As a mobile software platform,Androidhas been around since 2008. The operating system has rapidly evolved over the course of just a few short years, and today it’s a feature-rich and mature OS that stands toe-to-toe with the likes of Apple’siOSandiPadOSofferings.
One of Android’s biggest strengths is its customizability and its overall mantra of ‘openness.’ On most builds of the OS, you can spend hours tinkering and toggling through options upon options. Some of these settings are well-known and appreciated, while others are more obscure or simply underutilized.
Here are five lesser-known settings I always take advantage of when daily drivingany Android handset. I’ve grown fond of each of these settings over the years, and they remain a big part of what keeps me tied to the Android-based smartphone scene.
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1System animations can be sped up for a zippier UI experience
The option is tucked away within Android’s developer options menu
I’m generally a fan of the default speed of Android’s various stock interface elements, but I find certain manufacturer skins to drag on in the animation department. While unknown to most, it’s actually pretty easy to speed up (or slow down) animations at a system-wide level.
I find certain manufacturer skins to drag on in the animation department.
To adjust the speed of system animations on Android, you’ll first need to enabledeveloper options. This can be accomplished by navigating toSettings>About phoneand tapping on thebuild number seven times. From there, navigate toDeveloper options>Window animation scale / Transition animation scale / Animator duration scaleand swap to the.5xoption.
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2Setting a custom lock screen message is a nice touch
This somewhat obscure Android setting brings me extra peace of mind
Since the beginning, Android has allowed you to place a short block of text directly onto your phone’s lock screen. In my case, I often set this up with a secondary phone number in the event that I misplace my phone and a Good Samaritan stumbles upon it. Generally, this message reads some variant of: “if found, please contact xxx.xxx.xxxx.”
To add your own custom lock screen message, navigate toSettings>Display & Touch>Lock screen>Add text to lock screen.From here, you may input your desired text.
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3Double-tapping on the app switcher is a major time saver
The feature functions much like alt+tab on a PC
While most Android phones now ship with gesture-based navigation by default, the traditional three-button software navigation remains available for those who prefer it. One benefit of choosing buttons over gestures is the access it provides to a little-known shortcut: you can double tap on the multitasking key to swap between your two most recently running apps quickly. The feature is easy to miss, but it enables adesktop PC-like navigation tool on mobile that I always use.
One benefit of choosing buttons over gestures is the access it provides to a little-known shortcut.
To take advantage of Android’s built-in quick app switching function, you’ll need to first enable the software button navigation option. Navigate toSettings>System>Navigation mode>3-button navigation. Once toggled on, simply double-tap on the dedicated multitasking (square-shaped) key to quickly swap between recently opened apps.
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4App pinning is both convenient and ingenious
For one reason or another, the setting is obscured on most flavors of Android
One of the most underappreciated Android settings of them all is a little-known option called app pinning. When enabled, the feature allows you to lock a specific app to run in the foreground on your phone, while temporarily denying access to the rest of the operating system. This tool comes in handy when passing your phone over to someone to make a quick phone call, providing an added layer of security.
For one reason or another, most flavors of Android ship with the feature toggled off by default. To enable Android’s app pinning feature, head toSettings>Security & privacy>More security settings>App pinningandtoggle the optionon. Once enabled, it’s easy to pin apps directly via your phone’s multitasking screen. Simplytap on a running app’s icon, and thenhit the Pinbutton.
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5Third-party launchers keep the smartphone experience fresh
App launchers provide countless benefits, but hardly anyone knows of their existence
Android launchers are apps that serve as homescreen replacements for the OS, and they offer up a ton of customization options. Sure, the existence of launchers is well known within most Android circles, but they remain a largely niche option on a broader scale. There are a ton of excellent third-party launchers available for download –some of my current favoritesincludeNiagara Launcher, Lawnchair, and Olauncher.
To swap between installed home launchers, simply navigate toSettings>Apps>Default apps>Home appand select from the list provided.
You’ll need to download and install launcher apps from the Google Play Store or from other sources to have them populate on screen.
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