Whether you are new to Android and keen about trying out all the available options you see on the screen, or you are familiar with the system, tricks, and tips to get around a system is always a welcome idea. Here are 10 useful tricks and tips that will improve your overall experience while using your Android device.

How much do you know about your phone or tablet?  

Sure, you can make phone calls and send texts, but there is some things in this article that you were not aware of.

1. Clear App Defaults

It is annoying when a link opens in a certain app rather than in the browser. It could be a tweet, a Facebook page or a YouTube link which you will end up waiting around while your phone shuts down your browser and fires up something else.

It can be easily fixed.

Go to settings > Apps and find the app that keeps opening. Once you open the app, Scroll down to open by default, press it, then select Clear Defaults.

If this doesn't work, apply the same step to your browser app as well.

2. Disable App Notifications

Are you tired of annoying app notifications that just keep coming? If you do not know already, these app notifications also drain your phone’s battery. If you want to turn them off, and you are on Jelly Bean 4.1 and above, here is how to do that:

On any the unwanted notifications in your notification bar, long press on the notification for a message box to appear.

Tap on App Info > Untick Show Notifications > OK.

3. Add Multiple Google Accounts

You need a Google account to use an Android device but do you know you decide to run more than one Google account on your Android device. This is easy if you use more than one account for several of your Google services. To add multiple Google accounts here are the steps to follow:

Go to Settings > Add account.

Select Google and setup your New or Existing Google account.

Once it is added, choose what you want to sync with the account.

Use the path above if you want to add more accounts.

4. Say “OK, Google” to start a search from any screen

Cut down on time it takes to manually search for things by simply doing it with your voice. To activate vocal control over Google searches, go to your apps page and find the Google app. Click on it, and keep scrolling down until you see the settings icon on the bottom right. Choose that and select “Voice.” Then, tap on “Ok Google Detection” and activate the “From any screen” setting. You will be able to start a Google search from your phone simply by speaking the phrase, “Ok, Google.”

5. Set Mobile Data Limit

Will you like to keep track of your usage is from your monthly mobile data limit? If you have ICS and above, there is a feature which lets you keep track of how much of the quota you have left.

Here is how to do that:

Head over to Settings > Data Usage.

Simply set the data limit by dragging the line to reflect your monthly quota.

Set your data usage cycle based on when your “month” starts and ends, that is all.

You will be notified once you reach the limit you have set.

6. Smart Lock

Smart lock is very helpful. It removes the need to use a keypad lock when you are at home or in another “trusted” environment.

Smart Lock on an Android device makes locking your phone way easier.

It can make use of your face, GPS, certain networks, your face, or even your voice to prevent your phone from locking itself, making you have a much faster and hassle-free experience.

Here is how to activate it:

Head to Settings > Security > Smart lock to set it up

7. Disable automatic App Updates

Do you prefer to read through app permissions and manually pick which app updates you want to adopt?

You can, but you need to disable your automatic app updates first. Here are the steps to follow:

Go to Play Store and head over to Settings.

Tap on Auto-update apps.

Select Do not auto-update apps.

If you want to enable the auto updates, follow the same step and select Auto-update apps at any time or via Wi-Fi (available for certain Android devices only).

8. How to Turn Off Auto-Correction

Do you hate the fact that your phone is going is auto-correcting you?

Turn off auto-correction to have a rest of mind when texting. Here is how to do that:

Go to Settings > Language & input.

Tap on the settings icon next to the keyboard that you are using, for example, Google Keyboard.

Then click on Auto-correction and select Off to turn off auto-correction.

9. How To Check For Android System updates

You can check for your system update using this steps. Here are the steps:

Go to Settings > About phone/tablet.

Click on System updates.

Select Check now to look for system updates.

10. How to disable animations

Here is a tip on how to make your Android device run a bit smoother: disable its animations. First, You need to go to Developer Options which can be found under Settings or About device.

Note: For some Android phones, you may need to go to Build number and tap on it repeatedly until you see “You are now a developer!”. Then Developer options are now enabled.

When you open enabled Developer options, find Window animation scale, Transition animation scale, and Animator duration scale. Then, turn them off or disable them one after the other.