Chicago
Track Your Order
0
7 tasks you can automate on Android
At a time when we use smartphones for almost everything in our professional and personal lives, the need for automation has become important. This is especially true if do the same thing every day, like filling out passwords on the same sites when you access them or posting the same thing to several social media platforms. Every click or tap takes time and effort, and doing it daily can be frustrating.
Android devices come with multiple built-in features that allow you to automate tasks. These features offer seamless ways to adjust the device’s settings and customize automation features. Additionally, there are applications designed for this purpose, offering flexible ways to automate tasks without meddling with any code. This article delves into some of the tasks you can seamlessly automate on Android, helping you to work smarter, minimize redundancy, and streamline operations.
7 Android accessibility features that make your device easier to use
Give these accessibility features a go
Do not disturb/Focus mode schedules
Automate when disturbances are turned off
Nothing is embarrassing like your phone ringing out loud when you are in the middle of a meeting. Or anything annoying like going to bed after a long day at work and getting a text or call at 2 a.m. Instead of putting your Android phone on silent mode or switching it off, use the Do Not Disturb or Focus mode feature.
The functionality allows you to set when messages, calls, or notifications are turned off, allowing you to concentrate on what you are doing. For instance, you can set your Android device to mute notifications while studying or working. To set it up, go to the Settings menu, tap Sound & Vibration >Do not disturb, and pick the time when the device should be silent. You can also specify which notifications to mute.
Other phones call the feature Focus mode, which you can customize under the Digital Wellbeing settings. It allows you to pause or hide notifications from specific applications at the time that you set.
Notifications and reminders
Automate reminders for meetings, tasks, or events
We live in an era where we get information from different sources almost every minute. As such, it is easy to overlook something important amid all the fuss. Whether it is your significant other’s birthday wish message, replying to an email from your boss, or attending a work meeting, missing a crucial reminder can have serious repercussions on your professional or personal life.
To avoid such unpleasant situations, use the notification reminder feature on your Android phone to stay on top of things. This is important for professionals and anyone who struggles to remember to do important tasks. To set up the notification reminder functionality on your smartphone, open Google Calendar, tap the + icon, choose Reminders,and set up your reminder. Customize it depending on what you want. It could be the time, day, and whether to repeat the reminder.
Alternatively, you can use Google Assistant to set reminders seamlessly via voice command on your Android device. To do it, summon the feature by saying “OK Google” or “Hey Google.” When the Assistant shows up, give it a command like “Remind me to go for a medical checkup every Wednesday at 4 p.m.” Google Assistant will save the reminder.
Send scheduled text messages
Automate sending messages at scheduled times or under certain conditions
Have you ever planned to send an important message but forgot? In the hustle and bustle of modern life, staying on top of things can be overwhelming. It is easy to forget to reply to texts from family, friends, or colleagues when you are busy attending to other things. This is where the text scheduling feature on your Android device comes in handy.
Samsung Messages, Google Messages, and Android’s message app allow you to send text messages at the right time when you want them without touching your phone. Similarly, many third-party apps like SMS Auto-reply allow you to send scheduled messages or set auto-replies for different situations seamlessly. You can also customize the messages and contact lists depending on who you are sending them to. To schedule a text on your Android device, open the Message app, create a conversation and type your message, tap the + icon, tap Schedule Send,and schedule the date and time you want to send the message.
If that does not do the magic, use a third-party app like SMS Auto-Reply to automate messages. It is available on the Google App Store and has several templates to customize your auto-replies. You can send messages to group contacts or individuals, select who should not receive the message, and set when the feature should be active depending on dates, times, or actions, like when the Do not disturb feature is on.
Home automation with Google Home app
Manage and control smart home devices like lights and thermostats
Imagine walking into your house after a long day at work, and the thermostat adjusts to your ideal temperature, the lights turn on, and your favorite relaxing song starts playing. Sounds like magic or a far-fetched dream, right? With the Google Home app plus Google Assistant on your Android device, you can make it a reality. The Google Home app offers a great way to set up, control, and manage different compatible smart home devices.
Additionally, it offers access to Google Assistant, which can answer questions, perform tasks with voice commands, and, most importantly, build routines. Routines are a set of actions that take place when a trigger is activated. A trigger can be a phrase like “I am home” or “Good evening.” For example, you can customize a Morning Sunshine routine that starts the coffee maker, turns on smart lights, reads reminders aloud, and checks the weather. Similarly, you can set a Good evening routine that checks the camera feed, dims smart lights, sets the alarm, dims your entertainment system, and locks doors with a voice command.
This can simplify your life by minimizing manual intervention and making your home more organized. To do this, launch the Google Home App, tap Routines >Add Actions, and customize your routine by adding the time it will run and the trigger. The actions can be a wide array of actions, like turning on lights, reading news updates, or playing music, while the trigger can be a phrase like “Good morning.”
Posting to multiple social networks with one tap
Manage several social media accounts simultaneously
If you use several accounts and publish the same information on all of them regularly, you can automate the process and save time with an application like Hootsuite on your Android phone. It allows you to post simultaneously on several social media accounts with a single tap.
It is also possible to schedule posts on different accounts to be sent on a specific day or time. The service is free for up to three social media accounts. To add more accounts, you must subscribe to the premium version.
Unlock your Android device when you’re home
Unlock your phone automatically when it is in a safe place
It is a brilliant idea to lock your Android phone with a fingerprint sensor, PIN, or facial identity sensor at work or in public. However, when you are at home or at a place you trust, keying in the PIN or putting your finger on the fingerprint sensor every time you use the phone may be unnecessary.
To avoid the hassle, use the Smart Lock feature to automatically unlock your phone when you are at home or in a trusted place. Here is how to set it up in no time: Open the Settings app, tap Security >Advanced Options >Smart Lock >Trusted Places, and select Add Trusted Place. You can add several locations manually or via a map.
GPS must be on for the feature to work properly.
Automatically fill in passwords and usernames
Google Autofill
The Google Autofill feature enables you to automatically fill in data on online forms like usernames and passwords. It is similar to a password manager or iPhone Autofill, where previously saved details automatically populate when you want to log in to an account.
Enabling the feature on your Android device is straightforward: Launch the Settings app, tap User & Accounts >Autofill service, and choose Autofill with Google. The precise method will depend on the phone’s type and Android version. After that, when you log in to any site or app for the first time, you get a prompt asking you to save the login details. Tap Save, and the Google Autofill service saves the details. The next time you access that site or app, the service automatically fills in the details with the details you saved. No need to re-enter the details afresh.
Set it up and forget it
Android task automation can boost your smartphone experience by saving time, increasing productivity, minimizing repetitive tasks, and tailoring your smartphone’s behavior to suit your everyday life. Whether managing notifications or streamlining your daily routines, automating tasks can transform your Android device into an effective assistant that aligns with your preferences and lifestyle.
Some automation settings may feel a bit overwhelming as they may require some getting used to, but when you get the hang of it, you will wonder how you survived without them.