10 Life Hacks Every Android User Should Know
Android remains one of the most customizable mobile operating systems, despite Google’s recent attempts to limit its capabilities . However, you don’t need to root your Android device to make it do something custom. The solution you need may be hidden behind the system menu or developer options . You can personalize Android to solve common issues related to speed, battery life, privacy, and the overall interface. I’ve compiled ten useful Android life hacks that don’t require third-party apps, ADB commands, or root access. All you need is patience to dig around the operating system and press the right buttons.
Please note that many of these methods require enabling Developer Options, a hidden menu in Android’s settings. To do this, go to Settings, scroll to About Phone , then tap Build Number . Tap it seven times to unlock developer options. (If you’ve done everything correctly, a pop-up window will appear with a countdown.)
Remove apps that consume a lot of battery power.
Have you ever looked at your battery usage statistics and wondered what to do about a specific app that’s draining it? By default, Android requires apps to run in the background, sync with the cloud, and check for updates. This “wakes up” the device, and the battery drains in the background.
Android 6.0 introduced a battery optimization feature designed to help with apps that are draining battery too much. While it helps close unused apps, it can be either too effective or ineffective at identifying problematic apps. While you can force-quit an app if you notice it’s causing problems, it will likely reopen the next time you reboot your device.
You can manually set the most limited background access permissions for an app without uninstalling or disabling it. In Settings , under Apps , scroll down and select the list of all apps. Then tap App battery usage . Here you’ll find detailed information about the app’s most recent access. Tap an app to configure its background usage. You can choose to have Android optimize it or allow unlimited use—for example, like on a wearable device to ensure proper operation. If you want to completely limit usage, use the main toggle to disable background mode. On Samsung devices, this same option is called “sleeping apps” or “deep sleep apps.”
If you prefer, you can access Developer Options for more control over background processes. Return to Developer Options, then scroll down or find “Limit background processes.” Here you can determine how many background apps can run simultaneously.
Block ads and trackers without a VPN
Even with an ad blocker, background apps can track your phone usage, your purchases, and ads. You can easily bypass this by installing a VPN to redirect traffic, but this relies on a third-party app and will slow down your experience. It’s better to configure private DNS settings on your phone to filter web traffic through your chosen service.
Private DNS technology blocks your device’s request for a website’s IP address, preventing your service provider from seeing what site you’re visiting. Because this browser data remains hidden, third parties don’t have access to the information needed to track your browsing habits and, therefore, serve you targeted advertising.
Return to the Settings panel and select “Network & Internet” > “Private DNS .” Change the setting to “Private DNS provider hostname.” You’ll need to find the URL of the filtering service to connect to it. Options includeAd Guard , Control D , and Mullvad , which I use to block ads in Chrome.
Once saved, all DNS requests from all apps and browsers on your Android device will be redirected through this blocklist. This will help reduce ads and tracking servers without affecting performance or draining battery life. This is also a great option if you’re a parent and your child has access to an Android device. Use Private DNS to redirect their requests from unsafe websites and adult content.
Find long-lost notifications
Sometimes we accidentally dismiss notifications on Android. If you’re constantly snoozing notifications and missing important messages, you can enable notification history.
In Settings, under “Notifications,” tap to enable Notification History . Now, when you swipe to dismiss a notification, you’ll be able to check back to see any you forgot about or accidentally deleted. This feature is also useful for tracking down apps that might be running unnoticed in the background.
Maximize (or minimize) screen space
I don’t know what’s wrong with the latest versions of Android, but the text seems either too small or too large when adjusting the screen size using the built-in settings. You can go into the accessibility settings to decrease or increase the text size, although this won’t significantly affect the rest of the interface. Alternatively, you can use Android’s built-in DPI scaling mechanism.
This is where the Developer Options come in handy again. You can use the Smallest Width setting to precisely control the DPI (DPI) that scales each interface element up and down. Change the value to a higher value if you want fonts and images to scale down within the resolution—if it starts at, say, 400, try 500 and work backwards until you’re happy with the result. To make fonts and graphics even larger, start around 300.
Configure the settings that are activated when the device is connected.
When connecting an Android smartphone to a computer, the device defaults to charging rather than file transfer. You can change this setting in the notification panel, although this adds a few extra steps to what should be a fairly simple process. Fortunately, you can customize the default USB behavior to prioritize file transfer when connecting via USB-C.
In Developer Options, find “Default USB Configuration.” Change the setting to “File Transfer/Android Auto.” Test this by connecting a USB-C cable to your computer to ensure file transfer mode is enabled by default.
Get the best sound quality
When streaming music or podcasts through headphones or another external source, the sound quality leaves much to be desired. While you can adjust the equalizer settings in the app playing the media, it won’t make much of a difference. Your phone and audio device default to standard codecs, not high-quality ones, so the sound isn’t as clear and loud as it could be.
In Developer Options , you can force Android to use the highest quality codecs when connecting an audio device. Find the Bluetooth audio codec and select the highest quality option supported by your wireless device. Note that you must be connected to a device when searching for this option; otherwise, it will be grayed out. In Developer Options, find the “Bluetooth audio sample rate” and “Bits per sample” settings. You can set higher sample rates if your hardware supports them.
Make Android look smooth.
Even on the latest flagship Android smartphones, the interface can feel sluggish when switching between screens. This is because Android intentionally animates every swipe and swipe. But you can disable or reduce these animations to make the interface smoother.
In Developer Options , find the “Window animation scale,” “Transition animation scale,” and “Animation duration scale” settings. You can adjust their default values; the lower the number, the faster the animation. You can also disable the animations completely if you find them too intense.
Force dark mode
I suffer from migraines, and even the brightest background can trigger them. I figured out how to force dark mode on all Android apps, regardless of whether the developer intended it.
First, make sure “Dark Theme” is enabled in the main display settings. Then, go to “Developer Options” and find the “Force Dark Theme” setting. Enable it to protect your eyes. This feature is also very useful if you prefer to read at night while looking at the screen. Please note that this may cause text to appear incorrect in some apps, so it’s best to use this feature only when absolutely necessary.
Leave the screen on forever
Sometimes you need the screen to stay on without interruption after a timeout. Most Android devices turn off after 30 minutes. But there’s an option in the developer settings to keep the screen “awake” while the device is connected to a power source. This feature has been enabled since I started reviewing Android smartphones. It’s the best way to run benchmarks without being affected by random factors.
In Developer Options, find the ” Keep screen on” setting and enable it. Please note that the screen should be turned off while charging overnight. Your phone may become very hot if it’s connected to the charger for an extended period with the screen on.
Find the right device for answering phone calls.
This has happened to me many times: my phone rings, I answer, but the call is forwarded to my smartwatch instead of my headphones. Of course, you can manually select the desired Bluetooth device on your phone, but it’s better to make things easier by excluding devices from the list that you never want to answer calls from.
In the Settings panel, under Bluetooth , select the problematic device. The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to find the toggle that completely disables phone calls. You should see the corresponding option at the bottom of the device’s Bluetooth settings. I disabled the ability to answer calls from my Pixel Watch 4 because I never need to receive calls from the watch. It’s too noticeable!