Your Android telephone has a treasure trove of hidden options. 
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Despite the huge variations in {hardware} and software program design for telephones akin to Google’s Pixel 4, Samsung’s Galaxy S20 or TCL’s new 10 Series telephones, the core expertise is similar. They are all powered by Android, in any case, and have the identical options — a few of that are hidden. Take split-screen apps for example. Using two apps on the identical time is just not solely one thing iPhone customers can solely dream about, nevertheless it’s additionally downright helpful and constructed into your Android telephone — you simply must know the place to look. One of my favourite hidden options is named Smart Lock, a device that retains my telephone unlocked when I’m at house, then reverts again to requiring my fingerprint or PIN code the second I depart. It’s extremely handy. Keep in thoughts, all the options I talk about under could not look or work precisely the identical on each telephone, and that is as a result of totally different Android machine producers like to make use of interfaces which are distinctive from these of their rivals. My recommendation? Use the search bar on the prime of the Settings app if you happen to’re struggling to discover a characteristic. Take management of alerts and notifications. 
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Quiet the notifications that may waitTired of each single notification inflicting your telephone to bleep or boop? Tell your Android telephone while you need an app to present silent alerts by long-pressing on the alert till you set off a immediate, asking in order for you the notification to be marked as an Alert or Silent. Alert will enable the apps’ notifications to play sounds and present up on the lock display screen, whereas Silent will mute the alert, however nonetheless make it seen in your notification tray. Live Caption is big from an acessbility standpoint. 
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Add captions to any video or podcastLive Caption is a powerful, but comparatively new characteristic that is slowly making its method to extra gadgets. When energetic, it provides real-time captions to any video, podcast or voice observe in your telephone. It would not matter if the video you are watching is muted — Live Caption will nonetheless transcribe it for you. Since it was first introduced final 12 months, Google has expanded its Live Caption characteristic past the Pixel telephone lineup to included Samsung’s Galaxy S20 and the OnePlus 8 sequence. There is not an official record of supported gadgets, so far as I can inform, and your telephone must be operating Android 10 to ensure that it to work. To activate Live Caption (or examine in case your telephone is supported), open the Settings app and seek for Live Caption. The Live Caption toggle is in a special place on the Pixel 4, Galaxy S20 and OnePlus 8 ($699 at OnePlus). After turning on Live Caption, anytime you start enjoying a video — even if you happen to depart the amount turned off — a small black field will present up in your display screen, together with real-time dictation of no matter’s being stated.It’s very well executed and a characteristic that each telephone ought to have, not simply Android. You can be taught extra concerning the characteristic, together with how one can restrict profanity, and how one can use it in our full information. Split Screen is straightforward to make use of on an Android telephone. 
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Use two apps on the identical timeOne of my favourite options in Android is having the ability to have two apps on the display screen on the identical time. It’s useful when I’m taking a look at a Google Doc and sending an e-mail, or when I’m wanting up a recipe and sending the ingredient record in Messages. But it isn’t solely clear how one can get apps in split-screen mode. Tap on the app switcher button, or if you happen to’re utilizing Android 10 gestures, swipe up from the underside of the display screen to enter the multitasking view and faucet on the app icon on the prime of an app’s card or thumbnail adopted by Split Screen. The first app will slide to the highest of the display screen, and the multitasking view will take up the underside part of your display screen. Either choose one other app from the multitasking view or launch an app out of your homescreen or app drawer. Not each app will help break up display screen mode, and the one manner I can work out to inform if an app lacks help is to easily strive opening it in break up display screen. Watch a video and browse Twitter on the identical time? Go on, I’m listening. 
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Watch a video and browse Twitter simultaneouslyAlong the identical thought of split-screen apps is Android’s Picture-in-Picture (PiP) characteristic. Using it couldn’t be less complicated, you simply must know it is there.I like to observe my favourite Twitch streamers whereas I browse Reddit or examine my emails. To set off PiP, begin watching a video after which return to the house display screen. Really, it is that simple. Once you allow the app, if it helps PiP mode, the video will present up as a small window in your telephone’s display screen. You can drag it round, resize or shut it. To view an inventory of apps put in in your telephone that help this characteristic, open the Settings app, and go to Apps & Notifications > Special app entry > Picture-in-picture. This can also be the place you possibly can go to disable PiP for an app. For instance, if you do not need Google Maps persevering with to indicate you turn-by-turn instructions after you have left it, and reasonably the app utterly shut down. Turn on Smart Lock to maintain your telephone unlocked at house. 
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Use Smart Lock to maintain your telephone unlocked while you’re houseOne of my favourite hidden options can hold you from having to enter your PIN or scan your fingerprint everytime you’re house or at work. You can set it to maintain your telephone unlocked while you’re in a particular location. You may also set it to maintain the telephone unlocked when it detects you are energetic, like while you’re strolling round whereas holding the telephone pressed to your face or talking over Bluetooth on wi-fi headphones. Open Settings > Security > Smart Lock and enter your PIN code when prompted. From there, you possibly can choose which side of Smart Unlock you need to use and when. Just remember the fact that if in case you have Smart Lock set to maintain your telephone unlocked at house, which means anybody you reside with will have the ability to get into it. Android 10 makes it a breeze to share Wi-Fi networks with a QR code. 
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Quickly share your Wi-Fi community creds with friendsGiving your Wi-Fi community password to a buddy or member of the family could be a trouble, particularly if it is a lengthy, complicated sequence of numbers and letters. Or you could be hesitant at hand over your credentials as a result of it is a password you employ elsewhere — I get it. Granted, having individuals over or visiting a buddy’s house is one thing most of us are avoiding proper now, however as stay-at-home orders start to carry, and issues start to return to regular, it is positive to turn out to be useful. Thankfully, with Android 10 you possibly can show a QR code in your telephone’s display screen that can enable anybody who scans it to hook up with your Wi-Fi community. 

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You can scan or create a QR code in your machine by opening the Settings app and choosing Network > Wi-Fi. If you are sharing your community credentials, faucet on the community identify after which Share. If you are connecting to a Wi-Fi community, faucet on the QR Code icon subsequent to Add Network. This characteristic additionally turns out to be useful if you happen to’re establishing a brand new telephone and do not need to undergo the method of copying your password. Now that you have mastered Android’s hidden options, ensure you’re utterly acquainted with Android 10’s options, like new privateness settings and a devoted darkish mode.