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    Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro: Change these settings to get the most out of your new Google phone

    The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
    Andrew Hoyle/CNET
    The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are Google’s most important telephones but, providing spectacular {hardware}, top-notch cameras and an attention-grabbing design, based on CNET’s reviewers. But to benefit from your new Pixel telephone, you will wish to dig into the settings and make a couple of tweaks.Some of those adjustments will give the consumer interface a contemporary look, whereas others will aid you get extra out of your Pixel telephone’s digital camera or battery. Google has additionally baked some attention-grabbing new options into the telephone app that may make it simpler to name customer support numbers with out ready on maintain. We’ll present you the way to flip these settings on or off, too.Here’s a have a look at the settings it’s best to change in your Pixel 6 immediately. Read extra: All the Pixel 5 and Pixel 6’s greatest variationsTurn on themed icons to make your apps match your wallpaperOne of the most important options in Android 12 is Material You, which customizes the software program’s shade palette to match your wallpaper. To allow this, begin by lengthy urgent on any empty area in your Pixel 6’s residence display screen. Then faucet “Wallpaper & style” and ensure the change subsequent to “Themed icons” is toggled on. Now a few of your app icons and sure parts in apps like Gmail, the Google Play Store and Google Chrome can have shade accents that match your wallpaper.

    You could make app icons on the Pixel 6 match its wallpaper.
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Use Quick Phrases to dismiss an alarm or telephone 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 vitality to achieve in your telephone. Google makes this a bit of simpler on the Pixel 6 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 telephone 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 change subsequent to every one to allow this function.The quick-phrases function permits you to dismiss alarms and reply calls with out utilizing the Hey, Google wake phrase.
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Have Google Assistant wait on maintain for you and transcribe automated telephone menusTired of ready on maintain? Try utilizing Google’s Hold For Me function, which has Google Assistant wait on maintain after which notify you when a buyer consultant turns into out there. If you do not wish to bear in mind which quantity to punch the following time you are sitting via automated voice prompts, you can even 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 right extension. Both of those options are accessible from the Pixel 6’s telephone app. Open the Phone app and faucet the three dots within the prime proper nook to get began. Choose Settings and it’s best to see Hold for Me and Direct My Call beneath the Assistive part.The Direct My Call function appears promising, but it surely solely works for toll-free numbers in English proper now. That could make its transcriptions a bit complicated since many automated telephone menus sometimes learn choices in Spanish, too.Google Assistant can transcribe automated menus for you when calling toll-free numbers, however solely in English. 
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Choose whether or not you wish to lengthen battery life or increase efficiency Google’s Pixel telephones can optimize battery life relying on how you utilize your telephone. While that is a helpful perk, there could also be instances while you’d want to show this function off to be able to 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 based mostly in your telephone utilization. 
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Turn on Smart Storage to keep away from operating out of areaIf you are taking lots of photographs and movies, you understand how valuable your system’s cupboard space may be. As one technique to take care of that downside, you possibly can select to have your Pixel telephone robotically delete outdated photographs to unlock area. If you allow this function, your Pixel system will erase photographs backed as much as your Google Photos account which have been in your system for 60 days in case your telephone’s storage is lower than 25 %. To flip this on, open Settings, select Storage and faucet “Free up space.” Then faucet the menu icon within the prime left nook and choose Settings. Toggle the change subsequent to Smart Storage.

    Google’s Smart Storage function robotically deletes outdated photographs to save lots of area. 
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Use Storage Saver to optimize your Pixel’s photograph and video storageIf you wish to save area, there’s an alternative choice: Enable Storage Saver in your Pixel system. This adjustments settings that use massive quantities of storage, corresponding to saving RAW photographs as JPEG and recording movies in 1080p as a substitute of 4K. If you care extra about saving area than having the most effective decision doable, you would possibly wish to do this.Launch the Camera app and faucet the settings cog within the prime left nook. Then, faucet “More settings” and choose “Device storage.” Toggle the change subsequent to Storage Saver.The Pixel may change sure media settings to optimize storage. 
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Customize what occurs while you press the quantity key whereas taking photographsYou can use the quantity button to snap a photograph, alter 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 action” to decide on your most well-liked possibility.You can customise the quantity key on the Pixel 6.
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Make certain your Pixel’s display screen robotically switches orientation when neededFew issues may be extra annoying than having your telephone caught in portrait mode while 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 screen.” You may select to activate face detection to make auto-rotate 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 screen orientation while you need it to.
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Identify songs taking part in close by on the lock screenEver heard a track taking part in at a restaurant and questioned what it is referred to as? Google Pixel gadgets can acknowledge songs and show the identify of the track and artist in your telephone’s lock display screen. Open the Settings menu, select Display and faucet “Lock screen.” Press Now Playing and toggle on the change subsequent to “Identify songs playing nearby.”The Pixel 6 can show the observe title and artist for songs taking part in close by. 
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    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 sooner scrolling and smoother animations, which makes the software program usually really feel extra responsive. The Pixel 6 can bump its refresh fee as much as 90Hz, whereas the Pixel 6 Pro can go as much as120Hz. But since this function will increase battery utilization, there are occasions while 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 change to show it on or off. You can select to extend the display screen’s refresh fee or maximize battery life on the Pixel 6. 
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Add captions to movies, podcasts and telephone callsGoogle’s Live Caption function generates captions for media taking part in in your system, and it really works on older Pixels courting again to the second-generation mannequin too. It’s an accessibility function, and it may also be helpful for instances while you’re caught with out headphones and wish 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 to be like a speech bubble. Just do not forget that utilizing Live Caption can use further battery assets. 

    Google’s Live Caption expertise captions audio taking part in in your system. 
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Edit your fast settings to simply entry shortcutsPulling down from the highest of the display screen will launch the quick-settings menu. Tap the pencil icon to edit this menu and add the settings you utilize most frequently. Google gives all kinds of choices starting from battery saver to enabling or disabling the microphone and accessing alarms. Of course, you will discover staples like airplane mode, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi right here too.These are just some of the various settings shortcuts out there on the Pixel 6. 
    Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
    Looking for extra recommendation in your different Google gadgets? Check out our ideas for enhancing your productiveness on Chromebooks and getting probably the most out of your Google Nest.

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