When you buy a new smartphone, the first things you naturally do are use the camera, browse, make calls, send messages, and maybe play a game. But there are still tons of more advanced features sitting right there on your phone that most people never explore. Android keeps getting smarter every year, and new features roll out quietly with almost no fanfare. Here are eight worth actually turning on.
1. Song Recognition Through Google Search
If you’re in a crowded place and a song comes on that you love, asking the DJ for the title can feel awkward. You don’t have to.
- Tap the microphone icon in the Google Search app or widget.
- Let your phone listen for a few seconds while the song plays.
- Wait for the song to be identified.
You can also use a dedicated app like Shazam from the Play Store if you prefer, but the built-in Google option works just as well without installing anything extra.
2. Recover Cleared Notifications
If you swiped away all your notifications and then remembered you needed to read one of them, don’t panic, there’s a way to get them back.
- Touch and hold an empty space on your home screen, then select Widgets.
- Find Settings in the widget list and drag it to your home screen.
- A list of shortcut options will pop up. Select Notification Log.
- Tap the new shortcut on your home screen any time to see all your cleared notifications, and more.
3. Split Screen for Multitasking
Running two apps on screen at once, watching a YouTube video while chatting on WhatsApp, for example, is one of Android’s most useful multitasking features. Not every app supports it, and your device needs to be running Android 9 Pie or newer for it to work.
- Open the app you want to use in split-screen mode.
- Open your recent apps screen (press the square button for 3-button navigation, or swipe up and hold from the home bar for gesture navigation).
- Press and hold the three-dot menu on the app’s card and select Split Screen.
- Open a second app from the recent apps menu or your home screen. It will fill the other half of the display.
To exit split screen, swipe the divider between the two apps to the top or bottom of the screen.
4. Screen Pinning
Screen Pinning locks your phone to a single app until you enter your PIN to release it. It’s useful when you’re playing a game and don’t want to accidentally back out, or when you’re handing your phone to someone else and want to make sure they can’t wander into your other apps.
- Go to Settings > Security > Screen Pinning and turn it on.
- Open your recent apps and tap the icon of the app you want to pin.
- Select Pin.
To unpin, follow the on-screen instructions, which usually involve holding the back and overview buttons together, or swiping up and holding on gesture navigation.
5. Smart Lock
Smart Lock keeps your phone unlocked while it’s on your body or near a trusted Bluetooth device or Wi-Fi network, and locks automatically once it’s away from those trusted conditions.
Go to Settings > Security > Smart Lock, enter your PIN, and set it up with your trusted devices or locations.
6. Circle to Search
This is one of the most genuinely useful additions to recent Android versions. It lets you search for anything on your screen, an object in a photo, a piece of text, a product in a video, without leaving the app you’re in.
- Long-press the Home button (3-button navigation) or the gesture handle at the bottom of your screen.
- Circle, scribble, or tap whatever you want to search for, whether it’s an image, text, or object.
- Google Search results appear instantly without switching apps.
It’s available on select recent Android phones running Android 14 and newer. If you don’t see it, check for a software update first.
7. Private Space
Private Space, introduced with Android 15 and refined in Android 16, creates a separate, locked container on your phone for sensitive apps: banking, dating, or work apps you don’t want visible if someone else picks up your phone. When locked, apps inside Private Space disappear entirely from your recent apps, notifications, and app drawer.
- Go to Settings > Security & Privacy > Private Space.
- Follow the setup steps to create a separate lock for it.
- Move or install the apps you want hidden into the space.
This is a stronger and more modern alternative to the old trick of hiding apps in an unlabeled folder.
8. Quick Share for Fast File Transfers
Quick Share (formerly Nearby Share) lets you send photos, videos, and files to another nearby Android phone instantly, without data, Bluetooth pairing hassles, or a third-party app.
- Select the file you want to share and tap Share.
- Choose Quick Share from the share menu.
- Select the nearby device to send it to. The recipient just needs to accept the transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Android phones have these features?
Most are available on Android 12 and newer, but newer additions like Circle to Search and Private Space require Android 14 or 15 and up, and support also depends on your phone’s manufacturer and region.
Is Private Space safer than just hiding an app in a folder?
Yes. Private Space fully removes locked apps from recents, notifications, and app pickers, while a hidden folder still leaves the app visible and accessible to anyone who opens it.
Why doesn’t Circle to Search show up on my phone?
It’s still rolling out to select devices and Android versions. Check for a software update under Settings > System > Software Update, and confirm your phone is running Android 14 or newer.
Your phone is capable of a lot more than calls, camera, and browsing. Try turning on even two or three of these features today, and you’ll likely find yourself using them daily within a week.
