Author Speeds Android Tasks With 7 Daily Shortcuts
Updated
Updated · Android Police · Jul 18
Author Speeds Android Tasks With 7 Daily Shortcuts
2 articles · Updated · Android Police · Jul 18
Summary
Seven built-in Android shortcuts now handle the author's daily tasks faster, cutting menu-diving and repeated app switching without installing extra software.
Double-pressing the power button opens the camera from a locked screen, while long-pressing app icons jumps straight to actions like composing Gmail messages or starting Google Maps navigation.
Quick Settings tiles replace frequent trips into Settings for Bluetooth, flashlight, Do Not Disturb and Battery Saver, and split-screen keeps two apps visible for side-by-side work.
Pixel's Recent Apps text selection, Circle to Search and Quick Share further reduce friction by copying blocked text, searching on-screen content and sending files to Android devices, Chromebooks and supported Windows PCs.
The broader takeaway is that Android's biggest productivity gains can come from overlooked built-in features rather than headline AI tools or major OS updates.