--- title: The 25 Best Android Hacks You Should Be Using description: These Android hacks unlock features you already have, from quick settings and battery tricks to the newer theft protections worth turning on today. image: https://blog.redpocket.com/hubfs/android%20hacks.jpg --- [![3](https://blog.redpocket.com/hubfs/3.svg "3")](https://www.redpocket.com/) Open main menu Close main menu - [Plans](https://www.redpocket.com/plans) - [Shop](https://www.redpocket.com/shop) - [Activate](https://www.redpocket.com/activate) - [Deals](https://www.redpocket.com/specialoffers) - [Help](https://www.redpocket.com/contact-us) - [Coverage](https://www.redpocket.com/coverage) - [Blog](https://blog.redpocket.com/blog/) # The 25 Best Android Hacks You Should Be Using [Red Pocket Mobile](https://blog.redpocket.com/blog/author/red-pocket-mobile) [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://blog.redpocket.com/blog/best-android-hacks) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.redpocket.com/blog/best-android-hacks) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.redpocket.com/blog/best-android-hacks) ![These Android hacks unlock features you already have, from quick settings and battery tricks to the newer theft protections worth turning on today.](https://blog.redpocket.com/hubfs/android%20hacks.jpg) Key Takeaways - Android's best features are mostly switched off by default, so a few minutes in Settings unlocks a lot. - Newer Android versions added robust theft protections that automatically lock your phone if it's snatched. - Private Space lets you hide sensitive apps behind separate authentication, invisible to anyone browsing your phone. Here are the 25 best Android hacks for this year. ## **1. Increase Your Storage** If you're a new Android convert from an iPhone, you will be amazed by how easy it is to expand storage on Android. Many Android phones let you bump up storage capacity with a microSD card, which is one of the perks Android has long held over the competition. Check your phone first, since most current flagships have dropped the slot while plenty of mid-range and budget models still include it. If yours has one, a microSD card is a cheap extra storage option and an easy way to transfer files between compatible devices. ## **2. Quick-Access Your Camera** On Android, you can quickly access your camera by double-tapping the power button. You can also use the physical volume buttons as shutter buttons; tap to snap a pic or press and hold to record video. ## **3. Customize Your Quick Settings** Your Quick Settings menu is the little control panel that comes down from the top of your screen with two swipes. Unfortunately, Android's Quick Settings menu is only really quick for the first row you pull down. Here's the hack: ensure the first row displays only apps that actually matter to you. To modify this row, open the Quick Settings menu and tap the pencil icon. From here, you can place tools like Dark Mode, Focus Mode, and much more. ## **4. Set Up Guest Access** In this mode, only the default Android apps will be available to your kids or any other guest users. To enable Guest Access, go to your settings, select System, and then select Advanced. From this menu, locate and enable "Multiple Users." You can add a slider for this feature to your lock screen so you can quickly switch users. Otherwise, you can double-swipe down from the top of your screen (go to Quick Settings) to access the toggle. In the lower right-hand corner, tap your user icon, then tap Add Guest. That's it! Menu paths vary across manufacturers and Android versions, so if "System" then "Advanced" doesn't lead anywhere on your device, search for "users" in the Settings search bar to jump straight there. ## **5. Accessibility Features Make Life Easier** Did you know your Android has an accessibility feature that lets you zoom in on anything? To turn it on, just go into your Settings and locate the 'Accessibility' menu. Then tap Magnification Gestures to enable it. Now, you can triple-tap to zoom in, drag with two fingers to pan, and pinch to adjust the zoom. This is an essential accessibility feature that everyone can benefit from, but it's not the only accessibility tool offered by your Android device. Take your time perusing the accessibility menu on your device for other features that might suit you. ## **6. Utilize Developer Options** Within your settings, go to About Phone. Scroll down to the Build number, then tap it 7 times. Next, go back to the beginning of the settings menu, navigate to System, then Advanced, and tap Developer Options. Now, from this menu, you can show screen taps, reset Bluetooth options, and a ton of other settings that a novice developer might be interested in. ## **7. Conserve Battery** Battery anxiety is universal, but Android gives you unusually granular control over where your charge goes. Start by turning on Battery Saver Mode. You can also schedule Battery Saver mode to turn on and off as you know you'll need it throughout the day (or set it to come on at a specific percentage), so a dwindling battery can't sneak up on you. Next, turn on Adaptive Battery. Your Android knows your usage habits, and it can use that knowledge to help conserve battery in Adaptive Battery mode. You can enable both of these abilities in your Battery menu. ## **8. Uninstall Apps You Don't Want** If an unused app lets you uninstall it, you should do so, since you can always reinstall it later. While you can't remove many pre-installed apps outright, you can disable them. After pressing and holding the app icon from the pop-up menu, choose Disable to prevent the app from running. It's especially helpful to disable any unused internet-enabled apps for security and privacy reasons. In general, you want to disable or uninstall unused apps to free up system resources and hide them from the device's interface. ## **9. Update Your Operating System** You always want to ensure you're running the most recent operating system and keeping your device's security up to date. Your device will generally notify you promptly if updates are available, but it never hurts to check your phone's settings to see if you missed any. Android updates are quick and easy, and your phone does all the work. Updates may seem like a chore sometimes, but you never know what cool features may come with each new one. ## **10. Customize Your Home Screen With Widgets** Long-press the home screen and select Widgets. Make your selection based on the apps you have available. When selecting your widgets, consider which apps contain info you'd benefit from having at a glance. If you're more into aesthetics, try a few until you pick the ones that look the coolest on your home screen. From this screen, you can also remove the Google feed page. This page is located on the left of your screen. ## **11. Screen Record** Android 11 and later can [screen record](https://blog.redpocket.com/blog/how-to-screen-record-on-android) without any third-party app, which covers essentially every phone in use today. Screen recording on an Android is a bit more complicated than on [iPhone models](https://www.redpocket.com/shop), so you may want to check out our [tutorial](https://blog.redpocket.com/blog/how-to-screen-record-on-android). On any Android operating system 11 or later, here's the gist: - Open your Quick Settings by swiping down twice. - Tap the Screen Recorder icon, which looks like a bullseye. - If this button doesn't immediately appear in your Quick Settings, you may need to swipe right to open the menu further to locate it. - After you've tapped the Screen Recorder button, navigate to the media you'd like to record, then tap Start. - After the countdown, your recording will begin. To stop recording, swipe down once to access the Screen Recorder notification panel. Then end the recording. ## **12. Customize Your Message Display** Some SMS messages are more important than others. Rather than a regular message notification, set up bubbles. Messages set to appear as bubbles will appear on top of any running app as floating bubbles. Turn on Bubbles in Settings, then determine which messages will appear as bubbles. Go to contacts, and turn on 'Priority' on the relevant contact cards. You have three options for bubbles: 'All Conversations Can Bubble,' 'Selected Conversations Can Bubble,' and 'Nothing Can Bubble.' From there, it's up to you! ## **13. You Can Install Apps From Outside the Google Play Store** The Google Play Store offers a wide variety of high-quality apps from reputable sources. However, you may find other, more open-source apps elsewhere that you'd like to have on your device. Android lets you download apps from pretty much anywhere. For example, Amazon has an app store. If you find an app online, you can download it as an APK, Android's App Packaging file name. Remember, when you find apps online, it's your responsibility to vet their safety and security. Did you know that third-party app stores are the number one source of Malware for Android devices? Make sure you have 'Install Unknown Apps' set to OFF when you're not active, or when you're intentionally installing the app you want to prevent malware from sneaking in behind it. ## **14. Install Apps on Your Device From a Different Device** As long as you're logged into your Google account on both devices, you can make an app purchase on your computer and download it to your phone without even picking up your phone. Do you have multiple Android devices connected to the same Google account? You can put the app on all of them at once when they appear as a list after tapping Install. ## **15. Use Android's Digital Well-Being Features** It's really easy to develop [unhealthy habits with technology](https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58979895) these days. Android wants you to have a healthier relationship with your device, so check out some of your phone's well-being features: For example, Bedtime Mode changes your display to black-and-white only and silences all notifications. The goal here is to help you, not just your phone, power down before bed. The color shift protects your eyes from excessive blue light and bright, damaging light in the dark, reducing unwelcome stimulation to your eyes and brain. It's hard to settle down with constant pings and buzzes, so silencing the notifications helps you step away from the screen. Bedtime mode is similar to the better-known Dark Mode, which inverts the colors on your phone's display. However, Dark Mode does not dismiss the rest of the color spectrum. The goal of Dark Mode is similar to that of Bedtime Mode: to dim the light on your phone in the dark to reduce eye strain. However, a common complaint about Dark Mode is that not all apps support it. So, when you open an unsupported app, you're greeted by a blinding white light. Luckily, your Android has a way to force all your apps to use Dark Mode. In your phone's Developer Settings, you can enable Override Force Dark, which applies Dark Mode to every app. Focus Mode is a gift for those of us who are easily distracted. This mode will silence notifications from apps and (in some more recent Pixel and Motorola devices) activate Do Not Disturb Mode by just laying your phone face down. Focus Mode can be easily switched on and off as needed from your Settings or Quick Settings. ## **16. Hidden Redial Button** If you need to place a new call to the person you were most recently on the phone with, here's a simple hack. Rather than finding them in your call log, double-tap the Call button in your phone app to redial the most recently called number. ## **17. Make Searching for Screenshots Easier** In the modern era, many of us save information as screenshots. The problem is that's how you end up with a ton of screenshots in your photo gallery that all look pretty much the same at first glance. So how do you find the one you're looking for? You already have the tool. Google Photos reads the text in your screenshots, so you can open the app and search for words that appeared on screen, such as a store name, a confirmation number, or a phrase from an article. Type it into the search bar, and the matching screenshot surfaces without any scrolling. ## **18. Use Driving Mode through Google Assistant** [Don't text and drive](https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving). It's not safe for you or anyone else on the road. Nevertheless, you still need to get stuff done while you're in transit, so let Google Assistant help you out. With Driving Mode turned on, you'll be able to operate your device fully with your voice. To turn on driving mode on your Android device, simply start navigating using driving directions on Google Maps. You can even do that part with your voice by saying, "Hey, Google," followed by asking Google to take you to your destination. Once you're in Driving Mode, you can ask the voice assistant to make calls, send texts, launch apps, play music, and more. Anything you can do with "Hey Google," you can do in Driving Mode. ## **19. Use Android's Secret Codes** With this hack, you'll really feel like a hacker. Type specific Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes into your phone's keypad to access features or settings kept hidden from users. These codes are an extra-UI protocol that gives you access to features tucked away behind the normal interface. Support varies widely by manufacturer and Android version, so not every code works on every phone. A word of caution before you go exploring: some USSD codes trigger destructive actions like wiping your device, and they don't always ask twice. Stick to codes you've confirmed from your manufacturer's documentation rather than typing in strings you found on a forum. ## **20. Screen Pin To Avoid Snoopers** Having information at your fingertips is extremely helpful, but only when it's the*r*e. If you need to pass your phone to another person, like a parent or child, you may want to pin the screen you intend them to interact with to prevent any Nosy Nellies from exploring your device. To pin the screen, you have to enable screen pinning in the security menu first. Once enabled, you can pin a screen by tapping its app icon within the multitasking interface. Finally, tap Pin. Once an app is pinned, you can even set it to require you to input your passcode before switching. ## **Security Hacks Worth Turning On Today** Android has added a serious set of anti-theft and privacy tools in recent releases, and most of them are sitting switched off in your settings right now. These five take about five minutes total. ## **21. Let Your Phone Detect a Snatch-and-Run** This one sounds like science fiction and works remarkably well. [Theft Detection Lock uses AI to sense when someone has grabbed your phone and is running, biking, or driving away, then locks the device automatically.](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/android-15/) The thief ends up holding a locked phone instead of your open email. Look for it under Settings \> Google \> All Services \> Theft Protection. It's available on most Android 10 and later devices, so you almost certainly have it. ## **22. Set Up Remote Lock** Losing your phone is stressful enough without having to hunt for account passwords. Remote Lock lets you lock your device from any other device using just your phone number and a security check, which is far faster than signing in to find your device first. [Google has been steadily expanding these theft protections](https://security.googleblog.com/2026/01/android-theft-protection-feature-updates.html), and on the newest Android versions, Remote Lock and Theft Detection Lock switch on automatically after setup. Set it up now, while you have the phone in your hand and time to spare. It lives in the same Theft Protection menu. ## **23. Create a Private Space for Sensitive Apps** Screen pinning in hack 20 stops casual snooping. Private Space goes considerably further. It creates a sandboxed area on your phone for apps you'd rather keep to yourself, like banking, health, or dating apps. [When Private Space is locked, those apps are effectively invisible, hidden from your app list, recent apps view, notifications, and settings](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/android-15/), and opening them requires separate authentication. Find it under Settings, then Security & Privacy, then Private Space. Newer Android versions automatically lock it whenever your screen locks and add a stealth option that hides the Private Space section from your app drawer entirely. ## **24. Turn On Identity Check** Here's the scenario this defeats: someone watches you type your PIN, then steals the phone. With Identity Check enabled, sensitive actions [require a fingerprint or face scan rather than a PIN when you're away from trusted locations like home or work](https://www.androidauthority.com/android-security-features-2026-3665372/). Knowing your PIN is no longer enough to change your password or access your banking apps. You'll find it under your security settings on Android 15 and later. ## **25. Know About Failed Authentication Lock** Thieves often try to guess their way in. [Failed Authentication Lock, available in Android 15 and later, automatically locks the device after several failed unlock attempts.](https://www.bgr.com/2085976/android-16-new-anti-theft-features-2026/) Newer versions have tightened this further, cutting the number of allowed guesses and stretching the wait between attempts. Recent releases also added protections for the settings thieves target first, like removing your SIM or switching off Find My Device, both of which now require authentication. It's worth checking your theft protection menu to confirm everything is switched on. ## **Use Your Android to Its Fullest Potential** With hacks like these, it's easy to see why millions of people love what Android can do. We hope you've found some useful tips here, and remember to [visit our blog](https://blog.redpocket.com/blog) for more interesting, helpful content. Whichever phone you carry, it works better on a plan that isn't overcharging you. [RedPocket's plans](https://www.redpocket.com/plans) start at $10 a month on your choice of the three major 5G networks. ## **Frequently Asked Questions** ### **Which Android hack should I set up first?** Theft Detection Lock, without question. It takes under a minute, and it's the one that protects you in the exact situation where you'd have no time to react. Remote Lock is a close second, since setting it up in advance saves you scrambling later. ### **Do these Android hacks work on every phone?** Most do, though menu paths vary by manufacturer, and newer security features require a recent Android version. If a path in this article doesn't match your phone, search the setting name in the Settings search bar to jump straight to it. ### **Is Private Space the same as hiding an app?** No, it goes much further. Hiding an app usually just removes the icon. Private Space creates a separate authenticated area where apps are invisible in your app list, recent apps, notifications, and settings until you unlock it. ### **Are Android secret codes safe to use?** Some are, some aren't. Codes that display information or toggle call forwarding are harmless. Others trigger destructive actions, such as wiping your device, sometimes without a confirmation prompt. Only use codes you've verified through your manufacturer's documentation. Sources: [Is internet addiction a growing problem? | BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58979895) [U Drive. U Text. U Pay. | Distracted Driving | NHTSA](https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving) [Android 15: New Updates for Foldables, Tablets, Phones and More | Google](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/android-15/) [12 New Security Features Coming to Android Phones in 2026 | Android Authority](https://www.androidauthority.com/android-security-features-2026-3665372/) [Android 16's New Theft Protection Features | BGR](https://www.bgr.com/2085976/android-16-new-anti-theft-features-2026/) [New Android Theft Protection Feature Updates | Google Security Blog](https://security.googleblog.com/2026/01/android-theft-protection-feature-updates.html) ## Related Articles [![](https://blog.redpocket.com/hubfs/USA.jpg)](https://blog.redpocket.com/blog/how-many-area-codes-in-the-us) [Red Pocket Mobile](https://blog.redpocket.com/blog/tag/red-pocket-mobile) ### [How Many Area Codes Are There in the United States?](https://blog.redpocket.com/blog/how-many-area-codes-in-the-us) **Key Takeaways** - The US has 405 area codes in total: 378 tied to geographic regions and 27 reserved for non-geographic uses - Many areas moved to mandatory 10-digit dialing... 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