Get to know Android 11 to unlock all the brand new options. 
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Google launched Android 11 in early September for its Pixel telephones, and a small group of its {hardware} companions launched the replace shortly after. The total rollout is ongoing, and will likely be for a while, however it’s nonetheless price noting a number of the thrilling adjustments you may get. Or for those who’d reasonably not wait on your older cellphone to get the most recent taste of Android, Google’s Pixel 4a 5G or Pixel 5 each run Android 11 out of the field. Whether you purchase a brand new Pixel cellphone, or look forward to Android 11 to succeed in your present system, there’s a lot to get enthusiastic about. You’ll discover refined tweaks all through the brand new working system that make a giant distinction in how you may use your cellphone day-after-day. For instance, there is a new Bubbles chat characteristic that makes it simple to maintain messaging from any app. My private favourite is the brand new fast controls web page for accessing my good residence units with a swipe and there is a new screen-recording device for displaying off your favourite gameplay, or to assist somebody troubleshoot a difficulty.  These are seven of my favourite Android 11 options and use them.

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Android 11’s fast controls are my new favourite controls. 
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Android 11 Quick Controls are a real spotlight The very first thing it is best to do after putting in Android 11 is long-press the facility button in your cellphone to carry up the brand new fast controls display screen. On the Pixel, at the very least, this display screen provides you energy management choices alongside the highest and offers shortcuts to your Google Pay playing cards and boarding passes. Then under that you will discover my favourite characteristic of Android 11 — fast controls for good residence units.  My cellphone mechanically picked just a few units I’ve linked to Google Assistant, just like the Nest thermostat in my workplace and my Nest video doorbell. I may even view a livestream from my doorbell straight on this display screen with out having to open the Nest app, which is gradual and a ache to make use of. It’s nice.  You can add or take away good residence units from this grid by tapping the menu button and deciding on add or edit controls. Google Assistant can wait on maintain for you Instead of ready on maintain, listening to the identical boring music on loop, Google is bringing a brand new characteristic to Assistant and it debuted with the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5.  Called Hold For Me, Google Assistant’s new trick exhibits a immediate on the display screen letting you understand you’ll be able to go about doing no matter it’s you need to do and your cellphone will warn you when somebody lastly solutions.  In order for the characteristic to work, that you must flip it on by opening the Phone app, tapping on the three-dot menu icon, then faucet Settings. Select Hold for me from the checklist of choices, then flip it on.  Going ahead, when your cellphone detects you have referred to as a customer support quantity and you’ve got vibrate, silent mode or do-not-disturb turned off, the in-call display screen may have a Hold for me button that you would be able to press if you’re positioned on maintain.  Tap Start after which a display screen will present up reminding you to not grasp up. You will not be capable to hearken to music or use your cellphone to play a video whereas on the decision. There will likely be a textual content transcript that is proven, stay, slightly below the decision display screen to let you understand what’s been stated earlier than you come back to the decision, or so that you can monitor whether or not or not it is a recording thanking you for being affected person, or if somebody has really answered the decision. When you are taken off maintain, your cellphone will vibrate and ring, as for those who’re getting a name, to let you understand “Someone’s waiting to talk to you” so you’ll be able to then resume the decision.  I examined out Hold for Me by calling Comcast and I used to be capable of nearly instantly have the Assistant start listening to the decision for me. The stay transcription was a pleasant bonus that I wasn’t anticipating to see, however will certainly make it simpler to determine if that you must reply the cellphone earlier than Assistant alerts you. Hold for me is a reasonably darn cool characteristic. 
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
New message notifications get the limelight After putting in Android 11, you may discover that alerts from all your messaging apps, like Google Messages, have a devoted “Conversations” part in your notification tray.  The change makes it simpler to seek out the alerts you doubtless care about most, however for those who obtain plenty of messages, even this part can get messy.  Instead of letting Google type your new alerts by itself, long-press the dialog you need to comply with carefully and choose Priority. Doing this can transfer new messages in that thread to the highest of all your dialog alerts, activate Bubbles (extra on that under), and use the contact’s avatar because the alert icon within the notification tray and on the lock display screen.    Being capable of look on the notification tray and see a profile icon, as an alternative of the usual textual content alert that does not provide any actually helpful info, is a pleasant contact.  Messaging Bubbles on your pals seem like they will be helpful  Remember Bubbles? This characteristic was alleged to be a part of Android 10, however Google pulled it on the final minute. It made the minimize for Android 11.  Bubbles are much like Facebook Messenger’s “chat heads” characteristic. When activated, a small avatar — or Bubble — exhibits up in your display screen and is seen it doesn’t matter what app you are utilizing. Tap on the avatar and it’ll open a small window so that you can learn and ship new messages in that thread, with out absolutely opening the app. You can drag the Bubble round your display screen, or drag it to the underside of the display screen to delete it.  In order to make use of Bubbles for a dialog, faucet on the small Bubbles icon within the bottom-right nook of the notification. Tapping on it is going to instantly allow Bubbles for that thread. Alternatively, you’ll be able to mark a dialog as a precedence to at all times use Bubbles for that contact.  Bubbles are handy, however will take some adjusting to. 
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
You can then drag the icons on your varied Bubbles chats round in your display screen, or faucet on the avatar for the individual you need to discuss to, and the thread will open up, all with out ever leaving the app you are at the moment utilizing. I’m glad that is an opt-in characteristic, based mostly on every thread, as an alternative of an all-or-nothing characteristic like Chat Heads, which could be messy and downright overwhelming.  To do away with a bubble for a selected dialog, simply drag the icon to the small X that exhibits up on the backside of your display screen.  If you need to fully disable Bubbles, disallowing any and all apps from triggering the possibly annoying characteristic, open the Settings app and seek for Bubbles. There will likely be a setting to show off Bubbles altogether.  App builders might want to replace their app to work with Bubbles, and proper now I can affirm that Google’s Messages app works. Facebook Messenger labored all through the Android 11 beta program, however an replace just some days earlier than Android 11 launched appears to have damaged or disabled the combination. If you are having hassle getting Bubbles to work, I like to recommend reaching out to the developer and seeing in the event that they plan on including help for Bubbles. 
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Android 11 will get fancier music controlsIn Android 11, there is a new playback management that not seems as a pending notification. Instead, there is a small field that exhibits up as a part of the fast settings panel. You can skip, return, play-pause and change the system the music is enjoying on all from the brand new management field.  As quickly as you begin enjoying some music, the brand new media controls will likely be obtainable. They’re so a lot better than the outdated notification.  You can lastly document your display screen with an official Google device. 
Jason Cipriani/CNET
A built-in display screen recorder Screenshots are a fast and simple technique to seize one thing in your display screen, however there are occasions when a recording is healthier suited to the duty at hand. For instance, if you wish to showcase your gaming abilities, or spotlight the steps to breed a bug — display screen recording FTW!  You can discover the Screen Record device within the Quick Settings panel after putting in Android 11. If it isn’t seen, faucet on the pencil icon so as to add it to your panel.  Tap on the Screen Record icon and choose whether or not you need your microphone to document audio and if you’d like your contact interactions to be highlighted within the video. To cease recording, faucet the Screen Record notification. The video will likely be saved to your digital camera roll the place you’ll be able to then edit and share the recording.  App options on the house display screen are new. 
Jason Cipriani/CNET
For Pixel homeowners: App Suggestions substitute your app dock At some level after putting in Android 11, you may see a immediate asking you to allow app options on the house display screen. Essentially, the brand new app options will substitute the app dock in your cellphone, leaving it as much as your cellphone to swap apps out and in of the underside row — or dock — in your cellphone, based mostly on which apps you employ at sure occasions of the day.  The apps have a glowing border round them, letting you understand your cellphone added them, and continuously change if you return to your own home display screen as you employ your cellphone. You can long-press on any of the app icons to pin that suggestion to your own home display screen.  You can even block apps from displaying up as options if you do not need one thing like Gmail displaying since you use a unique electronic mail app.  To entry App Suggestions and tailor the way it works for you long-press on your own home display screen and choose Home Settings then Suggestions. There you’ll be able to management options within the app drawer and on the house display screen or block apps from displaying up on the checklist.  Google additionally made some essential adjustments to how Android handles privateness settings it is best to know, as nicely. If you are searching for directions to put in Android 11, we’ve got your again.