How to Impress Friends with Cool Smartphone Tricks

Want to be the go‑to person when someone asks, "How did you do that?" Your phone is full of hidden gems that can make you look like a tech wizard. Below are practical tricks you can start using today.

Hidden voice commands that do the heavy lifting

Google Assistant isn’t just for setting alarms. Try saying, "Hey Google, open the hidden testing menu" to jump into a screen that lets you check battery health, sensor status, and more. Another handy phrase is, "Hey Google, show me my network info," which instantly displays signal strength and carrier details. These quick voice prompts save time and look impressive when you share the results.

Photo hacks that turn everyday snaps into wow‑factor shots

Most phones have a built‑in pro mode you can access by tapping the three‑dot menu in the camera app. Turn on the grid, adjust exposure manually, and use the timer to avoid blur. For dramatic portraits, enable the "portrait" mode, tap the subject’s eye, and then swipe to add a background blur. The result looks like it was taken with a DSLR, and your friends will ask how you did it.

Another quick tip: swipe down on the notification shade, find the "Quick Settings" tile for "Screen Capture," then double‑tap it while taking a photo. This captures a screenshot of the camera preview, letting you keep the exact composition you liked.

Speed and performance upgrades you can do in minutes

Every Android phone hides a menu of performance tweaks. Dial *#*#4636#*#* to open the "Testing" screen. From there you can view detailed usage stats and even force‑stop apps that are slowing you down. For iPhone users, go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health and enable "Optimized Battery Charging" to extend battery life.

If your phone feels sluggish, go to Settings → Apps → Show System Apps, then clear the cache of the "Google Play Services" app. This often gives a noticeable speed boost without deleting any data.

Cool Easter eggs and hidden games

Both Android and iOS hide little games that pop up when you tap certain icons multiple times. On Android, go to Settings → About Phone and tap the Android version seven times to unlock a dinosaur game that works offline. On iOS, open the Calendar app and tap the month name repeatedly to see a hidden animation.

These Easter eggs are fun conversation starters and show that you know the secret side of your device.

Quick ways to free up space and keep your phone fast

Storage warnings are a buzzkill. Open your file manager, sort files by size, and delete old downloads or duplicate photos. Use the built‑in "Smart Storage" option (found in Settings → Storage) to automatically remove backed‑up screenshots and videos.

Another instant win: go to Settings → Apps, sort by size, and uninstall any rarely used apps. Even a few megabytes cleared can make a difference in speed.

Try these tricks today, record a short video of the results, and share it with your friends. They'll be amazed, and you'll have a handy list of go‑to tips for any situation.