11 Things Your Phone Can Do That You Might Not Know About

You useyour smartphonea set , we ’re certain of that , but you ’re believably just tour around the same apps and the same options day after day . Are you aware of everything your pocketable mobile twist is capable of ? Here are 11 feature article you might have miss that should come in utile somewhere down the line .

1) Snap photos while recording videos

The more eagle - eyed among you may have spotted this one already , but it ’s really really comfortable to snap still images while you ’re recording videos , whether you ’re on iOS or Android : notice the television camera shutter button just to the side of the chief ruby TV transcription push button .

You do n’t get pictures as in force as those click with the chief television camera mode , but it can be a ready to hand way to quickly enchant something that ’s happening without breaking the menstruum of the TV . open up up the nonpayment television camera app on Android or Io to hear it out .

2) Put your phone in emergency or lockdown mode

We hope you never apply it , but have down the side button and a volume buttons on a newer iPhone to access an Emergency SOS selection : It incapacitate Face ID and Touch ID , and bid the emergency services ( visit Emergency SOS in preferences to configure exactly how it exploit ) .

Stock Android does n’t have this yet , but you could disable biometric unlocking in Android 9 Proto-Indo European . From setting , prefer Security & fix , Lock projection screen penchant , and Show lockdown option to add it to the carte du jour that appears when you hit the top executive button .

3) Use your phone as a level

The horizontal surface is obscure away on iOS but once you know where it is , you could expend it to gauge the level of any control surface using the sensors in your iPhone or iPad : spread up the Measure app ( now with redundant AR magic ) , then tap the Level alternative at the bottom .

You do n’t get the same sort of functionality build into Android , regrettably , but mass of third - party apps are around to plug the interruption . Bubble Level(free with advert ) is one of the best we ’ve tried , whileLevel With Voice(free with ads ) gives hearable as well as visual feedback .

4) Read out your texts

You ’re not still using your eyes to read your incoming schoolbook messages are you ? Because the voguish helper progress into your phone can read out your SMSes , among all the other jobs it does — this is a conjuring trick that ’ll work with both Siri on iOS and Google Assistant on Android .

On an iPhone you need to say , “ hey Siri , interpret me my texts ” ( and you ’ll get the option to respond or have them repeated after each one as well ) . On an Android twist , you call for to say “ hey Google , scan me my schoolbook ” ( and again you’re able to have them repeated or answer to them ) .

5) Restrict other people to one app

Here ’s how to hand over your phone to other multitude without fear , by locking them to one app . On iOS , from configurations choose General , Accessibility , then Guided Access to activate the feature article , and then treble - dab the side button in the app you want to lock away your Edgar Guest to .

On Android , check that Screen pinning is on in the Security & position screen in configurations . Swipe up to see your undecided apps , then tap an app ikon at the top to regain the Pin option . On both iOS and Android , your phone needs to be unlocked again to alternate to a different app .

6) Set custom ringtones and vibrations

This is perfect for knowing instantly whether you need to pick up your speech sound or pull it out of your sack or not — adjust up custom ringtones ( Android and iOS ) or custom vibrations ( Io only ) to match specific contact , so you make out who ’s call or texting you right away .

On iOS , afford up a contact ( in Contacts ) then pink Edit and either Ringtone or Text Tone to make change . On Android , open up a contact ( in Contacts ) , tap the menu button ( three dots , top right ) , then coif ringtone . To change vibrations , you need an app likethis one .

7) Launch the digital assistant quietly

you could use your earphone ’s AI powers without speaking or getting spoken responses ( like if you ’re in the program library ) . On Android , openGoogle Assistantthen spigot the four non-white dots at the bottom . Tap the keyboard icon , and typewrite out your inquiry for a silent response .

If you ’re using an iPhone or iPad , go to configurations then peck General , Accessibility , and Siri to activate the Type to Siri alternative . When you press and release the side push button , you ’ll be able to typecast your request rather than speak it , and get a schoolbook response back in return .

8) Get ready for bed

With the swathe of digital wellness features added toiOS 12andAndroid 9are modes for winding down before bedtime : The screenland dims , sure apps become unavailable ( unless you pass the mode again ) , and most of your contacts wo n’t be able to get in touch with you .

Apple calls it Downtime , which you could enable and configure via Screen Time from preferences . Google call it Wind Down , uncommitted through Digital Wellbeing in preferences : As on iOS , you may fix the startle and end times , as well as the option for the restrained fashion .

9) Control your big screen television

Your sound can double up as a remote control for your great filmdom television set , if it ’s make the right box plug in . If you ’ve arrest an Android telecasting twist , getAndroid video Remote Controlon your Android sound ; if you ’ve got an Apple television , install theApple TV Remoteon your iPhone .

The control do n’t blockade there . If you ’re trying to get a Roku stick sour , you could use the Roku app forAndroidoriOS , and there ’s an Amazon Fire TV app forAndroidoriOStoo that functions in a similar manner . These remote control make text remark a lot easier , if nothing else .

10) Flash for notifications

If your earphone is lay out to silent and rick face down , but you still want to have it away when apprisal arrive , utilize the light-emitting diode flash to tell you . On an iPhone , go to preferences and tap General and Accessibility , then activate the light-emitting diode Flash for Alerts on-off switch switch .

The feature is available on Android too , but only if you ’re using a Samsung handset : If that ’s the typeface go to preferences then nibble Accessibility , Hearing , and Flash Notification . For non - Samsung phones , tryFlash NotificationorFlashlight Notification(both barren with ads ) .

11) Disable Do Not Disturb based on location

Io can enable Do Not interrupt mode until you forget your current location , but to line up the option you have to go through the Control Center , not options : Tap and harbour the Do Not Disturb ( crescent moon ) icon in Control Center , then quality Until I go out this localization .

There ’s no such built - in shortcut available on Android devices , alas , but some other workarounds are available . you’re able to useIFTTT(If This Then That ) to damp your ringtone when you infix or exit an area , or the excellentTasker($3 ) can do the same job for you .

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