Best 30 smartphone hacks that you never discovered
We search for hacks for just about anything, from improving cooking to managing with daily life. In essence, hacks are methods or suggestions that help us perform things more efficiently and in less time. With smartphones and similar devices becoming an essential part of our everyday lives, it is only inevitable that we do not look for hacks related to them.
These are some of the best hacks that you can try on your smartphone.
Hack 1: To charge your phone faster
The most inconvenient aspect of our everyday life is having our batteries charged. While some smartphones have cutting-edge C-type charging support, what is the option for those who do not have Type C support? The method is simple: while charging, activate your phone’s Airplane Mode. Better even, switch off the phone. As a result, the phone will not consume energy in a continuous attempt to connect to mobile phone towers and plot GPS. This way your phone will be quickly charged.
Hack 2: Avoiding ads during games
Any in-app ad can be avoided simply by using Airplane mode or disconnecting from the Internet. As a result, by disabling your mobile data or Wi-Fi, you can avoid the irritating advertisements that keep interrupting your game. If adverts continue to appear even after you turn off the Internet, just clear your cache and enjoy an ad-free experience.
Hack 3: Looking for something and dont know it in particular? Upload a picture and get it identified
The days of typing in the search box to receive answers are long gone. Identifying certain things in a picture has become a possibility thanks to image recognition software. Google Goggles, the search engine giant’s own photo identification tool, performs just as promised. Whether you’ve forgotten the name of something or are hearing it for the first time, goggles can identify it in a flash. It performs the search against its vast picture collection to find near matches and, most of the time gives accurate results.
Hack 4: How about turning your phone into a master remote.
Phones increasingly include infrared blasters that can be connected with infrared-controlled devices. This means you won’t have to look for your remote to turn off the TV. You can do this using your smartphone. Not only that, but you can use your smartphone to determine whether or not an infrared-based remote is operational. Infrared rays cannot be seen with the human eye, but they may be viewed using a camera. In the camera’s viewfinder, infrared photons appear as white or purple light.
Hack 5: Capturing selfies using headphones
This idea may have never occurred to you before. Not only can iPhone users and many Android users click a photo using the volume button on their phones, but they can also do it with the volume button on their headphones.
Hack 6: Bypass your security
Hackers attempt to invade your personal space in order to steal information. How can you get around your security while being safe? First and foremost, you must establish a trusted place where your smartphone will not demand you to enter your passcode. This basic Android hack is ideal for doing at home. Be careful and do not set any public place as your trusted location. Follow these steps:
- Open settings and then Security & Location.
- Select Smart Lock. To proceed, you’ll be prompted to enter your device’s PIN.
- Select Trusted Locations.
- Now, add a trustworthy location. It is suggested that you select this one carefully because it could endanger the security of your phone.
- You need to use Google Maps to find your preferred address and then click Select this Location. You won’t have to unlock the phone as often when you’re in that location.
Hack 7: Get access to the developer options
Even though this Android hack is sometimes neglected, it is really handy in terms of unlocking developer options. When you activate the developer option, you can customize your phone’s profile, adjust its performance, and do things that the phone would ordinarily not let you do. You can view device statistics or eliminate bloatware that came with the smartphone by entering developer options. To have access to the developer option follow these steps:
- Head to Settings and click System. This section is not available on other phones. If your phone is among them, skip to the next step.
- Search for Look for the About Phone option and click it.
- Locate the Build Number and tap on it 7 times.
- After the seventh click, you will be required to enter your passcode. A notification will appear informing you that you are already a developer.
- Return to the System tab to find the Developer Options section.
Hack 8: Different Apps, Varying Volumes
Have you tried turning up the volume on your alarm only to be awakened by the sound of notifications and texts all night? This function in Android allows you to adjust the volume of Media, Ring, and Alarm to your comfort. It will help you in deciding which to turn up and which to turn down. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Volume Up/Down button.
- Select an option from the drop-down menu.
- You should be able to see three options: Media, Ring, and Alarm. Set your chosen volume level for each media.
Hack 9: Improve the Accuracy of Your Fingerprint Scanner
Although this hack has no effect on your phone’s fingerprint scanner. More exactly, you are just adding more of your fingerprint authentication, which increases the scanner’s accuracy. To do so, navigate to Settings. Select Security and Location.Select Fingerprint. You will be able to access the tab after entering your passcode. Add a new fingerprint to your phone now. The technique is to register the same fingerprint numerous times, each time in a slightly different position or angle.
Hack 10: View a Website’s PC Version in Your Browser
Although, developers have created mobile-friendly versions for their websites. However, accessing a site in Desktop Mode is important at times, especially because certain sites are not designed effectively enough to present information and data in mobile. To view a webpage in a desktop format on your Android smartphone, first launch Chrome or another browser of your choice. Start by going to the website you want to visit. It is, as you can see, in Mobile View. Tap the three dots in the top right corner to access the Settings menu. Choose Desktop Site. The browser will then display the site’s desktop view. Return to the Settings menu and deselect Desktop Site to return to the Mobile View.
Hack 11: Only Use Gestures to Type (Glide Typing)
Gesture typing comes very handy especially when creating large documents on your phone. To compose a word with gesture typing, simply glide your fingertips across the keyboard. On your Android phone, to enable gesture typing open settings and then go to system. Select Languages and Input. Select Virtual Keyboard. Select Gboard. When you are at the keyboard settings, you would select Glide Typing. Select which options to enable and which to disable.
Hack 12: You can move your keyboard almost anywhere on the screen.
In case you missed it, Android phones allow you to move the keyboard wherever on the screen to suit your needs. Click the lowermost symbol on the keyboard’s left side. Start to move the keyboard to the desired location. You can move it anywhere on the screen up to halfway. To secure the keyboard, click the check box.
Hack 13: Playing old games with an Emulator
You can play all of the old games on your smartphone by installing a GBA emulator-a popular GBA emulator available on the Google Play Store, my boy is compatible with hundreds of GBA ROMs and has been downloaded by hundreds of thousands of users worldwide. If you want to continue in the joy of playing your childhood games again, follow the steps below:
- Download My Boy GBA emulator from the Google Play Store.
- Look for GBA ROMs after installing the emulator.
- Simply enter “GBA ROMs” into the Google search box and you’re ready to go!
Hack 14: Know how many devices are connected to a Wi-Fi network
Have you ever wondered why your Internet bill is so high and unreasonable? Check how many devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network. It goes without saying that some individuals would want to “steal” your data plan and join your Wi-Fi network without your awareness. They can’t hide any longer if you utilize Fing Network Tools. Here’s how it can assist you:
- Fing Network Tools can be found in the Google Play Store and installed on your smartphone.
- Launch the app.
- To discover which cellphones and laptops are linked to your home network, go to the Devices page.
- If you see an unusual device connected, you can quickly kick it out and prevent it from rejoining to your Wi-Fi network again.
Hack 15: Run Android OS on an old iPhone
Installing Android OS on an iPhone is a hilarious idea. Actually, this is a fantastic method to see how the Android system might operate on an iPhone. If you have an old iPhone lying around, like an iPhone 2G, you can install Android OS on it. This will also allow you to access a plethora of Android applications, which you can then use on your old iPhone. You can even install some Android apps that Apple has blocked.
Hack 16: Enhance the Audio Quality of Your Android Device
While many Android handsets have excellent audio quality, other phones may not. If you want to boost the audio quality and volume of your phone’s speaker and headphones, download the Equalizer app from the Google Play Store. It is free, however, there are in-app purchases.
Hack 17: Customize Your Phone’s LED Lights
Light Flow is a fantastic software that allows you to modify your phone’s notification LED light. Additionally, the app allows you to change the LED color, duration, and flash rate. The app is available in both a free and a premium edition for roughly $2 USD.
Hack 18: Connect Your Android Phone To Your TV
This is a really basic hack, and not many people utilize it. Most Android smartphones include tiny HDMI connections, and you can use a micro HDMI to HDMI cable to connect your phone to your LED TV. You’ll be able to enjoy your games and HD films on a much larger screen this way. Some phones lack a micro HDMI connector, however many do accept MHL adapters. Simply purchase an MHL adapter and use it to connect your HDMI cable to your phone.
Hack 19: Project an augmented reality Map
Maps are often useful while traveling through dark alleys, misty highways, or unknown areas. But what if your map could be projected onto your car’s windshield? Won’t that be cool? There are several apps on the Play Store that allows you to do it.
Hack 20: Convert a webpage into a PDF file
By converting a webpage into a PDF file you can have access to them offline and can also share it with others. To convert the file all you have to do it open the webpage you want to convert. Then click on the option “print”. There you will find another option of “Save as PDF file”. Click on this option and your webpage will be converted into a pdf.
Hack 21: Pinning screen on your smartphone
You can pin or lock the screen to a certain app with Screen Pinning. When you pin your screen, your phone is temporarily locked to the pinned app, and you cannot access any other apps. This feature helps to avoid mistakenly opening and quitting apps or losing data. You can unpin the screen to use your other applications again. To pin the app open the Settings app on your phone. Tap Security or Security & Location, then Advanced, and finally App pinning. Enable app pinning. When app pinning is enabled, you first must enter your PIN, pattern, or password before you can unpin the app. After enabling app pinning, click on the screen you wish to save. Swipe your finger up to the center of your screen. Tap the app’s icon at the top of the picture and tap on the pin.
Hack 22: Use Guest Mode On Android
Guest mode allows Other users to download new apps, take new photos, and log into their social media accounts as if the smartphone were their own. However, if you exit Guest Mode, all of your data will be saved. The following is how Guest Mode works:
- Enter Guest Mode.
- Swipe the Status Bar down.
- Select the User icon. You will be asked if you wish to restart or continue your prior activity.
Hack 23: Brighten your torch light
If your phone has a flashlight that is too dim, you can try this hack. Simply turn on your flashlight and place the phone on the table. Then put a glass full of water on the flashlight. This will create a bright effect and the flashlight will brighten to create a more illuminating effect.
Hack 24: Dialing the last number you dialed instantly
If you are in hurry to dial back the last number you dialed you can simply do so by clicking on the dial icon twice. This will automatically dial your last number.
Hack 25: Click on the bright side of a picture when clicking a landscape for better results.
Do you know that smartphones are more prone to overexposed pictures as compared to underexposed ones? This is the reason why when you click a landscape picture you should tap on the bright area of the picture in order to get better results. This will balance the lightning effect of your picture and you will get quality results. Moreover, your details in the picture will also appear to be better.
Hack 26: Sharing your Wifi
Just like you can share your data using a hotspot to your friend or your other device in the same way you can share your Wifi. This can be a good approach when you are paying for internet access to one phone and you also can connect your laptop to the wifi or when your phone is already connected to a Wifi at someplace and you also want to connect your laptop but you are too hesitant to ask for the password. You can simply download net share which is an application available on the play store and share your Wifi.
Hack 27: Easiest way of Sharing URL
The easiest way to share a URL is not by clicking on the URL, copying it, and then sending it to your friend. Instead, you can simply open the URL you want to share, hit the share button and then you can easily share it with whoever you want.
Hack 28: Start a timer using Google
If you had no idea before, then you can try this hack now. Simply open Google and type “start a timer”. You can then select the number of seconds or minutes you want your timer to last.
Hack 29: Turn on airplane mode at night
Turning on airplane mode at night will not only save power but also reduce the number of notifications and also keep cellphone radiation to a minimum.
Hack 30: Putting your mobile number on the lockscreen of your phone
Putting your mobile number on the lock screen of your phone will help you to get your phone back in case it is lost. Someone who will find it can call you to return it to you.
These are the top 30 hacks that you may have not discovered before. Try these hacks out and do tell us if you like them or not!
Keep visiting our website Mobilesly for more informative articles, guides, and smartphone hacks.
Are you aware of the fact that many of us have no idea that we are not using our smartphones correctly? There are some most common mistakes we do while using smartphones. You should avoid these mistakes in order to prevent the inverse effects they can cause on your health.