Many manufacturers supply their smartphones with their own software, but most users prefer a bare version of Android. In this tip video, we show you how to make a Google Pixel device from your own Android phone. Are you watching?
Turn your smartphone into a Google Pixel
A bare Android version is usually the finest in use and many users are looking for ways to make their device look like a Pixel smartphone – made by Google itself. Nowadays you do not have to put a lot of effort into that because devices from for example Nokia, OnePlus and Sony already have a (virtually) bare version of Android. Yet there are always some tricks to improve your Android experience.
In our latest video, we discuss a number of tips to turn your smartphone into a kind of Pixel phone. We use the Samsung Galaxy S9 as an example because this device lays a large software layer over Android. The tips below can be applied to any smartphone, so take advantage of it!
1. Install another launcher
The most important step to give your Android phone a Pixel look is to install another Launcher. This adjusts the home screen of your device, and you get a more convenient app overview and a more simple appearance. Good launchers are Lawnchair Launcher, Rootless Pixel Launcher, and Nova Launcher. They each have their own functions, but a similar look. Below you will find the download links of the launchers.
You can also choose to use Google’s Pixel launcher. You can download and install it here as an apk file via a detour. Instructions can be found in our tip about downloading and installing apk files.
→ Download Lawnchair Launcher in the Play Store (free)
→ Download Rootless Pixel Launcher in the Play Store (free)
→ Download Nova Launcher in the Play Store (free)
2. Choose a cool Google background
The second step is to choose a nice wallpaper. For this, you can use the Backgrounds app from Google, in which the search giant collects all sorts of beautiful and simple pictures. The Backgrounds app is completely free and is full of cool wallpapers, so there is always something for you.
→ Download the Google Backgrounds app in the Play Store (free)
Do you want something extra? Then you can use the life (moving) backgrounds of the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL? You can also download it as an apk file ( check this link ) and use it. If you have installed the apk file, you will find the live wallpapers in the Backgrounds app, so make sure you have them on your device anyway.
3. Use Google apps
The third step: use Google’s apps and not the supplied applications from the manufacturer. For example, companies such as Samsung and Huawei have their own mail app, calendar app, and file manager, but they are often not nearly as good as Google’s alternatives. Remove them, switch them off (if your phone allows this) or hide them in a folder on your device, so that you can easily ignore them.
On every Android phone you will find all the necessary Google apps – think of Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps – but via this link, you can download more Google apps in the Play Store. Useful apps include Google Keep for your notes and Gboard as your keyboard app.
4. Set up the Google Assistant correctly
The Pixel phones also run for a large part around the Google Assistant, so it’s important that you give it an important place on your device. Good to know is that the Assistant works on almost every Android phone and you can activate by pressing and holding the home button. Follow the setup process and you have the smart helper working.
It is also possible to contact the Google Assistant with the ‘OK Google’ voice command. To enable this option, go to the Google app on your device. Then choose ‘More’ and ‘Settings’. Under the heading ‘Google Assistant’ you will see ‘Settings’ again, and if you tap here you will see the ‘Voice Match’ function under ‘Assistant’. If you enable this feature and the steps go through, the voice command also works.
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post! It is the little changes that make the largest changes. Thanks for sharing!|