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.
While the Pixel Buds are primarily meant to be used as Bluetooth headphones, Google did include a feature that allows them to translate over 40 different languages in real-time. Here’s how to use it, just as long as it’s paired with a Pixel or Pixel 2…
OnePlus has just released the OnePlus 5T, the company’s second and refined flagship smartphone of 2017. Just as the overall design hasn’t changed much when compared to the 5, the 5T keeps the same screenshot functionality as its predecessor. That means you can still capture images using the physical power and volume buttons as well as take scrolling screenshots. Here’s how…
Allo, Google’s latest messaging application, allows users to send and receive digital messages over the internet. But, unfortunately, if you log out of your Allo account, all of those chats are entirely wiped from the phone and disappear forever. Thankfully, Google has made it possible for users to backup all of their important conversations to the cloud…
One of Android’s little-known tricks is its built-in backup and restore process that allows users to save their private data as well as the different installed applications. The process is pretty simple but it isn’t always full-proof. But unlike other backup and restore processes, this one doesn’t require your device to be rooted. Here’s how to access the tool…
While it can be incredibly easy to take screenshots on smartphones, a little more work has to go into capturing portions of your Chromebook’s display. The good news, though, is that once you learn how to take screenshots, the process is pretty hard to forget and takes just seconds to do…
Currently, because most Chromebooks are budget-friendly, companies don’t put keyboard backlighting in many machines. For Chromebooks that do have this feature, though, Google and OEMs don’t advertise how to adjust its brightness level. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to do but does require using a specific keyboard combo…
With the launch of the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, Google borrowed a feature from HTC allows users to trigger a specific action by squeezing the edges of the handset. While the feature on HTC handsets can be customized to launch different apps and actions, the Pixel 2’s Active Edge can only launch the Google Assistant and silence some notifications. Here’s how to customize the feature…
One of the newest features to come to Chrome OS is the ability to unlock your computer using your Android smartphone. Setting it up is pretty straightforward, only requiring that you have both devices in hand. When finished, you will be able to get into your Chromebook by merely unlocking your phone…
While every Android OEM adds different features and modifications to the mobile operating system, there are always two for sure ways to capture screenshots. The first is using the physical power and volume buttons, and the other is with Google Assistant. Here’s how to use either to capture anything on your display…
Android has long had a feature that automatically added shortcuts to the home screen after they were downloaded from the Google Play Store. As this could get annoying, the feature could be disabled within the Play Store’s settings menu. With Oreo, though, Google moved this setting out of the store itself and placed it into one of the operating system’s menus. Here’s how to turn this automatic feature off…
When Google first rolled out Android Oreo, a persistent notification came with it that displayed all of the apps that were running in the background. With the release of the Android 8.1 Developer Preview, this notification has now been renamed to “using battery” and allows users to disable it from always showing (even on 8.0). Here’s how to do just that…
Google just announced the Developer Preview for Android 8.1 for a handful of Pixel and Nexus devices. This beta build can either be installed through the traditional flashing method or by OTA using the search giant’s Beta Program. Here’s how to install Android 8.1 using both methods…
The MLB World Series kicks off tonight with the entire series airing on Fox’s TV network. If you don’t have a cable or satellite television subscription and still want to watch the games, you’re in luck as multiple subscription services will offer the series, including YouTube TV…
When Google announced the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, one of the handset’s flagship features was its ability to recognize background music automatically called Now Playing. Unfortunately, this feature is disabled by default. Here’s how to turn it on…
Whenever Google pushes out a firmware update to any of its Pixel or Nexus devices, someone either catches the OTA update file or Google uploads it to its website. Instead of waiting for it to reach your device or manually flashing the latest firmware build, you can easily sideload the OTA file. This option is not only the fastest route, but it also doesn’t require you to wipe your device…
Just days ago, Google officially brought YouTube TV casting support to the Google Home. It now appears as though HBO Now is getting added to the list of services that can be cast. Here’s how to link your HBO Now account to your Google Home…
With the Google Home Mini already shipping and being delivered, we figured now would be a good time to walk you through how to set up and get started with your new smart speaker. Thankfully, most of the setup process takes place within the Home app, which means the entire process just takes a few minutes.
As with any Android smartphone, it’s pretty easy to capture screenshots on the Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL. Unlike other OEMs, though, there aren’t any fancy ways to capture scrolling screenshots or create animated GIFs. Instead, Google sticks to the tried and true method of using the physical power and volume buttons as well as the Assistant to help capture content on your screen…
Both the Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL have always-on ambient displays. This means that you will be able to effortlessly see the time and new notifications at a glance. Here’s how to this new feature on and off.
Having all of your movies digitally is great because you can watch them almost anywhere. The most significant downside is that until now, you could only watch those videos within the app or service you purchased them through (unless it was a Disney movie). Thankfully, with Movies Anywhere, you can link all of your favorite services together and see all of your digital movies in one place. Here’s how to connect and disconnect your accounts from Movies Anywhere.
At last week’s Made by Google event, we saw two new Pixels, both sporting a new calendar widget. What’s nice about this widget is its sheer simplicity, prominently showing the user’s next calendar event, its scheduled duration, and the current weather.
Since we don’t know if this will make its way to other phones, an app developer has recreated the widget for all to use on any Android smartphone…
With the launch of the Pixel 2, Google is introducing a new always-listening feature called “Now Playing” that continually listens for and identifies music playing nearby. The best part about it is that the song’s title and artist information automatically show up on your lockscreen. As we don’t know if this feature will ever come to any other Android devices, there is a way to use an app to replicate most of these always-listening music recognition features…
At the Made by Google event earlier this week, the search giant announced two new Pixel smartphones which showed an updated Pixel Launcher. The most notable difference was the search bar which got moved below the app dock. Thankfully, one of the most customizable launchers available for download has already been updated to allow users to bring this look to any Android phone…
In addition to Google announcing two new Home units at yesterday’s event, the company has been pushing out brand new features that bring extra functionality and control to the smart speaker. The latest of those allows you to set a preferred media playback device when you ask your Home to either play some music or your favorite show on CBS. Here’s how to change the setting…
