Pixel 9 suggestions and methods you should not miss

The mud has largely settled on the Pixel 9 and Google’s newest smartphones are undeniably a essential success. The corporate hasn’t solely made its most polished {hardware} to this point, it is also launched options to Android that make Pixels really feel distinctive compared to nearly each different smartphone on the market. And with the launch of Android 15 and a brand new Pixel Feature Drop, all of Google’s smartphones are getting that a lot better.

Android, on the entire, is rather more stream­lined than it was, with loads of customization choices to make the most of (some adequate that Apple copied them) and AI-powered abilities to attempt to slot in your day by day workflow. In case you simply bought a Pixel 9, however have not explored all of its options, otherwise you’re utilizing the discharge of Android 15 as motivation to place your telephone by its paces, we have got a number of suggestions and methods beneath which might be an ideal instance of what the Pixel 9 is able to.

1 Use Pixel Screenshots to arrange and keep in mind your digital life

Google’s software permits you to construct a searchable library of belongings you’ve seen in your telephone

We have already dived into lots of the new Al-driven features Google used the Pixel 9 to introduce, nevertheless it bears repeating: You need to attempt Pixel Screenshots. Google’s AI imaginative and prescient software bears some similarities to Microsoft’s Recall feature, nevertheless it’s pushed by what you need to screenshot, and will not mechanically seize what’s in your display screen. When the Pixel Screenshots app is energetic, no matter you do need to screenshot will get mechanically cataloged by your Pixel 9, making it each searchable, and in some circumstances, actionable. The Pixel Screenshots app can flip your screenshots into direct hyperlinks to internet pages and calendar occasions, for instance.

The app is ideal for saving data from a textual content or e mail to refer again to later, or a selected merchandise you need to purchase and wish a direct hyperlink to. Google has additionally began integrating the app immediately with Gemini, which suggests you may pull up data along with your voice or a fast textual content immediate to Gemini reasonably than having to go looking by the Screenshots app.

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2 Set off actions by tapping the again of your Pixel 9

In case you’re on the lookout for a simple technique to do among the extra dexterous actions your Pixel 9 requires, Google has its personal tackle Apple’s Back Tap accessibility feature that allows you to use your Pixel to set off a wide range of actions in your telephone. The characteristic known as Fast Faucet, and will be subbed in for abilities which may usually require urgent one or a number of buttons, and as a substitute, subsitituting them with a double or triple faucet on the again of your telephone. When enabled, Fast Faucet can:

• Take a screenshot
• Entry Gemini or Google Assistant
• Play or pause media
• Present current apps
• Present notifications
• Toggle the flashlight
• Open a selected app

If you wish to flip it in your telephone, you will want to move to Settings.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Faucet on System.
3. Faucet on Gestures.
4. Faucet on “Fast Faucet to start out actions.”
5. Then faucet on the Use Fast Faucet toggle, and choose which motion you need to use by tapping on it.

In case you discover that you simply typically by chance set off Fast Faucet, it’s also possible to have your telephone require “stronger faucets” to set off no matter motion you’ve got assigned on the identical Settings display screen.

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3 Reveal your notification historical past even after they have been deleted

Your Pixel can maintain monitor of all of the notifications you’ve got obtained

Like different smartphones, the Pixel 9 has a devoted part or “notification shade” that collects and kinds messages, alerts, and let’s face it, advertisements, out of your varied apps. More often than not, you tackle these notifications or swipe them away and go about your day, however what occurs when you really need the knowledge in a kind of alerts? Properly, Google really has a hidden technique to view the notification historical past in your telephone, it simply must be turned on.

You may need to entry it in Settings by way of the Notifications part or you may simply wait till your notification shade is empty:

1. Swipe down to entry the notification shade.
2. With an empty notification record, faucet with two fingers.
3. Your telephone will swap to the Notification part of Settings.
4. Faucet on Notification Historical past and toggle it on.
5. Any longer, while you two-finger faucet on an empty notification shade you will see your notification historical past.

4 Add your self to a bunch shot with Add Me

Your Pixel can use AI so as to add you to a bunch picture

Google

One of many Pixel 9’s unique talents is a brand new pictures software Google calls “Add Me” that provides you the flexibility to take a bunch picture and not using a tripod, having arms lengthy sufficient for a great selfie, or depend on a separate photographer. Your Pixel 9 basically combines two pictures, one in all you, the photographer, and one other of the individuals you need to be within the picture with, right into a single seamless picture that appears such as you had another person take.

You possibly can entry Add Me immediately within the Digicam app:

1. Open the Digicam app.
2. Faucet on Add Me on the left aspect of the display screen.
3. Comply with the on-screen prompts to scan the house and seize a photograph.
4. Hand-off your telephone to the individuals you simply captured and have them use the onscreen information to shoot a photograph of you.
5. Let your Pixel 9 mix the pictures and create a bunch shot.

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5 Use Stay Caption so as to add captions to audio and video

The Pixel 9 can transcribe audio in your telephone, no matter the place it is from

Pixel telephones have the flexibility so as to add captions and audio description to any sound in your telephone, regardless if it was designed to have subtitles or not. It is referred to as Live Caption, and it goes past video content material, too. In case you’re listening to a podcast or track, your Pixel can caption that audio as properly. This makes use of the identical transcription talents which might be already current in an app like Recorder and turns them into an accessibility superpower that applies to all of the audio in your telephone.

You possibly can flip Stay Caption on by adjusting the amount in your telephone:

1. Press the quantity button.
2. Faucet on the three-dot menu on the backside of the on-screen quantity management.
3. Faucet on Stay Caption (the textual content field icon) close to the underside of the display screen.
4. Comply with any onscreen prompts and captions ought to seem anytime spoken phrases are enjoying in your telephone.

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6 Make your Pixel 9 simpler to make use of one-handed

There is a technique to attain the highest of your large telephone display screen with out getting new fingers

Telephones usually are not getting smaller anytime quickly, and that is unlucky, as a result of not everybody is ready to attain the highest of their telephone display screen with out utilizing two fingers. Pixels do have a built-in technique to get across the huge display screen that may make it easier to attain your notifications or simply something on the high of your display screen. The choice known as One-Handed Mode, and it permits you to swipe the underside of your Pixel reasonably than the highest to entry notifications or just about pull the highest of your display screen down to succeed in what you want.

To activate One-Handed mode:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Faucet on Gestures.
3. Faucet on “One-Handed Mode”.
4. Toggle the characteristic on and determine if you are going to use it for notification or reaching the highest of the display screen.

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7 Be taught extra about no matter is in your display screen with Circle to Search

Search for no matter is in your display screen with a number of faucets

It is extremely doable you’ve got already triggered it by chance, however even when it is over-eager, Circle to Search is among the higher new options Google has added to Android within the final yr. By long-pressing the navigation bar or house button on the backside of your display screen, you may allow Circle to Search and successfully Google something you circle along with your finger. This works on each textual content and pictures, even in movies, and may also be used to translate textual content too. It is extremely helpful for locating issues that may usually be laborious to seek for with textual content alone, and it might soon extend to live video too.

In case you did not allow Circle to Search while you have been first organising your telephone, you may flip it on in Settings:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Faucet on Show & Contact.
3. Faucet on Navigation Mode.
4. Toggle Circle to Search on.
5. Maintain down the underside navigation bar and circle anyplace in your display screen to go looking it.

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Your Pixel 9 is much more highly effective than it appears

Google’s no slouch in relation to updating Android, however years of software program releases imply that there are layers of performance constructed into each Pixel telephone (and most Android units for that matter) that by no means will get totally defined. That is the character of each mature working system (you do not even need to know the sorts of issues Home windows or macOS can do), however contemplating how typically we use our smartphones, determining the Pixel 9 feels extra urgent.

Google Pixel 9

Pixel 9 incorporates a 6.3-inch show and a well-recognized design. It helps the addition of a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens to its rear digicam array alongside Google Gemini and AI options.

The record above is a superb start line for studying what your telephone can really do, however when you’re interested in studying extra nitty-gritty particulars about your telephone, we have got you lined, with guides on discovering hiding apps on your Pixel, and ensuring apps running in the background aren’t ruining your telephone’s efficiency.