Android Archives - Make Tech Easier

7 Ways to Recover Deleted Phone Numbers on Android

Crystal Crowder — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 21:25:00 +0000

Losing important phone numbers can be a real pain. Whether you’ve accidentally deleted them, or your Android phone crashed, and you were suddenly left without them, it’s always incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, you can recover them using your Google account or an additional method involving third-party software. This tutorial shows how to restore deleted contacts to your Android device.

Good to know: learn how to use your Android phone as a hotspot.

Retrieve Deleted Contacts Using the Google Contacts App

When it comes to recovering deleted phone numbers on Android, Google’s Contacts app is the most effective solution.

1. Restore from Trash

Google Contacts is preinstalled on most Android phones. If it’s not on your device, download it from the Google Play Store. The app stores your deleted contacts (in the Trash folder) for only 30 days before they’re deleted permanently. If you wish to recover a phone number that you deleted more than 30 days prior, you’ll need to use one of the other methods.

Note: phone numbers saved to... Read more

The 7 Best Twitter Apps for Android

Ojash Yadav — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:25:00 +0000

Tired of using the default Twitter app and want some fresh and exciting alternatives? This list of the best Twitter apps for Android will revolutionize the way you use Twitter. Whether you’re looking for enhanced features, better customization options, or simply a more visually appealing interface, we have you covered. Get ready to take your Twitter game to the next level with these must-try apps!

Good to know: it’s now possible to organize tweeple into smaller groups with Twitter Lists.

1. Twitter Lite

Price: free

If you want your Twitter app to load faster and consume less space without compromising the basic functions of the app, then Twitter Lite is just the thing for you. With an app download size in KBs, Twitter Lite is not only space-friendly but also data-friendly.

As a result, it is a lot faster to load than the main app, even with low Internet speed. Additionally, its interface is almost identical to the main app,... Read more

How to Turn Flashlight On and Off on Android

Alexandra Arici — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:25:00 +0000

The flashlight has long been a feature of phones, using the camera LED flash to help you navigate dark places. There’s a flashlight feature built into Android, but it takes a couple of swipes to get to it. Luckily, there are plenty of snappy ways to enable the flashlight faster on your Android phone – from shaking your phone to voice activation – and we’ve gathered them for you here.

Tip: Make your phone stand out with these beautiful Android live wallpaper apps.

Via Quick Settings

On the majority of phone models these days, you can access the flashlight via Quick Settings. This is perhaps the easiest method if you don’t want to install a third-party app.

Swipe down from the top to bring up the Quick Settings and press on the “Flashlight” tile to turn it on. Tap it again to turn it off.

If you can’t see the tile... Read more

8 of the Best Live Weather Wallpaper Apps for Android

Sayak Boral — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:25:00 +0000

Weather wallpaper apps on Android save you the trouble of stepping outside to know how hot, cold, rainy, or breezy it is. While you must use weather app widgets for more accuracy, a live weather wallpaper app has its own benefits. It blends picturesque landscapes and animations with actual weather data on the homescreen. Here we bring you the best live weather wallpaper apps for Android.

Do you know: Other than weather, there are also tons of beautiful live wallpapers you can install on your phone.

Choosing the Best Live Weather Wallpaper Apps

Our main criteria of selecting live weather wallpaper apps are that they should all blend very smoothly with your Android home screen and graphics. There can be a few intrusive ads, as long as they don’t interfere with the home screen. Even so, they can be resolved with a pro version. All these apps have been tried and tested for their claimed features and are rated very highly on Google Play.

How do you set a Live weather wallpaper app? Just download and install... Read more

Top 8 Procreate Alternatives for Android

Charlie Fripp — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 05:25:00 +0000

There are several apps artists can use to put their creative ideas onto a digital canvas. The popular among iOS and iPadOS users is Procreate. It has tons of functionality, offering anything a creator could need. But the most significant limitation is that it’s only available for Apple products. So, if you have an Android phone or tablet, you must look elsewhere. Luckily, there are a few excellent Procreate alternatives.

Good to know: Here are all the Apple Pencil essentials you need to know, including how to set it up, use it, and troubleshoot.

1. Sketchbook

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Just like Procreate, Sketchbook is a raster graphics software app. It has many of the same capabilities as Procreate, making it an excellent alternative if you want to start expressive drawing and some animation.

It has a variety of drawing tools, such as pencils, markers, and brushes and is compatible with pressure-sensitive pens and... Read more

10 of the Best Android Emulators for Your Desktop

Farhad Pashaei — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 10:25:00 +0000

Are you a desktop user with a yearning to play some Android games or test out an Android-only app? With Android emulators, you don’t have to switch between your desktop OS and Android. By installing an emulator on your Mac, Linux, or Windows desktop, you can run all the latest Android games and Android-exclusives on a larger screen. Emulators can also be useful if you’re building your own mobile app and want to test the user experience on Android.

1. Bluestacks

Price: Free (Premium subscription)

Compatibility: Windows & macOS

Bluestacks is one of the most popular Android emulators for Windows and is probably the best Android emulator for macOS as well. This emulator is built primarily for mobile gamers and claims to provide a “PC-like” gaming experience for your mobile apps.

Bluestacks has full support for the keyboard and mouse and comes with a set of recommended preset controls that are also fully customizable. If you create custom controls, BlueStacks lets you easily export these settings to share them with your fellow gamers.

15 Android Widgets to Make Your Home Screen Better

Crystal Crowder — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 05:25:00 +0000

Want to get more from your Android home screen? Just add a few highly useful Android widgets. From weather to education, there’s a widget for almost anything. Plus, it’ll save you a few taps, giving you the info you need immediately.

Good to know: trying to detach from your digital habits? Learn how to control your screen time on Android and live a healthier lifestyle.

1. 1Weather – Best Weather Widget

Price: Free / In-app purchases

1Weather is one of numerous available Android weather apps, but its impressive array of widget options makes it the best option for seeing weather conditions on your home screen. Whether you just want to see the current temperature or go all out to see the weather for the week ahead, there’s a widget for that.

We love that the app lets you customize each widget. Choose the accent color, size, opacity, background type, and more. If you’re following multiple locations, select the location you... Read more

6 of the Best Note Taking Apps for Android

Megan Glosson — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 21:25:00 +0000

Smartphones are a great way to take notes. They’re always in your pocket, can be brought up in a flash, and store notes indefinitely. Of course, you don’t want just any note taking apps – you deserve only the best Android has to offer, like these six options.

Also Helpful: need an app to take notes on your iPhone? Check out these top iOS note taking apps.

1. Best Overall: Evernote

Price: Free / starting at $10.83 per month

Evernote is one of the most famous note taking apps and has been around for years. It’s a cloud-based application by default and works very well cross-platform. It also comes with a great selection of features, and a variety of integrations.

With Evernote, you can create notes, task lists, sketches, or audio files. You can also upload images or attachments to the cloud, save web clips, or share your notes with other users to coordinate ideas. Evernote lets you organize your data into notebooks or use tags to make finding notes with related content easier. You can... Read more

11 Beautiful Android Live Wallpapers to Make Your Phone Stand Out

Alexandra Arici — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 05:25:00 +0000

Android live wallpapers are exciting, eye-catching, and a conversation starter. These often feature animations or a looping video displayed on your home screen. In addition, some live wallpapers are interactive, responding to your touch. Live wallpapers aren’t new, as they stretch all the way back to Android 2.1 Eclair. Android has come a long way since then, and live wallpapers have evolved to be more complex and more efficient. We’ve gathered some of the best live wallpaper apps in this list.

Good to know: learn how to create custom app icons to make your Android stand out even more.

1. Cartogram

Price: Free

Cartogram allows users to transform their device’s screen into an interactive and visually stunning map experience. Live wallpapers created using the app incorporate real-time maps that showcase the user’s location and move as the person moves around in the environment. Alternatively, the app offers a “Random” option that shuffles live wallpapers featuring locations from around the world.

How to Use Samsung Wallet to Manage Passwords and More

Sayak Boral — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 05:25:00 +0000

Samsung Wallet is a universal app that carries all your personal essentials on a single Android phone. It is exclusive to Samsung Galaxy owners and available in a select few countries at the moment. The following guide shows how to use Samsung Wallet to manage your passwords and more.

Good to know: wondering what’s the difference between Samsung and Android? We highlight them all in our dedicated post.

What Is Samsung Wallet?

First launched in June 2022, the Samsung Wallet app is designed for exclusive use on Samsung Galaxy’s One UI interface and works on compatible Samsung Galaxy devices from Android 9.0 and later.

The Samsung Wallet app is highly customizable, and region-specific. The availability of many of its features varies from one country to another as Samsung’s ecosystem partners change internationally. It’s currently available in:

Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea (South), Kuwait, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.

Samsung Pay 101: How to Pay With Your Phone

Mehvish Mushtaq — Wed, 31 May 2023 05:25:00 +0000

Android devices have the Google Pay service to facilitate paying with your phone, whereas iPhone has Apple Pay. On Samsung Galaxy phones, you get Samsung Pay too. What is Samsung Pay and how to use it to pay from your phone? Find the answer in this post.

Good to know: not sure whether Samsung Galaxy phones actually run Android? The answer is yes, but here are the differences.

What Is Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay is a contactless mobile payment system built right on your Samsung Galaxy phone or smartwatch. With Samsung Pay, you can pay at retail stores around the world with your Samsung phone using the credit or debit card details stored on it.

Samsung Pay is like a digital wallet where your phone acts as your card that you need to hold against the card machine to make payment at any merchant store. On top of credit and debit cards, Samsung Pay also lets you save gift, and membership cards on your phone. Earlier Samsung Pay was a separate app but now Samsung Pay and... Read more

6 Useful Samsung Apps for All Android Users

Alexandra Arici — Thu, 18 May 2023 00:25:00 +0000

Over the years, Samsung has developed an extensive ecosystem of apps, most of which are preinstalled on its Galaxy mobile devices. While Samsung apps are primarily designed for Samsung Galaxy phones, there are still reasons that someone who doesn’t sport a Samsung device may consider using a Samsung app, such as having access to the advanced features and functionalities that can enhance their Android experience. This list features the best Samsung apps that everyone can use, regardless of their brand of Android phone.

Good to know: confused whether Samsung phones are actually Androids? We go over the differences with you.

1. Samsung Internet – For Easy Browsing

Most Android devices ship with Google Chrome preinstalled, but that doesn’t mean that’s your sole option when it comes to mobile browsing. There are other worthy alternatives to explore, such as Samsung Internet. This mobile browser places a strong emphasis on privacy and security and has many features, such as Privacy Dashboard, which includes a smart anti-tracking tool. What’s more, it integrates with Samsung Knox, which is Samsung’s security platform, providing an added layer... Read more

How to Control Your Screen Time on Android

Alexandra Arici — Wed, 10 May 2023 21:25:00 +0000

Mobile phone addiction can be a challenging issue to overcome, but there are several strategies you can try to combat it. If you’re using an Android phone, then you already have the tools to do so. In newer versions of Android, Google has baked in a host of features meant to curb your smartphone usage. You can find them under the Digital Wellbeing banner in Settings. In this piece, we look at the options available and see how they can help you reduce time spent on your mobile device.

Good to know: some apps can help you get a good night’s sleep. Check out the best calming options for sleep meditation.

How to Find Digital Wellbeing on Android

While it may seem counterintuitive that Google is willing to help you reduce the time spent on your phone, the company has embedded into Android an entire range of features that are dedicated to this very purpose. Follow these steps to find them.

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Scroll down until you find “Digital Wellbeing... Read more

Want an AirTag Alternative for Android? Try These Top 5 Bluetooth Trackers

Charlie Fripp — Mon, 08 May 2023 21:25:00 +0000

Keeping track of where your belongings are can be challenging. While Apple users can pair AirTag trackers to their iOS devices and quickly find the object it’s attached to, they doesn’t work well with Android phones. Luckily, you can get a Bluetooth tracker that will give you all the functions you need. If you’re looking for an AirTag alternative, check out this list of the top five.

Tip: taking a trip soon? Check out our must-have gadgets list when taking a vacation.

1. Best for Tracking Everyday Items: Tile Mate

Price: $24.99

The Tile Mate is a thin square, measuring 1.49 in / 3.7 cm on all sides, and is about 0.28 in / 0.71 cm thick. It’s great for keeping track of keys, bags, earbuds, and backpacks. The tiny accessory can also be used to find your phone. Users just need to double-press the central button on the tile to ring their phone (even if it’s on silent).

How to See Blocked Numbers on Android and Manage Them

Mehvish Mushtaq — Thu, 04 May 2023 00:25:00 +0000

When you block a number on an Android phone, you will not receive calls or messages from the blocked number. If you are unsure which numbers you have blocked on your Android phone or how to unblock them, this tutorial shows how to see the blocked numbers. Directions are included for Samsung phone as well.

How to Find Blocked Numbers in the Google Phone App

Follow these steps to see and manage the blocked numbers list on the Google Phone app:

Open the Phone app on your Android phone.
Tap on the three-dot icon and select “Settings.”

Go to “Blocked numbers.”

You will see all the numbers that you have blocked. Press the “X” next to the number you want to unblock.

AirDroid Business Review: Remote Android Device Management Made Easy

Alexandra Arici — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 17:25:00 +0000

Many businesses today rely on strategically positioned mobile devices in point-of-sale terminals or interactive kiosks to gather data regarding what drives consumer satisfaction and loyalty, measure the success of a marketing campaign or show off new features and products. In this context, mobile device management (MDM) solutions have become available to support efforts to control and secure on-site mobile devices. If your business employs Android endpoints, you may want to consider taking a look at AirDroid Business: a cloud-based platform that offers a smooth enterprise device management experience.

This is a sponsored article and was made possible by AirDroid. The actual contents and opinions are the sole views of the author who maintains editorial independence, even when a post is sponsored.

Getting Acquainted with AirDroid Business

AirDroid Business is a software designed to facilitate remote Android device management and troubleshooting. It offers an advanced set of features, accessible from an intuitive interface, capable of satisfying the needs of any enterprise.

To get started, administrators need to first install the AirDroid Business client on a Windows or Mac... Read more

How to Empty the Trash on an Android Phone

Mehvish Mushtaq — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 21:25:00 +0000

Are you looking to free up storage on your Android phone? You may have read or heard about clearing the trash, but what is trash, and how do you empty the trash on an Android phone? This tutorial includes everything you need to know about clearing the trash on Android without a system trash folder.

Good to know: did you know you can use your Android phone as a remote for Android TV? Learn how to set it up.

Where Is the Trash on an Android Phone?

You have probably heard the expression “send to trash.” Trash, on a device, is usually a folder that keeps your deleted items for several days before deleting them permanently. You can restore the deleted items before the final expiration date.

However, unlike the Windows operating system, Android doesn’t have a dedicated trash or recycle bin. However, there are some apps that offer a trash folder. If you are looking to empty the trash on an Android phone, you will have to check each app manually.

Tip: if you have... Read more

How to Stop Spam Calls on Your Android Phone

Crystal Crowder — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 21:25:00 +0000

Are spam calls just as annoying as trying to figure out how to stop spammers from dialing your number? Spammers love to pester and scam people. The great news is that you can stop these frustrating spam calls on Android for free, though there are some premium options available, too.

Tip: learn how to find hidden apps on your Android phone.

Enable the Spam Filter

The easiest way to stop spam calls on Android is by using the built-in spam filter. Each phone and carrier’s process works a little differently, but the spam filter should be part of your default phone dialer app. The following steps are for a Google phone with the built-in Phone by Google app. You can also download this app for your Android device. If you’d like your Android device to look more like a Google Pixel, use this guide.

Open your Phone app. It’s the same app you use for manually dialing numbers and viewing contacts.
Tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner.
Select “Settings.”... Read more

Yes, Your Samsung Device Is an Android: But There Are Differences

Mehvish Mushtaq — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:25:00 +0000

If you are planning to purchase a new Android phone, you may be a little confused, especially when it comes to Samsung devices. Are they really running Android? Samsung phones offer a distinctive interface and software but are still based on Google’s mobile operating system. This guide discusses the differences between Samsung and Android to help you make a more informed choice.

Good to know: looking to buy an Android smartphone for a senior member of the family? These are the best options.

Manufacturer vs. Operating System

All modern gadgets run on some kind of software. MacBooks have macOS, PCs run on the Windows operating system, and iPhones have iOS. Similarly, Android is a popular mobile operating system. It is a free and open-source operating system developed by Google. Since it is open-source, anyone can adapt and make changes to it. That’s what many mobile phone manufacturers do, including Samsung.

Currently, there are... Read more

Samsung DeX Not Working? Try These Fixes

Mehvish Mushtaq — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 19:25:00 +0000

Samsung DeX is an amazing feature that offers a desktop-like experience via a bigger display on a Samsung Galaxy phone. If you use it regularly, but it suddenly stops working, you may be wondering what happened. Thankfully, you can easily make it work again by following the fixes provided below. Let’s check different ways to bring the Samsung DeX functionality back on track.

1. Restart All Connected Devices

The first thing you must do if Samsung DeX isn’t working is restart all of the connected devices, including:

Samsung Galaxy phone
Wi-Fi modem, if you are connecting wirelessly
PC, if you are using DeX on a PC
TV, if you are connecting DeX on a TV

2. Check Compatibility

For DeX to work properly, you must check whether the devices are compatible. Samsung DeX doesn’t work on all Samsung phones. It’s available only... Read more