One of the most powerful buttons on an android phone is the search button. You know, the magnifying glass button. If you aren’t using it regularly, perhaps you don’t know what pressing this one button can do for you. Here are a few tweaks to help you give the Android search button even more power.
In the settings
I know a lot of people don’t go poking around in the settings if they don’t have to. One tip for better searching on Android involves adding some choices to your search. Press the Android search button and look for the Google icon at the top. This is where you can change how the Android search acts. You can search a bunch of different applications. When you install applications to your Android device, you cannot search these apps by default. You need to go into the settings and allow them to be searched. To add new applications to the Android search screen, you need to:
Now when you go back into the search screen by pressing the magnifying glass (search button). When you press the Google logo next to the search bar, you will see the apps you selected available to search now.
LaunchKey
LaunchKey is another application to add even more function to the Android search button. By long pressing the Android search button, you can choose 9 application or system shortcuts. Download LaunchKey APK. After you install and run it for the first time, you will need to do a little configuring. I chose the custom menu option.
From there you will need to long press the Android search button. When you do, you will be asked to choose the default action. Check the box Use by default for this action then select LaunchKey.
Choose what applications or system functions you’d like to have access to by following the onscreen instructions.
Conclusion
The more you can access with fewer clicks, swipes or typing, the more productive you will be using your Android phone. The trick is to keep it simple enough where you do not need to radically change the way you search. Most people struggle when they need to learn a whole new system. The addition of Searchify and LaunchKey will let you keep doing what you are doing, but adds a few useful features. What Android productivity tips or apps do you have to share? Image credit: somegeekintn
