Simple settings can help reduce background activity, manage notifications, protect private information and make daily smartphone use more convenient.
Using a smartphone every day can sometimes lead to slow performance, faster battery drain and unwanted notifications. Several built-in settings can help users manage these issues and improve security and convenience.
Here are 10 smartphone features that users can check and enable based on their needs.
1. Limit background processes
Android users can enable Developer Options by going to Settings > About Phone and tapping Build Number seven times. The Background Process Limit option can then be found under Developer Options.
Setting it to At most 2 or 3 processes can reduce the number of apps kept active in the background. This may leave more RAM available for other tasks.
However, some apps may stop or pause when they are moved to the background. This can affect activities such as downloads or music playback.
2. Turn on Notification History
Notification History can help users find notifications that they accidentally dismissed.
Depending on the phone, the option can be found under Settings > Notifications, often inside Advanced Settings or More Settings. Once enabled, users can review recent notifications, including those received during the previous 24 hours.
3. Use Private DNS to reduce some advertisements
Android phones may offer a Private DNS option under Connections or Network & Internet.
Users can select Private DNS provider hostname and enter dns.adguard.com. This can reduce some advertisements and trackers on websites and apps.
However, Private DNS may cause connection problems on some public Wi-Fi networks. Users can temporarily disable it if such problems occur.
4. Reduce animation scale
Animations can make a phone’s interface appear smoother, but shorter animation times can make interactions feel quicker.
Under Developer Options, users can change Window animation scale, Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale from 1x to 0.5x.
This changes the speed of interface animations. It does not delete apps, files or other personal data.
5. Control Google Location History
Users can manage Google’s location history through their Google Account.
Go to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Data & Privacy. Depending on the device and account, the setting may appear as Location History or Timeline.
Pausing this feature prevents Google from storing new location history through that setting. However, turning off location history does not stop every app from using the phone’s location when location access is otherwise permitted.
6. Use Quick Share carefully
Quick Share allows users to send photos, videos and other files to nearby devices without relying on mobile data or a separate file-sharing app.
Users can open Quick Share from the notification panel and check Who can share with you. Options can include Everyone for 10 minutes and Contacts only, depending on the device.
Keeping Contacts only enabled after receiving files can reduce unexpected sharing requests from unknown people.
7. Hide sensitive notifications on the lock screen
Notification previews can sometimes reveal private information when a phone is locked.
Users can go to Lock Screen or Security settings and look for notification controls. Options such as Hide content or Don’t show sensitive content can prevent message details and other private information from appearing on the locked screen.
This can also help protect information such as one-time passwords, or OTPs, from being easily viewed by others.
8. Remove permissions from unused apps
Some Android phones offer a feature that automatically removes permissions from apps that have not been used for a long time.
Users can open an app’s Permissions section and look for Remove permissions if app isn’t used or Pause app activity if unused.
When available, this can remove access to sensitive features such as the camera or microphone. The permissions may need to be granted again when the app is used later.
9. Use Focus Mode
Focus Mode is available through Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls on supported Android devices.
Users can select apps that often cause distractions and schedule Focus Mode for a specific period. During that time, notifications from selected apps can be paused and access to those apps can be restricted.
This can be useful when studying, working or completing other tasks that require fewer interruptions.
10. Keep Find My Device enabled
Find My Device can help users locate and secure a lost Android phone.
The feature can allow users to locate the device, make it ring remotely, lock it or erase its data when supported requirements are met. The phone generally needs sufficient battery power, a network connection and the necessary settings enabled.
Users should therefore check the relevant Security & Privacy settings and keep the feature active if they want these recovery options available.
Why these settings matter
These features address different parts of everyday smartphone use. Some focus on performance, while others help manage privacy, notifications, file sharing or device security.
The exact menu names can vary between Android manufacturers and software versions. Users should therefore look for the closest matching setting if the wording on their phone is different.
Checking these settings periodically can help users keep better control of their smartphone.
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