Please note that rooting your Android phone can be a complex and potentially risky process. Before proceeding, it’s important to research thoroughly, understand the risks and potential consequences, and proceed at your own risk. Also, the information I provide in this article may not apply to all Android devices, as different manufacturers may have different procedures and requirements for rooting. With that in mind, let’s dive in:
What is rooting and why would you want to do it?
Rooting is the process of gaining access to the root directory of an Android device. This allows you to have administrative privileges on your phone, which can give you more control over your device and the ability to customize it to your liking. For example, you can install custom ROMs, remove pre-installed apps, tweak settings that are not available in the default user interface, and much more.
However, rooting also comes with some risks. It can void your warranty, make your phone less secure, and even brick your device if you don’t follow the instructions carefully. Therefore, it’s important to proceed with caution and do your research before attempting to root your Android phone.
Before you start rooting, make sure your Android device is compatible with the rooting method you want to use. Different phones have different hardware and software configurations, so not all rooting methods work on all devices. To check compatibility, you can search online for your phone’s model number and the specific rooting method you want to use.
Backup your data
Rooting can potentially erase all the data on your phone, so it’s important to back up your data first. You can use your phone’s built-in backup feature, or use a third-party backup app to backup your data to an external device or cloud storage.
Enable developer options
To root your phone, you need to enable developer options on your Android device. To do this, go to “Settings”, then “About phone”, then tap “Build number” seven times. This will enable developer options on your phone.
Enable USB debugging
Once you’ve enabled developer options, you need to enable USB debugging on your Android device. To do this, go to “Settings”, then “Developer options”, then toggle on “USB debugging”.
Download and install the rooting software
There are many rooting software options available online, such as KingRoot, Magisk, and SuperSU. Choose the one that’s compatible with your phone and download it from a trusted source. Once you’ve downloaded the software, install it on your computer.
Connect your phone to your computer
Connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable. Make sure your phone is in “USB debugging” mode.
Root your phone
Launch the rooting software on your computer and follow the instructions carefully. The rooting process may take a few minutes, and your phone may restart several times during the process. Be patient and don’t disconnect your phone from your computer until the process is complete.
Verify root access
Once the rooting process is complete, you can verify that your phone is rooted by installing a root checker app from the Google Play Store. If the app confirms that your phone is rooted, congratulations! You now have administrative privileges on your Android device.
Conclusion
In conclusion, rooting your Android phone in 2023 can give you more control over your device and the ability to customize it to your liking. However, it’s important to proceed with caution and do your research before attempting to root your phone. By following the step-by-step guide above, you can root your Android phone safely and enjoy the benefits of administrative privileges on your device.
Hell has turned to ice. Finally, you can use the same WhatsApp account on two different phones. It takes a little getting used to at first, but the important thing is that it works.
The ability to link your existing account to an Android tablet has just been available on WhatsApp (in beta). When setting up the app on your Android tablet if you have version 2.22.25.8 beta installed on both your Android phone and tablet, you should have the option to scan the QR code. This is essentially the same as using WhatsApp on Windows or Mac right now; while your phone continues to be the primary device, your secondary devices are somewhat independent and can continue to function even if your primary phone is offline.
This new Android tablet process works on phones too, but you have to briefly trick WhatsApp into thinking your second phone is a tablet.
1: Ensure your primary phone has WhatsApp v2.22.25.8 beta installed, signed in, and working. If you’re running an older version of the app, you can grab the APK file from APKMirror. (It’s a trusted source, don’t worry about malware.)
2: On your second phone, you start by enabling Developer Options in Android’s main settings. (Go to Settings > About phone and tap multiple times on Build number until you see a pop-up that says You are now a developer.)
3: Stay on the second phone. Go to Settings > System > Developer options > Smallest width. You can use the search option if you don’t find it. Note down the current number (you’ll need it to revert later), then change it to 600. This will transform your phone’s interface into a tablet interface. Fonts and icons will be smaller, but we’ll return to the regular sizes, don’t worry. On my Pixel 6 Pro, which runs Android 13, I get the taskbar at the bottom for example. Fun stuff.
4: Now install WhatsApp v2.22.25.8 on this second phone. Again, you can do this from the Play Store if you’re enrolled in the beta or you can manually grab the same APK from APKMirror.
5: Open WhatsApp, choose the language, tap Agree and continue, and you should see the Link with your phone screen with your unique QR code. (If you see the page where you’re asked to sign in with a phone number, it means your phone wasn’t tricked into “becoming” a tablet. Try a higher number for the Smallest width setting. But 600 should do it, in theory.)
6: Go back to your main phone now. Open WhatsApp, tap the overflow ⋮ button on the top right, then Linked devices > Link a device. This will bring up the QR code scanner, so scan the code that was displayed on the second phone. And ta-da. Your second phone should reload WhatsApp with the same account as your primary device.
7: If you don’t like the tablet interface and small fonts on your second phone, you can repeat Step 3 and go back to the original Smallest width setting. WhatsApp will remain linked to your account.
There it is, then. Messages, calls, and pretty much everything else will be delivered to both smartphones. Both allow you to start calls and chats. A message is marked as read on one if you read it, and vice versa.
Your primary phone is still in charge and the one that has the ability to delink the second device if necessary. The desktop version of this needs to refresh every so often if you haven’t used it in a while, and I haven’t used it long enough to notice if there is any slowness or delay in grabbing messages like in that version. But it appears that’s not a problem right now.
So your phone is bricked. Your phone won’t boot because you flashed a ROM, installed a mod, modified a system file, or did something else.
Not to worry! It can probably be fixed. Unbricking an Android device is explained here.
What ‘Bricking’ or a ‘Bricked Phone’ mean?
‘Bricking’ your phone essentially means that your once useful device is now only as useful as a brick. A ‘bricked phone’ is usually unresponsive, won’t power on, and doesn’t function normally.
How is your phone bricked?
Depending on how a phone was bricked in the first place, different steps are required to unbrick it. Bricked phones fall into one of two categories:
The soft brick. The phone freezes on the Android boot screen, gets stuck in a boot loop, or just goes straight to recovery. So long as something happens when you press the power button, it’s soft bricked. The good news is these are pretty easy to fix.
The hard brick. You push the power button, and nothing happens. Hard bricks can be caused by issues like attempting to flash an incompatible ROM or kernel, and there’s normally no software solution for them. Hard bricks are terrible news, but fortunately, they’re quite rare.
You’re probably soft bricked, and you’ll see something similar to the picture above. Although it’s challenging to develop a one-size-fits-all method to unbrick Android due to the variations in how various devices operate, there are four typical techniques you can try to get things back on track:
Wipe the data, then re-flash a custom ROM
Disable Xposed mods through recovery
Restore a Nandroid backup
Flash a factory image
Before you get started, make sure your phone and computer are set up and ready with the proper tools.
What you need to unbrick a Android device?
Most of the equipment you need to repair your phone probably already exist in your possession. Since you already know how to use them because you used them to root your device and flash ROMs, they shouldn’t be a problem. However, make sure before you start.
Custom recovery is most crucial. This was probably installed when you rooted your phone, however it could occasionally be completely erased or rewritten by the default recovery. We advise using TWRP if you do need to reinstall it. It is a completely functional custom recovery with builds for the majority of common devices but is also far too simple to use.
Then, you might require ADB and Fastboot. You can obtain both of them from the website for Android Developers, and they are frequently used for rooting and flashing system mods. If you are unfamiliar with Fastboot and ADB, see our introduction to them.
And finally, some manufacturers use special software to flash factory images. Hopefully, you can avoid doing this, but if you need to, you can use Odin for Samsung, the LG Flash Tool for LG devices, or the ZTE Unbrick Tool if you’ve got a ZTE device. Just make sure that they support your specific model of device.
Most of these tools will let you fix a bricked Android phone using a PC. However, you can often do the job directly on the phone itself.
Wipe data and ee-flash a custom ROM
If you flashed a ROM and Android won’t boot, try this method.
When you have issues while flashing a fresh custom ROM, it’s one of the most likely scenarios that your phone will soft brick. Your failure to first erase your data is frequently to blame in this situation.
When you decide to flash a new ROM over top of your old one instead of having to restore your applications and data, this is known as a “dirty flash” and takes place. Generally speaking, if you’re flashing a newer version of your current ROM, you can get away with it, but you must always delete your data anytime you flash a different ROM.
Fortunately, it’s easy to fix—as long as you’ve backed up your phone properly. If you haven’t, well, you’ve learned an important lesson the hard way. Follow these steps:
Boot into your custom recovery.
Navigate to the Wipe option and choose Advanced Wipe.
Check the box marked Data (you can wipe the system, ART cache, and cache again, too), then hit Confirm.
Re-flash your custom ROM.
A factory reset is effectively accomplished by wiping your data, although your internal storage or SD card shouldn’t be erased by this process (although, again, you should back it up just to be safe). Your phone will display the Android setup screen after restarting. Your programs ought to start reinstalling themselves immediately after inputting your Google account details.
You can use your Nandroid backup to recover your data if necessary.
Disable Xposed Modules in Recovery
Try this method if: You get boot loops after installing a new Xposed module.
The Xposed Framework isn’t as common as it once was, but it’s still a simple way to mod your phone, and also one of the most dangerous.
The best Xposed modules are so easy to install—many of them are available in the Play Store—that they lull you into a false sense of security. It’s unlikely anyone makes a Nandroid backup before installing a new Xposed module, even though they can brick your phone.
Use ADB Push to Install the Xposed Uninstaller
The best way to deal with these problems is with the Xposed Uninstaller, if it’s available for your version of Android. This is a small flashable ZIP that you can install through the recovery to remove Xposed from your device.
If you don’t already have it on your phone, you can put it on an SD card, or you might be able to copy it over using the ADB push method:
Connect your phone to your computer via USB and boot into recovery.
Launch the command prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) and use the cd command to change the directory to where you have adb installed.
Type adb push [full path to xposed uninstaller.zip] [full path to destination]. On Mac and Linux, precede the command with ./ (such as ./adb).
When the file finishes copying, flash it through the recovery.
How to Disable Xposed Modules in Recovery
If you can’t use ADB push and the Xposed Uninstaller, try either of these solutions.
This method lets you disable Xposed through recovery:
Boot into recovery, then navigate to Advanced > Terminal command.
Create a file called /data/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer/conf/disabled
Reboot your phone.
This method prevents Xposed modules from starting:
Boot into recovery and select File Manager.
Navigate to the folder /data/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer/conf/ then delete the file modules.list
Reboot your phone.
None of these fixes will reverse the modifications that the modules have made to your system. You will need to restore your Nandroid backup if these changes bricked your phone.
Restore a Nandroid Backup
Try this method if: You need to remove other system mods, replace a tweaked system file, or if the methods above didn’t work.
The safety net for Android mods and customizations is the Nandroid backup. It’s a full snapshot of your phone, including the operating system as well as your data and applications. You can restore your soft-bricked device to working order as long as you have access to your custom recovery and a Nandroid backup.
Boot into recovery and navigate to Restore.
Select your backup from the list, confirm, and wait while it’s restored.
Reboot your phone.
Nandroid backups are a bit of a pain to make. They take a while and cannot be done in the background. But they’re worth it: they’re the simplest way to unbrick your phone.
Recover Data From a Nandroid Backup
A Nandroid backup can also save the day if you had to wipe your data and didn’t back it up in an easily restorable form. It’s possible to extract specific parts of a Nandroid, so you can restore your apps and data without needing to restore the operating system as well.
Here are the instructions for this:
Boot into Android and install Titanium Backup from the Play Store. While this app hasn’t been updated for a while, it’s still one of the best options for this task.
Tap the menu button and navigate to Special Backup/Restore > Extract from Nandroid Backup.
Select your backup from the list.
Choose whether to restore apps, data, or both, and select them (or hit Select All).
Tap the green tick icon to start the restore process.
Flash the factory image
Try this method if: None of the other options work.
Re-flashing a factory image is your only remaining choice if your attempts to unbrick Android have so far failed. This erases everything on your internal storage and returns the phone to its factory settings. Your phone will be unrooted as well.
You might be better off trying to flash a stock ROM first because it removes everything. Instead of factory images, OnePlus offers flashable ROMs for recovery. You can find similar files for almost every device at xda-developers.com. For added convenience, you can often flash a stock ROM that has already been root access.
Flashing a factory image varies from flashing a ROM in that it occurs via a desktop computer connection as opposed to recovery. Other devices make use of customized software while some use the Fastboot utility from the Android SDK. For instance, Samsung makes use of the Odin tool.
The instructions for flashing a factory image vary for each device due to the various techniques used. Additionally, not all manufacturers make their firmware accessible to the general public, so you must find them from unofficial sources.
Here’s where to find factory images for some popular Android brands:
Hard bricked phones are notoriously more difficult to fix, but thankfully they’re also much rarer.
How to unbrick a hard bricked Android device
Make sure the phone is truly bricked by plugging it in and letting it charge for some time. Try to reset it by depressing the power button for 10 to 15 seconds (or removing the battery if your gadget is older). You might also want to try putting it into your computer; if your PC does not recognize it, you can be very sure that your phone has been severely bricked.
If it is unquestionably hard bricked, your options may be limited. A USB Jig, a little gadget that fits into the USB port and puts the phone into Download Mode to reload the default software, can resurrect a few phones.
On eBay, you can find cheap USB Jigs for hard-bricked phones, but only for a very limited selection of outdated gadgets. Even then, there is no assurance that they will be successful.
Beyond that, you might need to either find a local phone repairman or send your phone in for repair (though rooting it might have void your warranty). However, you’ll probably end up having to buy a new gadget.
Stay safe
Hopefully, this guide has helped you to unbrick your Android phone. And hopefully, your experience hasn’t put you off rooting and hacking Android altogether.
But if you’d rather play it safe in future, you can still have a lot of fun with your phone. Take a look at our guide to the best Android tweaks you can make without rooting for some amazing ideas.
Even though Wi-Fi tethering is the most practical method for connecting an Android phone to a Mac, you may occasionally need to utilize USB instead.
However, USB tethering between Android and Windows is simple, but depending on the Android device you’re using, connecting it between Android and Mac can be more difficult. Here’s how to configure Mac OS for Android USB tethering.
Use the Built-In USB Tethering Option (if Supported)
A contemporary Android device running Android 12 or later may already have built-in support for USB tethering on macOS. To make it work, you might not need any additional strategies. For instance, on a Pixel 7 running Android 13, all you need to do is connect your phone to your computer to get started.
Unlock and connect your phone to your Mac via a USB cable.
If you’re using macOS 13, you may need to click to allow your phone to connect
A notification will appear on your phone labeled something like Charging this device via USB. Tap on it.
Under the USB Preferences screen that opens, set Use USB for to USB tethering.
Now that the issue has been resolved, you should be able to use your Mac to access the internet as usual. If you have a limited data plan and are using a 4G or 5G mobile data connection, be mindful of your usage.
If the notification doesn’t appear when you connect your phone, you can instead go to Settings > Network and Internet > Hotspot and tethering and toggle on USB tethering. This option will be grayed out if your phone isn’t connected to a computer using a USB cable, and remember that some of the menus may be slightly different depending on what phone you’re using.
To verify the connection on your Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences) > Network, where you’ll see your phone’s name listed with a green dot next to it.
If USB tethering on macOS isn’t supported on your phone and you can’t set up Wi-Fi tethering, you do have another option. However, this comes with a potential snag of its own.
Use the HoRNDIS Driver
The required driver is not present on older Android devices or those that lack built-in support for USB tethering on a Mac, which prevents the sharing of an internet connection. Fortunately, you can get it working by installing the third-party HoRNDIS driver. All Android devices are compatible with this driver, which is akin to the one used by Windows computers.
HoRNDIS is free and open-source and should work well in many cases. However:
It hasn’t been updated since 2018, so may not support newer versions of macOS.
It doesn’t work on Macs powered by Apple Silicon.
The discussions on the software’s Github page do include some workarounds to get HoRNDIS running on M1 and M2 machines. But it’s a complicated process that involves disabling your Mac’s System Integrity Protection, so is not suitable for most users.
Assuming the caveats don’t apply to you, here’s how to set up HoRNDIS on your (Intel-based) Mac.
Download and install the most recent version of HoRNDIS on your Mac (the PKG file).
It’s a good idea to reboot your Mac at this stage, although this may not be necessary depending on what version you’re using.
Now run through the steps we outlined above. Connect your phone via USB, tap the notification labeled Charging this device via USB, and set Use USB for to USB tethering.
You should now be able to connect to the internet. Go to System Preferences > Network, where you should see your phone listed with the green dot alongside it. This confirms that the connection is active.
To uninstall HoRNDIS, check the /System/Library/Extensions/ and /Library/Extensions/ folders and delete HoRNDIS.kext. Then reboot your Mac.
Using HoRNDIS is easy enough if your Mac is compatible. However, we’d only choose to use it if wireless tethering is not an option. You can troubleshoot your Android mobile hotspot to see if that helps.
USB Tethering on macOS Is Simple
If your Android phone doesn’t support USB tethering with a Mac natively, you’ll need to install a driver, but it’s simple to accomplish and functions as expected.
Sharing a data connection with a desktop or laptop from your phone is practical. However, you may share the connection from your Mac to other devices as well, so it doesn’t stop there.
The freedom to do whatever you want is one of the key reasons why many tech enthusiasts prefer Android to other mobile operating systems. You may install anything and alter almost every aspect of your phone using Android.
Despite all of this, there are still some things you are unable to perform. For instance, some apps decide to prohibit you from taking screenshots of the app for a variety of reasons. Then again, you might still want to grab a screenshot for a variety of reasons. Continue reading to see how to get around this limitation.
Why these restriction?
Despite how annoying it is, developers don’t prevent screenshots without a good cause. There is always some justification, whether it be for security or privacy.
For security concerns, the majority of banking and payment apps prohibit screenshots. For privacy reasons, Chrome disables screenshots in Incognito tabs and windows. Another example would be the non-screenshottable self-destructing images on Telegram.
You are still permitted to capture screenshots wherever you wish, despite the developers’ decision to limit them. Simply get your hands a little bit messy.
There are various methods for taking screenshots in apps that don’t let you. Some methods work in most apps though not all. Here we take a look at two of these methods: One easy method which works in some cases, and an advanced method that should work every time.
1. Google assistant can helps you
Some Android apps that prevent screenshots only prevent your phone’s screenshot button combination from working. This indicates that if you take a screenshot using a technique other than tapping the button combination, you can get around the restriction.
Google Assistant is a built-in app in most Android phones that lets you capture screenshots without using the button combination.
Open the app that you want to screenshot.
Activate Google Assistant. You can do this by saying Hey Google! or holding the home key depending on your settings.
Say or type Take a screenshot. Google Assistant will now capture a screenshot.
This approach, despite being straightforward, has little chance of working because it has been anticipated by the majority of apps that take screenshot blocking seriously. For instance, if you ask Google Assistant to take a screenshot of a Chrome Incognito tab, all that will appear on the screen is a black screen.
Continue reading the following section where we’ll explain a method that allows you to take a screenshot of any app on your phone if this one didn’t work for you.
2. scrcpy
This is the ultimate method as it can bypass virtually any sort of screenshot restriction in Android apps. scrcpy is a lightweight screen mirroring program that lets you view and control your Android phone’s display on your PC. Once you mirror your Android phone’s screen on your computer, you can simply use print screen or Snipping Tool to take screenshots.
scrcpy is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can install scrcpy with Homebrew on macOS. Check the download link below for more details on installing scrcpy on Mac and Linux.
As for this article, we’re going to install scrcpy on Windows, which you can do using Scoop. Read our article on how to install Scoop to get started.
Scroll down to the bottom and select Developer options.
Tap the switch next to USB Debugging to change it to On.
Now both your phone and your computer are ready. Connect your phone to your computer’s USB and let’s get to the final steps.
Open Command Prompt.
Type in the command scrcpy and press Enter.
Your phone’s screen will be visible in an emerging window. Through this window, you may even navigate and type on your phone using the mouse and keyboard from your computer. You can freely take screenshots using print screen and other screen capture techniques now that the screen of your phone is mirrored onto your computer.
Anything and Everything
Even while some apps try to prevent you from taking screenshots within the program, if you’re determined to capture your screenshots, they will ultimately fail. Now that you’ve read this post, you know how to screenshot any program, despite any limitations. After all, it’s your phone, so you should be able to use it anyway you like.
Right now, it’s difficult to talk about Pixels without the topic eventually turning to the brand-new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. And it’s understandable why: both inside and out, Google’s most recent Pixel smartphones are just incredible. They have a ton of power and exciting new tricks that just ooze out of them.
But what’s this? To reward yourself to new and exciting phone features, you don’t need to be the owner of a Pixel 7. Because your device’s software is always being updated, there are tons of valuable jewels hiding beneath the surface, which is the beauty of the Pixel world. The majority of Pixel owners simply don’t notice them, or perhaps they do but quickly forget afterward.
In order to give several noteworthy Pixel features the attention they merit, today we’re going to take a step back. They should function for you regardless of whether you’re holding a Pixel 7 or an older model—even, in most circumstances, if your Pixel is too old to have received the most recent Android 13 update.
Discover some extraordinary Pixel gems by reading on, then continue the celebration by enrolling in my Pixel Academy e-course. For my favorite Android Police friends, it’s a seven-day email trip that teaches you a ton of time-saving Pixel information and is totally free.
Smarter storage
The following is a further automation-focused intellect built into your Pixel and ready to be cuddled: The technology automatically deletes duplicates of the photos and movies you’ve already backed up to Google Photos when your phone’s local storage starts to run out of room.
Of course, you can always do it on your own, but doing so requires (a) actually remembering to do it frequently and (b) spending the time to complete the process’s several manual phases. And while I don’t know about you, my brain is now made up of about 97% oatmeal, so everything I can automate to reduce the load on myself is a win in my book.
If you’ve got a current Pixel with the snazzy new Android 12 software on it, open up the Files by Google app (or go download it, if it isn’t already on your phone).
Then:
Tap the three-line menu icon in the app’s upper-left corner.
Select “Settings” in the menu that comes up.
Flip the switch next to “Smart Storage” into the on position and confirm that you want to activate the feature.
With Android 11 or earlier
If your Pixel is on an older version of Android (howdy, Pixel 2 partners!), you’ll find the same option within your phone’s system settings:
Open up your settings and tap “Storage.”
Look for the line labeled “Smart Storage.” Tap it — tap it with gusto, damn it!
Choose whether you want your already-backed-up items to be deleted when they’re 30, 60, or 90 days old.
Activate the toggle at the top of the screen.
Either way, you’ll just need to make sure you’re set to sync your photos and videos to Google Photos — by tapping your profile picture in the Google Photos app and then looking for the “Backup” line in the menu that comes up — and you’ll never have to think about your storage running low again.
Image extracting
Save yourself some time and let your Pixel make it simple the next time you need to grab a picture from someplace, whether it’s a website, a text message, a forum for earwig aficionados, or whatever the situation may be.
The Overview screen on your Pixel phone includes a secret feature that lets you take pictures almost anywhere. And all it takes to access its magic is a simple swipe and a few fast taps:\
While you’re viewing any app with a visible image, open up the Overview interface — by swiping up about an inch from the bottom of your screen and then stopping, if you’re using the current Android gestures system, or by tapping the square-shaped icon along your screen’s lower edge, if you’re still using the old legacy button-nav setup.
Touch and hold your finger onto the image within the app’s preview.
Select the option to copy, share, or save the image — or use Google Lens to analyze it, if you really want to get wild.
This will work in most any app where an image is present — even if it’s an app where you couldn’t typically save an image in any easy way (Gmail, Twitter, Earwiggalicious, etc).
Let’s all say it together now: Pixel features can be incredibly beneficial once you remind yourself of their possibilities and then learn to properly take advantage of them! (Okay, so that rallying cry might need a little work.)
Text extraction
Following up on our previous Pixel feature, your fancy Google phone can help you pull text out of practically anywhere imaginable and then copy it, share it, and search for it to your heart’s content.
What’s especially useful here is that just like with the last item, this feature works even in places where you couldn’t typically copy text — your feed in social media apps, parts of the Play Store, or even sections of your system settings.
And it’s right in the same place as the image extractor we just finished exploring:
Head back into your Pixel’s Overview area.
Touch and hold your finger onto any text in the current app’s preview — or, if you’d rather (and if your Pixel is recent enough to be running Android 10 or higher), tap the “Select” text at the bottom of the screen and then highlight the specific text you want from there.
Choose “Copy,” “Share,” or “Search” from the menu that comes up.
Smirk knowingly at any iPhone users in the vicinity.
Simple screenshots
One of the most frequent complaints I get from my fellow Android-loving primates is how difficult it may be to take a screenshot on a Pixel. ‘ See, back then, the system power-button menu on Pixels included a straightforward option to take a screenshot of the screen. But after that, Google, well, Googled. It changed that menu, and then, um, it changed it again a year later, and the choice vanished.
Hold the phone, though: If you aren’t a fan of the old-fashioned physical button mechanism for capturing a screenshot, there is still another way.
It’s right there in plain sight on that same Overview screen we were just gawking at, in fact, and yet hardly anyone seems to notice it.
Yes, that’s it; it’s down there on the screen. As long as you have Android 11 or higher, your Pixel will always offer up a “Screenshot” option directly inside its Overview interface, regardless of the program or area of Android you’re looking at. And selecting that will record whatever is visible on the screen of the active process.
The system status bar, the bottom-of-screen navigation area, and any other extraneous items won’t appear in screenshots you take in this fashion as a bonus; this is a notable and occasionally useful departure from Android’s customary physical-button screenshot-capturing method.
Tap to wake
Pixels have plenty of options for easy screen activation. Maybe you like using the always-on time and info system, for instance. Or maybe you’re more of a lift-to-check kind of Pixel owner.
Whether you’re using any of those features or not, though, your Googley phone has another useful system for waking up its display in a jiff. It harkens back to an earlier Android era, and it’s one of the Pixel’s most overlooked possibilities.
Ready? Simply press the display twice to turn on the screen of your Pixel whenever you want. Just two quick taps are all it takes to wake up your phone. The unknown!
The “Tap to check phone” option should be present on your lock screen by default, but if it isn’t, check your system settings, go to “Display,” then “Lock screen,” and see whether the option is present. If it is, you can verify that it is on and enabled. (On Pixels running previous versions of Android, you’ll need to touch “Advanced” before you can access that option, which is labeled “Double-tap to check phone.”)
Automation
Although there are many chances for advanced automation on Android, your Pixel comes with its own native rules system that can significantly increase the intelligence of your phone with hardly any work.
It’s called, rather fittingly, Rules — and with about 30 seconds of setup, it can allow your phone to change its ringing and notification behavior based on where you are or what Wi-Fi network you’re connected to at any given moment.
Here’s how to get it up and running:
Head into your Pixel’s system settings (by swiping down twice from the top of the screen and then tapping the gear-shaped icon in the lower-right corner of the panel that pops up).
Tap “System” followed by “Rules.”
Make sure the toggle at the top of the screen that says “Always allow location for Rules” is in the on position.
Look for a line that prompts you to allow the feature to run in the background. If you see that, tap it and then tap “Allow” on the confirmation that appears.
Pause to take a sip of the nearest fizzy beverage.
Tap “Add rule” and then consider your options.
Then what? That’s really up to you. For a few ideas, you could instruct your Pixel to vibrate for incoming alerts when you’re at work, make it to go into Do Not Disturb mode whenever you’re at the movies, or configure it to ring whenever you’re connected to your home network.
Smart screens
The last item in our list of overlooked Pixel characteristics is a two-parter that your eyes will like.
The screen-tinting Night Light option can be automatically activated on your Pixel based on the sunrise and sunset times in your current location or a schedule you create. In this manner, your phone’s screen will adopt a softer, less harsh type of coloring that will be easier on your eyes when night falls and the lights get faint. And as soon as morning comes around, it will switch back to the regular daytime mode.
Return to your Pixel’s system settings, select “Display,” then press “Night Light,” then “Schedule,” to configure your automated Night Light activation routine. The options to select the sunset-to-sunrise setup or to enter your own unique hours for dim-environment optimization are displayed there.
While we’re on the subject of screen intelligence, think about if your phone’s theme changing from a lighter theme during the day to a darker one at night might be a good addition to your new Night Light intelligence. For me, the two patterns—standard screen colors and a light theme during the day and Night Light and Android’s dark mode during the night—are a lovely and extremely natural pairing.
If you want to give that double-display whammy a whirl, back out to the main “Display” menu and look for the “Dark theme” line. Tap it, then tap “Schedule,” and you’ll see a selection that’s identical to the one you just configured for the Night Light.
Users can use WhatsApp on numerous devices without their primary smartphone’s primary smartphone needing to have an active internet connection thanks to WhatsApp’s multi-device capability. WhatsApp is still in the early stages of multi-device compatibility; the firm releases new functionality every other week. You may now use WhatsApp on both expensive and low-cost Android tablets thanks to a recent beta release from WhatsApp. Here’s how to set up and use WhatsApp on several devices if you haven’t already used this function.
Using WhatsApp on multiple devices: What you need to know
End-to-end encryption for WhatsApp is supported by its support for multiple devices. This implies that the implementation has certain constraints, though. Your primary phone is one of the five connected devices that WhatsApp supports. You cannot link the service to several phones because your WhatsApp account can only be connected to one phone number.
The WhatsApp upgrade makes it simpler to communicate with others because you may send messages from your computer or browser without your phone being connected to the internet. However, if your main phone does not go online at least once every 14 days, you are immediately logged out from all devices. In order to connect any new device to your account, you also need the phone.
On desktops, the multi-device capability is functional, while on tablets, it is currently in beta. Additionally, only Android tablets are compatible with WhatsApp’s multi-device capability in the current beta. You can access your chats on your tablet using the WhatsApp Web client if you use an iPad or are not a beta tester. For more information, see our guide on using WhatsApp on tablets.
Also, certain WhatsApp features can only be used on your smartphone:
Clearing or deleting chats on linked devices if your primary device is an iPhone.
Messaging or calling someone who uses an older version of WhatsApp on their phone.
Viewing live location on linked devices.
Creating and viewing broadcast lists on linked devices.
Sending messages with link previews from WhatsApp Web.
How to link a device to your WhatsApp account
Follow these steps to connect your phone or tablet to your WhatsApp account:
Open the Google Play Store and make sure the latest version of WhatsApp is installed on your phone.
Open WhatsApp.
Tap the three-dot menu button in the upper-right corner, and then tap Linked devices.
Select Link a Device option.
Verify your identity using your fingerprint or the device pattern/pin unlock.
Give WhatsApp access to your phone’s camera if you have not done so.
Scan the QR code shown on the page using your phone.
On your iPhone, open WhatsApp, go to Settings > Linked Devices > Link a Device, and scan the QR code.
WhatsApp loads your chats and group conversations.
How to unlink a device from your WhatsApp account
The process to unlink a device from your WhatsApp account is relatively simple. Follow these steps:
Open WhatsApp.
Tap the three-dot menu button in the upper-right corner, and then tap Linked devices.
The devices linked to your WhatsApp account appear here.
Tap any device name to unlink it.
Confirm your selection by selecting Log Out from the dialog box that appears.
To unlink a device on your iPhone, go to Settings > Linked Devices, and tap the device you want to unlink. Use the Log Out button to unlink the device. You can re-link any removed device again without any issues.
Autocorrect on Android devices may be both a benefit and a burden. It will spare you an embarrassing typo in a communication to your boss by a minute. Then, you’ll be embarrassed as you text a family member something utterly improper.
It’s time you regained initiative. Continue reading to find out how to enable autocorrect on your Android device as well as how to disable it once more. In order to assist you get the autocorrect feature working the way you want it to, we’ll also touch on a few other settings.
How to Turn Off Autocorrect on Android
Gboard, Google’s proprietary keyboard program, comes preinstalled on the majority of Android smartphones by default. You can disable autocorrect by following our instructions if you’re using Gboard.
However, if you prefer a different keyboard, you can quickly switch to an alternative with one of the numerous third-party apps offered in the app store. However, the directions for disabling autocorrect may vary significantly. For more details, go to the official material produced by the keyboard’s creator. Additionally, this process could differ slightly depending on your device.
Gboard’s autocorrect toggle is tucked away in the Settings menu of your phone.
You must access it by opening the Gboard settings. You can do this by navigating to Settings > System & updates > Languages and input > Keyboards > Gboard in the Settings app. On Android smartphones, you may access the autocorrect section more quickly by opening your keyboard, holding down the comma key for a long time, and then tapping the gear symbol that appears.
Once you reach Gboard’s settings with either method, select Text correction. Next, under the Corrections heading, slide the toggle for Auto-correction into the Off position.
Turn On Autocorrect on Android
If you change your mind later, you can re-enable the autocorrect feature at any time. Simply perform the same instructions as above, tweaking the final step:
Open the Settings app and go to System & updates > Languages and input > Keyboards >Gboard. Alternatively, you can also open the keyboard, hold the comma key, and tap the gear icon to reach the settings area.
Choose Text correction and scroll down to the Corrections section.
Locate the toggle labeled Auto-correction and slide it into the On position.
Again, if you’re using a different Android keyboard, you might find that the instructions vary. Any keyboard you have installed should appear under the Keyboards section of the Settings app. Open it from there, and then you’ll need to look for the appropriate setting.
SwiftKey, for example, has the autocorrect feature stored under Typing > Autocorrect. You can easily toggle the feature anytime you want.
Turn Off Autocorrect on Samsung Devices
You are aware that Samsung does not use the original Android operating system if you have ever acquired a Samsung smartphone or tablet. Samsung smartphones instead use a specialized Android skin called One UI.
Stock Android and Samsung’s skin differ in a lot of ways, one of which is how to turn autocorrect on and off. Below are instructions on how to turn off autocorrect on Samsung devices running Android 11 and up:
Open the Settings app.
Go to General management and select Samsung Keyboard Settings assuming that you’re using the built-in solution.
Turn Predictive text off under Smart typing.
If you want to know how to turn off autocorrect on Samsung phones and tablets that are from older generations, you’ll need to follow these instructions:
Open the Settings app by heading to Apps > Settings.
Scroll down to the System section.
Tap on the icon labeled Language and input.
Select Default from the list of options available. This may have a different name if you have a different keyboard installed.
Scroll down until you find the Auto replace menu item and select it.
Flick the toggle in the upper right-hand corner into the Off position.
As you can see, disabling autocorrect on Samsung devices isn’t a particularly difficult process. Of course, you may use the same steps but modify the final step if you’re curious about how to enable autocorrect on your Samsung device.
Improve Autocorrect on Android
Everyone has seen those hilarious screenshots of autocorrect. It makes sense why you might feel the sudden need to turn off autocorrect on your Android device after reading some of these.
But in reality, such extreme steps are rarely necessary. There are a ton of choices available on Android keyboards that let you adjust, hone, and enhance the autocorrect feature to better suit your needs.
Auto-Capitalization
As you type, Android can automatically correct capitalization of proper nouns and the beginning of phrases.
It is a valuable feature in most situations. But it might not be the best option for everyone. Many words function as both proper nouns and common nouns (for example, “Turkey” the country, and “turkey” the bird). If you frequently use words like these, you may want to disable the auto-capitalization option.
You can do so by heading to Settings > System > Language and input > Keyboards > Gboard > Text correction > Auto-capitalization. Slide the toggle into the Off position to disable it.
Spell Check
Instead of relying on autocorrect to correct your mistakes, you could just turn on spell checking for Android. It will use those recognizable red squiggly lines under the text to highlight typos and other misspelled words for you.
To turn spell check on or off on Android, you need to go to Settings > System > Language and input > Keyboards > Gboard > Text correction > Spelling > Spell check and flick the toggle into the desired position. In order for this feature to work, you’ll need to ensure you’ve selected a default language for your keyboard.
Customize the Android Dictionary
There are always going to be some real terms that aren’t in the dictionary that comes with Android. Common offenders include obscure place names, brand names, and specialized lingo connected to your line of work.
When Android consistently tries to autocorrect words like “Sonos” or “Logitech,” it quickly becomes tiresome. You should include the words into your own personal vocabulary to avoid this from occurring and relieve some of your stress in the process.
You can access the dictionary by heading to Settings > System > Language and input > Keyboards > Gboard > Dictionary > Personal Dictionary. Tap the language you’d like to edit the dictionary for, even if you only have one installed. Then you can use the Plus button to add new words.
Voice Typing
You may find several functions on some keyboards, like Gboard, to help you become a better typist. As an alternative, you can begin speaking instead of utilizing the touch-screen keyboard.
When speaking as opposed to typing, you’re less likely to make a mistake in autocorrect. However, if you have any kind of accent, you run the risk of your remarks being misinterpreted. You can always use our advice for quick Android typing if you desire both speed and accuracy.
If you would like to try voice typing, go to Settings > System > Language and input > Keyboards > Gboard > Voice typing and turn the toggle on. Then you can tap the Microphone icon at the top-right of the keyboard to speak.
Learn More About Typing on Android
Your typing experience on an Android device can be enhanced by using autocorrect and understanding how to turn it on and off. For instance, you can install third-party features, alter the keyboard’s style, or even select a different keyboard layout than the QWERTY.
If you do decide to switch to a new keyboard, you should always make sure to go with a reputable manufacturer.
Do you want to use your Samsung smartphone to record calls? All Galaxy devices come with the call recording feature out of the box, which streamlines the process. This implies that you can record calls on your Galaxy smartphone without using a third-party program.
Are You Allowed to Record Phone Calls?
Before you begin recording calls on your Samsung Galaxy phone, you should be aware that certain local laws and regulations may prevent you from using the feature in your nation or neighborhood.
In some countries, it is illegal to record calls without the other party’s consent. So don’t be surprised if the call recording feature is missing from your Samsung Galaxy device. In such cases, you are out of luck as there’s nothing that can be done to enable this functionality.
In a few locations, even when recording is legal, Samsung may still not have implemented it. This could help explain why the call recording option is not showing up on your Samsung phone.
It is not possible to record VoWiFi calls, i.e., voice calls that happen over Wi-Fi.
Also, note that you cannot record calls on Android using a third-party app. Due to privacy reasons, these apps don’t work on Android 9 or a newer version of the OS. Any app that claims to work will require you to root your Android device, which could void its warranty.
Therefore, you cannot just download an app from the Play Store to add call recording capabilities to your device if it lacks it. You can follow our instructions for recording calls using the Google Phone app if it is the default dialer on your Android smartphone.
The pre-recorded message warning the parties that the call is being recorded is not played by Samsung’s call recorder. It has a significant advantage over devices that use the Google Phone app as the default dialer as a result of this. It is impossible to record a call on such devices without the other side being aware of it. All callers will hear a “This call is being recorded” announcement whenever you begin or end a call recording.
Automatically record calls on a Samsung Device
You may set your Samsung Galaxy device to automatically record all calls.
You can choose to record calls from all contacts in your phone book, solely from selected contacts, or only from unknown numbers, depending on your preferences.
Tap the 3-dot overflow menu button in the top-right corner, followed by Settings > Record calls.
Jump into the Auto record calls menu and enable the feature.
Proceed to select whether you want to record All calls, Calls from unsaved numbers, or Calls from specific numbers.
How to Manually Record Calls on a Galaxy Phone
You can also manually record single calls on phones like the Samsung Galaxy S22, Note, or Galaxy Fold series. Here’s how:
Open the Phone app on your Samsung device and call the contact whose call you’d like to record. Alternatively, accept the incoming call that you want to record.
On the call screen, tap the Record call button to start recording. If the option does not show up on the call screen, tap the 3-dot menu button on the top-right and then select the Record call option.
The first time you use the call recording feature, you’ll be prompted to accept the terms and conditions.
Manually record calls on Samsung Android Devices
Contrary to several other phones, you can record calls without alerting the other party. Only Android phones that have the Google Phone app set as their default dialer app experience this.
On One UI 4 and One UI 5, the method to record a phone call is the same.
How to View Recorded Calls
You can view recorded calls on your Samsung Galaxy device from the Phone app.
Open the Phone app on your Samsung Galaxy device.
Tap the 3-dot overflow menu button in the top-right corner.
Navigate to Settings > Record calls > Recorded calls. All the recorded calls will show up here. The file name will show the contact name or the phone number to easily identify the recorded calls.
You can select any recorded audio file and then tap the Share option to share the recorded call on WhatsApp, Gmail, Drive, etc.
Call Recording on Samsung Galaxy Devices
As we’ve seen, it’s rather simple to record calls on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, assuming local regulations don’t restrict the firm from providing the feature there.
And always keep in mind that when you have power, you also have duty, thus you should never record a call without first telling the other person on the line.
One of the many features you’ll only find on Samsung smartphones and not on other Android phones is call recording. It’s highly recommended to check out some of the additional features offered by the Galaxy One UI software.
Owners of the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro recently had a problem with their handsets burning so hot and the batteries draining so quickly that some ran out of power by midday. Google’s September update was supposed to fix the issue, however Verizon customers who received the update late last week did not. These files, in the author’s personal experience, have not yet been received.
Here’s a quick fix for your Pixel 6 series phone that will extend battery life and reduce heat.
If you haven’t yet received the September update for your Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, or if the update hasn’t stopped your battery from draining, a Reddit user going by the handle Human Individual 815 made a suggestion that was initially so mocked by other owners of the Pixel 6 series that he had to remove it. But after hearing from others that this short fix was lengthening battery life while also cooling down the phones, he decided to repost the article. Judging by the feedback, it appears that the article will remain up.
Toggle off Usage access to Digital Wellbeing and Device Health Services to attempt and extend the battery life and lower the temperature of your Pixel 6 series phone. To do this, open Settings and type “Usage access” into the search box at the top of the screen. You may access a list of apps by tapping on Usage access. Click Device Health Services, then turn “Permit usage access” off. Apply the same strategy to the listing for digital wellbeing. Restart and reboot.
Some functionalities will be removed if you do this. The Redditor who came up with this strategy claimed that by closing the two aforementioned apps, his battery life doubled. He added as well that “It will have an impact on charging and adaptive batteries. The adaptive connection will be impacted. Any of your bedtime mode items will be affected. Fitbits, fitness watches, and other devices of that nature, as well as probably many others, will be impacted. That we must disable these functionalities in order to use our phone is truly terrible.”
Impressive outcomes have been obtained. Using the username cloudacoustic93, a Reddit user comments, “Wow, this really worked. It’s only been a few hours, yet already there is a difference.” Rk3h, a different participant, claimed that after restarting and charging, the Accubattery app’s battery life immediately increased. Others were experiencing success. One Pixel 6 series user stated, “Tried and it is working for me, battery last more.” Another person responded, “Perfect, thank you.
Disable features you don’t use.
We can keep providing you with more feedback from others who have tried this. One of the best replies came from a member by the name of novelomaly, who said, “Thanks a lot! This worked for me, and now I can use my phone normally without worrying that it may die if I forget to charge it at night.”
Another post includes some information that we can consider: “Update: In 5h 23m SOT, we are at 40%! This seems to have worked out perfectly! By now, it should be at 10%. Most significantly, my phone hasn’t heated up at all, so that’s a great advantage. Regards for the advice! I hope things continue how they are until Google fixes the issue.”
What about yourself, then? Well, I consider myself to be a heavy user, so the battery life may have improved. My Pixel 6 Pro is not as hot as it was before I turned off usage access to Digital Wellbeing and Device Health Services, that much is for sure. Since my phone hasn’t yet received the September update, I’m waiting to see if it really makes a difference.
Why not give this a try if you have the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, can fry an egg on it, and the battery isn’t lasting you until lunch? You can easily reverse it, and you might not care at all about the aspects that are affected. By leaving a comment in the box below, let us know whether you detect a change in the battery life of your Pixel 6 series phone.
