Nexus 6 Tips and Tricks

Tap and Go

One of the newest features built into Android 5.0 Lollipop is Tap and Go. This makes it super easy when switching to a new device to transfer over all of your apps and certain settings. After you turn on the new device it will ask if you want to transfer your settings using Tap and Go, select Yes. Enable NFC on your old device and hold to 2 devices back to back and the phones do the rest of the work!

Guest Mode/ Multiple Users

Also a new feature in Lollipop is the ability to have multiple user accounts and even a guest mode on your phone. Simply go to Settings and tap on Users. This will allow you to add different user accounts and even put certain restrictions on them if desired.

Battery Saver

Battery Saver is a feature made to help you not run out of juice before you can get to a charging cable. To enable, go into Settings and tap on Battery. Tap on the Menu icon in the corner and tap Battery Saver. This will limit most background data, vibrations, ambient display and other features that may run in the background causing battery drain.

Priority Mode

Priority Mode is basically the Android version of Do Not Disturb found on the iPhone. To enable, push either the Up or Down volume buttons and a menu will pop up. Priority mode allows you to customize what, if any notifications you get and for how long.

Flashlight Toggle

The updated Quick Settings, accessed by swiping down from the top of the screen either twice with 1 finger or once with 2, now has a built in flashlight toggle. By tapping the toggle, this will turn on the LED flash next to the camera. Having this feature so quick and easy to access is definitely handy.

Smart Lock

This feature makes having a security pin or pattern less of a hassle when unlocking your phone. Go into Settings, Security, Smart Lock to access the different settings. It gives you the ability to bypass the security code if you are connected to specific bluetooth devices, such as a smartwatch. You can also set certain locations, such as your home or work, to do the same.

Search in Settings

Having a hard time finding certain settings? Google has made it really easy to find any setting fast. When you go into the Settings menu, the top bar now has a Search icon. By tapping that you are able to search within the Settings menu.

4K Video Recording

With 4K getting bigger and bigger, Google has made it so you can record your own videos in 4K using your Nexus 6. While in the camera app, go into the Settings menu, tap on Resolution & quality. Under the Video section, tap on Back camera video. It gives you 3 different options, HD 720p, HD 1080p, and UHD 4K. Keep in mind using 4K for video will make your videos take up more space. But if space isn’t an issue for you, 4K is a beautiful way to look back on great memories.

Screen Pinning

Do you have any nosey friends? Or kids that you don’t want to change any settings? Screen Pinning lets you give your phone to someone and trust that they won’t be able to get anywhere other than the app you want them too. To enable, go into Settings, Security, and under Advanced is screen pinning. Once enabled, open an app, press the Recents button and located in the bottom right corner of the front card is a push-pin icon. Press this and the app will open but the Home and Recents button will no longer work. You will be able to navigate inside that app, but nowhere else. To get out of the Pinned mode, press and hold the Back and Recents buttons at the same time.

Easter Egg Game

Google is known for throwing in a few easter eggs here and there in their apps and services. Android is no different. In every version of the OS, you’ve been able to go into Settings, About Phone, and tap multiple times on the Android Version and something that has to do with the current version pops up. With Lollipop, at first a giant lollipop appears and by tapping on it, the color will change. But if you tap and hold for a few seconds, you will find an Android Flappy Bird clone. Needless to say, this can get addicting, and this version is not the easiest.

Check Data Usage

Another new feature in the Quick Settings menu is the ability to quickly check how much cellular data you have used. When you tap on the Network icon it will show you how much data you’ve used. Also from that screen you can easily go into your network data settings to set a data limit and see which apps are using the most data.