Pixel 9 suggestions and tips you should not miss

The mud has largely settled on the Pixel 9 and Google’s newest smartphones are undeniably a important success. The corporate hasn’t solely made its most polished {hardware} thus far, 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 a lot better.

Android, on the entire, is rather more stream­lined than it was once, with loads of customization choices to make the most of (some ok that Apple copied them) and AI-powered abilities to attempt to slot in your each day workflow. If you happen to simply received 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 suggestions and tips beneath which are an ideal instance of what the Pixel 9 is able to.

1 Use Pixel Screenshots to prepare and bear in mind your digital life

Google’s device allows you to construct a searchable library of belongings 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: You need to strive 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 mechanically seize what’s in your display screen. When the Pixel Screenshots app is energetic, no matter you do need to screenshot will get mechanically cataloged by your Pixel 9, making it each searchable, and in some circumstances, actionable. The Pixel Screenshots app can flip your screenshots into direct hyperlinks to internet pages and calendar occasions, for instance.

The app is ideal for saving info from a textual content or e-mail to refer again to later, or a particular merchandise you need to purchase and wish a direct hyperlink to. Google has additionally began integrating the app instantly with Gemini, which implies you possibly can pull up info together with your voice or a fast textual content immediate to Gemini reasonably 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

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a simple technique to do among the extra dexterous actions your Pixel 9 requires, Google has its personal tackle Apple’s Back Tap accessibility feature that permits you to use your Pixel to set off a wide range of actions in your telephone. The characteristic is known as Fast Faucet, and may be subbed in for abilities which may usually require urgent one or a number of buttons, and as a substitute, 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 particular app

If you wish to flip it in your telephone, you may want to move 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.

If you happen to discover that you just usually unintentionally set off Fast Faucet, you can too have your telephone require “stronger faucets” to set off no matter motion you’ve got assigned on the identical Settings display screen.

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

Your Pixel can maintain observe of all of the notifications you’ve got 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 numerous apps. More often than not, you handle these notifications or swipe them away and go about your day, however what occurs for those who really need the knowledge in a type of alerts? Nicely, Google really has a hidden technique to view the notification historical past in your telephone, it simply must be turned on.

You may must entry it in Settings through the Notifications part or you possibly can simply wait till your notification shade is empty:

1. Swipe down to entry the notification shade.
2. With an empty notification record, 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. To any extent further, whenever you two-finger faucet on an empty notification shade you may see your notification historical past.

4 Add your self to a bunch shot with Add Me

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

Google

One of many Pixel 9’s unique skills is a brand new pictures device Google calls “Add Me” that provides you the flexibility to take a bunch photograph and not using a tripod, having arms lengthy sufficient for a great selfie, or depend on a separate photographer. Your Pixel 9 primarily combines two pictures, one in all you, the photographer, and one other of the individuals you need to be within the photograph with, right into a single seamless photograph that appears such as you had another person take.

You possibly can entry Add Me instantly within the Digital camera app:

1. Open the Digital camera app.
2. Faucet on Add Me on the left aspect of the display screen.
3. Comply with the on-screen prompts to scan the area and seize a photograph.
4. Hand-off your telephone to the individuals 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 bunch shot.

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5 Use Reside 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 flexibility 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. If you happen to’re listening to a podcast or track, your Pixel can caption that audio as nicely. This makes use of the identical transcription skills which are 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 possibly can flip Reside Caption on by adjusting the quantity 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 Reside Caption (the textual content field icon) close to the underside of the display screen.
4. Comply with any onscreen prompts and captions ought to seem anytime spoken phrases are taking part in in your telephone.

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6 Make your Pixel 9 simpler to make use of one-handed

There is a technique to attain the highest of your large telephone display screen with out getting new palms

Telephones usually are 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 screen with out utilizing two palms. Pixels do have a built-in technique to get across the large display screen that may enable you to attain your notifications or simply something on the prime of your display screen. The choice is known as One-Handed Mode, and it allows you to swipe the underside of your Pixel reasonably than the highest to entry notifications or nearly pull the highest of your display screen down to achieve 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 resolve if you are going to use it for notification or reaching the highest of the display screen.

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

Lookup no matter is in your display screen with just a few faucets

It is extremely attainable you’ve got already triggered it accidentally, however even when it is over-eager, Circle to Search is without doubt one of the higher new options Google has added to Android within the final 12 months. By long-pressing the navigation bar or residence button on the backside of your display screen, you possibly can allow Circle to Search and successfully Google something you circle together with your finger. This works on each textual content and pictures, even in movies, and may also be used to translate textual content too. It is extremely helpful for locating issues that will usually be laborious to seek for with textual content alone, and it might soon extend to live video too.

If you happen to did not allow Circle to Search whenever you had been first establishing your telephone, you possibly can 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 screen to go looking it.

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Your Pixel 9 is much more highly effective than it appears

Google’s no slouch in relation 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 totally 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 usually we use our smartphones, determining the Pixel 9 feels extra urgent.

Google Pixel 9

Pixel 9 contains 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 record above is a good place to begin for studying what your telephone can really do, however for those who’re interested by studying extra nitty-gritty particulars about your telephone, we have got you lined, with guides on discovering hiding apps on your Pixel, and ensuring apps running in the background aren’t ruining your telephone’s efficiency.