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Your iPhone is a handy, versatile piece of technology. Looking for a new recipe? Easy. Need a new internet provider? You can do that, too. Trying to figure out which actor appeared in the most 007 movies? Just search online. (The answer: Desmond Llewelyn, who appeared as Q in 17 Bond films from the '60s through the '90s.) Regardless of what you need it for, your iPhone does a lot of work.
But here's the thing: Whether you do your browsing in Chrome, Safari or elsewhere, your cache builds up digital clutter over time. Clearing your cache gives your browser a new start, which can speed up your browsing whether you're using iOS 15 or the public beta of iOS 16. (And if you're trying to get your phone to run faster, try managing your iPhone's storage.)
Clearing your cache is like clearing out your fridge. When you visit a site, your iPhone downloads photos, banners and other data. To make that process faster, most browsers store some data in a cache to make loading faster. It's great when the fridge is fully stocked and you can quickly grab what you need... and less great when the thing you grab expired two months ago.
Eventually, your browser's cache will become outdated and the data being retrieved no longer matches the data actually being used on the website. The result? Slower load speeds and wonky website formatting. This is the equivalent of your fridge being full of gross, expired products.
That's why clearing your cache can help: It gives sites a fresh start in your browser and frees up some space in your storage. Note that clearing your cache will sign you out of sites you're currently logged into. Still, it's generally worth that mild inconvenience about every month to keep things moving quickly.
Here are step-by-step guides on how to clear your cache on your iPhone based on the browser you use.
How to clear your iPhone cache in Safari
Safari is the default browser on iPhones, and you can clear your Safari cache in a few short steps. Starting with iOS 11, following this process will affect all devices signed in to your iCloud account. As a result all your devices' caches will be cleared, and you'll need to sign in to everything the next time you use them. Here's what to do.
1.Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Select Safari from the list of apps.
3. Go to Advanced > Website Data.
4. Scroll down and select Clear History and Website Data.
5. Choose Remove Now in the pop-up box.
Then you're set!
Read more:Best iPhone for 2022
How to clear your iPhone cache in Chrome
It's easy to clear your iPhone cache in Chrome.
James Martin/CNET
Chrome is another popular browser for iPhone users. The overall process for clearing your Chrome cache requires a few more steps, and you'll need to do things through the Chrome browser itself. Here's how.
1. Open the Chrome app.
2. Select the three dots in the bottom right to open more options.
3. Scroll down and select Settings.
4. Select Privacy in the next menu.
5. Then select Clear Browsing Data to open up one last menu.
6. Select the intended time range at the top of the menu (anywhere from Last Hour to All Time).
7.Make sure that Cookies, Site Data is selected, along with Cached Images and Files. Finally, hit Clear Browsing Data at the bottom of the screen.
Read more: This iPhone Setting Stops Ads From Following You Across the Web
How to clear your iPhone cache in Firefox
If you're a Firefox devotee, don't worry. Clearing the cache on your iPhone is pretty straightforward. Just follow these steps.
1. Click the hamburger menu in the bottom right corner to open up options.
2. Choose Settings at the bottom of the menu.
3. Select Data Management in the Privacy section.
4. You can select Website Data to clear data for individual sites, or select Clear Private Data at the bottom of the screen to clear data from all selected fields.
Read more: Experiencing Slow Wi-Fi? It Could Be Caused By Internet Throttling. Here's How to Tell
What happens when you clear the cache?
Clearing your cache removes the website data your phone stored locally to prevent having to download that data upon each new visit. The data in your cache builds over time and can end up slowing things down if it becomes too bulky. (My phone had about 150MB of data stored in Chrome when I checked.) Clearing that data gives sites a fresh start, which may fix some loading errors and speed up your browser. However, clearing your cache also signs you out of pages, so be prepared to sign in to everything again.
How often do I need to clear my cache?
Most people only need to clear their caches once every month or two. That's generally the point when your browser will build up a cache large enough to start slowing things down. If you frequent a large number of sites, you should err on the side of clearing your cache more often.
For more, check out how to FaceTime between an iPhone and an Android device, how to download iOS 15 on your iPhone right now and five creative, fun photo projects to try with your phone at home. You can also take a look at CNET's list of the best cases for the iPhone 13.
Your iPhone is a handy, versatile piece of technology. Looking for a new recipe? Easy. Need a new internet provider? You can do that, too. Trying to figure out which actor appeared in the most 007 movies? Just search online. (The answer: Desmond Llewelyn, who appeared as Q in 17 Bond films from the '60s through the '90s.) Regardless of what you need it for, your iPhone does a lot of work.
But here's the thing: Whether you do your browsing in Chrome, Safari or elsewhere, your cache builds up digital clutter over time. Clearing your cache gives your browser a new start, which can speed up your browsing whether you're using iOS 15 or the public beta of iOS 16. (And if you're trying to get your phone to run faster, try managing your iPhone's storage.)
Clearing your cache is like clearing out your fridge. When you visit a site, your iPhone downloads photos, banners and other data. To make that process faster, most browsers store some data in a cache to make loading faster. It's great when the fridge is fully stocked and you can quickly grab what you need... and less great when the thing you grab expired two months ago.
Eventually, your browser's cache will become outdated and the data being retrieved no longer matches the data actually being used on the website. The result? Slower load speeds and wonky website formatting. This is the equivalent of your fridge being full of gross, expired products.
That's why clearing your cache can help: It gives sites a fresh start in your browser and frees up some space in your storage. Note that clearing your cache will sign you out of sites you're currently logged into. Still, it's generally worth that mild inconvenience about every month to keep things moving quickly.
Here are step-by-step guides on how to clear your cache on your iPhone based on the browser you use.
How to clear your iPhone cache in Safari
Safari is the default browser on iPhones, and you can clear your Safari cache in a few short steps. Starting with iOS 11, following this process will affect all devices signed in to your iCloud account. As a result all your devices' caches will be cleared, and you'll need to sign in to everything the next time you use them. Here's what to do.
1.Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Select Safari from the list of apps.
3. Go to Advanced > Website Data.
4. Scroll down and select Clear History and Website Data.
5. Choose Remove Now in the pop-up box.
Then you're set!
Read more:Best iPhone for 2022
How to clear your iPhone cache in Chrome
It's easy to clear your iPhone cache in Chrome.
James Martin/CNET
Chrome is another popular browser for iPhone users. The overall process for clearing your Chrome cache requires a few more steps, and you'll need to do things through the Chrome browser itself. Here's how.
1. Open the Chrome app.
2. Select the three dots in the bottom right to open more options.
3. Scroll down and select Settings.
4. Select Privacy in the next menu.
5. Then select Clear Browsing Data to open up one last menu.
6. Select the intended time range at the top of the menu (anywhere from Last Hour to All Time).
7.Make sure that Cookies, Site Data is selected, along with Cached Images and Files. Finally, hit Clear Browsing Data at the bottom of the screen.
Read more: This iPhone Setting Stops Ads From Following You Across the Web
How to clear your iPhone cache in Firefox
If you're a Firefox devotee, don't worry. Clearing the cache on your iPhone is pretty straightforward. Just follow these steps.
1. Click the hamburger menu in the bottom right corner to open up options.
2. Choose Settings at the bottom of the menu.
3. Select Data Management in the Privacy section.
4. You can select Website Data to clear data for individual sites, or select Clear Private Data at the bottom of the screen to clear data from all selected fields.
Read more: Experiencing Slow Wi-Fi? It Could Be Caused By Internet Throttling. Here's How to Tell
What happens when you clear the cache?
Clearing your cache removes the website data your phone stored locally to prevent having to download that data upon each new visit. The data in your cache builds over time and can end up slowing things down if it becomes too bulky. (My phone had about 150MB of data stored in Chrome when I checked.) Clearing that data gives sites a fresh start, which may fix some loading errors and speed up your browser. However, clearing your cache also signs you out of pages, so be prepared to sign in to everything again.
How often do I need to clear my cache?
Most people only need to clear their caches once every month or two. That's generally the point when your browser will build up a cache large enough to start slowing things down. If you frequent a large number of sites, you should err on the side of clearing your cache more often.
For more, check out how to FaceTime between an iPhone and an Android device, how to download iOS 15 on your iPhone right now and five creative, fun photo projects to try with your phone at home. You can also take a look at CNET's list of the best cases for the iPhone 13.
iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 upgrade checklist: Here's how to get your iPhone and iPad ready
iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 upgrade checklist: Here's how to get your iPhone and iPad ready
Apple's iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 updates for the iPhone ($500 at Best Buy) and iPad ($176 at Amazon) are brimming with important and useful new features, from a new app library and widgets on your home screen to tighter privacy features and iMessage improvements. But before you install iOS 14 and iPad 14, there's a bit of basic housekeeping you should do to make the update to your iPhone and iPad go as smoothly as possible. We lay out everything you need to know, including a checklist of how to get your phone or tablet ready.
Which devices will support iOS 14 and iPadOS?
If you have a compatible device, you should be able to see you have an update available by going to Settings > General > Software Update. But, don't tap Install Now quite yet.
Devices that will support iOS 14, iPadOS 14
Phone 11
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
iPhone 11 Pro
iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
iPhone XS
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
iPhone XS Max
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
iPhone XR
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)
iPhone X
iPad Pro 10.5-inch
iPhone 8
iPad Pro 9.7-inch
iPhone 8 Plus
iPad (7th generation)
iPhone 7
iPad (6th generation)
iPhone 7 Plus
iPad (5th generation)
iPhone 6s
iPad Mini (5th generation)
iPhone 6s Plus
iPad Mini 4
iPhone SE (1st generation)
iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPad Air 2
iPod Touch (7th generation)
Don't skip this step: Clear out the clutter
When it comes time to update software or upgrade your phone, take a few minutes to go through and delete what photos and apps you don't want or need from your camera roll and installed apps.
Our phones are a digital junk drawer of sorts, collecting random screenshots, photos, videos and single-use apps. Taking a few minutes to clear it out helps free up storage, shortens the amount of time you'll spend waiting for it to backup, and even saves you some cash if you're paying for extra iCloud storage just to keep it backed up.
Delete those apps you know you'll never use again.
Jason Cipriani/CNET
Create a fresh backup, it's important
If you can help it, you should never update your iPhone or iPad without a current backup. Updates aren't a perfect process, and sometimes things go wrong. The last thing you want to happen is an update to fail, then you're left setting up your phone as brand new. Nobody wants that.
It's best to do this step right before you start the update process, that way the information stored in your backup is as current as possible.
You can backup your devices using iCloud, using Finder on Mac, or iTunes on a PC. iCloud is by far the easiest method, simply because it's built into your device and only requires a Wi-Fi connection. That said, if you're out of iCloud storage space or prefer to have more control over your device backup, then you can use your computer.
iCloud backup is the easiest method.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Option 1: Use iCloud backup
If you have iCloud backup turned on, your device should be backing up each night while it's charging and connected to Wi-Fi. However, you can force a backup at any time by going to Settings > tap on your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back up now.
Speed up the process by plugging your phone or tablet in to a charger and connecting it to a Wi-Fi network to prevent mobile data use and killing your battery in the process.
Finder looks just like iTunes when your iOS device is connected.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Option 2: Backup on a Mac
If it's been awhile since you've backed up your device using a Mac, the process has changed. With the death of iTunes last year, you'll now have to use Finder to create a backup.
I have a guide detailing the entire process, which truly isn't all that different than the old iTunes-based method.
It distills down to connecting your device to your Mac, opening it in Finder and then clicking a couple of boxes to start a backup.
Make sure to encrypt the backup to make the restoration process so much easier.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Option 3: Backup on a PC
Use Windows? You can still use iTunes, just like you always have, to back up your mobile Apple devices.
Before you start, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed. The easiest way to do that is just to open it, and if you see a prompt to update it, then do follow the steps.
With that done, connect your device to iTunes using a Lightning or USB-C cable. The rest of the process consists of selecting your device in the iTunes interface and starting a backup. We have outlined all of the steps in this post, but let me make one more recommendation: Click the box that says you want to Encrypt your local backup. Doing so will backup all of your email accounts and app passwords, saving you from having to enter those whenever you have to restore your phone.
Now that you have your phone backed up and all of the random junk and clutter removed, install iOS 14 or iPadOS 14. Once it's installed, check out some of our favorite features, including the new homescreen that includes widgets -- that you can customize.
How to work my apple watch how to make apple watch work without iphone how to make your apple watch vibrate make your appointment today make your own logo make your own website make your own pokemon card make your own music
Make Your Apple Watch Work Better by Changing These Settings
Make Your Apple Watch Work Better by Changing These Settings
Changing a few settings on your Apple Watch can go a long way. Even though the Apple Watch is already easy to use, you'll likely benefit from making certain customizations. For example, you can choose how you'd prefer to activate Siri, make your apps appear in a list view rather than a grid and set Portrait Mode photos from your iPhone as your watch background.
You'll be able to use these features and settings on any watch model that Apple currently sells, which includes the 4-year-old Series 3 (although we wouldn't recommend buying a Series 3 in 2022). But it's best to make sure that your watch is running the latest version of Apple's WatchOS 8 software. Doing so not only ensures that your watch has access to all of the latest features and improvements, but it's also a good safety measure since updates often include security-related fixes.
This fall, Apple Watch owners will have more new features to look forward to with the debut of WatchOS 9. The update will bring more detailed sleep monitoring and a new app for tracking medications to the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer. A beta version of WatchOS 9 will be available to the public this month, Apple said when unveiling the new software in June. We're also expecting to see the rumored Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Pro debut in September, which is when Apple typically introduces new watch models.
Here's a look at the Apple Watch settings you should change to get the most out of your watch.
Read more: How WatchOS 9 Is Paving the Way for the Apple Watch's Future
Adjust all of your Activity goals
With the release of WatchOS 7 in 2020, Apple added the option to change your goals for the amount of time you stand and exercise. Previously, you could only change your Move (or calories) goal.
So instead of using the defaults -- 30 minutes of exercise and a cumulative 12 standing hours a day -- you can change either one to fit your actual daily routine.
This small change will make it possible for you to hit your own targets when you actually start your day, not when Apple tells you to. For example, if you use sleep tracking overnight and need to charge your watch more often in the morning, you won't feel like you've lost an hour of time needed to close those rings.
Open the Activity app on your watch, scroll to the bottom and tap ChangeGoals. Make your adjustments for all three metrics and start closing those rings.
Read more: Best Workout Subscription Apps
You now have full control over what it takes to close your activity rings.
Sarah Tew/CNET
So long, random screenshots
To take a screenshot on the Apple Watch, you press the Digital Crown and side button at the same time. It's a simple and convenient method, unless you're like me and find yourself frequently triggering it accidentally, filling up the Photos app with random pictures of your watch face.
To turn off the ability to take screenshots altogether, open the Settings app on your watch or use the Watch app on your phone and go to General and scroll down until you find Screenshots. Tap this option and toggle off the switch next to Enable Screenshots for a clutter-free camera roll.
Customize which apps appear in your dock
If you have a lot of apps installed on your Apple Watch, it can be difficult to find the right ones when you need them. That's where the Apple Watch's dock comes in handy. If you're not familiar, the dock is essentially the iPhone's app switcher, but for the Apple Watch. You can trigger it by tapping the side button, which pulls up a carousel of recently used apps.
However, you can also customize the dock to show any apps you want instead of your most recent apps. To do this on your watch, open the Settings menu, tap Dock and select the Favorites option. But I recommend setting this up in the Phone's Watch app instead so that you can customize these apps.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap Dock. Once the Favorites option is selected, you'll see a list of apps divided into two sections: Favorites and Do Not Include. Favorites are the apps that are currently in your dock, while the latter lists all of the other apps on your watch that aren't included. Tap the Edit button in the top right corner to customize the Favorites list to your liking.
Choose the Portrait mode photos you want to see on your wrist
You can set Portrait mode photos as the background for your watch face. But first, you have to dig into the settings in the Watch app on your iPhone. To get started, launch the Watch app and navigate to the Face Gallery tab at the bottom of the screen. Then, tap the Portraits option under the New Watch Faces category. Tap the Choose Photos option under Content to select up to 24 photos that will rotate automatically when you raise your wrist or tap the screen.
Apple's new Portrait watch face lets you set photos taken in Portrait Mode as the watch's backdrop.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Keep the Apple Watch's screen awake for a longer period of time
There are times when you might not want your Apple Watch's screen to go idle right away. Perhaps you were in the middle of reading a long text message and got distracted, or maybe you want to keep an eye on your timer. Once you tap the Apple Watch's screen, it typically stays active for 15 seconds. But you can extend that to 70 seconds by launching the Settings menu on your watch, tapping Display & Brightness and choosing Wake Duration. Then select the Wake for 70 Seconds option.
Stop every app from automatically installing
Every time you install an app on your iPhone, it will automatically install its Apple Watch counterpart if there is one. This can clutter up your watch's app grid pretty quickly, making it hard to find the apps you do want to use on your watch.
The Apple Watch is so much more than a way to view your notifications.
Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
In the Watch app on your phone, go to Settings > General and then slide the switch next to Automatic App Install to the Off position. You can also do this on the watch by opening the Settings menu, tapping App Store and toggling the switch next to Automatic Downloads.
From now on, you'll install individual apps on your watch by opening the Watch app on your phone, then scrolling to the bottom where you'll find a list of available apps.
Read more: Best Apple Watch Apps
Silence those noisy notifications
Smartwatches can be useful for discreetly checking an alert or the time. But loud notifications can defeat the purpose. Turn on your Apple Watch's silent mode by swiping up from the bottom of the screen to launch the Control Center. Then tap the icon that looks like abell to trigger Silent Mode.
You can also do this by opening the Apple Watch's Settings menu, scrolling down to Sound & Haptics and toggling the switch next to Silent Mode. There's also a volume slider for adjusting how loud or quiet incoming notifications sound if you'd rather not mute them completely.
Have Siri only speak out loud when you're wearing headphones
Siri can be useful for quickly setting timers, starting workouts or checking the weather from your watch. But you might not always want to have Siri speak out loud. You can easily change this so that Siri only provides audible feedback when you're wearing headphones. Open the Settings menu on your Apple Watch, scroll down to Siri and navigate to the Voice Feedback section. Then tap the Headphones Only option. When your Bluetooth headphones are connected to your Apple Watch, you should now see the name of your headphones appear above the Siri volume setting in the watch's settings menu.
Make text easier to read by increasing the font size
Reading notifications and news headlines can be difficult on a screen that's so small. Luckily, you can increase the font size on the Apple Watch to make things a bit easier on your eyes. To do so, launch the Settings app on your watch, tap Display & Brightness and scroll down to Text Size. Rotate the Digital Crown or tap the letters that appear on either side of the meter to adjust the text size on your watch. If you have the Apple Watch Series 7, you'll have more size options for enlarging the text, since it has a bigger display.
Stop those annoying reminders to "Breathe"
Every few hours your Apple Watch will beep and tap your wrist, reminding you to take a moment to breathe. The first time it happens it's kind of comical; Why do I need a reminder to breathe, wacky watch?! Then it happens again. And again. Every 4 hours by default, for a physiological act that is literally involuntary.
The Breathe reminder is designed to help you take a few minutes to clear your mind and control your respiration, in turn lowering your heart rate and potentially helping you feel more centered and calm. But if you're like me and never follow the prompt, take a few seconds to turn it off so you no longer have to be reminded to breathe.
Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, then scroll down and tap the Mindfulness app option. Next, select Notifications off. (Note: If your watch isn't running WatchOS 8, this will appear as Breathe instead of Mindfulness.)
Unlock your Apple Watch with your iPhone
Typing in your passcode to unlock your Apple Watch can be a pain, but there's an easier way to do it. You can choose to have your Apple Watch unlock automatically when your iPhone is unlocked.
Tap the Digital Crown and navigate to the Apple Watch's Settings menu. Scroll down to Passcode, and make sure the switch next to Unlock with iPhone is toggled on. Your iPhone will now also display an alert saying that your iPhone is being used to unlock your Apple Watch whenever you put this into practice.
You usually have to type in your Apple Watch's passcode to unlock it.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Make it easier to find your apps
The honeycomb app grid looks great in promotional photos and at first glance, but it can be difficult to find the app you want to launch, particularly if you have a lot of apps installed on your watch. Instead of in a grid, the watch can display all of your apps in an alphabetical list.
Either in the Watch app on your phone or in the Settings app on the Watch, tap App View > List View. Now, when you press the Digital Crown to leave your watch face, you'll see a list of apps that you can quickly scroll through and find what you're looking for.
See, doesn't the app list look better?
Sarah Tew/CNET
Control when you'll see Siri
There are three different ways to activate Siri on your Apple Watch. You can raise your wrist toward your mouth and start talking, long-press the Digital Crown or use the wake phrase, "Hey, Siri."
I've found that I often accidentally trigger Siri when trying to check the time or read a notification while I'm talking to someone else (but my watch thinks I'm trying to talk to Siri). It's annoying, but it can be changed.
Either in the Watch app on your phone or in the Settings app on the Watch, select Siri and there you'll find three buttons to control when you'll see Siri. Slide each button to the Off position for any of the options you don't want to use.
This is a hidden feature that you should memorize right now.
Jason Cipriani/CNET
Rearrange Control Center
Just like Control Center on your iPhone, Control Center on the Apple Watch is where you go to quickly adjust settings like do not disturb and airplane mode and to activate the flashlight.
You may find the default list of options in the Control Center isn't the best fit for how you use your watch, however, and you want to rearrange the list. For me, that means moving the Bedtime toggle from near the bottom of the list to the top. That way when I want to track my sleep over the weekend when I don't have sleep goals set, I can swipe up and tap the icon.
To access the Control Center on your watch, swipe up from the bottom of the watch face, or when in an app you can long-press on the bottom of the screen until you see Control Center start to slide up, after which you just need to slide your finger up to access it. The same trick works to view your notifications from anywhere.
Change the order, or hide some buttons in the Control Center by tapping the Edit button at the bottom of the list. The icons will begin to jiggle and show a red minus sign to hide an option. Drag and drop the icons into your preferred order, or tap the red minus button to remove the option altogether.
When you're done, tap Done or press the Digital Crown on the side of your watch to go back to the watch face.
There are plenty more Apple Watch features that are worth checking out. For example, the ECG app can help identify heartbeat irregularities, there are new workout options for Pilates and Tai Chi and you can even share your custom watch faces.
For more, check out CNET's list of the best Apple Watch bands and every iPhone setting you should change right now.
Android 12 Has Some Tricks Up Its Sleeve, But You Have to Know Where to Look
Android 12 Has Some Tricks Up Its Sleeve, But You Have to Know Where to Look
Android 13 is now available for certain Google Pixel owners to install, but Samsung Galaxy, Motorola and other Android users will have to wait until later this year to get their hands on Google's latest mobile software update. However, there is still a ton to explore on Android 12, which most people are still running on their Android phones.
Read more:How to Download Android 13 Beta 2 on Your Phone Now
Whether you own a Pixel 6 Pro or a Samsung Galaxy S22, you can find a number of hidden settings and features on Android 12 that can completely change how you use your Android device.
In this story we'll show you how to recover accidentally deleted notifications, use your phone with only one hand and more. Check out what Android 12 has to offer below.
If you want to learn more about how you can improve your Android experience, check out these seven tips to improve your Android's performance and how to save battery with Android's built-in dark mode.
Android 12 keeps your notification history a tap away
Do you ever clear out a notification without reading it? I do it all the time. Android has offered device notification history for some time now, but you either had to know where to look, or you had to install a third-party app to see it.
In Android 12, all you have to do is scroll to the bottom of your notification shade, where you'll see a new History button. Tap it, and you'll see recently cleared notifications as well as alerts from the last 24 hours.
If you see Manage instead of History, that's because Notification History isn't turned on. Enable it by tapping on Manage, then select Notification History and slide the switch to the On position.
You now have quick access to your past notifications.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Android 12 makes big phones feel smaller
A new one-handed mode in Android 12 may not be a headlining feature, but it's one that could make a big difference in how you use your phone. This is especially true if you're using a phone with a big display, like the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The new one-handed mode moves the top half of whatever's on your screen to the bottom half, making it easier to tap a quick settings tile or a notification. To use it, place a finger on the small bar at the bottom of your phone's screen and swipe down. It may take a few tries, but once you get the gesture figured out, it's easy to reproduce.
Before you can do that, though, you'll need to turn it on: go into the Settings app, type in One-handed mode and toggle the feature on. Depending on which Android phone you have, this feature might have different settings you can toggle off and on.
Left: Google Pixel 6 Pro. Right: Samsung Galaxy S22.
Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
There's a dedicated gaming mode in Android 12
If you play a lot of games on your Android device, you'll be happy to know that Google added a dedicated gaming mode to Android 12. When it's turned on, your phone will do things like automatically turn on do not disturb when you start playing.
But you'd never know the mode existed if you didn't venture deep into, of all places, your notification settings. More specifically, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > Schedules. Once there, check the box next to Game Mode to turn it on. Next, tap on the Settings gear icon to and toggle both items.
In my experience testing it, game mode doesn't work in every game (looking at you, Asphalt 9). It does work in Call of Duty Mobile, however. When it's active, you can do things like force your phone to optimize itself for gaming in a single-tap or view your device's current frames per second.
Use the new Game Mode in Android 12 to boost performance or live stream on YouTube.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Android 12 has a new app layout option
The app grid on your phone's home screen normally ranges for a 4x4, 5x5 or 6x6 grid (or similar combinations). However, in Android 12 on the Pixel, there's a new app grid option that's downright funny at first glance -- 2x2. I assume this is limited to just Pixel phones, but hopefully, other phone-makers adopt it, as it's a huge accessibility feature for those in need of larger app icons.
Switch to the new 2x2 layout with a long-press on your home screen, then select Wallpaper & style > AppGrid > 2x2.
This 2x2 app grid feature is only available on the Google Pixel.
Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
For more, check out the best Android phones and Samsung phones to buy in 2022, every reason why you should give Pixel phones another chance and how the Pixel 6 with its Tensor chip is more exciting than the iPhone 13.
