Hidden Android Features

Hidden Android Features You Should Know About (2025 Update)

Updated: July 24, 2025 • Works with recent Android versions (menus may vary by device/OEM)

Android hides a lot of super-useful tools in plain sight. This guide spotlights lesser-known features that boost privacy, speed, sharing, and accessibility—complete with exact menu paths and official references.

Table of Contents

1. Notification History
2. Quick Share (Nearby Share)
3. Guest Mode & App Pinning
4. One-handed Mode & Gestures
5. Live Caption & Sound Amplifier
6. Extra Dim, Color & Magnification
7. Clipboard Access & Privacy Controls
8. Share Wi-Fi by QR & Nearby
9. Digital Wellbeing: Focus & Bedtime
10. Pixel-only gems (Quick Tap, Now Playing)
11. Quick Feature Cheatsheet
12. References

1) Notification History (recover accidental swipes)

1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Notification history.
2. Turn it On. Your dismissed alerts will appear here for review.

Pro tip: Long-press a notification → Manage to quickly change that app’s alert style or silence it.

2) Quick Share (formerly Nearby Share)

Share files, links, or photos to nearby Android/ChromeOS/Windows devices with Bluetooth + Wi-Fi Direct.

1. Open Settings → Google → Devices & sharing → Quick Share (or search “Quick Share”).
2. Set your device visibility (Everyone/Contacts/Your devices).
3. In any app, tap Share → choose Quick Share.

If you don’t see it, look for “Nearby Share”—older builds may still use the previous name.

3) Guest Mode & Screen Pinning (lend your phone safely)

Guest Mode (separate profile)

1. Go to Settings → System → Multiple users (or Users & accounts → Users).
2. Turn on Allow multiple users → Add guest.
3. Switch users from the lock screen or quick settings.

Screen Pinning (lock to one app)

1. Settings → Security & privacy → Advanced → Screen pinning → turn on.
2. Open the app → open Overview → tap the app icon → Pin.
3. Follow the on-screen keys to unpin (varies by navigation mode).

OEM skins (Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.) may place these menus in slightly different locations; search for “Guest” or “Pin” in Settings.

4) One-handed Mode & System Gestures

• One-handed Mode: Settings → System → Gestures → One-handed mode → Lower screen or show notifications with a swipe near the bottom.
• Quickly open camera: Double-press the Power button (works on most phones).
• Split screen: Open Overview → tap the app icon → Split screen.

5) Live Caption & Sound Amplifier (on-device audio boosts)

Live Caption (captions for any media)

1. Press Volume key → tap the caption icon; or go to Settings → Accessibility → Live Caption.
2. Captions appear instantly for videos, podcasts, and voice messages.

Sound Amplifier (clearer audio)

1. Install/enable Sound Amplifier (by Google) if not preinstalled.
2. Open the app → pick mic/headphones → reduce noise and boost speech.

6) Extra Dim, Color Adjustments & Magnification

• Extra Dim: Settings → Accessibility → Extra dim for eye-friendly low brightness at night.
• Color correction / inversion: Settings → Accessibility → Color and motion.
• Magnification: Settings → Accessibility → Magnification to zoom any app with a triple-tap or button.

7) Clipboard Access & Privacy Controls

• Auto-reset app permissions: Settings → Security & privacy → Privacy → ensure Remove permissions if app isn’t used is on.
• Clipboard access alerts: Newer Android shows when apps paste from clipboard; clear the clipboard from the floating overlay after copying sensitive data.
• Approximate Location: Grant Approximate instead of Precise for weather or non-map apps.

8) Share Wi-Fi by QR & Nearby

1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Internet → tap your Wi-Fi name.
2. Tap Share to show a QR code. Friends scan to join (PIN/biometric may be required).
3. Some devices also offer Nearby sharing of Wi-Fi credentials.

9) Digital Wellbeing: Focus, Bedtime & App Timers

1. Open Settings → Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
2. Set Focus mode (pause distracting apps) and Bedtime mode (grayscale + Do Not Disturb).
3. Use App timers to gently limit social media usage.

10) Pixel-only Gems (availability varies)

• Quick Tap (Back tap): Settings → System → Gestures → Quick Tap → set double-tap back for Screenshot, Torch, or a Shortcut.
• Now Playing: Settings → Sound & vibration → Now Playing to identify songs playing around you—on-device, offline.
• Call Screen / Hold for Me: Available in the Phone app on supported regions/models.

If you use Samsung, Xiaomi, etc., look for equivalents in their settings (e.g., Samsung’s One-handed mode, Good Lock modules).

Quick Feature Cheatsheet

Feature	Where to enable	Why it’s useful
Notification History	Settings → Notifications	Recover dismissed alerts
Quick Share	Settings → Google → Devices & sharing	Fast local file sharing
Guest Mode	Settings → System → Multiple users	Share phone safely
Screen Pinning	Settings → Security & privacy → Advanced	Lock to one app
Live Caption	Volume panel / Accessibility	Instant captions on-device
Extra Dim	Settings → Accessibility	Comfort at night
One-handed Mode	Settings → System → Gestures	Easier reach
Wi-Fi Share (QR)	Settings → Internet → Wi-Fi	Join in 2 taps
App Timers	Digital Wellbeing	Reduce distractions

References (Official Help & Docs)

• Android Help — Manage notifications & history
• Android Help — Share files with Quick Share / Nearby Share
• Android Help — Use Guest Mode
• Android Help — Pin a screen (Screen pinning)
• Accessibility — Live Caption
• Accessibility — Extra dim
• Accessibility — Magnification
• Android Help — Digital Wellbeing
• Pixel Help — Use Quick Tap
• Android Help — Share Wi-Fi via QR code

Menu names can differ by Android version and manufacturer skin (Samsung One UI, Xiaomi HyperOS, etc.). Use the Settings search bar if a path isn’t exact.

Enjoyed these tips? Explore more guides on RomaxHub—from document scanning to cloud storage and time-saving app workflows.