Android smartphones offer a variety of settings that can make using the device much more comfortable and productive. Many of these options remain unnoticed by most users, although they can significantly change the experience of working with the gadget, writes IZ. Enabling several functions will not only increase convenience, but also optimize the use of the smartphone for your needs. Here are six key settings that should be activated on every Android device.
1. Enable developer mode to access hidden features
Developer mode opens the door to advanced settings on your smartphone, such as changing the speed of animations or enabling predictive back gestures. This feature is useful not only for developers, but also for ordinary users who want to personalize their device. To activate it, you need to:
• Open “Settings”.
• Find the “About phone” section.
• Click “Software information”.
• Click “Build number” seven times until a message appears about activating developer mode.
After that, a new section “Developer options” will appear in the settings menu, where you can find many useful features.
2. Enable Predictive Back Gestures
One of the new features in Android 14 is Predictive Back Gestures, which lets you see which app or screen you’ll go to when you perform a gesture. This makes navigation much easier, especially in complex interfaces. To enable this feature:
• Go to Developer Options.
• Turn on the Predictive Back Gestures switch.
While this feature doesn't work in all apps, it provides a smooth and intuitive experience in those that support it.
3. Turn on Night Light for comfortable reading at night
The Night Light feature reduces the impact of blue light on your eyes, helping to avoid sleep problems, especially if you like to read or use your smartphone before bed. To activate:
• Open “Settings”.
• Select the “Display” section.
• Find “Eye comfort” or “Blue light filter”.
• Set the mode to “Sunset to Sunrise”.
This will automatically change the color temperature of the display depending on the time of day, protecting your eyesight.
4. Use notification snooze to focus
Notifications can be distracting from important tasks, but turning them off completely isn’t always convenient. An alternative is the notification snooze feature, which allows you to temporarily turn them off. To activate:
• Open “Settings”.
• Select “Notifications”.
• Go to “Advanced settings”.
• Turn on “Snooze notifications”.
Now you can set the notification delay to 15 minutes, 30 minutes or even two hours.
5. Automatic PIN confirmation
To unlock your smartphone faster, you can enable the automatic PIN confirmation function without having to press “OK”. This greatly simplifies access to the device. How to do it:
• Open “Settings”.
• Go to the “Lock screen” section.
• Select “Screen lock type”.
• Enter your PIN and enable the “Confirm PIN without pressing OK” option.
This feature is especially useful for those who often unlock their phone.
6. Speed up animations to make it feel faster
If your smartphone seems to be running slowly, you can speed it up by reducing the animation time. This creates the illusion of a faster device response. To do this:
• Enable developer mode.
• Open “Developer options”.
• Find the settings “Window animation speed”, “Transition speed” and “Object animation speed”.
• Set each option to 0.5x.
These simple steps can significantly increase the comfort of using the device, making it more responsive.
Remember, if you lose your phone abroad, these tips will help you minimize damage and save data on the device.