Android Guides

settings

How to share Wi-Fi using QR codes in Android 10?

You can generate a QR code for your WiFi and share it with friends

by Leave a Comment

hare Wi-Fi using QR codes in Android 10In Android 10, Wi-Fi sharing via QR code (Quick Response code) is a new feature which allows users to share Wi-Fi networks with friends by generating a QR code instead of announcing the Wi-Fi password.

This is helpful if you prefer keeping the password of your Wi-Fi network secret when sharing the network with others.

This Android 10 guide shows you the detailed steps of sharing Wi-Fi through  QR code. Some frequently encountered questions on sharing Wi-Fi using QR code were also answered.

How to share Wi-Fi using a QR code in Android 10?

There are at least 2 ways to share Wi-Fi using a QR code in Android 10:

  • Through the Settings app.
  • Through the Quick settings panel.

Through Settings

Step 1: Open Settings

To access Settings, as shown below, tap on the Settings icon in the Apps screen (App drawer), or Home screen.

Of course, you can also tap the gear icon in the quick settings panel.

Accessing Settings through application

Step 2: Access Network and internet page

In the Settings page, tap on Network & internet, as seen below.

Android 10 Settings

Step 3: Turn on Wi-Fi

If the Wi-Fi is not enabled, you need to switch on the Wi-Fi by tapping on the switch, as shown below.

You could skip this step if WiFi was enabled already.

Android 10 Network settings

Step 4: Access the network details

In the network settings page, tap on Wi-Fi.

Then, tap on the name (SSID) of the Wi-Fi that you want to share.

Android 10 Network settings Android 10 Wi-Fi settings

Step 5: Generate a QR code

In the network details page, tap on the Share icon, as shown below.

Before the QR code is created, you will need to verify your identity by inputting the password for the phone.

Once the QR code is created, others can scan it to connect to the Wi-Fi network.

Android 10 Network details QR code example Share WiFi through QR code in Android 10

For example, as shown above, a QR code was generated and ready for share.

Through Quick Settings panel

You can also access the same sharing page from the quick settings panel.

Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open the Quick settings panel.

In the quick settings panel, tap on the Wi-Fi icon to switch on the Wi-Fi, if it is not enabled, as shown below.

share Wi-Fi using QR codes in Android 10 through Android 10 Quick Settingsshare Wi-Fi using QR codes in Android 10 through Android 10 Quick settings

Once WiFi is connected, you can then press and hold the Wi-Fi icon, as shown above.

Then, tap on the name of the Wi-Fi, as shown below.

Android 10 Wi-Fi settings

Now, you can access the same network details page, and use the Share button to generate QR code as discussed earlier.… Read the rest

How to Use Location Access Control in Android 10?

You can easily control your privacy through Android 10 location access control

by Leave a Comment

Use Location Access Control in Android 10Location access control is a new Android 10 feature that protects your privacy.

This Android 10 guide explains how the location access control in Android 10 protects your data, how to enter location access settings from location settings of from permission manager, and how to use location control on Android 10.

What does location access control in Android 10 do?

The location access control in Android 10 is an extension of the privacy controls in Android 10.

Previously in Android Pie (Android 9), app location access can only be changed from the application setting.  Users have to change the location access permission of each application one by one.

In Android 10, the Location Access control allows users to check, assign, and revoke location access for all apps in one centralised location.

This makes it easier for users to customise which apps can have access to the phone location.

Additionally, with the Android 10 location access control, it ensures external apps cannot easily view information about the phone’s location, and therefore enhances the privacy of the users.

How to enter the location access control page?

Firstly, you need to access Settings, as shown below, by tapping on the Settings icon in the Apps screen (App drawer), or Home screen.

Alternatively, you can access settings through the quick settings panel.

Accessing Settings through application Android 10 Quick Settings Panel

There are 2 ways to go to the location access settings page from the Settings page:

  • From the Location settings page
  • Through the Permission Manager

Method 1: Location settings page

In Settings, scroll down and tap on Location, as seen below, to access the location settings page.

Android 10 Settings

In the Location settings page, tap on App permissions, as shown below.

This will bring you to the location permissions page.

Android 10 Location settings Android 10 Location Access page

As shown above, in the location access control page, you can manage the location access (read on).

Method 2:  through Permission manager

In Settings, tap on Apps & notification.

Android 10 Settings

In the Apps & notification settings page, tap on Advanced to expand the list, as shown below.

Android 10 Apps manager Android 10 Apps manager

As shown above, tap on the Permission Manager to access permission managers of Android 10.

In Permission Manager page, tap on Location, as shown below.

This will bring you to the same location access control page.

Android 10 Permission manager Android 10 Location Access page

How to use location access control?

The location access age allows users to see which apps can view the phone’s location as well as apps that may require permission to use the phone location.… Read the rest

How to use Android 10 dark mode (dark theme)?

You can use the system-wide dark theme on Android 10 to save battery and protect your eyes

by Leave a Comment

Android 10 dark modeAndroid 10 dark mode can be regarded as one of the best Android 10 new features.

The dark mode is not an unfamiliar feature for Android phones. It was introduced previously in Android Pie (Android 9).

This Android 10 guide explains the new features of the dark mode, shows you how to enable and use the dark theme in three different ways, and answers some questions you may have on this feature.

What is new in Android 10 dark mode?

Similar to the dark theme in Android Pie (Android 9), dark mode in Android 10 brings about the following benefits:

  • Improves visibility for users with low vision or are sensitive to bright lights.
  • Less eyestrain when using phones in low light environments.
  • Longer battery life as there is decreased power usage.

However, in Android Pie (Android 9),  the dark mode was not applied system-wide.

For example, in Android Pie (Android 9), the Settings menu remains white even if dark mode is enabled.

Now in Android 10, it can be applied to both the Android system UI as well as supported applications. This means that once dark mode is enabled, the entire Android system UI, as well as supported applications, will automatically switch to the dark theme according to the application’s settings.

How to enable and use Android 10 dark mode?

There are 3 ways to enable dark mode in Android 10:

Method 1:  through Settings

The first method to enable dark mode in Android 10 phones is through the Settings menu.

Step 1: Open Settings

To access Settings, as shown below,  tap on the Settings icon in the Apps screen (App drawer), or Home screen,  or through the quick settings panel.

Accessing Settings through apps screen Android 10 Quick Settings Panel

Step 2: Access Display settings

In Settings, scroll and tap on Display, as shown below.

Display Settings panel

Step 3: Enable the dark mode

In the Display Settings page,  you can find the option for the dark theme.

Tapping on it will turn on dark mode for the phone as well as all supported applications.

If the phone is already in the dark mode, tapping it will turn off dark mode.

Enabling Android 10 dark mode

Method 2:  Use Quick settings panel

Another way to enable dark mode in Android 10  is through the quick settings panel.

To access the quick menu panel, pull down the status bar twice.

Once in the quick settings panel, tap on the icon named dark theme to turn dark mode on, as shown below.… Read the rest

How to use the Android Pie navigation gestures?

by Leave a Comment

Android Piese the Android Pie navigation gestures (Android 9) introduced a set of new navigation gestures to replace the navigation buttons. Of course, there are many new features in Android Pie as explained in this guide.

If you just switched to Android from iPhone, you will get used to these Android Pie navigation gestures very quickly. But if you prefer the three navigation buttons, you need some time to adjust.

This Android Pie guide explains how to enable Android Pie navigation gestures, how to disable them,  how to use them, and answer some questions you may have on Android Pie gestures.

Background of Android Pie navigation gestures

In Android OS, the navigation buttons had been an essential part. Since Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS, Android 4.0), on-screen navigation buttons (software based navigation button) has been introduced to replace the hardware capacitive buttons.

Although Google wanted to kill the hardware buttons in Android (FYI, all Google released phones including Nexus and Pixel phones only use on-screen navigation buttons), Android manufacturers, especially Samsung, are slow to move in this direction. For example, Samsung only started to remove the hardware buttons in Galaxy S8 and S8+ in 2017.

For new smartphone users and old people, the navigation buttons (hardware or on-screen) are very useful and intuitive.

But for experienced users and younger generations, gestures can be more productive.

In Android 9, Google decided to add navigation gestures to partially replace the on-screen navigation buttons.

Of course, the Android Pie navigation gesture is not a complete replacement to the old navigation buttons because:

  • Android Pie navigation gestures still need the home button. The back button will also appear automatically whenever necessary.
  • Android manufacturers can always customize the gestures, or even disable them and use the old 3 navigation buttons.

In the future Android releases (e.g., Android Q), very likely, Google will strengthen and navigation gestures.  In fact, in Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the old navigation buttons were disabled, and owners have to use the Android Pie navigation gestures.

What are the Android Pie navigation gestures?

Android Pie navigation gestures are all based on the home button. Here is the list of supported gestures:

  • Swipe upwards from the home button to see recent apps. This is equivalent to tapping the Recent/overview button in the old 3-button system.
  • Swipe right from the home button to switch to the previous app.  In the old 3-button system, you need to get this in two steps: tap the Recent/Overview button, then tap the icon in the overview screen.
… Read the rest