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 essential 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 far more stream­lined than it was, with loads of customization choices to make the most of (some ok that Apple copied them) and AI-powered abilities to try to slot in your day by day workflow. In the event you 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 cellphone by way of its paces, we have got a collection of suggestions and tips under which might be 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 instrument allows you to construct a searchable library of belongings you’ve seen in your cellphone

We have already dived into lots 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 instrument 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 net pages and calendar occasions, for instance.

The app is ideal for saving data from a textual content or electronic 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 implies you’ll be able to pull up data along with your voice or a fast textual content immediate to Gemini somewhat than having to go looking by way of the Screenshots app.

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2 Set off actions by tapping the again of your Pixel 9

In the event you’re searching for a straightforward approach 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 cellphone. The function known as Fast Faucet, and might 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 cellphone. 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 cellphone, you will 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 the event you discover that you just typically by accident set off Fast Faucet, you may as well have your cellphone require “stronger faucets” to set off no matter motion you have 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 have obtained

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 tackle these notifications or swipe them away and go about your day, however what occurs in case you really want the data in a type of alerts? Effectively, Google really has a hidden approach to view the notification historical past in your cellphone, it simply must be turned on.

You will must entry it in Settings through the Notifications part or you’ll be able to 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 cellphone will swap to the Notification part of Settings.
4. Faucet on Notification Historical past and toggle it on.
5. Any longer, whenever you two-finger faucet on an empty notification shade you will 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 picture

Google

One of many Pixel 9’s unique talents is a brand new pictures instrument Google calls “Add Me” that offers you the flexibility to take a bunch picture 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 photographs, one among you, the photographer, and one other of the folks you need to be within the picture with, right into a single seamless picture that appears such as you had another person take.

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

1. Open the Digital camera app.
2. Faucet on Add Me on the left facet of the display screen.
3. Comply with the on-screen prompts to scan the area and seize a photograph.
4. Hand-off your cellphone 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 photographs 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 cellphone, 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 cellphone, 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 the event you’re listening to a podcast or tune, your Pixel can caption that audio as nicely. This makes use of the identical transcription talents 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 cellphone.

You possibly can flip Reside Caption on by adjusting the amount in your cellphone:

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 cellphone.

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

There is a approach to attain the highest of your large cellphone display screen with out getting new fingers

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 cellphone display screen with out utilizing two fingers. Pixels do have a built-in approach 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 known as One-Handed Mode, and it allows you to swipe the underside of your Pixel somewhat 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 function on and determine if you are going to use it for notification or reaching the highest of the display screen.

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

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

It is extremely doable you have 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’ll be able to 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 can be used to translate textual content too. It is extremely helpful for locating issues that may usually be exhausting to seek for with textual content alone, and it may soon extend to live video too.

In the event you did not allow Circle to Search whenever you had been first organising your cellphone, you’ll be able to 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 relating to updating Android, however years of software program releases imply that there are layers of performance constructed into each Pixel cellphone (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 typically 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-known 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 good place to begin for studying what your cellphone can really do, however in case you’re interested by studying extra nitty-gritty particulars about your cellphone, 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 cellphone’s efficiency.