The Best Android Hacks To Get The Most Out Of Your Devices

As it stands, there are over 100 million Android smartphone users in the United States, and that number continues to rise. With the devices becoming more popular, the knowledge of how to effectively use them also grows in importance. Unfortunately, not everyone is so familiar with these gadgets.

Plenty of people are oblivious to the number of Android hacks out there on the market. As soon as you start using them, you'll likely love your smartphone or tablet even more. That's why we might need the best Android hacks to get the most out of your devices.

1. Trusted Places saves you from having to use your passcode somewhere you feel safe

Locking your smartphone behind a passcode is an excellent way to keep your device secure. However, it can be a nuisance to have to put in your passcode every time you want to use the gadget. Thankfully, one of these Android hacks can help you to get around this without putting your smartphone in harm's way.

If you enter Settings, then Security & Location, you'll find the option for Smart Lock. Pressing on this will allow you to select Trusted Places, a feature through which you can designate a safe zone. This is somewhere you won't have to use your passcode to access your device, so it's usually good to put your home down for this.

2. On-body detection is the best Android hack for using passcodes on the move

Don't want to deal with security measures when you're not somewhere that you trust? In that case, it might be worth turning to another of the best Android hacks, which allows you to avoid passcodes when you're out and about. It's called On-body detection, and you activate it through Smart Lock in the Security & Location menu in Settings.

By enabling this, your phone will be able to detect when it's in motion, as well as when you put it down on a surface. When it identifies the latter, it won't be possible to unlock it without using the security measures you have in place. While on the move, though, you won't need to rely on your passcode.

3. Screen pinning stops others seeing what else is on your smartphone

There are many instances where you might feel compelled to show your screen to someone else. Unfortunately, doing this can be risky if there's something on your phone you don't want others to see. Thankfully, a simple way around this is to use one of the best Android phone hacks, which entails pinning whatever's on your screen.

Doing this prevents anyone from looking at what else is on your device unless they press the back button and overview key simultaneously. You can activate this feature through the Screen Pinning option in Security & Location. Once it's on, just find what you want to show someone and press the pin icon to lock the screen in place.

4. Some Android hacks let you create a QR code for your Wi-Fi

If you've invited people over to your place for the first time, or you've gotten a new Wi-Fi router, there's one question you're bound to get asked: "What's the Wi-Fi password?" When you're asked this enough times, it can get frustrating to the point that you wish there was an easier way to give everyone what they want.

This is where the best hacks for Android have you covered. By searching "qr4 Android" on Google and opening the necessary link, you'll be able to create a QR code for your Wi-Fi. You just need to put in certain details, like your SSID, and then you'll have a code to print off and put somewhere convenient.

5. Guest Mode stops others from snooping on your data

Have someone close to you that needs to borrow your cell phone? If so, one of the best Android hacks might prove useful. After all, you might be reluctant to give free rein of your device to another person. With this hack, though, you can stop them from seeing things they shouldn't while still having access to everything they need.

To utilize this, all you have to do is swipe down on your screen, select User, then "Add guest." They won't be able to see your photos, contacts - anything like that - so you don't have to freak out while they're using your device. Plus, the device remembers the last session, which is useful if they need your smartphone regularly.

6. Registering your fingerprint multiple times will ensure your device can always identify it

Some of the best Android hacks revolve around improving the security of your device. The more of these you utilize, the easier it may be to reduce concerns about being robbed. Unlocking your smartphone or tablet with a fingerprint instead of a passcode might be better, especially if you make use of one of these hacks for Android.

By going to Security & Location in Settings and then selecting Fingerprint, you can help your device get a strong idea of what your fingerprint looks like. Even if you've already registered your fingerprint, select Add Fingerprint and follow the instructions from different angles and positions. Doing this several times should ensure there's no mistaking your fingerprint with anyone else's.

7. The Status Bar finally lets Android users see their battery percentage

Smartphones and tablets can only help you if they're turned on. Unfortunately, if you don't keep an eye on the battery's charge, they can suddenly shut down, which isn't ideal if you're on the move. Of course, it's standard for these devices to show how charged up they are, although newer Android models tend to be vague about this.

For an exact understanding of how much charge is left in your smartphone or tablet, you'll want to visit the Settings menu and go to System. In here, open up the System UI Tuner, and you should see an option for Status Bar. Then, select Battery and choose "Always Show Percentage" so this vital data will constantly be on display.

8. Turning off Bluetooth and GPS can help reduce battery drain

Even if you use the best Android hacks to find out your battery percentage, that won't necessarily stop you from draining the battery too quickly. Luckily, you needn't worry because there are other hacks for Android that can resolve this issue. It's worth familiarizing yourself with these, especially if you've owned your devices for a while.

One thing worth doing is switching things like Bluetooth and GPS off in the Settings. These can naturally drain a lot of charge, even if you're not using your smartphone much. If you need to use GPS, you can always set it to the Battery Saving feature. This will make it more battery efficient while still offering GPS access.

9. Switch app sync off and adjusting brightness and keyboard sounds also helps

There are other Android hacks that are just as useful for reducing the strain on your battery, so it holds a charge for longer. Going into Accounts and turning off app sync is another useful option. It can really make a difference with social media and messenger apps. If battery life is still an issue after this, go to Battery.

Through this option in the Settings menu, you can make useful adjustments, such as lowering the screen brightness. Removing the sound and vibration elements from your keyboard are also an idea, which you can do in Language & Input. Just select Google Keyboard and then Preferences to make the changes. These small alterations could make quite the difference to your battery.

10. Go into Developer Options to see which apps are causing slowdown on your device

A battery that drains too quickly is a sign that your device is aging, which is why these Android hacks are so useful. This isn't the only indicator of age, though. If your smartphone or tablet also starts running slower, it may be getting on the old side. That doesn't mean you have to buy a new model yet, though.

Instead, go to Process Stats in Developer Options so you can see which apps are responsible for your device slowing down. If you don't already have Developer Options available, enter the About Phone option in Settings and press on the Build Number multiple times. A prompt will appear after you've done this enough, which will then give you access.

11. How do you change the volume on an Android phone?

Smartphones have so many different purposes. Nowadays, many people use these devices as alarm clocks to wake them up in the morning. You typically need the volume to be quite loud for this, which can be a nuisance if you want your device to be quiet the rest of the time. Thankfully, there are android hacks to help with this.

Swipe down on your screen and select the Volume option that's there. Doing this will offer several different volume types with a slider for each one. This allows you to adjust the sound of your ringtone, media, and alarm individually, so they're not all restricted to the same volume. Simply set them however you see fit.

12. Asking Google what song is playing is easier than using Shazam 

It can be frustrating when you get a song stuck in your head, especially if you can't remember its title or who it's by. This is why apps like Shazam exist, so you can record what's playing around you and get the answers you're looking for. Why use Shazam when there are Android hacks that are just as effective, though?

Rather than filling up storage space with an extra app, simply open Google Search and tap the microphone symbol. If you ask Google, "What song is this?" your device will listen to what's playing and try to answer your question accurately. Provided the audio is clear, it should come up with the song, its lyrics, and other details.

13. Using Android to reduce blue light emission should help you fall asleep

Do you ever have trouble falling asleep at night? It's possible that your phone is to blame. The blue light these devices emit is one of the biggest offenders for sleeping difficulties, meaning you shouldn't use them right before going to bed. Unfortunately, it can be hard to put your smartphone down when you're awake.

As a compromise, it's worth trying one of these Android hacks. Simply download the app Twilight from the Play Store, which will sync your device's brightness and color settings with the sun's cycle. This reduces blue light emissions and increases your body's ability to produce melatonin, which is what you need to help you fall asleep.

14. Android devices can react differently, depending on how many fingers you use

Have you ever investigated all the quirks that smartphones have these days? Each new model offers different ways to interact with it, ensuring the user experience becomes increasingly efficient and varied. Take swiping, for instance. If you do this with one finger, it pulls down your notifications. Using two, however, brings you the quick menu settings instead.

Knowing that the number of fingers you use can make such a difference, it's tempting to play around with various techniques to see what happens. Saying that, according to Buzzfeed, this is one of those Android hacks that apparently doesn't work on all devices. It reportedly needs to be a stock Android or run a ROM based on one.

15. There are hacks for Android that make zooming in and out easy

If you've never thought about using two fingers on your smartphone screen, these Android hacks might convince you to start experimenting. After all, swiping isn't the only option at your disposal. You can also zoom in and out with two fingers, making it easier to see stuff that might be too much on the smaller side.

You can make this possible by opening Settings, then Accessibility, then Magnification Gestures. Turning this on will mean you can also triple-tap to zoom in, along with pinching and pulling apart with two fingers. If you use Google Maps, you should only need to double-tap for the screen to start slowly zooming into your desired location.

16. You can download Google maps to use even when you're offline

Speaking of Google Maps, another of the best Android hacks utilizes this app. This makes it possible for you to save maps for offline use, so you don't always need to be connected to the internet. It's incredibly helpful if you get lost somewhere that doesn't have great cell service, an issue that does still exist today.

All you have to do is open up Google Maps and find where it is you wish to travel to. Once you've located it, select the search bar and turn off your keyboard. You want to scroll down until you see the option Download, which you simply tap to save a copy of the map.

17. Prey is an app that can prove useful if your phone goes missing or is stolen

It's said that the majority of millennials use their smartphones more than they feel they should. If that's the case, the risk of these devices being lost or stolen should be lower. However, that doesn't rule out the possibility completely, meaning it's worth having certain measures in place to help if that happens. This is where Android hacks come in.

Something worth doing is downloading the app Prey, which identifies your phone's location through Wi-Fi and GPS. If necessary, it can access the front-facing camera to take a picture of whoever's got your phone and also identify if there are any changes to the SIM card. You just need to access the app from another device to utilize these features.

18. Locating, locking, and erasing your phone is possible to do remotely

The more Android hacks there are to protect your privacy, the better. Some more that are worth implementing are all readily available on your device, so you simply need to switch them on before your smartphone goes missing. You'll want to have your Find My Device and Location settings enabled while also being visible on Google Play.

If you've signed into a Google Account, these features should mean you can locate your device through Android's website when it gets stolen. Provided the phone is connected to the internet, you should be able to receive its approximate location, lock it, ring it, or remove all of its data. However, this last option stops Find My Device from working.

19. Switching between Wi-Fi and data is much easier when you know how

Having a data connection really makes a difference when you're out and about. With this, you never have to worry about being separated from the internet, regardless of whether you're near Wi-Fi. What's more, if your Wi-Fi connection is weak or suffering issues, a data connection means you still have internet access while it sorts itself out.

Unfortunately, it can be annoying to switch between the two, and it doesn't work effectively every time. To combat that, you might want to consider downloading the Edgewise Connect app. Through this, moving between Wi-Fi and data is much simpler, with the added benefit that the app also acts as a VPN, so certain things become easier to access.

20. You can restrict what notifications you receive through Priority Mode

The more social you are and the more apps you use, the likelier you are to receive notifications frequently. This can quickly get annoying if your device is pinging with something new every few minutes. Fortunately, there are hacks for Android phones that ensure you don't get disturbed unless something or someone important is trying to reach you.

By pressing a volume button down, you can access Priority mode, where it's possible to adjust what notifications you receive. You can alter what calls come through, whose messages you receive, and more. Plus, you can set a time limit so that your notifications aren't permanently limited to the essentials. It's only when you need to avoid distractions.

21. Android users can permanently send calls from annoying contacts to voicemail

Priority Mode is one of those Android hacks that's useful for short periods when you need to focus. It's not always ideal for long-term use because you might miss out on a lot. Plus, there are other hacks for Android phones that are designed for this, like the ability to send your calls to voicemail.

If there's someone you don't particularly want to talk to, go to your contacts and find them. Then, select the "All calls to voicemail" option so that they never disturb you when they ring up. Depending on the Android model you own, you might have to search for this feature. It may be hidden in Additional Information.

22. Some Android hacks can turn your smartphone into a remote control

With technology continuing to dominate people's lives, there are more devices than ever available at your disposal. Many of these come with remote controls, meaning something else that's liable to go missing at any moment. Fortunately, you can save yourself repeatedly looking between couch cushions by adopting one of the Android hacks that turn your smartphone into a remote.

It's possible to access plenty of devices from one Android phone, although you might need different apps for different things. For instance, Gmote tends to be best on computers. You just need to install it on both devices, and you're good to go. As for televisions, AnyMote is a great option, as long as your phone has an IR blaster.

23. With the right cables, you don't need a Chromecast to connect your phone to a TV

With a Chromecast plugged into your TV, broadcasting your media on a bigger screen shouldn't be much of an issue. Of course, not everyone has one of these helpful devices, nor do they want to spend money on such a convenience. Thankfully, you don't have to. Connecting to a TV is still possible with an Android device through other means.

For this to work, you will need to invest in an HDMI to micro HDMI cable if you don't already own one. Most Android devices have a micro HDMI slot that you can plug this cable in, but there are exceptions to the rule. In that instance, you'll also need an MHL adaptor, which will act as a middleman.

24. There is a way to use a mouse on your Android phone

A mouse is a pretty essential piece of equipment for any computer unless it's a touch-screen model. The same can't be said for smartphones, though, where movement is easy to do with the swipe of a finger. Still, just because such devices don't need a mouse to be functional, that doesn't mean they can't be helpful.

Unfortunately, as Android hacks go, this isn't as simple as it could be. You can't simply plug a mouse's USB into a smartphone because it doesn't have a port big enough. Thankfully, it's not too hard to work around this - you just need a USB on-the-go cable. Connect this to your mouse and phone, and everything should work perfectly.

25. USB on-the-go cables mean keyboards can be connected to Androids

Not entirely convinced about spending money on a USB on-the-go cable? What if we told you there are other Android hacks where this can also come in handy? Along with making connections between your smartphone and mouse possible, it also lets you attach your keyboard to this device too. This can be more helpful than it seems.

If you frequently make mistakes when typing on your phone because the screen is too small, a physical keyboard might make a big difference. Just be aware that these gadgets won't work with every device. For these Android hacks to be useful, your phone will need to support peripherals with the cable. It has to have the right hardware.

26. Holding down the return key on the keyboard will shift it to the right

As smartphones have become more advanced, they've grown in size to accommodate the new hardware. Not only has this made them harder to hold in one hand, but it's also caused some difficulties with typing. After all, if the screen is too big, it's not always easy for your thumb to reach the far side of the keyboard.

The good news is that smartphone developers are aware of this, so there are some Android hacks to help you out. If you open the Google Keyboard, a hand icon should appear when you hold the return key down. Select this, and your keyboard should shift to the right, making it much easier to reach everything.

27. Gesture typing is one of the hacks for Android phones that's a useful typing alternative

Don't care much for typing? That's okay; most Android devices are designed for multiple input methods. If you don't wish to tap every individual key, you can always opt for something like gesture typing instead. This lets you drag your finger across your desired letters. It's one of those Android hacks that's meant to make typing more efficient.

It doesn't offer 100% perfect accuracy, but then how often have you typed a message normally that's had some errors? This feature might work better on some devices than others, but it's worth trying regardless. You just need to find System in Settings, then open up Virtual Keyboard in the Language & Input option. Glide Typing is available in Gboard.

28. The Notification Log gives you access to notifications you previously swiped away

Popularity can be both a blessing and a curse. With regards to your phone, it can be quite a nuisance because you're constantly getting notifications through. In frustration, you might swipe them all away, only realizing later that you may have overlooked something important. Thankfully, Android hacks exist to undo this mistake, so it doesn't come back to bite you.

By holding onto the home screen, you should gain access to screen-adjustment mode. Through this, you should find an option for Settings Shortcut under Widgets. Drag this onto the home screen, then look for the Notification Log. This will show you everything that came through, so you can look back to see if anything essential was swiped away.

29. Don't tell people about apps when you can share them instead

Whenever you find a good app on your phone, you might feel inclined to share it with friends and family. You could do this by sending them a message, but why bother when there are Android hacks that make sharing much more efficient? You just need to ensure that your Google Play is no earlier than version 24.0.

You can check if it's up to date enough by going into Settings and pressing Apps & Notifications. It should be clear to see in the Advanced Setting of Google Play Store. If you're good to go, open the app and press the three lines in the top corner. Through My Apps & Games, you should see the option to share.

30. Apps won't open by default when you select a web link if you change a certain setting 

Smartphones love doing things to try and make the user experience more efficient. However, their efforts aren't always successful. For instance, when a web link opens a corresponding app on your phone. This can be annoying and actually consume more of your time, which isn't what you want. Thankfully, the best Android hacks stop this from happening.

You'll need to go to Settings, then Apps & Notifications to tackle this. From here, you'll want to find any app that opens automatically when you click on a web link. After that, you just change the option of "Open by Default" to "Clear Defaults." Go ahead and do this for every app that has this problem.

31. Certain Android hacks will help you deal with unwanted pre-installed apps

Every time you buy a new smartphone, it comes with a bunch of apps already installed. Some of these will be incredibly useful to you; others won't. Thankfully, if there are any apps you have no use for, you don't have to hold on to them. You can free up space in your storage with the right Android hacks.

For some of these apps, you can simply go to the Google Play store and uninstall them there. However, this won't be possible for everything. For those that you can't remove this way, go to Settings and find the apps you don't want. Select them and press the "Disable" option so they won't run in the background anymore.

32. There's a simple way to split your screen on your phone

With Android devices seeming to grow bigger every year, the screens are now big enough to have two apps side-by-side without either being too difficult to see. This is convenient for things like watching YouTube while browsing social media or something similar. Of course, to utilize this split-screen functionality, you'll need to know the necessary Android hacks.

First off, press the Overview button and choose the apps you want on your screen. Drag the first one to the top or left, depending on how you want the orientation. Afterward, press the second app you want to use, and it should fill the other half of the screen. That's all there is to it.

33. Hard-to-read websites become easier when you have Reader Mode on

Android devices might be getting bigger, but that doesn't mean all screens are the same size. For those that are smaller, reading text can occasionally be an issue. That's unless you adopt one of the best Android hacks, which adjusts a webpage's layout so that the text takes all the focus. This is a feature known as Reader Mode.

If this isn't already available, open your browser URL and type in "Chrome://flags." You then need to go to Find in Page and select the Reader Mode Toolbar icon. Once you enable this, you should notice that a symbol of an "A" with lines next to it will appear by your URL. Pressing this opens up Reader Mode.

34. Apps like Flynx load webpages without you leaving the site you're currently on

The average American spent more than 1,300 hours scrolling through social media in 2021. With people dedicating so much time to these sites a day, it's almost inevitable that they'll encounter interesting links that will take them to other sites. The problem with selecting these is that they take you away from what you were doing.

Fortunately, if you download Flynx, this stops being a problem. Now, when you select a link, a bubble appears that loads the webpage. Once it's finished, you can select the bubble to view the link, then swipe down when you're finished. You can do this with multiple websites at once, which also makes things easier.

35. There are simple ways to turn the mobile version of a site into the desktop version

As smartphone usage has increased, more websites have become optimized for smaller devices. Now, when you open a link on your phone, it will almost definitely take you to a mobile version of the site. While that can be helpful, these versions sometimes exclude features from the desktop site, which you may still want access to.

If you do want to see the desktop version of a webpage, we've got Android hacks to help you out. After you've opened a site, press on the three dots in the upper right corner, and a drop-down menu will appear. One of the options that come up should be "Desktop site," which you simply need to click.

36. Social media conversations can become chat bubbles with ease

The purpose of phones has always been to allow communication between two people who are separated by a significant distance. Over time, the different ways that you can communicate with someone through such a device have grown. One of the more recent Android hacks for this purpose involves using chat bubbles courtesy of a feature in the Settings menu.

If you go into Apps & Notifications, you should see the option for Bubbles in the Notifications area. You can then turn whatever chat you want into a bubble by going into Conversations. This functionality works with the majority of social media networks, so you shouldn't have trouble turning your desired convo into one of these convenient bubbles.

37. There are ways to change home screen icons with custom packs from the internet 

It's amazing how many ways you can personalize your smartphone. From buying a case for the back to changing the screen wallpaper, you can easily make the device feel unique to you. Of course, there are limits to how much you can change, although the best Android hacks can push those limits to a certain extent.

For example, you can alter the icons on your home screen to something like Pokéballs if you're a fan of Pokémon. All you'll need is a pack that you simply download from the internet through an app launcher like Apex or Nova. There's a wide variety out there, so it hopefully shouldn't be hard finding something that speaks to you.

38. Android users can choose which apps have priority on the home screen 

It's inevitable that out of all the apps on your device, you'll use some more than others. With this being the case, it probably makes sense for those more popular apps to be more readily available. Luckily, there are Android hacks that let you set shortcuts so you can get to these easier than everything else on your phone.

Although the home screen typically puts things like phone calls and texts at the forefront, you can switch them with other apps in the Apps & Notifications option in Settings. Go to Default Apps and pick which of the current apps you want to change. Once you've chosen what you want to replace it with, you're all set.

39. The Button Mapper app lets you adjust certain actions to have specific results

Other Android hacks have shown that doing different things with your devices can produce different results. This stuff isn't all predetermined, though. It's possible to adjust your settings so that certain actions produce specific outcomes. For example, tapping the back button twice could open up the camera app. You'll need a certain app if you want to do this, though.

Go to the Google Play Store and locate the Button Mapper app. With that downloaded, you simply need to open it up and start customizing your actions. You can set your device to respond to things like holding the screen down for several seconds or tapping repeatedly. There are plenty of options at your disposal here.

40. Android phones have the ability to set which screen orientation you prefer

One of the most basic features of smartphones is that they work in more than one orientation. Turn the device sideways, and everything becomes horizontal, which is particularly useful for watching videos. This tends to work effectively when you tilt to the left or right, but not usually when you flip the phone upside down.

This can be frustrating because having it at this orientation would be more efficient when your device is charging. Luckily, there are Android hacks that can resolve this problem. All you need is the Rotation Control app, which lets you designate what orientation you want. It also lets you fix it in place or tilt it as you see fit.

41. One simple setting change means you can use Google Assistant at any point

Google Assistant is one of the most useful features that Android devices have. With this, you can ask all sorts of questions and make tons of requests, most of which it should be able to answer and complete. The only downside is that it's not always as easy to access as you might like it to be.

Rather than going to the home screen or search bar to access this feature, Android hacks let you make it available just by saying, "Ok Google." You simply need to go to Settings and find Voice Match in the Voice option. Here, you should see something that reads "Enable with Voice Match," which you just need to select.

42. The best Android hacks let you record what's happening on your screen 

Screen recording hasn't always been an option on Android devices. Thankfully, with hardware constantly improving, these smartphones are now capable of capturing what's happening on your phone. However, if you want to record your screen, you'll need to download an app that offers this function. Something like AZ Screen Recorder should do the job for you.

Through this app, you can not only record your screen but also edit and trim your content. It will even provide a countdown before it starts recording. For it to work, you merely need to open an app and select the camera button in the app's overlay. It will record your screen until you swipe down and tap to stop.

43. There are simple ways to record all of your phone conversations

Want to record more than just what's on your screen? Thankfully, Android devices have the functionality to record other things, too, such as phone conversations. Once again, though, you'll need the right app for this to work. Call Recorder - ACR might be worth turning to here as it's one of the better options available to you.

With this installed, it will proceed to run in the background during your phone calls. You can enter the app to listen back to past recordings simply by selecting the name of whoever you spoke with over the phone. Just be sure to get their consent if you plan on keeping their conversations or using them for something.

44. You don't have to waste your time sitting on hold with an Android phone

If you hate talking to people on the phone, don't worry; plenty of Millennials have phone anxiety. Unfortunately, some phone calls are difficult to avoid. The annoying thing is that these are often calls where you might have to wait in line for who knows how long. As most of us know, there's nothing fun about spending ages on hold.

If you don't have the time to sit and wait for a human to get through to you, you might appreciate these Android hacks. Your Google Assistant can actually sit on hold and then alert you when someone answers. You simply need to press the "Hold For Me" option in the three dots menu when you're on the phone.

45. There are genius ways to use your camera's flash to track your heart rate

It's not a bad idea to be familiar with the workings of your body. With technology so developed nowadays, you don't always have to go to your doctor for such information. Instead, you can rely on apps on your smartphone. There are even Android hacks that let you discover things like how much your heart is beating every minute.

For this, you'll want to download one of the health apps that lets you measure your heart rate using your smartphone's flash. You simply place your finger on the flash, and it uses the camera to look for blood movement beneath the skin. The results won't be more accurate than what a doctor offers, but it's still effective.

46. Compressing your screen can quickly help one-handed users

We mentioned before how Android screens seem to keep getting bigger, which isn't ideal for those who like to use their devices one-handed. Thankfully, there are Android hacks to help people out with this, and they do more than just move the keyboard to the side. Another hack shrinks the screen down so that everything is more accessible.

On some Android devices, if you swipe down at the bottom, there's an option to compress what's on screen. This will make everything within closer range to your thumb, which is optimal for one-handed use. Part of the screen will be blank with this feature active, and you simply need to tap this empty space to return things to normal.

47. There are ways to group photos of the same people together

Most people use their smartphones to take pictures nowadays, prompting a 92% decline in worldwide camera sales over the last decade. The downside of this is that your camera roll might be full of photos without much organization. Luckily, Android hacks can help you here by giving you a way to group some of your images together.

Android devices come with face grouping, which might already be active on your phone. If it's not, you can switch it on by accessing your account in Google Photos. Select Settings, then "Group similar faces," and you'll have the chance to enable it. Through this, your phone will identify people and group their photos together in the app.

48. It's possible to manually tag faces that your device doesn't recognize

Features like face grouping are one of the many reasons why Android devices are great. Unfortunately, they're not perfect, as this feature also demonstrates. Your smartphone might not recognize every single person in your pictures, meaning some of the images go untagged. Luckily, it's now possible to manually tag those photos that confused your device.

There is a slight downside to this in that your phone still needs to acknowledge that there is a face in the photo. Otherwise, it won't let you tag it. If it does see there's a face, though, you can tag the right person by selecting the necessary face in the "Edit faces" option and pressing the "+" symbol.

49. Organizing photos is simple than ever when your phone recognizes faces

It's not just your own photos that you can organize through Android hacks like face grouping. It's also possible to help other people arrange their pictures this way, assuming they're also Android users. To achieve this, you'll want to open the Google Photos app and select the icon with the three lines. Then, select Settings.

Go to "Group similar faces" again, and where it says "No face labeled as me," you'll want to select the option "Choose." Pick a good photo of your face and then make sure that "Allow your contacts to recognize your face" is switched on. If it is, other people's devices will recognize your face in their photos.

50. Equalizer apps are the way to go to unlock the full potential for volume control

Are those Android hacks for changing volume not doing everything that you need them to? In that case, it might be time for you to download an Equalizer app for your smartphone. This will give you even greater control over your device's volume, ensuring that all the sounds come out exactly as you want them to.

There's quite a variety of Android Equalizer apps, but a good example is 10 Band Equalizer. Given that Android devices are limited to five bands, the fact that this app offers ten means you can really make the most of your device's sound settings. Plus, it works with most music apps, so it's great for playing your tunes.

51. The Linux interface is accessible without rooting your device

For those that really want to get everything out of their Android device, rooting is always an option. However, it's something that some people might be reluctant to do. Thankfully, you can enjoy so many Android hacks without going down this route, including accessing the Linux interface. This used to only be possible if you rooted your smartphone.

To take advantage of this hack, you'll need the Debian Noroot app, which you simply need to open and download the interface from. Once that's done, you can select the programs that you're interested in and install them individually. If you already use this interface elsewhere, a hack like this can really come in helpful.

52. Notifications are accessible across multiple devices with the Pushbullet app

If you have your phone on you throughout the day, keeping track of your notifications might not be much of an issue. There's always a chance you might misplace your device somewhere and not find it for a few hours, though. Who knows what notifications you might miss in that time, hence the importance of these Android hacks.

By downloading the Pushbullet app, you can link your smartphone or tablet to your computer so that it also receives your notifications. That way, you don't have to worry about having those devices on you at all times. Plus, this app makes file sharing more efficient, so you can save yourself the hassle of sending things to yourself via email.

53. The Digital Wellbeing Suite exists to curb excessive app usage

Knowing how much people used their phones last year, you might feel like it's time to tone down your usage a little. How do you cut down when you're so accustomed to being on your smartphone all the time, though? Well, there are Android hacks to help with this, such as the Digital Wellbeing Suite.

This feature should be available for all Android 9 and above devices. It provides detailed information regarding how much you use each app, so you can see where changes might be necessary. It also allows you to set time restrictions on apps, so you don't use them more than you want to. It's the small changes that make big differences.

54. Creating a backup is one of the most important ways to protect your data

With phones being useful in so many ways nowadays, people have a very good reason not to risk losing them. There's a ton of precious data that could be hard to recover if these devices ever get broken or vanish. So, to avoid any potential heartache later on, it's good to adopt several essential Android hacks that protect your data.

This includes creating a backup so that your data is stored somewhere for recovery later on. If you go into Settings and then select System, you'll notice that there's an option for Backup. Make sure your Google Account is connected, then select the option to "Back up now." With any luck, the process shouldn't take too much of your time.

55. Encrypting your phone is a simple ways to add layers of security

If you still don't feel secure after doing a backup, there are other security hacks for Android phones at your disposal. For instance, you can encrypt your device. To do this, you'll need to find Security in Settings, then choose a passcode. Enter this, choose Encrypt Phone, and finally, Encrypt SD Card. This won't be a quick process.

Doing this is excellent as it makes all your data a lot more secure because it's all scrambled by a cryptographic key. This should stop others from accessing what's on your phone if they steal it. However, it can be quite a drain on your phone's battery performance, so you might want to adopt other Android hacks to counteract this.