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Google’s Pixel 7 and & Pro are two of the newest Android devices to hit the smartphone market, and if you finally got your hands on one, then congrats on your purchase. If you’re new to Google Pixel phones, you might be looking for ways to get the most use from your Pixel, beyond the usual set of apps that you use it for.
With that said, we’ve prepared a list of things that you should check out on your Pixel 7 to make the most of its many helpful features. It’s really “smart” as far as smartphones go, and we hope this guide lets you get the most use out of your device. Let’s get started!
Check for Updates
Pixel phones are known for getting regular software and security updates, which usually arrive within the first week of each month. With that said, you’re going to want to keep your Pixel 7 updated, and you can easily check for an update by heading into Settings > System > System Update > Check for Update.
Instantly Change your Wallpaper
If you tend to change your wallpapers very often, the Pixel offers a quick way to do this. Simply go to your home screen, Tap & Hold > Wallpaper & Style where you’ll find your most recent wallpapers displayed in thumbnail format – a quick tap will let you swap wallpapers easily.
Use Dark Mode
If you’re in the mood for a darker interface on your phone, you can set it to stay in dark mode. Head to your home screen, Tap & Hold > Wallpaper & Style to access the Dark Theme switch, so your entire phone will display a darker background whenever you’re using it. You can also do this by swiping down from the top of your screen to access the Dark Mode toggle.
Explore the Search Bar
If there are apps or settings that you want to search for instantly, you can quickly look for them by using the search bar on your Pixel 7. From your home screen, Swipe up to Open App Drawer > Tap on Search Bar where you can then enter your search term. This can be anything from an app, to certain settings and options, and in case the item’s not available on your phone, it will give you the option to search online via Google or the Play Store.
Use the Voice Assistant
One of the best features of Android that’s also available on the Pixel 7 is the Google Assistant app, which is a convenient tool for setting appointments, reminders, and even basic internet searches. You’ll have to download it from the Play Store to set it up, and once it’s on your phone you can activate it by tapping on the Assistant Icon on the home screen, or simply saying “Hey, Google.”
Use Voice Typing
Google’s Pixel phones come with Assistant Voice Typing, which is faster and more accurate than the usual voice typing tool in most Android phones. You can easily access this on your Pixel by Typing in an empty text field > Tapping on the microphone icon in the right-hand corner of your keyboard, which should then light up to let you know that it’s ready to transcribe your speech into text.
Customize your Navigation Method
With the Pixel 7, you can choose your navigation input between buttons and gestures, which means less tapping and more swiping on your phone’s display to swap between apps and multitask as well. To change your navigation method, simply head into Settings > System > Gestures > System Navigation to choose between buttons and gestures.
Use Quick Tap Gestures
The Pixel 7 lets you open apps or perform certain actions with its Quick Tap feature. To use this, simply head into Settings > System > Gestures > Quick Tap to start actions, which will let you choose a certain app or action when tapping the back of your phone.
Take Screenshots Without Pressing Buttons
Usually, most Android phones will require you to press a combination of buttons to take a screenshot. With the Pixel 7, you can easily take a screenshot by swiping up/tapping “Square” to access the multitasking menu and then tapping on Screenshot to save a snap of whatever app you’re currently using.
Turn Off ALL Your Notifications
While we all use our smartphones for communication, there are times when you might want to take a break from the constant beeping and buzzing from apps and notifications, in which case you’ll want to activate the Pixel 7’s Do Not Disturb mode. You can quickly do this by Swiping from the top of your screen > Tap on Do Not Disturb to silence all incoming calls and notifications. Holding on the button will give you more options to schedule it.
Use Extreme Battery Saver
If your battery’s in a pinch but you don’t have access to a charger, you can try out Extreme Battery Saver to save your remaining power. Open Settings > Battery > Battery Saver > Extreme Battery Saver, which will then allow your phone to only use a handful of essential apps, cutting down on battery drain.
Change your Screen’s Refresh Rate
Another way to save on battery life is to change your Pixel’s refresh rate. To do this, simply go to Settings > Display > Smooth Display where you’ll find an option to turn off the 90Hz refresh rate. Keep in mind though that this will result in a less smooth-looking scrolling motion when using your phone.
Keep it Secure with Fingerprint Unlock
You can keep your Pixel 7 secure by using your fingerprint, which can be easily registered in your phone’s settings menu. Simply go to Settings > Security > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock to prompt the fingerprint registration process. You can add up to a total of five fingerprints, which makes things a bit more convenient when handling your phone.
Keep it Secure with Face Unlock
In case you want a slightly faster way to unlock your phone, you can also use Face Unlock to open your Pixel 7. Head over to Settings > Security > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Face Unlock to set up your face model for the phone. Do take note though that you can only save one face model, which can only be used for unlocking your screen.
Change Languages in Certain Apps
With Android 13 on the Pixel 7, there’s now an option to set certain apps to a specific language, which should be handy for multilingual users. You can access this by going into Settings > System > Language and Input > App Languages, and then selecting the specific apps you’d like to use with this feature.
Customize Your Lock Screen Options
You can also change the way the lock screen looks on your Pixel 7 by heading into Settings > Display > Lock Screen > Double-line Clock to change the appearance of the clock’s display on your lock screen. For smart home controls, you can also head to Settings > Display > Lock Screen > Control from Locked Device to gain access to your smart devices without fully unlocking your phone.
Use Magic Eraser
The Pixel 7 takes great photos, but in case someone accidentally (or purposely) photobombs your picture, you can always erase them thanks to the Magic Eraser tool. Simply tap on your picture in the Photos App > Edit > Tools > Magic Eraser, and you should then see suggestions with an option to erase any and all photobombers. You can also select your own specific targets to erase, which also works on non-human subjects.
Use Google Lens
A cool feature that you can use with the Pixel 7’s camera is Google Lens, which lets you use photos to search for information online. Simply open your Camera > Modes > Lens to use the shutter button to take photos and activate the search feature.
Use Cinematic Video
A new feature that Google has introduced with the Pixel 7 series is Cinematic mode, which adds a background blur effect and 24-frame capture to videos. You can easily use this by opening your Camera > Cinematic to shoot cinematic-style videos.
View the Android 13 Easter Egg
Finally, Android 13 comes with a new “Easter egg” animation that you can view on the Pixel 7. Simply go into Settings > About Phone > Android Version and tap on the Android version number several times until a clock pops up on your screen. If you set the hands to 1:00 PM (or 13:00 if you use a 24-hour format), you’ll be presented with a pleasant little animation sequence, and you can even change the appearance of the icons by tapping and holding on them.
We hope these quick tips were able to help you set up your phone and access some of its important features. If you want to learn more about Google’s other Pixel phones, then we’d recommend checking out our other articles as well.
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