Android Guides

Android 101

Android how-to guide, Android tips and tricks.

android_guideAndroid is one of the best mobile operating systems. You can find it in smartphones, tablets, smart watches, fitness trackers, and even in your car dashboard soon.

The success of Android is partially due to its flexibility and open source.

This means Android device manufactures can easily customize Android to add some unique features. For example, Samsung uses the TouchWiz skin to add tons of exclusive (sometimes, gimmicky) features to Galaxy devices.

But there are still a lot of common functions and features shared by most Android devices. And a lot of Android device owners are fiddling around the gadget to find out how to access some existing features.

So, this Android 101 page was created to help you.

These how-to guides will cover some basic features that you can easily follow on your device (mainly phones and tablets). Of course, some advanced features that may involve using ADB or rooting the phone will  be covered as well. These Android guides should work on most Android versions, including Gingerbread (Android 2.3), Ice cream sandwich (ICS, Android 4.0), Jelly Bean (Android 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3), KitKat (Android 4.4),  Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), Lollipop (Android 6.0) and Nougat (Android 7,0 and 7.1).

This is a live page and will be update regularly.  If you have any problems or questions on Android, please leave your questions in comment box below.

  1. Table of Contents hide
    1) What Android version is my device running on? What is build number and security patch level?
    2) How to update my Android device?
    3) How to access developer options on my Android device?
    4) How to take screenshot on my Android device without using any apps?
    5) How to take screenshot of my Android device from a PC (using ADB)?
    6) What is Android home screen and how to customize Android home screen?
    7) What is the Android App drawer?
    8) What is the Android widget and how to use widget on home screen?
    9) How to customize Android ringtones and notification tones?
    10) How to access Android settings in your device?
    11) How to auto rotate home screen in Android phones (use home screen in landscape mode)?
    12) Understanding Android battery usage
    13) Dual SIM Android phones: Dual standby vs dual active
    14) 14. How to make two SIM cards always available in dual SIM dual standby Android phones?
    15) Android Lollipop Guide
    16) Android Marshmallow Guide
    17) Android Nougat guides

    What Android version is my device running on? What is build number and security patch level?

    This Android guide shows you how to check Android version in your phone and table, and how to read the build number and security patch level, which are always shown together with Android version. Read on….

  2. How to update my Android device?

  3. How to access developer options on my Android device?

  4. How to take screenshot on my Android device without using any apps?

  5. How to take screenshot of my Android device from a PC (using ADB)?

  6. What is Android home screen and how to customize Android home screen?

  7. What is the Android App drawer?

  8. What is the Android widget and how to use widget on home screen?

  9. How to customize Android ringtones and notification tones?

  10. How to access Android settings in your device?

  11. How to auto rotate home screen in Android phones (use home screen in landscape mode)?

    If you want to know how to get and use landscape orientation for your Android phone’s home screen (and apps screen), this Android 101 guide is for you. This Android guide shows you how to auto rotate home screen and apps screen in Android phones, and the caveats of using home screen in landscape orientation. Read on.…

  12. Understanding Android battery usage

    Battery usage in Android devices is often a problem for many Android owners. This guide shows you how to check and read battery usage of your Android devices and battery usage of individual apps. Some best practices for maximizing Android battery life are also discussed. Read on….

  13. Dual SIM Android phones: Dual standby vs dual active

    Do you know the difference between dual standby and dual active when considering dual SIM Android phones? Do you know whether you need a dual 4G dual SIM phones? Which phones are dual active? Read on….

14. How to make two SIM cards always available in dual SIM dual standby Android phones?

In a dual SIM dual standby Android phone, you can make two SIM cards always available at all times so that you will not miss any calls to any of the SIM cards.

To make both SIM cards always available at all times, you need to set up call forwarding and enable call waiting on both SIM cards.

This Android guide shows you how to make two SIM cards always reachable at all times on dual standby phones even when you are engaged in a call in one SIM card.

Read on….

15.  More…..

We are working hard to add more gradually. Please check back later.

For Android Lollipop new features and how-to guides specify for Android  Lollipop (Android 5.0, Android 5.1), please check this page:

Android Lollipop Guide

For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check new dedicated page for Android Marshmallow 6 here:

Android Marshmallow Guide

For questions on Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check Android Nougat guides page.

Android Nougat guides

If you have any questions or encounter any problems with your Android devices, please let the community know on the comment box below.

We will help you.

You can also use contact us page to ask a question privately.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joe says

    I’m a newbie and not sure of the correct terminology so here it goes……I decided to try the setting related to blocking calls at set times. I set the “clocks” from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM the night before. I woke up early this morning and thought I would give it a try. Before 5:00 AM it worked perfect. When I called from a “non-Favorite” number (which is an “Unknown” or “Restricted” number by the way) it went directly to voicemail. But then when I tried calling from that number again AFTER 5:00 AM it still went to voicemail. I then thought it might have something to do with me not upgrading to the new Lollipop system. So I did that this morning also but now I’ve noticed that I can’t receive calls from “Unknown” or “Restricted” numbers anymore. They always go directly to voicemail. I’ve gone to the Call rejection menu and turned OFF the Auto reject mode and unchecked the “UNKNOWN number” from the list and it still won’t work!! What did I do wrong?? I’ve been able to receive “Unknown” or “Restricted” calls before. I have a Samsung S5, bought in December of last year. Hopefully I’ve given you enough information!! Thanks in advance for your help!!

    Reply

  2. Joe says

    Whoops, don’t know if I just sent you a reply or not. I’ll try it again. The night before all this happened I was on the old “system” (would that be KitKat?). Then the next morning is when I upgraded to Lollipop. So, to answer your question, I guess I set up the Privacy setting under the Blocking mode menu. I can’t find the “Do Not Disturb” mode on my phone? I just went to the phone settings menu, Call rejection, Auto reject mode (turned it off), Auto reject list (made sure that “Unknown number” was unchecked) and it still doesn’t work. When I get calls from an “Unknown” or “Restricted ” number it goes directly to voicemail.

    Reply

  3. Joe says

    Thanks for your response Simon. I guess I must have a different version of Lollipop than the one you’re talking about because I can’t find the “Do Not Disturb” mode anywhere on my phone. I’ve tried the Sounds and Notifications area and also tried the home screen “drag down” menu settings, like you showed in your tutorial. No “Do Not Disturb” mode anywhere!!?? Do you have any idea how I can get rid of the “Unknown number” listing under the Phone-Settings-Call rejection-Auto reject list? It seems like it’s a default listing because I can’t delete it!!?? I think that would do the trick, just don’t know how to do it. Would they be able to help me if I brought my phone into a Verizon store?? Thanks again for your help!
    Joe

    Reply

  5. Keith turner says

    Ever since I updated my phone to lollipop 5:1 I’ve lost control of ringtones and all notification sounds My brother also has lollipop but neither of us can figure out how to fix the problem I hope someone can help

    Reply

  6. Jack Wray says

    Hello,
    On a Moto 3g and after the Android update I accidentally unmounted the SD card and now my contacts have disappeared and some of the apps don’t work. I have tried to remount with no success and rebooted. All the files are there on the SD card still.
    Other things like the phone security is gone and the 2nd swipe down menu has gone (with the settings icon and wifi etc options).
    Any ideas? How do I remount?
    Thanks.

    Reply

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