Android Shortcuts

While standard keyboard shortcuts are impractical for mobile devices, there are other kind of shortcuts and workarounds that can be real fourth dimension savers. Android in particular supports "shortcuts" in the form of homepage icons and widgets natively. Don't miss out.

Android home screen shortcuts

A native Android feature supported by hundreds of apps. Start past tapping and belongings on your home screen wallpaper. This may vary between Android versions but ordinarily this is how you volition find a menu for changing wallpapers, adding abode screen widgets and shortcuts.

Tap on 'Shortcuts' and notice the many possibilities offered by 1-click home screen icons. Shortcuts work on a per app basis, so you should offset select the app y'all want to interact with from the Shortcut menu and so select the action. Here are some useful examples:

  • Calling frequent contacts: Add together individual contacts you use often directly to your domicile screen or into a folder so yous can accomplish your favorite people easily. Direct dialing your mom, wife or kid with a single tap, couldn't get any easier.
  • Messaging someone: As before, first select the app you want to use (Messages, Hangouts, Whatsapp, all support shortcuts), then the person you want to message for a 1-click shortcut. Whatsapp likewise has a shortcut for taking a photo and sending to someone directly.
  • Drive Scan (Google Drive): Browse documents like receipts, letters, and billing statements, salvage them on the cloud with Drive and it will take them scanned every bit searchable PDFs then you lot tin can find them later.
  • Keep your favorite playlist close: To pull up that item playlist so searching through your music doesn't distract you lot from working out.
  • A folder with your favorite bookmarks: Add icons for bookmarks (such as TechSpot -- we've got a fancy mobile icon), frequent searches or whatever other website-based reference. Gmail also offers a shortcut to open your inbox straight into a specific label.
  • Directions widgets: To open maps and navigate direct to a certain location (e.thou. Go to dwelling house or work, finding the best road to avoid traffic).

More Android fourth dimension savers

  • A true keyboard shortcut: Using the stock Android keyboard or Swiftkey, each letter has an optional graphic symbol, accent or secondary symbol. For instance, concur downwards the alphabetic character F for a dollar sign, the alphabetic character South for the at sign (@) or the first row of letters for numbers one to 0.

  • Quick respond to phone calls : If you can't talk, but want to ship a quick message to the caller just swipe upward when you lot receive a telephone call (instead of swiping left or right.) And so pick one of the pre-made letters and information technology will be sent to the caller.
  • Save time texting by using the Android keyboard as a text expander : Create shortcuts in the custom dictionary that human action equally text expanders. "fg" can become Freaks and Geeks or "@@" can go your email accost. Yes, in that location are some places where autocomplete is disabled just, for the most part, you'll be fine.
  • Double-click the power push to launch the camera app: A new add-on in Android Marshmallow (but), if your phone doesn't have a dedicated camera push, this will exercise the trick nicely.
  • Disable notifications, get App info: Long tap on the unwanted notification and the app info will appear. Go to App Info and deselect 'Evidence Notifications'. You can likewise do this anytime from Settings > Apps, then select the app and disable notifications.
  • Take a screenshot: Press and hold the volume down and ability buttons at the aforementioned time. You'll hear a sound and see an blitheness indicating that the screenshot has been saved. Android will bear witness a notification and then you can share this if yous want.
  • Monitor battery usage: Android has gotten more clever well-nigh power consumption just if recall something is off and yous're running out of battery too soon, go to Settings > Power Direction > Bombardment Usage. This will show a visual timeline of your draining battery and the apps taking away the nearly juice.
  • Monitor data usage: Similar to the above, Android keeps good runway of data use over time and which apps have transferred the most data. The information is normally available on Settings > Information usage.
  • Share your location: Using the Google+ app, go to Settings. From in that location, y'all should find an option chosen "Location sharing." To share your precise location, scroll down to "Pinpoint Location" and touch Edit. Choose the people and circles you lot'd similar to share your precise location with. Alternatively, Whatsapp as well let's you share your location from the Sharing/Zipper menu.

Shortcut Extravaganza Carte

OS Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows macOS Chromebook

Browser Shortcuts

Chrome Firefox Safari Edge

Mobile Shortcuts

Android iPhone / iOS