Google frequently equips its Pixel smartphones with unique capabilities to set them apart from the competition, particularly in the areas of language translation, call answering, and photo editing. The phones are equipped with a plethora of handy features that leverage Google’s advanced technological know-how to help simplify the daily tasks of users. So, to help Pixel users get started, here are a few ways to utilize everything the phone has to offer:

1. Try themed icons
All the icons on the home screen can be changed to always match the color of the selected wallpaper on Google Pixel. All one has to do here is press and hold any spot on the home screen and wait for the “Wallpaper & Style” menu to pop up. Then, one can find the Themed Icons option section by scrolling down and tapping it. All of the icons should then become colored to match the current background upon returning to the home screen. This makes the icons align with the phone theme and enhance the visual user experience.

2. Hide sensitive information
Lock screens can occasionally be rendered useless due to the amount of information notifications show even when the screen is locked. For instance, one may not want the preview of a newly received text to be visible to people around them. To fix this, one should tap on Notifications under Settings, then click on the cog icon on the right. There, one can find the “On the lock screen” option, and after tapping on it, one can select the “Hide sensitive notification content” option. Following this, for text notifications one receives, the complete information will not be visible until one unlocks their phone.

3. Try live captions
One can get automatic captions for podcasts, movies, phone conversations, and more on Google Pixel. To activate this feature, one can press the volume button and tap the Live Caption icon. Any of the recent models, including Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel Fold, come with the Live Caption feature. At the moment, it only supports English. Google claims that the captions are processed and saved locally, never leaving the device. Additionally, one can change some of the settings here, such as labeling sounds like applause and laughter and hiding swear words. To explore these options further, one can open the Settings and select Live Caption.

4. Enable crash detection
The following Pixel feature can come in handy in an emergency. Google’s sophisticated technology can actually tell when the user has been in an accident. In the event that the user cannot respond, Pixel notifies the appropriate authorities. To enable this feature, one can access the Safety app by swiping upward on the home screen or opening the Pixel app drawer. One can also add an emergency contact and medical information by just following the prompts here. On the main Safety page, one can select “Car crash detection” by tapping the gear-shaped icon in the upper-left corner and flipping the toggle at the top into the on position. Now, if the phone ever detects an accident, it will vibrate, sound an alarm, and ask if the user needs help. After a predetermined period, if one does not reply, it will automatically notify 911 of the whereabouts.

5. Screen all calls
If one wants to avoid answering spam calls, Google can screen the calls and help identify spammers. Third-party software can also serve the same purpose; however, Google equips the phone with this feature, enhancing the convenience. The Call Screening feature, when enabled, can make Google Assistant answer a call and ask who is calling and why. It will also automatically hang up upon detecting a spam call, but the user can still check the caller’s response and decide to answer. All Pixel phones, including the latest Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro, are equipped with this feature. To set up automatic call screening, one can open the Phone app and tap the three dots in the top right corner. Then, one can tap on Settings and select Spam and Call Screen. Here, one can explore other options and press on Call Screen. Make sure the switch next to See caller and spam ID is toggled on, and then press Call Screen. One can also choose how Google screens the calls by exploring other settings.

6. Create a cinematic wallpaper
One can create a cinematic wallpaper out of any picture in the collection on Google Pixel 7 and higher, including Pixel Fold. Google enhances the selected photograph with a 3D effect to highlight the subject. This feature functions best on images that are focused on one or two subjects. To try this effect, one can navigate to the Wallpaper & style option in the Settings menu on their Pixel. Then, one can choose Change wallpaper, select the My Photos option, and tap the image they would like to set as their wallpaper. Then, one can tap the icon that looks like three stars and then toggle the switch next to the “Create cinematic wallpaper” option.