7 Ways to Android-ify Your iPhone

So you have made the massive leap from an Android telephone to an iPhone. Perhaps the iPhone 13 lastly received you over, or perhaps you have preordered the 2022 iPhone SE. Whichever Apple handheld you are now carrying, it is definitely an adjustment to navigate iOS after you have been accustomed to Android. On the one hand, it is thrilling: You are now a part of the blue bubble membership, and you’ll discover all of the useful options within the newly launched iOS 15.4.

However you additionally must be taught a brand new working system that shares some similarities with Android but feels totally totally different. For instance, you’ll be able to’t set up apps from simply anyplace. You will have to get them from the Apple App Retailer and solely the App Retailer. Or what about the truth that you are still compelled to make use of a inflexible app grid, and may’t place apps wherever you please? You can also’t see data just like the time and notifications even when the show is off as you’ll be able to with many Android telephones. Annoying. 

If that is all beginning to sound acquainted, you is perhaps completely happy to know that there are methods to make your iPhone really feel much more like your outdated Android telephone. For example, do you know you can add widgets, create customized app icons or use a third-party keyboard that is extra like what you are used to? I will stroll you thru a number of adjustments that may make your new iPhone extra Android-like in simply the methods you need.

Create a customized dwelling display screen with widgets and Sensible Stack

Widgets, and for that matter, a customized dwelling display screen, are a handy technique to maintain data at your fingertips, however maybe extra importantly you get to create a totally customized expertise.

Excellent news. Your iPhone helps widgets on the house display screen as nicely, they usually’re fairly superior. You possibly can add a single widget, or create what’s referred to as a Sensible Stack that may rotate via a collection of widgets primarily based on which widgets you work together with and the time of day. 

Place a widget in your iPhone’s display screen by long-pressing in a clean spot. I often do it simply above the apps within the dock (the place the row of dots are for every dwelling display screen). Faucet on the plus signal within the top-left nook, after which drag and drop widgets to your display screen. 

Create a Sensible Stack of your individual by dragging widgets of the identical measurement on high of each other.

You possibly can’t set up themes or launchers, however you’ll be able to nonetheless customise the iPhone’s look

For those who’re used to creating customized app icons, you may be happy to know that your iPhone can assist customized icons, too. You will want to make use of the Shortcuts app to be able to obtain your customized look, and be prepared to take a position a while in every new creation — it’s a must to do it on an app-by-app foundation. So as a substitute of getting the inventory Mail, Safari or Messages app icons, you’ll be able to as a substitute use the AOL Mail icon, or no matter photograph you need, to switch the default icons. 

Hopefully Apple will add assist for theme or icon packs sooner or later, however as of proper now, the steps outlined on this put up are pretty much as good because it will get. 

Use FaceTime to talk together with your Android buddies

Sure, you learn that accurately. In iOS 15, you’ll be able to FaceTime with family and friends members who do not have an Apple system. It may not make your iPhone really feel extra like your outdated Android telephone in the identical method as different tips about this checklist. Nevertheless it might assist with the transition because it offers a technique to simply video-chat together with your Android buddies with out having to put in a brand new app.  

FaceTime calling works a bit in another way once you’re speaking with customers of non-Apple gadgets. It’s worthwhile to generate a hyperlink that they’ll click on or faucet to affix the decision from an online browser. Simply open the FaceTime app and faucet the Create Hyperlink button to get began. From there, you’ll be able to merely copy the hyperlink or faucet an app like Messages or Mail to share the invite together with your buddy or member of the family. 

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Miss Google’s keyboard? You possibly can obtain our favourite, and likewise be taught some iPhone keyboard suggestions

The little issues could be what we find yourself lacking probably the most about our outdated gadgets. Take the keyboard for example. Google’s keyboard, Gboard, is beloved by many Android customers. However do not fret, you’ll be able to set up third-party keyboards on the iPhone, though it’s possible you’ll discover they don’t seem to be as feature-packed because the Android equivalents. Android’s Gboard is offered on the iPhone if you wish to give it a shot. 

Nonetheless, should you discover that third-party keyboards simply do not reduce it, listed here are a few of my private methods for getting probably the most out of the iPhone’s keyboard. 

• Transfer the cursor by long-pressing on the spacebar till the keys disappear, turning it right into a trackpad of kinds. Here is a put up with a flowery animated picture that exhibits you the way it works.

• Create customized textual content substitute shortcuts by going to Settings > Basic > Keyboard > Textual content Substitute. This makes it simpler to kind cuss phrases (sorry not sorry, Mother), or rapidly enter data like your electronic mail deal with.

• You possibly can swipe-to-type on the iPhone’s keyboard, identical to you’ll be able to on virtually each Android keyboard. If it is not working, ensure it is turned on by going to Settings > Basic > Keyboard > Slide to Kind and ensuring the swap is within the On place.

You are not locked in to Apple’s default apps. Use Google’s apps as a substitute

You are in luck. Google does a very good job of preserving the identical apps you have come to know and love on Android up to date on the iPhone. As a substitute of linking you to each single Google app, I will as a substitute level you to Google’s developer web page within the App Retailer the place you could find the entire apps which are obtainable for the iPhone (or iPad). 

You might be stunned at simply what number of apps Google has constructed for the iPhone. Google Maps, Gmail, the Chrome browser, Google Docs, Google Drive and Google Maintain are simply the tip of the iceberg. See the following part for an much more pervasive Google app.

Do not like Siri? Use Google Assistant

One of many apps Google has made obtainable on the iPhone that is value mentioning is Google Assistant. I do know Siri has a foul fame in some methods, and I will not get into that debate right here, however for individuals who want to use Google’s digital assistant over Apple’s, you’ll be able to obtain and set up the devoted app. 

However that does not clear up the issue of not having the ability to say, “Hey, Google” and have your iPhone reply. So as to try this, you may have to create a Shortcut within the Shortcuts app that may use Siri to launch Google Assistant. 

With Google Assistant put in in your telephone, open the Shortcuts app and faucet on the plus signal to create a brand new shortcut. Faucet Add Motion > Apps > Assistant > Ask Google and switch off Present When Run. Title the Shortcut both “Hey, Google” or “OK, Google.”

The subsequent time you wish to discuss to Google Assistant, activate Siri (maintain within the aspect button or say, “Hey, Siri”) after which use the title of your Shortcut. 

For instance, you’ll be able to say “Hey, Siri, OK, Google, what is the climate?” And Siri will move your request to the Google Assistant app. 

It is clunky and never perfect, however should you actually don’t love Siri, it will get the job finished. 

Face ID is not good. Here is learn how to make it higher

For those who’re switching from an Android telephone with fingerprint unlock, Face ID can really feel irritating if it does not all the time acknowledge your face (like in case your head is half-buried in a pillow) and unlock your iPhone in a correct period of time. Here is what I recommend: Add an alternate look, which is rather like scanning your face a second time; that is the equal of scanning 4 fingerprints in your outdated Android telephone as a substitute of only one. 

However as a substitute of placing on sun shades or another accent to vary your look, undergo the registration course of with the “typical” look that offers you probably the most hassle. If that is simply off the bed with raveled hair and luggage beneath your eyes, so be it. This sort of information is saved solely in your telephone, and that is face unlock, not a magnificence contest.

To scan your face once more, open Settings > Face ID & Passcode and faucet Set Up an Alternate Look. 

Now that your iPhone appears and feels extra like your outdated telephone, take a while to get to know iOS just a little higher. Take a look at these settings you want to change, and ensure you’re maintaining on the newest iOS 15 options. Oh, and there are hidden options you need to learn about too.