Pixel 9 ideas and methods you should not miss

The mud has largely settled on the Pixel 9 and Google’s newest smartphones are undeniably a crucial success. The corporate hasn’t solely made its most polished {hardware} up to now, 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 significantly better.

Android, on the entire, is way more stream­lined than it was, with loads of customization choices to make the most of (some ok that Apple copied them) and AI-powered expertise to attempt to slot in your each day workflow. In case you simply acquired 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 collection of ideas and methods under 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 device permits you to construct a searchable library of stuff you’ve seen in your telephone

We have already dived into most of the new Al-driven features Google used the Pixel 9 to introduce, however it bears repeating: It’s a must to attempt Pixel Screenshots. Google’s AI imaginative and prescient device bears some similarities to Microsoft’s Recall feature, however it’s pushed by what you need to screenshot, and will not routinely seize what’s in your display. When the Pixel Screenshots app is lively, no matter you do need to screenshot will get routinely cataloged by your Pixel 9, making it each searchable, and in some instances, actionable. The Pixel Screenshots app can flip your screenshots into direct hyperlinks to net 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 want 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 moderately 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 straightforward solution to do a number of 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 quite a lot of actions in your telephone. The characteristic is named Fast Faucet, and could be subbed in for expertise which may usually require urgent one or a number of buttons, and as an alternative, 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 latest apps
• Present notifications
• Toggle the flashlight
• Open a selected app

If you wish to flip it in your telephone, you may want to go 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 unintentionally set off Fast Faucet, it’s also possible to have your telephone require “stronger faucets” to set off no matter motion you have assigned on the identical Settings display.

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

Your Pixel can hold monitor of all of the notifications you have acquired

Like different smartphones, the Pixel 9 has a devoted part or “notification shade” that collects and types messages, alerts, and let’s face it, adverts, out of your varied apps. More often than not, you deal with these notifications or swipe them away and go about your day, however what occurs in case you really need the knowledge in a type of alerts? Nicely, Google truly has a hidden solution 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 listing, faucet with two fingers.
3. Your telephone will change to the Notification part of Settings.
4. Faucet on Notification Historical past and toggle it on.
5. Any more, whenever you two-finger faucet on an empty notification shade you may see your notification historical past.

4 Add your self to a gaggle shot with Add Me

Your Pixel can use AI so as to add you to a gaggle photograph

Google

One of many Pixel 9’s unique skills is a brand new pictures device Google calls “Add Me” that offers you the power to take a gaggle photograph with no tripod, having arms lengthy sufficient for a superb selfie, or depend on a separate photographer. Your Pixel 9 primarily combines two pictures, one among you, the photographer, and one other of the folks you need to be within the photograph with, right into a single seamless photograph that appears such as you had another person take.

You’ll be able to entry Add Me immediately within the Digicam app:

1. Open the Digicam app.
2. Faucet on Add Me on the left facet of the display.
3. Observe the on-screen prompts to scan the area and seize a photograph.
4. Hand-off your telephone to the folks 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 gaggle 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 power 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 music, your Pixel can caption that audio as properly. This makes use of the identical transcription skills 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’ll be able to 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.
4. Conform to 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 solution to attain the highest of your big telephone display with out getting new arms

Telephones are usually 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 with out utilizing two arms. Pixels do have a built-in solution to get across the huge display that may enable you to attain your notifications or simply something on the prime of your display. The choice is named One-Handed Mode, and it permits you to swipe the underside of your Pixel moderately than the highest to entry notifications or just about pull the highest of your display 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.

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

Search for no matter is in your display with just a few faucets

It is extremely potential you have already triggered it accidentally, however even when it is over-eager, Circle to Search is likely one of the higher new options Google has added to Android within the final yr. By long-pressing the navigation bar or dwelling button on the backside of your display, 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 will also be used to translate textual content too. It is extremely helpful for locating issues that might usually be arduous to seek for with textual content alone, and it may soon extend to live video too.

In case you did not allow Circle to Search whenever 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 wherever in your display to go looking it.

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Your Pixel 9 is much more highly effective than it appears

Google’s no slouch with regards to updating Android, however years of software program releases imply that there are layers of performance constructed into each Pixel telephone (and most Android gadgets for that matter) that by no means will get absolutely 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 digital camera array alongside Google Gemini and AI options.

The listing above is a superb place to begin for studying what your telephone can truly do, however in case you’re inquisitive about studying extra nitty-gritty particulars about your telephone, we have got you coated, with guides on discovering hiding apps on your Pixel, and ensuring apps running in the background aren’t ruining your telephone’s efficiency.