Ladies and gentlemen, tech enthusiasts, and Android aficionados gather around! Today, I’m here to let you in on a little secret. You see, your smartphone, that trusty sidekick you carry everywhere, has been keeping some of its best tricks hidden from you

Imagine casually swiping through your phone, going about your usual day, when out of nowhere, you discover a feature that blows your mind. It’s like finding a secret stash of goodies in the middle of your digital world! These hidden gems aren’t just for show – they’re about to shake up how you use your Android device.

“But Geek, how are we going to find these hidden features, we are not a tech geek like you”

Well, don’t worry, what am I here for? In this article, I am going to show you 15 useful and practical hidden android features, and also give you a tutorial for them. And, of course, as usual, I will drop some fun tips and fun facts here and there.

So, without your time, Let’s start

20 Hidden Android Features

1. Developer Options: The Secret Menu

• What It Is: Think of Developer Options as the hidden toolkit for your Android. It gives you access to advanced settings that can make your phone faster, better, and more fun to use.
• How to Access:
  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap About Phone.
  • Tap Build Number seven times. You’ll see a message saying, “You are now a developer!”
• Fun Tip: Enable “Show touches” to see where you’re tapping on the screen. It’s great for making tutorials or just showing off.

2. Custom Quick Settings Tiles: Your Shortcut Heaven

• What It Is: Customize the Quick Settings menu to include the shortcuts you use most often.

• How to Access:
  • Swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings.
  • Tap the pencil icon to edit.
  • Add, remove, or rearrange the tiles to your liking.

• Fun Tip: Add a “Do Not Disturb” tile to instantly silence your phone during movies or meetings.

3. Screen Recording: Capture the Action

• What It Is: Record your screen activities with ease, perfect for tutorials or showing off your gaming skills.

• How to Access:
  • Pull down the Quick Settings menu.
  • Tap the Screen Recorder icon (available on Android 11+).

• Fun Tip: Record your high scores in games to share with friends or show how you achieve certain tasks.

4. Split-Screen Mode: Multitasking Like a Pro

• What It Is: Use two apps at once on the same screen, side by side.

• How to Access:
  • Open the recent apps view.
  • Tap the app icon you want to use in split-screen.
  • Select Split screen and choose another app.

• Fun Fact: Watch YouTube while browsing social media at the same time. Multitasking heaven!

5. Quick App Switching: Bounce Between Apps

• What It Is: Quickly switch between your two most recently used apps.

• How to Access:
  • Double-tap the recent apps button. OR swipe the bottom bar

• Fun Tip: Use this to quickly jump between your email and calendar apps to plan your day efficiently.

6. One-Handed Mode: Use Your Phone with One Hand

• What It Is: Shrinks the display to make it easier to use with one hand.

• How to Access:
  • Go to Settings > Advanced Features > One-handed mode
  • Swipe diagonally from the bottom corners of the screen (availability may vary by device).

• Fun Fact: Perfect for those moments when you’re holding a coffee in one hand and need to use your phone with the other.

7. Notification Snoozing: Delay Those Alerts

• What It Is: Snooze notifications for a specified time to handle them later.

• How to Access:
  • Swipe left or right on a notification.
  • Tap the clock icon to snooze.

• Fun Tip: Snooze work emails until after lunch so you can enjoy your break undisturbed.

8. Live Caption: Instant Subtitles

• What It Is: Automatically captions speech in media playing on your device.

• How to Access:
  • Open the Quick Panel
  • Tap the Live Caption icon.

• Fun Tip: Perfect for watching videos in public places without needing headphones.

9. Dark Mode: Easy on the Eyes

• What It Is: Switch to a darker theme to reduce eye strain and save battery life.

• How to Access:
  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap Display.
  • Enable Dark theme.

• Fun Fact: Dark mode not only saves battery but also gives your phone a sleek, cool look.

10. Battery Optimization: Extend Your Battery Life

• What It Is: Limit background activity for specific apps to save battery.
• How to Access:
  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap or search Battery.
  • Select Battery usage.
  • Tap on an app and optimize its battery usage.

• Fun Tip: Optimize social media apps to save battery while still staying connected.

11. Data Saver Mode: Save on Data Costs

• What It Is: Restrict background data usage to conserve data.
• How to Access:
  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap Network & Internet.
  • Enable Data Saver.
• Fun Fact: Great for when you’re traveling and need to save on roaming charges!

12. Storage Management: Free Up Space

• What It Is: Clean up unnecessary files, apps, and data to free up space.
• How to Access:
  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap Storage.
  • Tap Free up space.
• Fun Tip: Use this before a big event to ensure you have enough space for photos and videos.

13. Digital Wellbeing: Manage Your Screen Time

• What It Is: Tools to monitor and manage your screen time and app usage.
• How to Access:
  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
• Fun Fact: Set bedtime reminders to help you get a good night’s sleep by reducing late-night screen time.

14. Smart Lock: Keep Your Device Unlocked in Trusted Situations

• What It Is: Keep your device unlocked in trusted locations or when connected to trusted devices.
• How to Access:
  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap Security.
  • Select Smart Lock.
• Fun Tip: Keep your phone unlocked at home or in the car to avoid constantly entering your PIN.

15. Wi-Fi Sharing with QR Codes: Easy Wi-Fi Access

• What It Is: Share your Wi-Fi network details with others via a QR code.
• How to Access:
  • Go to Settings.
  • Go to Network & Internet > Wi-fi Settings.
  • Tap on your connected Wi-Fi network.
  • Tap Share or QR Qode.
• Fun Tip: Quickly share Wi-Fi with friends at a party without giving out your password.

16. Smart Lock: Keep Your Device Unlocked in Trusted Situations

• What It Is: Keep your device unlocked in trusted locations or when connected to trusted devices.
• How to Access:
  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap Security or Lockscreen.
  • Select Smart Lock or Extend Unlock.
  • Tap Trusted places.
• Fun Tip: Keep your phone unlocked at home or in the car to avoid constantly entering your PIN.

Conclusion

Alright, folks, as we wrap up our exploration of these hidden Android features, I hope you’re feeling as excited as I am about the endless possibilities they bring to our fingertips. From customizing our Quick Settings to mastering split-screen multitasking, these features are more than just cool tricks – they’re tools that empower us to make the most of our devices.

But remember, this journey doesn’t end here. As technology evolves and Android continues to innovate, there will always be new features waiting to be discovered. So keep your eyes peeled, stay curious, and never stop exploring. After all, the beauty of Android lies in its endless potential for customization and personalization.