5 Secret Powers Hidden in your Android Phone's Accessibility Settings

   There are so many diverse features on Android Smartphones which we don't take time to use or enjoy. The accessibility settings for example is rarely visited by so many Android users whereas there are some accessibility settings on Android which makes the use of Android Smartphones more enjoyable and flexible, if tweaked properly.

Note: You can access the accessibility settings on your phone by navigating this way - Settings -> System -> Accessibility


   Although, most of us sometimes think that the accessibility settings on our Android phone is meant for the disabled ones but it's not like that, it is meant and useful for everyone of us. So, I'm sure you'll be glad to see the following features (listed below) which will make your Android smartphone more enjoyable and flexible.

Zoom Anywhere with Magnification Gestures

If you enable "Magnification Gestures",  you'll be able to zoom anything on your Android device (except the keyboard and the notification bar). In order to zoom anything on your Android, triple-tap any part that you want to magnify, and then pan with multiple fingers. Pinching also adjusts the zoom level.

To enable Magnification Gestures on your Android, navigate to Settings -> System -> Accessibility -> Magnification Gestures -> Off/On. You can try it now and you'll see it working just as it is !!!

End a Call with the Power Button

On a normal day, pressing the power button on Android devices will only put the phone to sleep (putting off the backlight) or wake the phone (if it is in sleep mode before). The situation is the same too when making phone calls but if you want, you can hang up and end any call on your phone by pressing the power button. How ? Just enable 'Power key ends call'. Not only that, another situation is when your phone is ringing and you need to quickly cut the call, just press the Power button and the call will be declined.

To enable "Power button ends call" on your Android device, navigate to Settings -> System -> Accessibility -> Answering/ Ending Calls -> Power key ends call.

Read Any Book Loud to your Ears

This is one of the amazing features embedded in the accessibility settings of Android phones, which many people don't even know about yet. Instead of reading a book to yourself, why don't you let someone read it to your ears ? Who is that someone ? Hmmnn, Google Text-to-speech. This feature is most useful for the audio-learners (those who learn fast and understand when they listen to audio).

Like I've said before, this settings make use of Google's built-in "Text-to-speech output" option which turns any eBook to an audiobook. Although, you must note that this feature only work with Google Play Books App not with Pocket or Kindle and you can also customize the voice and speed of the reader the way you want it. Once Text-to-speech output is set up, go to Google Play Books and open your eBook. In the Google Play Books App, go to Menu -> Settings -> enable "Automatically read aloud" to have Google read any book you open to you. Using this feature, I've been able to listen to so many books while relaxing and I do understand them very well, you can also do the same.

Enlarge ALL the Text on your Phone

If the font size of your device is not big enough—and it often isn't, especially if you are already planning to get a reading glasses—then Accessibility settings can provide relief. There is an option there to enable "Large text" and it works across the system. So your font is made larger everywhere, thus making it more legible too.

To make all the text on your phone large, navigate to Settings -> System -> Accessibility -> Font Size -> Large/Huge.

Enable/Disable Accessibility with a Shortcut

While you have all these Accessibility features we've listed above on your phone, you might not want or need to use them all the time. So, that's where a simple shortcut comes to use, it lets you enable or disable them quickly. Take, for instance, the Large Text option. You might not want that bigger font all the time, but you can keep it enabled and only switch it on and off as required with this shortcut. The Accessibility shortcut can be activated in two ways: 

==> by pressing and holding the power button

==> by touching and holding two fingers

I wouldnt advise you to use the first option because, as usual, it brings out the shutdown menu on ALL Android devices whenever you press it. So, the second option looks a bit better. While using this option, ensure you're touching and holding two fingers, make sure it's on a place where you can't trigger some other action—for example, doing it on the homescreen will probably bring up widget and launcher options.

   Now, I'm very sure that, at least one of the following accessibility features will prove to be very useful to you and they will also help you get more out of your Android without installing any 3rd-party-App or something. Do you find this post interesting and useful ? Kindly share it with others using the share buttons below, don't forget to drop your helpful contributions and comments. As usual, our next post will be a very interesting and helpful one and I'll advise you not to miss it. So stay tuned and subscribe to SBCN for FREE in order to receive our upcoming posts directly into your mailbox. Blessings !!!