The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
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The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are Google’s most vital telephones but, in response to CNET’s reviewers, providing spectacular {hardware}, top-notch cameras and an eye catching design. But to profit from your new Pixel cellphone, you will wish to dig into the settings and make a number of tweaks.Some of those adjustments will give the person interface a contemporary look, whereas others will show you how to get extra out of your Pixel cellphone’s digital camera or battery. Google has additionally baked some fascinating new options into the cellphone app that may make it simpler to name customer support numbers with out ready on maintain. We’ll present you methods to flip these settings on or off, too.

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Here’s a take a look at the settings it is best to change in your Pixel 6 instantly. Read extra: All the Pixel 5 and Pixel 6’s greatest variationsTurn 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 coloration 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 your wallpaper as a part of the broader Material You refresh. If you go into Settings, you possibly can select from a number of 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 & fashion and ensure the swap subsequent to Themed icons is toggled on. Now app icons on the house display ought to match your wallpaper, as proven under. 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 achieve on your cellphone. Google makes this somewhat 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 cellphone calls by saying, “Answer” or “Decline” with out having to seize your gadget.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.Quick phrases helps 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 out there. If you do not wish to keep in mind which quantity to punch the following time you are sitting by 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’s cellphone app. Open the Phone app and faucet the three dots within the prime proper nook to get began. Choose Settings and it is best to see Hold for Me and Direct My Call below the Assistive part.The Direct My Call characteristic 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 cellphone menus usually 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 while you’d desire to show this characteristic off so to get higher efficiency out of your gadget. 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 working out of houseIf you are taking a whole lot of pictures and movies, you understand how treasured your gadget’s space for storing might be. As one option to take care of that downside, you possibly can select to have your Pixel cellphone robotically delete outdated pictures to liberate house. If you allow this characteristic, your Pixel gadget will erase pictures backed as much as your Google Photos account which have been in your gadget for 60 days in case your cellphone’s storage is lower than 25 p.c. 

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 robotically deletes outdated pictures to avoid wasting house. 
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Use Storage Saver to optimize your Pixel’s picture and video storageIf you wish to save house, there’s another choice: Enable Storage Saver in your Pixel gadget. This adjustments settings that use giant quantities of storage, similar to saving RAW pictures as JPEG and recording movies in 1080p as an alternative of 4K. If you care extra about saving house than having one of the best decision potential, you may 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 swap subsequent to Storage Saver.The Pixel may change sure media settings to optimize storage. 
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Customize what occurs while you press the quantity key whereas taking picturesYou can use the quantity button to snap a photograph, regulate the zoom or management the audio quantity in your Pixel gadget. 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 choice.You can customise the quantity key on the Pixel 6.
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Make positive your Pixel’s display robotically switches orientation when neededFew issues might be extra annoying than having your cellphone 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 display. You may select to activate face detection to make auto-rotate extra correct. Google says pictures utilized in face detection are by no means saved or despatched to the corporate. Make positive your Pixel switches its display orientation while you need it to.
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Identify songs enjoying close by on the lock screenEver heard a track enjoying at a restaurant and puzzled what it is referred to as? Google Pixel units can acknowledge songs and show the title of the track 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 monitor 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 sooner scrolling and smoother animations, which makes the software program usually really feel extra responsive. The Pixel 6 can bump its refresh charge 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 while you may wish to flip it off.To entry this feature, open the Settings menu and select Display. Scroll all the way down to Smooth Display and toggle the swap to show it on or off. 

You can select to extend the display’s refresh charge 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 gadget, and it really works on older Pixels relationship again to the second-generation mannequin too. It’s an accessibility characteristic, and it can be helpful for occasions while 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 further battery sources. Google’s Live Caption expertise captions audio enjoying in your gadget. 
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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 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 only a few of the numerous settings shortcuts out there on the Pixel 6. 
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Looking for extra recommendation on your different Google units? Check out our ideas for reinforcing your productiveness on Chromebooks and getting essentially the most out of your Google Nest.Update, Nov. 11: Clarified the part on Material You and themed icons.