You can unsee that: Search for something potentially risky online? You can quickly delete the last 15 minutes of your Google search history on Android. Open the Google app, tap on your profile icon in the top right, and select Delete last 15 minutes.
I’d hang up: New to the Google Phone app: Audio emojis. During a call, you can select from six sound effects, including clapping, laughing and farting, which play for you and the other person. On the bright side, there’s a cooldown period, so no endless loop of fart sounds.
📱 Android app fix: Is an app crashing or behaving weirdly? Try clearing its cache. Go to Settings > Apps and select the app you want. Now tap Storage & cache or Storage and tap Clear cache. Don’t hit Clear data — that’ll delete your app settings and login details and reset the app to the default install.
💻 Ctrl + Alt + Del for Chromebook: Press Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Scan the list of apps and webpages. If your machine is lagging and you spot one with high memory consumption, click it and select End Task.
Wait, what? You can reread that Android notification you didn’t fully look at the first time. Head to your Settings and tap Notifications > Notification History to view that push alert on whatever wild thing Elon Musk said this time.
None of your business: Quickly hide message previews popping up on your Android lock screen. This is an “A” and “B” conversation, so “C” yourself out, snoopers! From Settings, tap Display > Lock Screen > Privacy.
Fun Samsung shortcuts: Instead of hitting the backspace key over and over to clean up a typo, use two fingers to swipe left. That’s “Undo.” Want to “Redo?” Swipe two fingers to the right and your text will come back.
You better work: Android now supports creating a work profile on your device to separate your work apps and data from your personal apps. Go to Settings, search for Work Profile or similar, and follow the setup prompts. Sorry, iOS lovers, no soup for you! Apple doesn’t support this.
Say when: The battery-saver mode on your Android kicks in at a certain battery level. You can set this up under Settings. Steps vary based on the model, but look for Battery > Battery Saver > Manage when Battery Saver turns on.
Google Pixel lifesaver: Your phone now has a mode to detect a severe car crash, call 911 and share your location. Open Personal Safety > Features > scroll to Car Crash Detection > Set up. Allow the necessary permissions, and you’re good to go!
🤏 Easy zoom: If you only have one hand free to use your Android phone, zoom in or out in Google Maps by double-tapping on the map and holding your finger down on the second tap. Then, move your finger up or down.
You’re my fave: Get quick links to your four favorite contacts on your Android home screen. Tap and hold on a blank spot on the home screen, then pick Widgets to find the list.
🏨 I have no reservations about this travel tip: Google Wallet now lets you add hotel keys directly to your phone. Open the hotel’s website, app or email, and hit the Add to Google Wallet button. When you reach your room, hold your phone near the door handle to unlock it.
Save your eyes: Make text and icons bigger across all the apps and menus on Android. Open Settings > Display > Display size and text.
On an Android-based device, you can quickly swipe to the right on the home button to see all your open apps. Want to close one? Just swipe it off the screen. This is worth doing now and then if you never close your apps.
Find my Android: You can find your Google Pixel 8 or 8 Pro even if it’s dead. A new update makes sure your phone holds onto a bit of juice to track it. Just head to your Find My Device portal online to locate it.
🔄 Android upgrade: Google’s “Find My Device” network is finally working for some folks. It’s Android’s version of Apple Find My. Hooray — you can now track lost items with special Bluetooth trackers if you have access. It’s a gradual rollout, though, so check your Settings app to see if it’s available for you yet.
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.
Team Android warning: Banking malware is hiding in a fake version of the McAfee Security app. The scam kicks off with a fake text about an unauthorized transaction. Call the number, and a fraudster convinces you to download a “security” app containing malicious code. You have to be smarter than this.
Wi-Fi faster: Don’t want to waste any time getting online? Android can automatically reconnect to Wi-Fi networks it recognizes, so you don’t have to do it manually. From Settings, tap Network and Internet > Internet > Network preferences and enable Turn on Wi-Fi automatically.