No matter which Android phone you have, it comes with a set of default settings. These options include brightness, organization, and light mode, but just because they’re the default doesn’t mean you have to use them.
However, before you begin configuring these settings, you must first understand where they are and what they can do for you. We’ll go over settings that can help you improve your battery life, clear up the clutter on your home screen, locate a stolen or lost device, and get more out of your Android smartphone.
OPTIONS FOR EXTENDING BATTERY LIFE
- Turn off auto/adaptive screen brightness and set the brightness level slider to less than 50%.
- Take advantage of Adaptive Battery and Battery Optimization.
They concentrate on understanding how you use your phone, determining which apps you use and when, and then optimizing the apps and the amount of battery they consume.
- Using dark mode.
Using Android’s dedicated dark mode is another way to improve battery life while also helping to save your eyes. A dedicated dark mode option will be available on any Android phone running Android 10 or later.
According to Google, dark mode not only reduces the strain on our eyes caused by smartphone displays, but it also improves battery life because displaying dark backgrounds on OLED displays (used in most flagship phones) uses less power than displaying a white background.
To enable it,
launch the Settings app and look for Dark Mode, Dark Theme, or Night Mode. I recommend using dark mode all the time, but if you’re unsure, you can always set it to turn on on a schedule, say from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day, or allow it to switch based on your location at the time of sunset/sunrise.
INCREASING VIRUS PROTECTION
With recent news about fake antivirus apps, smartphone users are likely to be more concerned about how to protect their device. Aside from purchasing a legitimate antivirus product, you should also be more cautious about what you allow to be installed on your device. The best way to accomplish this is to disable the Unknown Sources setting. When activated, you gain the ability to download and install third-party apps, which means you are not limited to what the Google Play Store offers. Third-party sites and stores, on the other hand, do not typically have the stringent security measures that Google does.
When activated, you gain the ability to download and install third-party apps, which means you are not limited to what the Google Play Store offers. Third-party sites and stores, on the other hand, typically lack Google’s stringent security measures, which cybercriminals love to exploit. This means your phone is vulnerable to malware, Trojans, ransomware, data theft, and other cyber threats.
To prevent malicious apps from being downloaded and installed on your device, go to Settings > Security and turn off Unknown Sources. Of course, in addition to this, make sure to install reputable anti-virus software.
CELLULAR DATA USAGE RESTRICTION
Cellular data can be useful in a world where everyone wants to be as connected to the internet and other people as possible at all times. However, if not managed properly, this service can result in large unwelcome bills. Sometimes you don’t even understand why you keep going over your data limit, even when you’re only using your phone data sparingly.
Background apps that consume a lot of data could be the culprit. Make sure your Data Saver feature is turned on to avoid this. Navigate to Settings > Data Usage > Data Saver and turn it on. If you want to use your phone as a mobile hotspot, you must disable Data Saver. However, if you do not reactivate it after turning off your hotspot, you may incur large charges.
Another method is to disable your Data Roaming settings. If you don’t need constant cellular data access, disable this feature to avoid paying exorbitant service fees. Navigate to Settings > Data Usage. Then, in the top right corner of the screen, tap the three-dot button. Deactivate Data Roaming and select Cellular Network.
BACKING UP DATA
Aside from helping you save storage space, backing up data has numerous advantages. This also ensures that your files, app data, and settings are saved in the cloud. This is useful if your phone’s memory is accidentally or unnecessarily erased. It’s also a good way to ensure that you don’t lose any important data when you change phones.
This is due to the ease with which you can transfer apps and files from your old model to your new one. Back up my data by going to Settings > Backup & Reset. If you have more than one Google account, you must choose which one will serve as your backup account. There are other cloud storage apps for Android, so go ahead and look into them.
INCREASING PHOTO AND VIDEO STORAGE
One of the most common reasons people upgrade their phones is to get more storage. However, purchasing a newer and, in most cases, more expensive model is not always the best solution. You can free up some much-needed space on your phone by changing some settings.
Begin by reducing the size of your photos and videos, as these two tend to consume the most storage space. Images with higher resolutions and videos with higher frame rates tend to consume more storage space. HDR and 4K provide high-quality visuals but are extremely large file types, so they should be used sparingly. Make the necessary adjustments in your Camera app’s settings.
Another excellent suggestion is to back up your photos and videos to Google Photos. This way, they’re all safely stored online, and you can delete them from your smartphone without worrying about losing anything. To enable this setting, open the Google Photos app and select the Menu option. Then navigate to Settings > Backup & Sync and enable this feature.
