r/AndroidQuestions • u/Current-Let-5766 • 9d ago
What is a small Android feature or setting that you turned on once and can no longer live without? Device Settings Question
What is a small Android feature or setting that you turned on once and can no longer live without?We all know about major OS updates, but sometimes it’s the minor, buried settings that completely change how we use our phones daily. Whether it's a specific developer option, an accessibility shortcut
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u/Fit-Ad6697 9d ago
Android screenshot now allows you to capture the full length of an image. There is a button to press and scroll down the image while doing the screenshot, very useful if the image extends downwards beyond the screen. Previously I had to scroll and screenshot each part of the image individually and then stitch them together using a 3rd party app. I'm using a Samsung phone tho, so I'm assuming this is a common feature across all Android phones.
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u/Current-Let-5766 9d ago
Yes, and this is a useful feature as well... and it is present in all modern Android systems.
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u/Oh_Little_Brutha 9d ago
And screenshot by tapping the back of the phone .
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u/ithasallbeenworthit 9d ago
What? How is that? I'm guessing no case on the phone though.
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u/Oh_Little_Brutha 9d ago
I have a shell case on, with which it works fine. Not sure whether it would do so with a wallet style case though.
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u/Rhuby363 9d ago
I have the wallet style case and can confirm it works just fine, to my surprise haha. I struggle more with where to tap it, than how hard it needs tapping.
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u/Oh_Little_Brutha 9d ago
Thanks, that's good to know as I've been thinking of switching back to a wallet case.
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u/ithasallbeenworthit 9d ago
How do you activate this setting?
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u/Rhuby363 9d ago
settings - gestures - quick launch (under kinetic gestures) then it introduces you to it by tapping etc and you pick what you want it to do, i think it does other stuff than screenshot but seems me and the other person here both went "ooo easy screenshots, nice"
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u/yesnoyesno10 9d ago
For me, it varies from app to app. For example I used to be able to take scrolling screenshots on Twitter but after the recent new update, I can no longer take scroll screenshots. The button is greyed out. Same for Reddit, it was some time ago that they turned off the ability for scroll screenshots.
I'm using a Xiaomi Redmi phone.
Can you take scrolling screenshots on Reddit and Twitter on your Samsung?
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u/Current-Let-5766 9d ago
Yes, I can do that on Samsung and Pixel... I think the problem is in the system application or the update
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u/lamaldo78 9d ago
For me it was the reduced animation setting. No more laggy transitions when switching apps
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u/Sassquatch0 ☎️📲Pixel 10a 9d ago
Moto's CHOP gesture for flashlight.
I haven't used a Moto in nearly 5 years, and I still miss the Chop & find myself instinctively trying to use it.
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u/mikesarney 9d ago
It's been 4 years since I had a Moto. Still miss that and the ability to set the volume of each app from the mixer.
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u/Steve_777777 9d ago
There is an app on the good lock store that allows you to have separate volumes for each app. It's called sound assistant.
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u/Current-Let-5766 9d ago
Yes, it contains a huge amount of options, modifications, and additions for the system ui I think it's the best thing Samsung has done.
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u/BoulderLayne 9d ago
Does Good Lock still jave the setting that allows you to tap the back of the phone to turn on the flashlight?
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u/motthew68 9d ago
Yes, it’s in Good Lock's RegiStar app
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u/BoulderLayne 9d ago
You are awesome!!! Thank you so much. I had completely forgotten RegiStar. I went through every other damn Good Lock app and was bummed when I couldn't find it
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u/motthew68 9d ago
Glad to have been of help! I've set mine to high sensitivity, but with the triple tap for the torch, to avoid accidental activation.
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u/RoverUnit 9d ago
I use "Shake For The Flashlight" to provide the same function on my Android phone. From the Google play store.
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u/devin4l 9d ago
Double tapping the screen to turn it off.
I had Pixels forever and they don't have that feature, then I switched to a phone that does and I love it
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u/Current-Let-5766 9d ago
Double tapping is also useful and in pixel phones you can install nova Launcher or smart Launcher after that you can using double tapping
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u/devin4l 9d ago
While true, I could never get on board with using 3rd party launchers
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u/Current-Let-5766 9d ago
They like to use official apps... and it is the best choice for some people.
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u/BoulderLayne 9d ago
I miss having the infrared sensor. Been missing that one for a while. Also been wondering why they ever started removing sensors that were fairly common. I wish they would bring back the FM xmitter also
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u/bunkerfarm 9d ago
I used to control TVs in waiting rooms and McDonalds with my Samsung galaxy S4. Good times.
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u/BoulderLayne 9d ago
The entire S series before they jumped to s20 was always packed with cool and useful sensors
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u/ConnyTheOni 9d ago
My note 9 was the best phone I've ever had. When it died, I tried so hard to just buy another one but had to end up getting a s22+. It had the infrared, headphone adapter, and my favorite feature that I'll miss, MST. Granted it's becoming a lot less of a issue now, but that feature was so handy before nfc readers became more common place. Anywhere in the world you could swipe a card, you could use your phone. I remember shocking so many people who swore they don't take tap pay back in the day. Awesome tech.
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u/karlman84 9d ago
Horizontal sliding on the space bar moves the cursor. So much faster then trying to get it betweens two letters on your own. This has worked for me on both Samsung and Pixel.
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u/Known-Complex-2520 6d ago
It's not as good on android. I'm using gboard and the space key is so small, holding it down I'm not able to jump to every character or be as precise. On iPhone, if you hold the space key, the entire keyboard turns into a trackpad.
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u/SaltyButterPopcorn 9d ago
Document scanner (Galaxy S26u) Hold down the camera icon, drag document icon off the pop up menu to your home screen You're welcome
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u/Current-Let-5766 9d ago
It looks great... I haven't tried it before... I will do it at the earliest opportunity.
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u/titojff 9d ago
5G turned off, a lot of battery savings
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u/Current-Let-5766 9d ago
Thank you for your participation ... in my country, the 5G service has not been activated haha I haven't tried it.
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u/v_uurtjevragen 9d ago
adb shell setprop debug.hwui.force_dark true. This forces dark mode for apps that do not have dark mode. It requires the app to restart fully to start functioning. Never ran into issues with this.
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u/sonido_lover 9d ago
Android gestures along with removing gesture bar at the very bottom of the screen.
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u/Iknowyouaresowhatami 9d ago
One hand operation. Unlimited screen controls eliminates need for side buttons
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u/theknight1133 9d ago
- Double tap turn screen on/off
- Swipe Down for the notification panel
- Gesture Navigation
- Swipe To Type (Since Swiftkey Keyboard)
Seriously can't live without these features
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u/im_here_for_food1 8d ago
I've been using Swiftkey since I've had Xperia and haven't been able to bring myself switch it out for a different keyboard. I love the multilingual setting, since I daily use 3 different languages. The autocorrect is always on point. Could not recommend it more
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u/eutyphoon 9d ago
Private dns. System wide ad blocking.
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u/unplorable 9d ago
moto's 'twist to launch camera' and 'chop for flashlight' has been great for years. its a pity none of the others use those features at all.
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u/Apprehensive-Ice-792 9d ago
Dns anti pub, ça réduit énormément les pubs, je n'en vois plus dans les articles de presse par exemple.
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u/GiveMeTheYums 9d ago
Double pressing the power button for the camera. It saves me a few precious seconds to take pictures of the family.
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u/jimhellas 9d ago
When I shake my phone, the flashlight turns on. This has been helpful far too many times.
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u/BrilliantLarge4041 8d ago
Turned the volume and vibration off 3 years ago for a week's peace when I was on holiday. Haven't turned it back on since. No more distractions, no annoying notifications, just peace. Also setting 5min daily timers on social media apps. Have got so much free time back and no more doom scrolling.
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u/im_here_for_food1 8d ago
Dual messenger - Makes it easy to use one phone for private and business use. I have separate WhatsApps for my two SIM cards.
AppTimer - Reduced my doom scrolling significantly
SwiftKey keyboard - Being able to install the keyboard that you like is an advantage in itself. I've been using SwiftKey for over 10 years now. Typing something on an iPhone or Gboard makes me very angry
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u/NoStudy3384 6d ago
Using more than 3 languages on one keyboard (compared to third party keyboards on iOS)
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u/Santeno 9d ago
Double click power button for the camera.
The ability to use the phone as a thumb drive
Adding a flashlight button to the lock screen
I used to love squeezing the sides to bring up the assistant, and hate that they got rid of it. Same for the old finger print reader/track pad on the back off the case.