12 Android tips you shouldn’t miss from 2024

Ah, the holidays. No matter what manner of winter celebration you prefer (I’m a Festivus man myself), late December is a fine time for kickin’ back and collecting your thoughts for the coming year.

That means it’s also a fine time for contemplating that crazy little computer in your pocket and the steps you can take to make it even more powerful — ’cause guess what? A few minutes of tuning up now will make your life measurably easier throughout all of 2025. Think of it as a gift to yourself — one that keeps on giving and, best of all, doesn’t cost you a single dime.

In case you missed any of ’em the first go-round or maybe just didn’t have the time to try everything out, here are some of my favorite productivity-boosting Android tips from Android Intelligence in 2024.

So pour yourself some cocoa, polish up the ol’ Festivus pole, and give yourself the gift of finely tuned technology — and be sure to sign yourself up for my free Android Intelligence newsletter, too, so you can get my best Android tips in your inbox all year round (and get a free copy of my awesome Android Notification Power-Pack the second you sign up!).

Android tips #1 and 2: Future features now

7 Android 15 features you can bring to any phone today

These creative workarounds will deliver Google’s latest and greatest goodies onto any Android gadget — no Android 15 upgrade required.

How to bring Android 16’s Notification Cooldown brilliance to any phone today

Google’s next big Android version has an extremely useful new nuisance-reducer — and with a teensy bit of crafty configuration, you can bring a similar superpower to any Android device this instant.

Android tips #3-6: Shortcuts and step-savers

15 advanced Android gesture actions

These simple swipes, slides, and presses will change the way you get around Android — for the better.

30 out-of-sight Android app shortcuts worth surfacing

These out-of-sight Android shortcuts can make you meaningfully more efficient — if you (a) figure out how to tap into their full potential and (b) remember to use ’em.

10 forgotten Android text selection shortcuts

Fly around your phone like a certified Android sorcerer with these oft-forgotten on-demand actions.

Float any website on Android for easy multitasking magic

Now, this is a smart way to wade around the web — and it’s already on your favorite Android phone and just waiting to be found.

Android tips #7-9: Smarter searching

5 advanced tricks for Google’s Circle to Search on Android

Take your Android searching to soaring new heights with these Circle to Search secrets.

How to capture and share a screenshot with Circle to Search on Android

You’d never know it, but Android’s quietly dazzling next-gen search system gained a supremely helpful option this year.

Find Android’s futuristic new search feature

Android’s visual search system got a powerful under-the-hood upgrade of its own in 2024, and if you aren’t using it, you’re really missing out.

Android tips #10-12: Intelligent adjustments

How Android’s notification channels can help you reclaim control

Take total control of exactly when and how your phone alerts you with a simple one-time setup of some easily overlooked options.

18 Android settings that’ll strengthen your security

Some of the most important Android settings are also the most buried — and they’re absolutely worth your while to uncover.

13 fast fixes for common Android problems

Solve annoying issues and get any phone in tip-top shape with these easy-to-implement, expert-approved solutions.

Bonus: 25 tips for your old Android devices

25 great uses for an old Android device 

We all love getting new gadgets, but what to do with the old ones? Here are 25 clever ways to put all your old Android phones and tablets to good use, too.

Thanks as always for reading, and happy holidays to you and yours!

Get even more Googley knowledge with my Android Intelligence newsletter. Three new things to try in your inbox every Friday and six powerful notification enhancements the second you sign up!