How to Recover Deleted Photos on Android and iPhone

Android Features Google Doesn't Tell You About

Most of us use our Android phones every day, but there's a good chance we're only scratching the surface of what they can actually do.

Android has accumulated a huge number of useful features over the years. Some are tucked away in Settings, others are hidden behind gestures or accessibility menus, and a few are features that you might never discover unless someone shows you where to look.

The exact options can vary between manufacturers such as Samsung, Google, Motorola, Xiaomi and OnePlus, so you might not see every feature on your particular phone. Android itself also notes that some features depend on your device and version of Android.

So, if you've got an Android phone in 2026, here are 20 hidden or easily overlooked features worth checking out.

1. Private Space Can Hide Your Apps

One of the most useful newer Android features is Private Space.

Available on supported devices running Android 15 and later, Private Space creates a separate area on your phone where you can install apps and keep them away from your normal app list.

You can lock the space separately and even configure it to disappear when locked.

This could be useful for banking apps, personal apps, work applications or anything else you'd rather keep separate from your main phone.

Go to:

Settings → Security & privacy → Private space

When locked, apps inside Private Space can disappear from the launcher, recent apps and other areas of the system.

Tech Savvy tip: If you're setting up Private Space, Google recommends considering a separate Google Account for it to keep data from the private and main spaces more isolated.

2. Recover Notifications You've Accidentally Dismissed

We've all done it.

You swipe away a notification and then immediately realise you actually needed to read it.

Android's Notification History can help.

On supported devices, it keeps a record of recently dismissed notifications and notifications from the day.

Look under:

Settings → Notifications → Notification history

You need to enable Notification History before the notifications you dismiss can be recovered.

This is one of those features that you probably won't appreciate until you desperately need it.

3. Turn Your Phone Into a Screen Recorder

You don't necessarily need a third-party screen recording app.

Android has a built-in Screen Recorder on supported devices.

Open Quick Settings and look for Screen recorder.

You can generally choose whether to record audio and whether touches should appear on the recording.

It's particularly useful for:

• Creating tutorials
• Recording problems with an app
• Showing someone how to perform a task
• Recording gameplay
• Creating content for social media

Android's built-in recorder also means you don't have to give a random third-party app permission to record everything happening on your screen.

4. Take Scrolling Screenshots

Here's another feature that many people don't use.

Instead of taking multiple screenshots of a long webpage or conversation, supported Android devices can take a scrolling screenshot.

Take a screenshot and look for the Capture more option.

You can then extend the screenshot further down the page.

It's particularly useful for:

• Long webpages
• Conversations
• Shopping pages
• Documents
• Directions

Scrolling screenshots are supported on Android 12 and later on most screens that allow scrolling.

5. Share Files With Windows Using Quick Share

If you own both an Android phone and a Windows PC, Quick Share is worth knowing about.

It allows you to transfer photos, videos and documents between compatible Android devices and Windows computers without emailing files to yourself or plugging in a cable.

Quick Share is also available on Chromebooks and supported Windows PCs.

You can even right-click a file on Windows and use Quick Share to send it to your phone.

For anyone who regularly moves photos between their phone and PC, this can be a massive time saver.

6. Quick Share Can Use QR Codes

Quick Share has another trick that you might not know about.

If the device you're trying to send something to isn't appearing normally, Quick Share can generate a QR code that the other device can scan.

This can be handy when you're sharing files with someone who isn't already in your contacts or when the normal device discovery isn't working.

Quick Share also lets you control who can see your device, including your own devices, contacts or everyone for a limited period.

7. Circle to Search Without Leaving Your App

Circle to Search is one of the more useful Android features if you regularly come across things online that you want to identify.

Instead of taking a screenshot and switching to Google, you can activate Circle to Search and circle, highlight or tap something on your screen.

You could use it to identify:

• Products
• Clothing
• Places
• Animals
• Objects
• Text
• Things you see in photographs

The big advantage is that you don't necessarily have to leave the app you're currently using.

Availability depends on your phone.

8. Make Your Screen Even Dimmer

If you use your phone in bed, you might find that even the lowest brightness setting is still too bright.

Android includes Extra dim, which can reduce the screen brightness beyond the normal minimum on supported devices.

Look under:

Settings → Accessibility → Extra dim

It can be particularly useful in dark environments when you don't want a bright screen lighting up the room.

9. Use One-Handed Mode

Modern smartphones are getting bigger, which can make reaching the top of the screen awkward when you're using your phone with one hand.

Android's One-handed mode moves the usable screen area down so that controls at the top are easier to reach.

You can search Settings for:

One-handed mode

On supported devices, it can also be added to Quick Settings or an accessibility shortcut.

It's a simple feature that can make a surprisingly big difference.

10. Pin an App Before Handing Someone Your Phone

Need to show someone something on your phone but don't want them wandering through your photos, messages and other apps?

Use App Pinning.

Once enabled, you can pin a particular app to the screen.

The person using your phone can stay inside that app, and depending on your settings, your PIN, pattern or password is required to leave it.

It's perfect for situations such as:

"Can you have a look at this website?"

without giving someone unrestricted access to your phone.

11. Archive Apps Instead of Deleting Them

Running out of storage?

Android can archive unused apps on supported devices.

When an app is archived, Android removes the app's software, permissions and temporary files while retaining its icon and app data.

You can then restore it later.

Go to:

Settings → Apps → [Choose an app] → Archive

You can also enable automatic app archiving where supported.

This is particularly useful for apps you only use occasionally.

12. Live Caption Can Automatically Subtitle Videos

Live Caption can automatically generate captions for speech playing on your phone.

It can work with things such as:

• Videos
• Podcasts
• Phone calls
• Video calls
• Audio messages

On supported devices, captions are processed locally rather than being sent away from the phone.

It's obviously useful for accessibility, but it's also handy when you're somewhere you can't play audio out loud.

13. Magnify Anything on Your Screen

Android has a built-in Magnification feature that lets you zoom into parts of your display.

You can use a shortcut, accessibility button, volume keys or other supported methods to activate it.

On Android 16 and later, supported devices can even magnify the keyboard, making it easier to see individual letters and emojis.

This isn't just an accessibility feature either.

It's useful whenever you've got tiny text, a detailed image or something on screen that's difficult to see.

14. Use Flash Notifications Instead of Sound

Want to know when you've received a notification without relying on a sound or vibration?

Android includes Flash notifications on supported devices.

You can configure the camera flash or screen to flash when notifications arrive.

It's another feature found within Android's accessibility options and can be particularly useful if your phone is regularly on silent.

15. Control Which Apps Can Use Your Camera and Microphone

It's worth checking which apps have access to your phone's sensitive hardware.

Android allows you to manage permissions for individual apps.

You can check whether an application has access to things such as:

• Camera
• Microphone
• Location
• Contacts
• Photos and other data

Go to:

Settings → Apps → [App] → Permissions

The exact menu can vary between phones, but Android provides controls for managing these permissions.

It's worth doing a quick privacy audit every now and again.

You might be surprised by how many apps you've previously given permission to.

16. Check Which Apps Have Recently Used Your Permissions

Android's Privacy Dashboard gives you another useful way to check what applications have been accessing sensitive permissions.

Depending on your device, you can see which apps have recently used permissions such as your camera, microphone or location.

Look under:

Settings → Privacy → Privacy dashboard

It's a great way to keep an eye on what your apps are doing behind the scenes.

17. Use Emergency SOS

This is a feature I strongly recommend setting up even though you hopefully never need it.

Supported Android phones include Emergency SOS, which can provide quick access to emergency actions.

Depending on your device, region and settings, this can include calling emergency services, sharing your location with emergency contacts and recording emergency video.

On supported Android 12+ devices, Emergency SOS can be configured under:

Settings → Safety & emergency → Emergency SOS

Google notes that availability varies by device and region.

It's worth setting this up before you actually need it.

18. Use Android's Built-In Smart Text Features

Android has some clever text recognition capabilities that you might not realise are built into the operating system.

Android System Intelligence powers features including Smart Text Selection, which can recognise certain types of information and make it easier to interact with them.

For example, addresses can become actionable, while other text can be recognised and turned into links or useful actions.

So next time you're looking at text on your phone, try long-pressing it rather than simply copying it.

You may get more options than you expected.

19. Try Live Translate

Android System Intelligence also powers Live Translate on supported devices.

This can translate certain live conversations and video content.

The availability and supported languages depend on your phone and software version, but it's another example of how Android's built-in intelligence can do things without requiring you to install a separate app.

If you regularly communicate in different languages, this is definitely worth exploring.

20. Turn On Theft Protection

One of the most important newer Android features isn't particularly flashy — but it could be extremely useful if your phone is stolen.

Android includes Theft Protection features designed to make it harder for someone who has stolen your phone to access or change sensitive settings.

Depending on the device and Android version, features can include theft detection, protection for sensitive settings and additional identity checks.

Look under:

Settings → Google → All services → Theft protection

Not every phone supports every theft-protection feature, but it's worth checking.

Bonus: Don't Forget Your Manufacturer's Features

One of the most interesting things about Android is that Android isn't necessarily the same on every phone.

A Samsung Galaxy can have features that aren't found on a Pixel. A Xiaomi phone can have options that aren't available on a Motorola, and vice versa.

So don't stop at the standard Android settings.

If you have a Samsung, for example, spend some time exploring One UI's settings and advanced features.

You may find useful tools that Google doesn't include in stock Android.

My 5 Favourite Hidden Android Features

If I had to choose just five from this list, I'd go with:

1. Private Space – Excellent for keeping sensitive apps separate.
2. Quick Share – Brilliant if you own both an Android phone and Windows PC.
3. Notification History – A lifesaver when you accidentally dismiss something important.
4. Scrolling Screenshots – One of those features you quickly wonder how you lived without.
5. Theft Protection – Something everyone should check, even if they never expect to need it.

Final Thoughts

Android has become much more than a simple smartphone operating system.

There are useful features hidden throughout the settings, accessibility menus, security tools and Quick Settings panel that can make your phone more productive, more private and easier to use.

The biggest problem is that Android phones aren't all identical, so the exact name or location of a feature can vary.

My advice is to open your phone's Settings and use the search function.

Try searching for:

Private Space

Notification History

Screen Recorder

One-handed mode

Extra dim

Theft protection

You might discover that your phone can already do things you previously thought required another app.

How many of these Android features were you already using? And which one did you discover for the first time?

Let me know in the comments.