So you just got your brand new Google Pixel 10. Congratulations! It’s an incredible piece of hardware, and you’re probably itching to download your favorite apps, sign into your accounts, and start snapping photos.
Before you dive in, though, a handful of settings can drastically improve your day-to-day experience. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, Google leaves them turned off by default. Changing these settings can do everything from improving your battery’s long-term health, saving you storage space, organizing your home screen, and making sure you never miss an important notification again.
Whether you’re a long-time Pixel fan, a seasoned Android user coming from another brand, or switching from iPhone to Android, this guide will walk you through the essential first tweaks. I’ve been using Pixel phones for years, and I have a list of settings I change every single time I unbox a new one. I’ve updated my personal checklist for the exclusive features on the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, and now I’m sharing it with you.
Some of these are fundamental Android settings that I think everyone should use, some are clever features exclusive to the Pixel ecosystem, and a couple are powerful new tools available only on the Pixel 10 Pro models. So let’s dive in and get your new phone tuned to perfection.
1. Never lose a notification again with Notification History
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Android’s notification system is, without a doubt, one of the best things about the entire operating system. It’s powerful, customizable, and miles ahead of the often-chaotic system you’ll find on iOS. However, it’s not perfect. We’ve all been there: a flood of notifications comes in, and in a rush to clear them, you accidentally swipe away something important. Maybe it was a message from a friend, a shipping update for a package, or a security alert from your bank. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. What do you do?
Never worry again about accidentally swiping away an important alert.
This is precisely why one of the very first settings I enable on any Android phone is Notification History. It’s a simple but incredibly powerful feature that acts as a log for every single alert your phone receives. Turning it on is a lifesaver.
To activate it, follow these simple steps: Open the main Settings app. Tap on Notifications. Tap on Notification History. Toggle the Use notification history switch to the On position. That’s it. From now on, a complete record of all your notifications will be kept right here. If you ever accidentally dismiss something, you can just come back to this screen and see exactly what it was.
... continue reading