BLOCK APP NOTIFICATIONS WHENEVER YOU WANT TO
Go to settings > tap on apps > select the application you want to block > tap on notifications, and finally tap on block allIs your notification bar always filled with irrelevant notifications? Are you tired of getting tons of notifications from different applications on your phone?
Well, As a dedicated android user, your device is opened to notifications from different applications you have installed. Like facebook and Whatsapp, these two applications are widely used around the globe.
You’d agree with me that lots of notifications come in from these social platforms. Notifications we get from Facebook are sometimes irrelevant and most times useful.
Ultimately, there is a cool android trick that lets you stop notifications from apps on your android device. It works like magic. Below is how to achieve this on your Android device.
DATA PROTECTION (LOCK YOUR IMAGES, VIDEOS, SONGS AND DOCUMENTS)
Do you have specific songs, videos or other files that you want to keep private? And by ”keep private” I mean locking the files so that only you would have access to them.
With this cool Android tip, you don’t need to download apps that lock files, the data protection locks just about anything on your internal storage or sd card. From your gallery files to PDF files, ZIP files, and other file extensions.
Although this Android feature has been confirmed for only Android Lollipop and Marshmallow devices.
To use this cool android feature;
Go to settings > tap on security > tap on data protection.
To lock files follow the steps below;
Step 1: Tap on the (+) button located at the top right of your screen.
Step 2: Select the folder where the file you want to lock is located.
Step 3: Tap on the pencil located at the top right.
Step 4: Finally select the files you want to lock and tap on the lock symbol located at the top right.
When files are locked, you can unlock them by tapping on edit, then select the file, and finally, tap on the unlock icon at the top right.
MAGNIFICATION GESTURES
Go to settings, select accessibility, then tap on magnification gestures, switch it on by toggling on the button at the top right.This android trick is not common among android users, the magnification gesture lets you zoom in on any on-screen activity on your android device.
This feature is a cool one, you can zoom in on anything on your android screen by simply tapping on your screen.
After you zoom in by triple tapping, you can adjust the zoom level by pinching two fingers together or by spreading them apart. You can zoom out anytime by tapping on the screen three times.
You can also triple tap and hold your screen to temporarily zoom in, when your finger is off your phone, it will automatically zoom out.
EDIT APP PERMISSIONS (Marshmallow 6.0)
Go to settings, tap on apps, tap on the settings icon at the top right, then tap on app permissions.Did you know that most of the apps you have on your android device, have permission/access to different areas on your android device?
For example, you can see in the photo below that xender (an application for sending and receiving files over wifi) has permission to access my contacts and SMS. Which is so not cool.
The edit app permissions will let you remove silly app permissions, but unfortunately, it is easily accessible only on the Andriod marshmallow.
Other android versions would need to be rooted to be able to control app permission.
I was reading a post once and learned that companies can actually spy on you when their apps have specific permissions on your device.
You can follow the command below to edit app permissions on android marshmallow 6.0.
SCREENSHOT
This android tip should be the most common, It works on almost all android devices, now to do this you’ll have to hold the power button and volume down button at the same time.
power button + volume down button
AIRPLANE/SILENT MODE
Have you ever had the moment when you’ll have to quickly remove the battery of your android device or unlock your ultra pattern locked device to silence your device because of your in a meeting ?
Those embarrassing days are over.
This feature lets you set your phone to airplane or silent mode with just two taps. You can do this by holding your power button for 2 seconds and tapping on the airplane or silent icon.
power button (hold for 2 seconds) tap on airplane or silent icon.
SET DATA LIMIT
You can set a data limit so that you won’t go over your monthly allotment.
Perhaps you purchased 5gb and you want to be alerted when you have used up to 4gb. You can access the data limit function under settings – data usage.
Note: if your mobile data is not on you won’t see the data limit option.
go to settings – data usage – data limit.
CALL SCREENING
For less aggressive calls on your phone, you can create and send quick messages.
To create a message you will have to go to call settings to edit or create quick messages.
Now, this is how this android feature works.
When your phone rings and you don’t want to pick the call you can simply just swipe your thumb up on the screen to let your caller know that you are busy instead of you ignoring or hanging up the call.
swipe thumb up when you have an incoming call.
ADD WORDS TO YOUR DICTIONARY
Are you tired of typing every single letter of your nickname or slang everytime you want to send a text ? Or maybe you want to send an abbreviation (g2g, brb).
You can easily add the words to your dictionary by long pressing on the typed words and then tap on save (from your keyboard).
(before sending) Tap on word and hold for 2 seconds and tap save.
DELAY CAPTURE
Taking a selfie just got better without a selfie stick, android users can use the delay capture option to take pictures using a timer. All you’ll have to do is start up the timer and get set for the camera to snap.
camera – settings – self timer
DRAW INVISIBLE PATTERN
If you are careless or slow while drawing your android phone unlock pattern, someone may be watching you to gain access to your files, messages and much more.
You can make your pattern invisible as you draw it to outsmart people.
To do this you will have to go to settings on your android then security, on security click on “make password visible” make sure the box is unticked.
Settings – security – make password visible.
SCHEDULE POWER OFF AND ON
Most people know this hidden android feature. The schedule power on and off automatically switches your phone on and off at specific times.
To activate this you will have to go to your phone settings and select schedule power on and off then set the specific on and off time. You can now say bye to switching off your android device at night during bedtime.
SHOW TOUCHES FOR TUTORIALS
This final android tip comes in handy for people who do application review videos.
You can make your on-screen videos and show viewers the specific points you are tapping on your screen,
to activate this feature on your android device you have to enable developer option.
To enable go to settings—about phone–then tap on build number up to 7 times fast.
You will then get a report telling you “you are now a developer” after that, you will be able to see the developer option from your settings.
Tap on it and then locate show touch and tap on it to activate.
Settings – developer options – show touches
These 21 secret Android tips and tricks can be found on most android versions. (marshmallow, lollipop, jellybean or KitKat) Some of these features can also be found on old versions like gingerbread. Feel free to comment if you have any issues regarding this post.
