If you've had an Android phone for a long time, it's easy to get used to the chaos. If you're like me, you constantly add new apps, decide they're okay but not great, add another, and so on. Then, a few months later, as you're going through your app drawer, you're surprised to see several apps you've forgotten about and maybe can't even remember what they're for.
SummaryGet OrganizedFill the Favorites BinCreate Folders on Your Home ScreenGet Rid of Unused AppsUse the App DrawerVisit the Play StoreUse Your VoiceTry Files from GoogleUse Another AppIn a very short time, it can become a mess. And if you're really an app enthusiast, it can start to take up more space than you can spare. (Here we can take as written the mandatory KonMari reference.)
There are basically two steps to making sense of all those Android apps:find a way to organize them (and there are a variety of ways, depending on what you're comfortable with) and Periodically remove any extra apps you've accumulated and no longer use. Here are some tips to help you do both. If you're new to Android, this can help you stay organized from day one; if you are an experienced user, you can get some tips.
As you go through these suggestions, keep in mind that not all Android interfaces are the same. This manual was created using a Pixel 3 XL running Android 9 Pie, but your interface may look slightly different, depending on your phone model and the version of Android you're using.
At the most basic level (and anyone who's had an Android phone for more than a week or two can skip a bit) you can just use the app drawer, which is accessed either by swiping up from the bottom of the phone or by tapping on the apps icon in the bottom center of your screen. Place the apps you use most on one or more of your home screens by long-pressing them in the app drawer.
The app drawer is (thankfully) organized alphabetically, with your last four used apps at the top. You can swipe up to browse apps; you can also swipe down from the side to cycle through the alphabet (which might be faster). A search bar at the top allows you to type in the name of your app if you wish.
However, once you start accumulating applications, you can save time by creating a more structured system.
You can quickly access your most-used apps by placing them in the Favorites bar, the bottom row of apps that's always there no matter which home screen you're on. have slipped. The tray is already full? No problem.
A good way to organize your apps is to use folders. For example, you can put all of your music and podcast apps in a folder called "Listen" or all of your social media apps in a folder called "Social." It is simple to create a folder.
Sometimes when I install a new app, I immediately know it's not for me, and I uninstall it from time to time. More often than not, unfortunately, I'll try an app, maybe decide to use it in the future, and leave it there. Where he is. During months. Or years.
Once you start hoarding apps, it's incredibly easy to forget about the ones you no longer need. But allowing old apps to stay on your phone might not be as harmless as it seems. Not only do they take up useful storage space, but they can unnecessarily collect data (assuming you've given them permission). And if they're running in the background, they could drain your battery.
Therefore, it doesn't hurt to check which apps you haven't used recently and remove them from your phone. There are several ways to do this.
Yes, it's obvious, but it has to be said. Spend some time cleaning up your app drawer:open it up and see what's inside. You might be surprised by what you forgot and what you may no longer need. Anything you don't need, swipe up to uninstall.
It's not as simple as going to your app drawer or as efficient as Google Files, but if you're in the Play Store and want to get rid of some useless applications to install new ones, there is a way.
If you accidentally delete an app and later think, "I shouldn't have done that", or suddenly remember an app you used on an old phone you want to use again, you can find and restore your previous apps. from the App Store (including those you removed from previous devices that used the same account).
If you're walking down the street and you don't have a free hand, don't forget Google Assistant. Activate it (by long-pressing the lower center button) and say “Open AppName” or “Search AppName”, and your phone will open the app.
Files by Google is a surprisingly handy application that, among other things, helps you get rid of unnecessary files that take up space. If you decide to install files, here's how you can use it to get rid of unused apps.
There are a variety of Android apps available in the Play Store in addition to Files by Google that can help you. For starters, there are other file managers that can make it easier to track and manage your phone's content, such as ES File Explorer and File Manager. (There are, in fact, several apps called “File Manager” in the Play Store.)
Some create overlays to help organize your home screen. Jina, for example, lets you create a sidebar that pulls out from the side of your screen and gives you a compact list view of all your apps. Taskbar puts a configurable Windows-like start menu on your screen.
If you want even more control over your Android environment, there are launchers such as Nova and Action Launcher that allow you to further customize your app drawer and screen. home with icons, animations and different layouts. In future articles, we hope to try a few and report on our findings.
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