TechTipADay

TechTipADay

Android cheat sheet

A printable Android checklist for Pixel phones on Android 15 and 16. Samsung paths are noted where they differ. Skip a row if the menu is not on your phone.

Read the Android tips

  1. Hold the spacebar to move your cursor precisely

    Stop poking at the middle of a word. Your phone keyboard has a hidden trackpad. Easy. About 1 min. iPhone, Android (Gboard).

    Why it matters. You land the cursor on the letter you meant, instead of the one next to it.

    1. iPhone: press and hold the spacebar until the letters go blank, then slide your finger. The keyboard is now a trackpad.
    2. Still holding, tap a second finger on the keyboard to start selecting text.
    3. Android with Gboard: swipe left or right along the spacebar to nudge the cursor one character at a time.

    Full tip

  2. Decide who is allowed to Quick Share files to you

    Everyone means strangers nearby can offer you a file. Nearby, or contacts, is the calmer setting. Easy. About 2 min. Pixel phones on Android 15 and 16.

    Why it matters. You can still send a photo across the table without leaving the phone open to the room.

    1. Open Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Quick Share.
    2. If the menu still says Nearby Share, that is the same page.
    3. Set who can share with you to Contacts or to Your devices. Use Everyone only while you are receiving a file, then change it back.

    Full tip

  3. Crop an Android screenshot before you save it

    Take the shot, tap the preview in the corner, then tap Crop. Easy. About 1 min. Pixel phones on Android 15 and 16.

    Why it matters. You share the relevant rectangle instead of your whole home screen.

    1. Press Power and Volume down together.
    2. Tap the preview thumbnail before it slides away.
    3. Tap Crop, drag the handles, and save.
    4. If the preview is gone, open the image in Google Photos, tap Edit, then Crop.

    Full tip

  4. Use the clipboard that is built into Gboard

    Tap the clipboard icon on the keyboard. Unpinned clips disappear after an hour. Easy. About 1 min. Android phones with Gboard.

    Why it matters. You can copy a code, switch apps, and still have the code without copying it again.

    1. Open the keyboard in any text field.
    2. Tap the clipboard icon. If you do not see it, tap the four-square toolbar menu and add Clipboard.
    3. If the clipboard is off entirely, tap the gear on the Gboard toolbar and turn Clipboard on.
    4. Pin a clip you need to keep. Leave passwords out of it.

    Full tip

  5. Circle something on the screen to search it

    On a Pixel, hold the bar at the bottom, then circle the thing. No screenshot required. Easy. About 1 min. Pixel phones on Android 15 and 16, Some Samsung phones.

    Why it matters. You can identify a product, a place, or a line of text without leaving the app you are in.

    1. On a Pixel, touch and hold the horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen until the search overlay appears.
    2. Circle, highlight, or tap the part you care about.
    3. On a Samsung phone, touch and hold the home button instead of the gesture bar.
    4. If nothing happens, the phone does not have Circle to Search. Holding harder will not add it.

    Full tip

  6. Put a daily timer on one app

    Digital Wellbeing > Dashboard, open the app, and set a timer. The icon grays out when time is up. Easy. About 2 min. Pixel phones on Android 15 and 16.

    Why it matters. The limit is attached to the one app, not to a vague resolution.

    1. Open Settings > Digital Wellbeing and parental controls.
    2. Open Dashboard and choose the app.
    3. Tap the hourglass and set the daily time.
    4. When the time is up, the app closes. Open it again only if you mean to.

    Full tip

  7. Set Do Not Disturb to turn on by itself at night

    The tile is in quick settings. The schedule is under Settings > Notifications. Easy. About 2 min. Pixel phones on Android 15 and 16.

    Why it matters. A night of sleep stops depending on you remembering to flip a tile.

    1. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap the Do Not Disturb tile if you want it on right now.
    2. For a schedule, open Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb.
    3. Add a schedule for the hours you sleep.
    4. Open Calls or People and allow contacts, or favorite contacts, so a family call still rings.

    Full tip

  8. Turn on notification history before you need it

    Settings > Notifications > Notification history. It only stores alerts from the moment you enable it. Easy. About 1 min. Pixel phones on Android 15 and 16.

    Why it matters. You can read a notification you swiped away by reflex.

    1. Open Settings > Notifications.
    2. Turn Notification history on.
    3. After you dismiss something, come back to Notification history on that same screen to read it.

    Full tip

  9. Turn on one-handed mode on a Pixel

    Settings > System > Gestures > One-handed mode. Swipe down at the bottom to use it. Easy. About 1 min. Pixel phones on Android 15 and 16, Samsung path noted in the steps.

    Why it matters. The top of a tall phone moves into reach for a moment, then goes back.

    1. On a Pixel, open Settings > System > Gestures > One-handed mode and turn it on.
    2. Swipe down near the bottom edge of the screen. The page shifts down.
    3. Tap the upper area, or swipe up, to restore it.
    4. On a Samsung phone, look in Settings > Advanced features > One-handed mode. If neither path exists, search Settings for One-handed mode.

    Full tip