Skip to main content

Basics

See All Stories

If you’re new to Android, Chrome, or anything related to Google, it can sometimes be a little difficult getting yourself familiar with the platforms. That’s why we created Basics!

Whether you’re looking for help changing your wallpaper, adding apps to your home screen, removing apps from your home screen, or just want to know how to set an alarm, we’ve got you covered.

All of our Basics guides can be found below, in the order they were published.

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to enable landscape home screen on Google Pixel

Android is flexible and customizable, but sometimes the sheer number of options you have can be a bit overwhelming — even with a device that’s relatively simple and user-friendly like the Google Pixel. One of the many Google Pixel features you might not know how to enable is the landscape home screen, so read on for a quick walkthrough…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to change the default screen resolution on the Samsung Galaxy S7 running Nougat

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are two of the newest phones to run the latest version of Android and with the upgrade, there are several new features being added to the handsets to make the experience even better. The first of which is the ability to lower the screen resolution to save battery life…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to take a screenshot on the Huawei Mate 9

One basic feature that all Huawei Mate 9 users should know is how to take a screenshot. Just like almost any other Android device currently available on the market, the Mate 9 allows you to take a screenshot using the hardware power and volume keys. With EMUI 5.0, Huawei’s latest device allows you to take scrolling screenshots and features the ability to take partial screenshots with the use of your knuckle…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to enable high priority notifications within Google Daydream

By strapping on a Daydream headset, you are immersing yourself into a virtual world which also naturally isolates you from your surroundings. As you could potentially be enjoying content for hours at a time, Google has made it so that you can still receive limited types of notifications so that you don’t miss anything important…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to enable the app drawer on the Huawei Mate 9

In the past, one of the biggest complaints about EMUI — Huawei’s skinned version of Android — is the fact that it didn’t have an application drawer and would litter homescreens with app shortcuts. The only way to gain an app drawer was by installing a third-party launcher. Thankfully, with the release of EMUI 5.0 on Huawei’s Mate 9, there is a setting that can enable a native app drawer without requiring you to download anything…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to mirror your Daydream experience onto a television

With VR experiences like Google’s Daydream, you get to immerse yourself into a virtual world by strapping a phone onto your face. As elegant as that may sound, there’s still a chance that you might want to share everything that you’re seeing with those around you — especially during the holiday season. Thankfully, if you have a Chromecast or Android TV in your home, you can easily mirror your display on the big screen…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to send an alert to your Google Trusted Contacts

With the debut of Google’s latest application, Trusted Contacts, users can now share their exact GPS coordinates with friends and family members in case they are ever in danger or need assistance. Thankfully, once the application has been configured properly, there is a quick and easy way to send out an alert with your location to all of your trusted contacts…

Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to share your exact location for 24 hours in Google’s Trusted Contacts

One of the best features found in Google’s brand new Trusted Contacts application is the ability to share your exact location with others. This allows your friends and or family members that you have setup as trusted contacts to easily check to make sure you have made it to your destination safely as well as allowing you to send a message asking for assistance if needed…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to enable the battery percentage on all Moto Z variants

When it comes to monitoring your battery life on Moto Z devices, it can be hard to estimate how much power is left just based on the battery icon. Thankfully, there is an option in the settings menu that allows you to enable the battery percentage which makes it much easier to glance at your status bar and see how much battery you have left…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to setup Moto Voice on all Moto Z variants

Moto Z Droid

Most modern Android devices now have the ability to setup a voice prompt that lets you operate your device without even picking it up. Motorola has had its own feature called Moto Voice for the last couple of years that allows for more than the standard “Ok, Google” command. The below steps will help you say “Hello, Moto” to your Moto Z device…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Android Basics: How to take a screenshot on all Moto Z variants

As with any mobile device, it is always important to know how to capture information on your screen. One of the unique aspects of the Moto Z line of phones is that the overall design is exactly the same, which means the process is also exactly the same across the board. Thankfully, Lenovo also didn’t change the screenshot process that can be found baked into almost every Android device…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

How to download and manage movies and shows in the Netflix app for Android

Today, after having their customers request this feature for years, Netflix has now made it possible to download select content onto mobile devices for offline viewing. Whether you want to download a movie for a long flight or a tv show for your kids to enjoy on a road trip, the following will walk you through downloading and managing content from Netflix on your Android phone or tablet…


Expand
Expanding
Close