With every new Android update, hidden features are lurking under the
surface. Google hides these options to prevent unnecessary tinkering by
average users, leaving them in place for power users to discover. These
secrets range from silly to really useful, with the latter opening up
new ways to manage your phone.
All these hidden features are currently still available on the first
release of Android 9.0 Pie. Whether Google decides to remove them in
later updates is still up in the air, but we expect these features to
remain. All the options are pretty easy to find, with a tutorial for
each one to help you unlock these features and impress your friends and
family.
1- Feature Flags
New in Android 9.0 Pie is a secret menu option called "Feature Flags."
Similar to Chrome's secret options (that are similarly named), Feature
Flags lets you tweak specific design choices back to their Android Oreo
versions, for those who don't like the changes. Check out our tutorial
to learn how to unlock this feature.
2- System UI Tuner
System UI Tuner has been a secret menu in Android since 6.0 Marshmallow.
While more and more of its functionality moves to other areas, it is
still of one of the only ways you can modify the status bar without
rooting your device. However, unlike the previous version of Android,
System UI Tuner in Android Pie requires a different method to unlock. To
learn how to unlock it, check out our step-by-step guide.
3- Flappy Bird Game
Android has been known to house an easter egg with each OS update.
Typically, it requires several touches of the version number on the About Phone page, which will reveal some animation or game relevant to the dessert the OS version is named after.
While Android Pie's easter egg is a boring "P" symbol, a popular old easter egg is still included: The Flappy Bird clone known as Flappy Droid is now hidden elsewhere. The game was first introduced in 5.0 Lollipop and included a different environment from the popular game with giant lollipops as the obstacles you are trying to avoid. With Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the game was updated to reflect the new dessert with giant marshmallows instead of lollipops.
While Android Pie's easter egg is a boring "P" symbol, a popular old easter egg is still included: The Flappy Bird clone known as Flappy Droid is now hidden elsewhere. The game was first introduced in 5.0 Lollipop and included a different environment from the popular game with giant lollipops as the obstacles you are trying to avoid. With Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the game was updated to reflect the new dessert with giant marshmallows instead of lollipops.
The Marshmallow version of this game has been hidden in several newer
versions of Android, with Pie being no exception. Check out our guide on
how to unlock this game.
4- Quick Launch the Clock App
A neat hidden feature in Android 9.0 Pie is a new way to get to the
Clock app quickly. While in the Quick Settings menu (whether fully
revealed or partially), if you tap the time in the top-left, you can
launch the Clock app. Even better, if you have multiple clock apps
installed on your phone, you can pick which one you wish to launch.
5- Quickly Launch Your Battery Information
Similar to the last hidden feature, Pie also introduced a new way to get
into the Battery menu from any screen quickly. With the Quick Setting
revealed (whether fully or partially), by selecting the battery icon in
the top-right, you can quickly jump to the battery menu. Nothing
mind-blowing, but still pretty neat.
What do you
think about Android 9.0 Pie's hidden features? Have you found any that
we've missed? Let us know in the comment section below.
