cellphone caught in portrait mode whenever you’re holding it in panorama mode to observe a video. Avoid this in your Pixel 6 by opening the Settings menu, selecting Display and tapping Auto-rotate display. You may also select to activate face detection to make autorotate extra correct. Google says photographs utilized in face detection are by no means saved or despatched to the corporate. Make certain your Pixel switches its display orientation whenever you need it to.
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Identify songs enjoying close by on the lock screenEver heard a music enjoying at a restaurant and puzzled what it is referred to as? Google Pixel gadgets can acknowledge songs and show the identify of the music and artist in your cellphone’s lock display. Open the Settings menu, select Display and faucet Lock display. Press Now Playing and toggle on the swap subsequent to Identify songs enjoying close by.The Pixel 6 can show the observe title and artist for songs enjoying close by. 
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Choose whether or not you need smoother scrolling or longer battery lifeThe Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are able to boosting their refresh charges to allow quicker scrolling and smoother animations, which makes the software program usually really feel extra responsive. The Pixel 6 can bump its refresh price as much as 90Hz, whereas the Pixel 6 Pro can go as much as120Hz. But since this characteristic will increase battery utilization, there are occasions whenever you would possibly wish to flip it off.To entry this selection, open the Settings menu and select Display. Scroll right down to Smooth Display and toggle the swap to show it on or off. This characteristic is not accessible on the Pixel 6A. You can select to extend the display’s refresh price or maximize battery life on the Pixel 6. 
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Add captions to movies, podcasts and cellphone callsGoogle’s Live Caption characteristic generates captions for media enjoying in your system, and it really works on older Pixels relationship again to the second-generation mannequin. It’s an accessibility characteristic, and it can be helpful for occasions whenever you’re caught with out headphones and want to listen to the content material of a video or podcast in a public setting. To flip this on, press the quantity button and faucet the Live Caption icon, which seems like a speech bubble. Just do not forget that utilizing Live Caption can use extra battery sources. Google’s Live Caption expertise captions audio enjoying in your system. 
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Edit your fast settings to simply entry shortcutsPulling down from the highest of the display will launch the quick-settings menu. Tap the pencil icon to edit this menu and add the settings you utilize most frequently. Google provides all kinds of choices starting from battery saver to enabling and disabling the microphone and accessing alarms. Here you may discover staples together with airplane mode, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.These are only a few of the numerous settings shortcuts accessible on the Pixel 6. 
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Looking for extra recommendation to your different Google gadgets? Check out our suggestions for enhancing your productiveness on Chromebooks and getting essentially the most out of your Google Nest.