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408 'how-to' stories August 2011 - October 2022

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A collection of tutorials, tips, and tricks from the 9to5Google team helping you fix and get the most out of Android, Google Assistant, Chromebooks, Android TV, and more.

Bedtime mode Pixel Watch

How to use Bedtime mode on your Pixel Watch properly, and how it works

Andrew Romero Oct 19 2022 - 8:06 am PT

The Pixel Watch follows the same recipe as many smartwatches and fitness trackers before it. One of its main features is sleep tracking powered by Fitbit. With that, there’s a setting called Bedtime mode. Here’s what you need to know about Bedtime mode on the Pixel Watch.

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Pixel Watch Google Home

How to install and use Google Home on your Pixel Watch or Galaxy Watch

Andrew Romero Oct 14 2022 - 11:15 am PT

Google’s Pixel Watch is meant to be one of the missing pieces to a complete ecosystem. Part of that ecosystem is Google Home, and the two work together quite nicely. Here’s how to access Google Home from your Pixel Watch or on any Wear OS 3 device, like the Galaxy Watch 5.

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Emergency SOS pixel watch

Emergency SOS on the Pixel Watch: How to enable and use it

Andrew Romero Oct 14 2022 - 7:58 am PT

Just about every smartwatch has some sort of SOS feature now, though that’s far from a bad thing. The Pixel Watch’s Emergency SOS mode is easy to set up and use in a pinch. Here’s how it works.

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Fitbit Premium cancel Pixel Watch

How to disable Fitbit step count reminders on the Pixel Watch

Kyle Bradshaw Oct 13 2022 - 11:17 am PT

By default, the Fitbit app on the Pixel Watch will remind (see: nag) you to get up and walk around every hour, but thankfully, you can easily disable these step count reminders — here’s how!

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Here’s where to watch the ‘Made by Google’ launch event

Andrew Romero Oct 6 2022 - 5:00 am PT

watch made by google event

This year, Google is slated to launch several new devices, including the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, Pixel Watch, and several new Nest products. Here’s where you can watch the 2022 Made by Google event live and catch every release.

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Find Pixel Buds Pro

Pixel Buds Pro lost mode: How to find them when they go missing

Andrew Romero Oct 5 2022 - 8:48 am PT

We get it – Pixel Buds and earbuds in general are small and easy to lose. Fortunately, Google’s Pixel Buds Pro have a lost mode feature, allowing you to find them easier. Here’s how it works.

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extreme battery saver pixel

‘Extreme Battery Saver’ on the Pixel: How to turn it on when you really need it

Andrew Romero Oct 3 2022 - 10:21 am PT

Most devices have some sort of battery saver mode, while Google’s Pixel lineup comes with an “Extreme Battery Saver.” So what is it, and what makes it extreme? This guide will take you through it.

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Google Messages reactions

Google Messages: How to use emoji reactions with any recipient

Andrew Romero Sep 30 2022 - 12:46 pm PT

In Google Messages, you can send reactions to received messages with a selection of emoji, no matter who texted you. This guide will quickly show you how to react to messages.

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youtube music audio only

YouTube Music’s audio-only mode: How to stop music videos from playing

Andrew Romero Sep 29 2022 - 10:55 am PT

YouTube Music is a good combination of audio and video, with music straight from YouTube’s huge backlog of content. Sometimes, you might want to dive in with audio-only mode, which can dramatically reduce your data usage when listening. This guide will take you through the process.

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reset Pixel Buds Pro

Swipe volume controls on the Pixel Buds Pro: Your guide to using them

Andrew Romero Sep 28 2022 - 10:38 am PT

Just about every set of wireless earbuds has touch controls to change volume and playback. The Google Pixel Buds Pro are no different, with some of the better volume and playback controls on the market. This is a quick guide on using them properly.

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unsend email in gmail

Can you unsend an email in the Gmail app? How to stop a mistaken email in its tracks

Andrew Romero Sep 28 2022 - 8:00 am PT

There’s nothing worse than sending an email too early or without double-checking it. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent that in Gmail with the “undo send” feature. This guide will take you through unsending an email in Gmail on the web and in the app.

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turn off talkback on pixel

‘TalkBack’ on your Pixel: What it is and how to turn it on or off

Andrew Romero Sep 27 2022 - 10:15 am PT

As part of several accessibility features to make it easier for you to use your Google Pixel, Talkback is a way for you to get spoken descriptions of what’s going on with your screen. It’s pretty easy to turn on, if even by accident.

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custom ringtone pixel

How to set custom ringtones on your Google Pixel

Andrew Romero Sep 26 2022 - 10:30 am PT

Stock Android makes it pretty easy to jump in and make your phone your own. One way is to set up a custom ringtone or song for your Google Pixel. This guide will take you through the simple yet fast process.

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Google Messages swipe actions

Google Messages ‘Swipe Actions’: What they are, and how to change them

Andrew Romero Sep 22 2022 - 5:00 pm PT

Swipe actions have been around for almost as long as we can remember. In Gmail, they let you easily sort incoming mail with a quick swipe. In Google Messages, swipe actions act in pretty much the same way.

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Chrome Incognito redesign

How to make Chrome’s Incognito even more secure with your fingerprint

Andrew Romero Sep 22 2022 - 11:12 am PT

To make your browsing even more secure, Chrome on Android has added a feature that lets you secure the mode behind a fingerprint. This guide will show you how to turn it on and off for Incognito mode in Google Chrome.

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customize google news block discover

How to customize your news feed in Google News and Google Discover

Andrew Romero Sep 22 2022 - 8:30 am PT

On Android, there are a couple of ways of accessing Google News, and there are a few ways to customize your Google News and Google Discover feed. This guide will take you through how to block certain sources, tell Google what you’re interested in, and save the stories you really like.

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Google Maps labels

Labels in Google Maps: How to save and organize your favorite places

Andrew Romero Sep 19 2022 - 12:49 pm PT

Google Maps is one of the most useful tools for finding new places to visit, the best restaurants in town, or even some areas to avoid during high traffic. One way to make it easier for yourself is to create lists and place labels on your favorite spots in Google Maps. Here’s how.

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Google Docs: How to adjust and change your margins or use Pageless mode

Andrew Romero Sep 16 2022 - 11:34 am PT

Google Docs is great for all different types of uses, though the default setup isn’t for everyone. This guide will quickly take you through changing the margins so you can adjust the Google Doc to your liking.

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Google Maps arrival alerts

How to get Google Maps alerts when friends or family leave or arrive somewhere

Andrew Romero Sep 15 2022 - 5:05 pm PT

Google Maps has a well-designed location tracking feature for friends and family to use to keep up with each other’s whereabouts. Now, Google has added a new fully customizable Maps tool to send alerts whenever a friend or family member leaves or arrives somewhere.

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Android ‘Adaptive Battery’: What it is and how to turn it on

Andrew Romero Sep 15 2022 - 12:31 pm PT

Batteries used to be cut and dry in our phones, doing all of the heavy lifting to power our devices. Now, our phone’s SoC plays a huge role in regulating power so that we can stretch battery life out to the max. This guide will dive a little deeper into how Android’s Adaptive Battery feature works as well as how you can make sure it’s turned on for your device.

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reset galaxy watch 5

How to reset your Galaxy Watch 5 or 5 Pro and why you might want to

Andrew Romero Sep 14 2022 - 1:57 pm PT

No smartwatch is perfect, and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch line has a track record of random bugs and issues. While fixable on the Galaxy Watch 5, most of these bugs require you to perform a factory reset on the watch, which is straightforward and not as inconvenient as it would be on a phone.

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waze biz jargon

how-to
Waze

Waze’s new ‘Biz Jargon’ voice pokes fun at your commute to the office

Andrew Romero Sep 13 2022 - 11:42 am PT

Waze is back again with a new theme that includes new icons, phrases, and more. This week, “Biz Jargon” will be making its way to Waze users to bring office life to the road.

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watch 5 fall detection

Galaxy Watch 5 SOS Mode: How to set it up, and why it doesn’t support 911

Andrew Romero Sep 13 2022 - 9:55 am PT

Most Android devices with an SOS feature call 911 or emergency services when activated, so does the Galaxy Watch 5 do the same thing? This guide will take you through how it works.

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galaxy flip fold 4

Galaxy Fold 4 and Flip 4 notifications: How to access them even easier

Andrew Romero Sep 2 2022 - 12:13 pm PT

The Galaxy Fold 4 and Flip 4 – while surprisingly easy to handle – are not always the epitome of one-handed devices; both have tall screens that force some careful movement when trying to pull the Galaxy Fold or Flip’s notification shade down. This guide will take you through a feature that allows you to use a quick trick to pull down those notifications.

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