Feel like you’re only scratching the surface of what your Android phone can do? Frustrated by sluggishness, accidentally swiped notifications, or privacy worries when you hand your phone to a friend?
We get it.
Your phone is packed with powerful, hidden features. This guide skips the obvious tips and shows you 10 genuine tricks to make your device faster, more secure, and far more functional.
A quick note: The exact setting names might vary slightly between brands (like Samsung, Google, or OnePlus), but these core features are built into almost every modern Android phone.
Let’s get started.
1. Unlock the Secret “Developer Options” Menu
Why You Need This
This is the master key. It’s the one “hidden” feature that unlocks most of the other advanced tweaks in this guide. Google hides the “Developer options” menu to prevent new users from accidentally breaking things, but unlocking it is safe, easy, and essential for becoming a power user.
How to Unlock It
- Go to Settings > About phone.
- You may need to tap on Software information first (this is common on Samsung phones).
- Find the item named Build number.
- Now, tap on Build number seven times in a row. Yes, really.
- You’ll see a small message counting down (“You are 3 steps away…”).
- Enter your phone’s PIN or password when prompted.
- A message will appear: “You are now a developer!”
You can now find the new Developer options menu at the bottom of Settings > System.
A Quick Word of Caution: As the name says, this menu is for developers and has sensitive settings. Don’t change anything you don’t understand! We will only guide you to the specific, safe, and high-impact options below.
2. Instantly Make Your Phone Feel Faster
Why You Need This
This one’s my top go-to move. When your phone seems sluggish, chances are it ain’t the Processor – blame the visual effects instead. Each time you tap an app or a submenu slides in, there’s a little flashy delay. Just slash that duration by 50%, and boom – the device suddenly acts way quicker.
How to Do It
- Go to your newly unlocked Developer options menu (see Trick 1).
- Scroll down until you find the “Drawing” section.
- Locate these three settings:
- Window animation scale
- Transition animation scale
- Animator duration scale
- Tap on each one and change the value from “1x” to “.5x”.
(You can set them to “Off,” but this can be a bit jarring. The .5x setting is the sweet spot between smooth and speedy.)
3. Never Lose a Notification Again
Why You Need This
It’s the worst feeling: an important notification appears, and in a moment of haste, you swipe… and it’s gone. Forever.
Or is it? Android has a built-in lifesaver called Notification history, but for some reason, it’s turned off by default. You must enable it before you need it.
How to Enable It
The path can differ, so here are the most common ones:
- Path 1: Go to Settings > Notifications > Notification history.
- Path 2: Go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > Notification history.
Once you find it, tap the toggle to turn “Use notification history” to On. From now on, this screen will show all your recently dismissed notifications.
4. Lock Guests into One App with “App Pinning”
Why You Need This
This feature is particularly important when it comes to maintaining privacy or monitoring what kids do on your phone. Say you let a kid use your device just for a game – or hand it to someone so they can see one picture – this tool helps out. It’s called App Pinning, also known as Screen Pinning, which keeps the screen locked on the chosen app. They won’t access different apps, swipe open notifications, or jump back to the home screen unless they have your PIN.
How to Use It (It’s a 2-Step Process)
Step 1: Enable the Feature (Off by Default)
- Go to Settings > Security & privacy > Other security settings.
- Look for “App pinning” or “Pin app” and tap it.
- Toggle it On.
- Crucially: Also toggle “Ask for unlock pattern before unpinning” to On. This is what secures it.
Step 2: Pin an App
- Open the app you want to pin (e.g., a game or your photo gallery).
- Open your “Recents” menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold).
- Tap the app’s icon at the top of its preview card.
- Select “Pin” or “Pin this app” from the menu.
To unpin it, swipe up and hold (on gesture navigation) or press and hold the Back and Recents buttons. The phone will instantly lock, requiring your fingerprint or PIN to get out.
5. Master Your Clipboard with Keyboard History
Why You Need This
By default, your phone only remembers the last thing you copied. If you need to copy a name, address, and phone number from one app to another, you have to swap back and forth repeatedly. It’s a pain.
Most modern keyboards, like Google’s Gboard, have a built-in clipboard manager.
How to Use It (with Gboard)
- Open any app where you can type.
- On the keyboard’s toolbar (the row above the letters), tap the Clipboard icon.
- If it’s your first time, tap “Turn on Clipboard.”
- That’s it! Now, everything you copy will be saved here for an hour.
To paste, just tap the clipboard icon and tap the clip you want. You can even tap and hold a clip to “Pin” it so it never gets deleted.
6. Use Two Apps at Once with Split Screen
Why You Need This
This is a core Android strength. You can watch a YouTube video while replying to a text, or take notes in one window while reading an article in the other. It’s multitasking magic.
How to Do It
- Open your “Recents” menu (swipe up from the bottom and hold).
- Find the first app you want to use. Tap the app’s icon at the top of its card.
- Select “Split screen” (or “Open in split screen view”).
- The app will snap to the top half of your screen.
- Tap on the second app from the bottom half to open it.
- You can drag the divider line in the middle to resize the windows.
7. Force Any App into Split Screen
Why You Need This
You just tried to split-screen Netflix or a game and… the option isn’t there. Some app developers block this feature. But you can use your new Developer Options to force them to comply.
How to Do It
- Head back to Developer options (see Trick 1).
- Scroll all the way to the bottom (or near the “Apps” section).
- Find and enable the toggle named “Force activities to be resizable”.
- You may need to restart your phone.
Now, even apps that previously blocked it will show the “Split screen” option. (Be warned: since you’re “forcing” it, a few apps might not behave perfectly, but it works for most.)
8. Extend Your Battery’s Lifespan (Not Just Its Day)
Why You Need This
This trick isn’t about making one charge last longer—it’s about making the battery itself last longer.
Lithium-ion batteries degrade faster when they are constantly charged to 100%, especially if left plugged in overnight. To preserve your battery’s long-term health, many phones now feature an automatic charging cutoff, which stops charging at a safer level, such as 80% or 85%.
How to Enable It
This setting’s location varies by brand, but it’s almost always in the Battery menu.
- Go to Settings > Battery (or Battery and device care).
- Look for a sub-menu like “More battery settings,” “Battery health,” or “Charging optimization.”
- Find the toggle named “Protect battery” (limits to 85%) or “Limit to 80%” and turn it on.
9. Tame Your Giant Screen with One-Handed Mode
Why You Need This
Phones are huge. Our thumbs are not. Reaching the top of the screen with one thumb is often impossible. “One-Handed Mode” solves this by shrinking your entire screen down into the bottom corner, making everything reachable.
How to Find It
This feature is often off by default. The easiest way to find it is:
- Open Settings and tap the search bar at the top.
- Type “One-handed mode” and select it.
- Toggle it On.
The settings page will show you the gesture to activate it. Most commonly, you just swipe down on the very bottom edge of your screen.
10. A Simple Security Boost: Disable 2G
Why You Need This
This is a modern security tip most people overlook. The 2G cellular network is ancient, has weak encryption, and is a target for attackers using “Stingrays” (false cell towers) to intercept calls and texts. Your phone might automatically connect to a 2G network in a low-signal area, exposing you to risk.
For most of us, 4G and 5G are all we need. Disabling 2G is a free, simple security upgrade.
How to Do It
- Go to Settings > Network & Internet (or Connections).
- Tap on SIMs (or Mobile networks).
- Select your primary SIM card.
- Look for a toggle named “Allow 2G” and turn it Off.
(Note: This does not affect your phone’s ability to use 2G for emergency calls.)
Go Forth and Be the Android Power User
These ten adjustments can help your device run faster and more efficiently. By enabling Developer Mode, managing privacy settings, and restricting unnecessary app access, you can better control how your phone operates.
FAQs – Android Tips and Tricks
1. What’s new with secret Android features this year?
Poking into Developer Settings, pairing it with Smart Lock, or testing out Google Lens for translating stuff – these rank high when it comes to sneaky Android moves worth knowing.
2. What’s the way to spot secret functions built into your Android device?
Head into Settings then hit About Phone, give Build Number a quick seven taps, otherwise check out Gestures or browse through System menus.
3. Can I record my Android screen without an app?
Yep! A lot of fresh Android devices include an inbuilt screen recording feature tucked inside Quick Settings.
4. How do I multitask using split screen on Android?
Launch an app → head to Recent Apps → hit the icon → pick Split Screen → then grab another app.
5. What’s a secret phone trick each person ought to try?
Smart Lock – stays open at familiar spots, so your device unlocks fast while staying safe.
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