Adjust display colours for different types of colour vision deficiency
Large Text / Bold Text
Settings > Accessibility > Display Size & Text
Increase font size, display size, and enable bold text system-wide
Live Caption
Volume Button → Live Caption icon
Tap the Live Caption icon next to the volume slider to auto-caption any audio on the phone
Sound Amplifier
Settings > Accessibility > Sound Amplifier
Amplify and filter sounds through headphones to boost speech in noisy environments
Switch Access
Settings > Accessibility > Switch Access
Control Android with physical switches instead of touch — for users with motor impairments
Hearing Aid Support
Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Aids
Pair Made-for-Android hearing aids directly in Settings for low-latency audio
Samsung One UI (Galaxy)
Action
Shortcut
Description
Samsung DeX (Desktop Mode)
Connect to monitor or Quick Settings → DeX tile
Transforms the Galaxy into a desktop with windowed apps on an external display
S Pen Air Actions
S Pen button (hold + gesture)
On Galaxy Note/S Ultra: the S Pen button + swipe gestures control camera, media, presentations, and more
Bixby Voice
Hold Side Key (if Bixby is configured)
On Galaxy devices, the Side key can open Bixby — configure in Settings > Advanced Features > Side Key
Edge Panel
Swipe from Edge Panel Handle
The handle on the right edge slides out to show app shortcuts, contacts, or Smart Select tools
Smart Select
Edge Panel → Smart Select
Draw around any screen area to capture it, extract text, or create an animated GIF
One-Handed Mode
Swipe Down on Gesture Bar
Swipe down on the home bar to shrink the display for one-handed use
Quick Launch Camera
Power (×2 quickly)
Double press the Power/Side button to instantly launch the Camera app
Screen Off Memo
Remove S Pen → Write on dark screen
Remove the S Pen and write directly on the turned-off screen to capture a quick note
Bixby Routines
Settings > Modes and Routines
Automate actions based on triggers like time, location, or app — Samsung's version of automation routines
DeX Keyboard Shortcut
Ctrl + Alt + 1-5
In Samsung DeX with a Bluetooth keyboard: switch between open app windows using Ctrl+Alt+number
Android Tips & Tricks
Gesture Navigation vs. 3-Button Nav: Go to Settings > System > Gestures > System Navigation to switch between Gesture Navigation (swipe up to go home) and 3-Button Navigation. Most users prefer gestures after a short learning period.
Quick Settings is Fully Customisable: Swipe down twice to open Quick Settings fully, then tap the pencil/edit icon to rearrange tiles. Add Screen Record, Hearing Aids, QR Scanner, and other less-visible controls.
Live Captions Work on Everything: Android's Live Caption can transcribe any audio the phone plays — podcasts, videos, voice messages, calls — in real time. Tap the Live Caption icon next to the volume slider to activate it.
Clipboard History with Gboard: Tap the clipboard icon in Gboard's toolbar to browse everything you've recently copied. Pin frequently used items so they never expire. Far easier than a third-party clipboard manager.
Emergency SOS Setup: Go to Settings > Safety & Emergency to configure Emergency SOS: which services to call, emergency contacts to notify, and whether to auto-share your location when SOS is triggered.
Quick Tap on Pixel: On Pixel phones, go to Settings > System > Gestures > Quick Tap and assign a double-tap on the back to: screenshot, play/pause media, open an app, or trigger an accessibility action.
Google Assistant Routines: Say 'Hey Google, manage routines' or open Google Home to create automated routines — e.g. 'When I arrive home, turn on Wi-Fi, disable battery saver, and play music.'
Frequently Asked Questions — Android
What are the most important Android 14/15 gestures?
Key Android gestures include swiping up from the bottom to go Home, swiping up and holding for Recent Apps, swiping in from the left or right edge to go Back, swiping down from the top for the Notification Shade, and swiping down twice (or with two fingers) to expand Quick Settings.
How do I take a screenshot on Android?
Press the Power button and Volume Down button simultaneously, then release both. On Samsung devices you can also swipe the edge of your hand across the screen. Screenshots appear in your Gallery app and a toolbar shows editing options immediately after capture.
How do I use Google Assistant on Android?
Say 'Hey Google' to activate Google Assistant hands-free (if enabled in settings), or press and hold the Home button. On Pixel devices you can squeeze the phone using Active Edge, and on many devices you can swipe up from a bottom corner to invoke Assistant.
How do I access Quick Settings on Android?
Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Notification Shade, then swipe down again (or swipe with two fingers) to expand the full Quick Settings panel. Tap the pencil/edit icon to add, remove, or rearrange Quick Settings tiles.
Getting More From Android Shortcuts and Gestures
Android's gesture navigation system has evolved significantly and the default setup varies by manufacturer, but the core gestures are consistent: swipe up from the bottom to go home, swipe up and hold to open the recent apps overview, and swipe from the left or right edge to go back. Quick Settings (swipe down once for notifications, swipe down again or swipe with two fingers to expand Quick Settings) gives one-tap access to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, flashlight, screen rotation, and more — and you can customize which tiles appear and in what order by tapping the edit button in Quick Settings.
For text editing, Android's long-press on the keyboard spacebar activates a cursor-positioning trackpad on most keyboards, letting you move the cursor precisely without tapping at exactly the right character. Select text by long-pressing a word, then use the handles to extend the selection; once text is selected, the clipboard toolbar appears with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Share options. On Samsung devices, the Multi-Window feature accessible from the Recent Apps view lets you run two apps side by side — tap the app icon in the recents view and choose 'Open in split screen view' to start. These features require no third-party apps and are available on all modern Android versions.