Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
Every so often, an Android app decides it wants to distract me from what I'm doing. I might like that app, might even use it quite often, but in that moment, it's bothersome. I could mute my phone or even turn it off, but there might be other apps that I need to use. I could also uninstall the app, knowing I'd have to reinstall it later.
Why go through all of that when you can temporarily disable that distracting Android app?
Also: 6 hidden Android features that make my life easier - and that you're overlooking
You can do exactly that, and it can help prevent those distractions without having to mute everything or uninstall the offending app. One thing to keep in mind is that with Pixel phones, there's a very easy way to pause apps, and on older phones, the process is a bit cumbersome.
How to disable an app in Android on Pixel devices
What you'll need: The only thing you'll need for this method is a Pixel phone and an app to pause.
This method is much easier than pausing apps on non-Pixel devices.
1. Locate the app launcher in the App Drawer Open the App Drawer (swipe up from the bottom of your home screen). Once the App Drawer is open, locate the app you want to disable (aka pause). Note that you can also do this from a launcher on your home screen. Show more
This is the pop-up you'll see when you long-press a launcher in your Android App Drawer or home screen. Jack Wallen/ZDNET
... continue reading