🤖 “So, uh, where do I find ChatGPT?” I get that in my email every day. Use it on the web or download it for iPhone or Android. You’ll need to create an account. The free tier works for most people.
Rolling out on Android phones now: Google’s Gemini AI will work in more apps, write captions for social posts and photos, combine emojis (Apple did it first), and share QR codes. Pixel phones get exclusives like having Gemini save your info and updates to Pixel Screenshots … which Apple already has. You can also circle something on your Pixel to search for it. It’s pretty sweet.
🤖 Team Android: If you have pics like your driver’s license on your phone, set up a locked folder in Google Photos. Open the Google Photos app > Utilities > Set up Locked Folder. Follow the on-screen directions to finish up.
📸 Your year in pics: In Google Photos, open the app to see its Spotify Wrapped rip-off, which crunches the numbers on your pictures for the year. You’ll see the faces you took the most photos of (I bet at least one is your pet) and your “vibe” for the year based on what you snapped most.
Your forbidden book section: Keep your steamy romance novels on lock by creating a passkey for your Kindle. Tap the three dots (upper right) and go to Settings > Device Options > Device Passcode. Your passcode can be up to 12 digits long. That’s hot!
Skip > the settings > labyrinth: Many Android apps allow you to change their settings without leaving them. Just look for the gear icon or find it in the menu. For example, in Google Photos, tap your profile icon (upper-right corner) > Photos settings, and you’re there.
Focus on what’s important: Android phones now let you choose to record a single app instead of your entire screen. In Quick Settings, tap Screen record > Record one app. Then, choose the app you want recorded. Now, Grandma won’t see your texts while you’re trying to show her how Gmail works.
Take screenshots on your Kindle: Tap the upper-right and lower-left corners at the same time. You’ll see a flash when it saves. To view it, connect your Kindle to a computer. You’ll find the image as a PNG file in the root folder.
App-solutely attached: Android’s Digital Wellbeing tool just got smarter with Screen Time Reminders, aka gentle nudges when you’ve been glued to an app for too long. To turn them on, go to Digital Wellbeing and parental controls > Screen time reminders > Turn on. The catches? You can’t set a time for them to appear, and you can’t control how often they pop up. Still, give it a shot, and let me know if they help!
🛑 Stop phone theft: Android’s new Theft Protection feature keeps your data safe if someone grabs your phone and runs off with it. Go to Settings > Google > All services > Theft protection and toggle Turn on to enable the change. You’ll get this feature if your phone’s running on Android 10 or later.
Good vibrations: It’s so much easier in Android 15 to adjust your keyboard vibrations. Before, you had to dig into the settings for each app. Now, go to Settings > Sound and vibration > Vibration and haptics. Use the sliders to adjust the buzzing to your liking, all in one place.
🖼️ So slick: Need to transfer photos, vids and docs from your Android device to a Windows PC? Forget email. Use Android’s free Quick Share for Windows tool. Works great!
For you, Android pals: Files by Google is seriously underrated. It’s an easy way to view all your images, videos, apps and other files and clear out the junk quickly. Try this: Tap the three-dot menu > Clean. Here, you can delete duplicates, old screenshots, blurry pics and large files with just a click.
🔒 Privacy, please: On Android, you can automatically lock your Incognito tabs when you switch to another app. Open Chrome, then tap More > Settings > Privacy and security. Turn on “Lock Incognito tabs when you leave Chrome.”
Android split-screen trick: Did you know you can create a home screen shortcut for apps you use frequently together, like your fave recipe app and Spotify? Just tap the app’s icon > Split screen. Tap between the two apps > Save app pair. Less work, double the apps. Like all things Android, steps may vary on your device.
👁️🗨️ Your eyes only: Android 15 lets you hide apps in a secure folder. Go to Settings > Security and privacy > Private space > Set up. (For added security, you’ll see the option to create a new Google account, but you don’t have to.) Choose your authentication method, then tap Use screen lock for your phone’s default method or Choose new lock to set up a new one. Press Done.
Read me: On a Kindle, it’s a pain to get to the home screen. With a book open, tap the top of the screen > back arrow > Home. From the Kindle store, hit the X icon > Home. FYI, if your Kindle is old, look for a house icon (top left of the screen) or even a physical home button.
Lifesaving feature: Google Pixels now have satellite SOS just like iPhones, so you can text for help when there’s no cell coverage or Wi-Fi. To use it, dial 911 > Satellite SOS > Start and fill out a quick emergency questionnaire. Position your phone until it says Connected. You’ll get a text back when help is on the way.
👆 Saved you a swipe: On most Android phones, swipe down from the top of the screen once to see key shortcuts and settings, then swipe again to see the full selection. It’s called the Quick Settings screen. A faster way to get there: Swipe down once with two fingers.
Android secret: One-handed mode makes it easier to reach everything with one thumb. From Settings, go to Accessibility > System controls > One-handed mode.