These Android settings are both underrated and underused

As a mobile software platform, Android has been around since 2008. The operating system has evolved rapidly in just a few years, and today it is a mature, feature-rich operating system that rivals Apple’s operating systems. iOS And iPadOS offerings.

One of Android’s greatest strengths is its customization and general mantra of “openness.” On most versions of the operating system, you can spend hours tinkering and going through options one after another. Some of these settings are well known and loved, while others are more obscure or simply underutilized.

Here are five lesser-known settings that I still take advantage of every day any Android handset. I’ve grown with each of these settings over the years, and they remain a big part of what keeps me tied to the Android-based smartphone scene.

1 System animations can be accelerated for a faster user interface experience

The option is hidden in Android’s developer options menu.

I’m generally a fan of the default speed of various elements of Android’s stock interface, but I find that some manufacturer skins can be dragged in the animation department. Although unknown to most, it’s actually quite easy to speed up (or slow down) animations system-wide.

To adjust the speed of system animations on Android, you must first enable development options. This can be accomplished by accessing Settings > About the phone And by tapping the build number seven times. From there, navigate to Developer options > Window Animation Scale / Transition Animation Scale / Animator Duration Scale and go to 0.5x option.

2 Setting a custom lock screen message is a good idea

This somewhat obscure Android setting gives me extra peace of mind

From the beginning, Android has let you place a short block of text directly on your phone’s lock screen. In my case, I often set this up with a secondary phone number, in case I misplace my phone and a good Sameritan happens to find it. Typically this message reads some variation of: “if found, please contact xxx.xxx.xxxx.”

To add your own custom lock screen message, go to Settings > View and touch > Lock screen > Add text to the lock screen. From there you can enter the text you want.

3 Double-tapping the app switcher saves a lot of time

The functionality works a bit like alt+tab on a PC

While most Android phones now come with gesture-based navigation by default, traditional 3-button software navigation remains available for those who prefer it. One benefit of choosing buttons over gestures is the access it provides to a little-known shortcut: you can double-tap the multitasking key to quickly switch between your two most recently running apps. It’s easy to miss this feature, but it allows a desktop computer-like a mobile navigation tool that I always use.

To take advantage of Android’s built-in quick app switching feature, you must first enable the soft button navigation option. Go to Settings > System > Navigation mode > 3-button navigation. Once enabled, simply double-tap the dedicated multitasking key (shaped in a square) to quickly switch between recently opened apps.

4 App pinning is both convenient and ingenious

For some reason the setting is hidden on most Android versions

One of the most underrated Android settings is a little-known option called app pinning. When enabled, the feature allows you to lock a specific app to run in the foreground on your phone, while temporarily denying access to the rest of the operating system. This tool comes in handy when you hand your phone over to someone to make a quick phone call, providing an extra layer of security.

For one reason or another, most versions of Android ship with the feature disabled by default. To enable the Android app pinning feature, go to Settings > Security and Privacy > More security settings > Application pinning And activate the option. Once enabled, it’s easy to pin apps directly through your phone’s multitasking screen. Simply tap the icon of a running appand then hit the pin button.

5 Third-party launchers keep the smartphone experience fresh

App launchers offer countless benefits, but almost no one knows about them

Android launchers are apps that replace the operating system’s home screen and offer a ton of customization options. Of course, the existence of launchers is well known in most Android circles, but they remain a niche option on a larger scale. There are a ton of great third-party launchers available for download: some of my current favorites include Niagara launcherLawnchair and Olauncher.

To switch between installed home launchers, simply go to Settings > Applications > Default apps > Home application and select it from the list provided. Note that you will need to download and install launcher apps from the Google Play Store or other sources for them to appear on the screen.