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  • Hidden Pixel tools: 8 features that enhance productivity

    Hidden Pixel tools: 8 features that enhance productivity

    The Pixels are even more feature-rich than Android. You find more the deeper you go. Given that he finds more features than Google even promotes, our own Mishaal Rahman may likely attest to that. And that speaks volumes about a platform that the majority of us use on a regular basis on our phones, which are our main devices.

    Having spent years immersed in the vibrant and colorful world of Android, I have created certain personal favorites—features that are really essential yet still go unappreciated. Although you may be aware of them all, I’m willing to wager that many of us are unaware of them until we come across them in a random Reddit comment.

    I now use these functions on a regular basis; some are exclusive to the Pixel, while others are available on all Android devices.

    Quick tap

    Double-tapping the back of a Pixel phone activates shortcuts, which is a great gesture. I have my Quick Tap in Settings app set to pull down the notification shade, which I probably do a thousand times a day, whether it’s to ignore a barrage of Instagram direct messages or obsessively check for a message.

    pixel double tap feature d1ceb3a

    Particularly when utilizing an app, it’s far simpler than reaching your thumb all the way to the top of the screen. I just need to lightly tap my index finger, which is where it naturally sits, to check who has ping-ed me, and then I can immediately resume my job while ignoring them. Easy.

    Clipboard manager on Gboard

    Sincerely, I’m not sure how I’ll manage without this anymore. I’m always storing text snippets, URLs, package tracking numbers, and even Instagram captions that I’m still working on using Gboard’s clipboard manager. Additionally, it is located beneath Gboard‘s menu selections and is only a tap away.

    Gboard clipboard manager

    It’s an underappreciated talent to be able to pin things so they don’t disappear after an hour. Additionally, it helps me fill out those nagging forms that always reload when I switch between apps. My sanity has been rescued numerous times by having lengthy responses stored in the clipboard.

    Smart text selection in overview

    Who knew it could feel like such a victory to save one more tap? Long-pressing text in the app overview screen on Pixel phones allows you to copy it without having to return to the app.

    Smart text selection in overview

    At first, it might not seem like a significant deal. However, those saved taps add up if you’re copying information one by one, for example, from WhatsApp to fill out a form somewhere else while making sure everything is correct. It’s a minor detail that helps me avoid a lot of conflict and irritation.

    Multitasking with split-screen

    I believe this function to be equally useful on smaller devices, even though it’s frequently marketed for phones with giant screens and foldables. To avoid continually switching between apps, I regularly utilize it to run utilities like the calculator alongside other programs, again from the Overview page.

    Split-screen multitasking

    I’ll admit that I occasionally forget it’s there, but I spare myself the hassle by arranging my programs into split-screen the instant I see myself switching between them too frequently.

    App pinning

    It’s simple but incredibly underappreciated. I pin the app by choosing the Pin option from the Overview screen whenever I give my phone to someone, such as to pick up a contact or scan a QR code at a movie theater (you must first enable app pinning in your phone’s Security and privacy settings). This prevents them from inadvertently or purposely swiping into another app.

    App pinning

    When I show friends and family a single picture, I can’t stop them from idly browsing around my gallery, but I can stop them from switching to Messages or Keep. It comes in particularly handy when my young niece or nephew borrows my phone to play games and I don’t want them to change applications or erase random notes.

    Notification history if you dismissed one by mistake

    It would be an understatement to say that this is a lifesaver. I vividly recall how taken aback I was to discover that Android even possessed this capability.

    Notification History on Pixel 6

    I occasionally unconsciously swipe away notifications from a particular app out of habit, only to discover later that I truly needed that particular app. Even if accessing notification history through the Notifications area of the Settings app isn’t the most user-friendly method, knowing that those messages aren’t permanently erased calms my racing thoughts.

    Screen recording has built-in audio

    In addition to recording the screen, Android’s built-in screen recorder also records internal audio, not simply microphone input. Every time you choose the option from the Quick Settings menu, it allows you to choose the audio source.

    Screen recording with built-in audio

    I utilize the functionality for more enjoyable (and practical) purposes, but it’s also useful for sending how-tos to friends and relatives. When a song strikes, you can save synced lyrics from music applications to share with someone, record buggy app behavior to report bugs (and collect huge bug bounties, just saying), or record clear audio broadcast parts from YouTube.

    The microphone does not pick up any noise during any of this. Furthermore, you definitely don’t need any dubious third-party tools for this.

    Quick Share

    Fast file transfers between devices are a feature of Quick Share, however I use it more for myself than for other people.

    android Quick Share

    I frequently have to transfer screenshots and images from my Pixel to my Mac for work. I can share files as quickly and smoothly as AirDrop if I have a third-party app installed on macOS. Even better, Google’s first-party Quick Share software functions flawlessly on Windows, so you’re in luck.

    google pixel 10 pro xl

    Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

    Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is the ultimate Pixel experience, featuring advanced AI – Gemini, unbelievable camera quality, impeccable design, and the next-gen Google Tensor G5 chip

    $1,199.00Amazon

    I’m confident that there are a dozen more hidden gems like this in the UIs of Android and Pixel if I look more closely. However, I use these on my Pixel every single day. My flow and my sanity would be totally disrupted if I were to lose even one of them.

  • Turn On or Off autocorrect for Android and Samsung Devices

    Turn On or Off autocorrect for Android and Samsung Devices

    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.

    Autocorrect on Android

    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:

    1. 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.
    2. Choose Text correction and scroll down to the Corrections section.
    3. 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.

    image 2

    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:

    1. Open the Settings app.
    2. Go to General management and select Samsung Keyboard Settings assuming that you’re using the built-in solution.
    3. Turn Predictive text off under Smart typing.
    oneui autocorrect

    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:

    1. Open the Settings app by heading to Apps > Settings.
    2. Scroll down to the System section.
    3. Tap on the icon labeled Language and input.
    4. Select Default from the list of options available. This may have a different name if you have a different keyboard installed.
    5. Scroll down until you find the Auto replace menu item and select it.
    6. 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.