1. Cast your Android screen
For a number of years, you've been able to broadcast your Android phone or tablet's display to the larger screen of a television using a Chromecast. In addition to beaming video from all the usual movie and TV apps, this streaming device can mirror your phone. Take advantage of a mirroring shortcut in the Quick Settings pane, which you access by dragging down from the top of the screen with two fingers. You should find a Cast option in this menu.
If it doesn't show up, there's another way to set up mirroring. First, check to make sure you've installed the Google Home app for Android. You probably already used this program to set up your Chromecast. Open the app, tap Cast screen/audio from its menu, and then choose your Chromecast. Your device's display should appear on the big screen.
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2. Run apps side-by-side
SPLIT SCREEN
One of the new features added in Android 7.0 Nougat is the option to run apps side-by-side or one above the other. This view comes in handy when you want to display photos, optimize your social networking, or multitask, although it's a bit too laggy for gaming.
To set it up, tap the Overview button (the square icon below the screen) button, and choose which of your recently used apps you want to see. Then, hold and drag that app's title bar to the top or left of the display. Finally, choose another open app to appear alongside or under it.
Meanwhile, here's another related tip: Double-tap rather than single-tap the Overview button to quickly switch between the two apps you've been using most recently.
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3. Make text and images more visible
DISPLAY SIZE
If you're struggling to see what's on the screen—or, alternatively, if you want to cram as much content as possible onto the display and don't mind doing a bit of squinting along the way—you can zoom in or out on text and objects. Not all the apps will respond to these adjustments, but most of them will.
To change size settings, open the Android Settings app and go to the Display heading. From the Display menu, tap the Font size link to change the default font size in Android. Select the Display size link to make on-screen objects larger or smaller.
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4. Change volume settings independently
ANDROID VOLUME
Your device plays several different types of audio—including ring tones, notifications, alarms, phone calls, and media. If you've ever gone to the Settings menu, opened Sounds, and tapped Volume, you'll have seen that you can use individual sliders to adjust these audio types individually.
However, Android gives you a quick-and-easy shortcut. Tap the physical volume buttons on the side of your device to make whatever's currently playing softer or louder (if no media is playing, this action will adjust your ringtone volume). When you do, a small box will pop up on the screen, showing which volume setting is changing and how. On the side of that box, you should see a small arrow. Tap it, and the box will expand to show multiple volume sliders at once. This can save you a trip to Settings.
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5. Lock phone borrowers inside one app
SCREEN PINNING
Screen pinning locks the phone user into one app.
What happens when you want to lend a friend or young family member your phone—but don't want them rooting through your private information or posting to your social media accounts? Screen pinning lets you be generous without giving up your privacy. Pinning one app to the screen means that your phone will only run that app until someone enters the lock screen code again. Essentially, the user won't be able to access any other parts of your phone without you
For a number of years, you've been able to broadcast your Android phone or tablet's display to the larger screen of a television using a Chromecast. In addition to beaming video from all the usual movie and TV apps, this streaming device can mirror your phone. Take advantage of a mirroring shortcut in the Quick Settings pane, which you access by dragging down from the top of the screen with two fingers. You should find a Cast option in this menu.
If it doesn't show up, there's another way to set up mirroring. First, check to make sure you've installed the Google Home app for Android. You probably already used this program to set up your Chromecast. Open the app, tap Cast screen/audio from its menu, and then choose your Chromecast. Your device's display should appear on the big screen.
2 of 10
2. Run apps side-by-side
SPLIT SCREEN
One of the new features added in Android 7.0 Nougat is the option to run apps side-by-side or one above the other. This view comes in handy when you want to display photos, optimize your social networking, or multitask, although it's a bit too laggy for gaming.
To set it up, tap the Overview button (the square icon below the screen) button, and choose which of your recently used apps you want to see. Then, hold and drag that app's title bar to the top or left of the display. Finally, choose another open app to appear alongside or under it.
Meanwhile, here's another related tip: Double-tap rather than single-tap the Overview button to quickly switch between the two apps you've been using most recently.
3 of 10
3. Make text and images more visible
DISPLAY SIZE
If you're struggling to see what's on the screen—or, alternatively, if you want to cram as much content as possible onto the display and don't mind doing a bit of squinting along the way—you can zoom in or out on text and objects. Not all the apps will respond to these adjustments, but most of them will.
To change size settings, open the Android Settings app and go to the Display heading. From the Display menu, tap the Font size link to change the default font size in Android. Select the Display size link to make on-screen objects larger or smaller.
4 of 10
4. Change volume settings independently
ANDROID VOLUME
Your device plays several different types of audio—including ring tones, notifications, alarms, phone calls, and media. If you've ever gone to the Settings menu, opened Sounds, and tapped Volume, you'll have seen that you can use individual sliders to adjust these audio types individually.
However, Android gives you a quick-and-easy shortcut. Tap the physical volume buttons on the side of your device to make whatever's currently playing softer or louder (if no media is playing, this action will adjust your ringtone volume). When you do, a small box will pop up on the screen, showing which volume setting is changing and how. On the side of that box, you should see a small arrow. Tap it, and the box will expand to show multiple volume sliders at once. This can save you a trip to Settings.
5 of 10
5. Lock phone borrowers inside one app
SCREEN PINNING
Screen pinning locks the phone user into one app.
What happens when you want to lend a friend or young family member your phone—but don't want them rooting through your private information or posting to your social media accounts? Screen pinning lets you be generous without giving up your privacy. Pinning one app to the screen means that your phone will only run that app until someone enters the lock screen code again. Essentially, the user won't be able to access any other parts of your phone without you
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