Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL tips: How to set up your new phone

Setting up a new phone can be overwhelming, especially ones as feature-rich as the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. After all, one of the key selling points for Google’s Pixel phones is the software, and these two phones brought a range of new features to the table when they were released in 2019. While Android 10 (and Android 11) brought a few of these features to the broader Android phone population, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are packed with neat tricks and unique features that separate them from the rest.

But which ones do you want, and which ones are fluff? How do you separate the wheat from the chaff? We’ve got you covered! We’ve gathered the key settings you need to change immediately on your new device to get the most out of that Pixel 4 phone.

Related guides

• Best Pixel 4 cases
• Best Pixel 4 XL cases

How to skip the lock screen with face unlock

The Pixel 4’s face unlock procedure gives you the option to unlock the phone and stay on the lock screen until you swipe up upon successful authentication. Unlocking without going straight to the home screen gives a more iPhone-esque lock screen experience, as the phone can hide notification content until it’s recognized your face. Then, you simply swipe the screen to enter the phone. By default, the phone will automatically bypass the lock screen and go straight to the home screen.

To choose your preference, go into Settings > Security > Face Unlock and toggle off Skip Lock Screen to have the phone wait to go to the home screen until you swipe up.

How to enable Continued Conversation on Google Assistant

Google Assistant has always shown a strong proclivity for conversation and recognizing natural speech. One of the best features to help showcase this is Continued Conversation. When enabled, this feature keeps the Google Assistant listening for further speech after an initial query or command is made. Although this has been an option for smart speakers for some time, this is the introduction of this feature on a smartphone.

It’s off by default, but turning this on is as easy as heading to Settings > Apps and Notifications > Assistant and toggling on Continued Conversation.

How to turn on the Dark theme

No matter which color Pixel 4 you have, the Dark theme can be a great visual complement, and it’s much easier on the eyes, especially at night. Dark themes in Android have been around for a bit on other manufacturer devices, but it has been built into Pixel devices since Android 10. It can help save you a little bit of battery life, too.

Head to Settings > Display and toggle on Dark Theme to take a look. You can also tap Schedule set a custom time for Dark theme to switch on, or you can also choose for it to switch on and off at sunset and sunrise.

How to identify songs around you with Now Playing

Now Playing is a hidden gem exclusively available on Pixel phones. Introduced in the Pixel 2, the feature detects and identifies music around you, adding them to a neat and tidy, chronologically-sorted archive for you to look back at later. It doesn’t require an internet connection, so the battery impact isn’t noticeable, but it also won’t identify every song you hear — whether you’re in a coffee shop or a store. You can have it identify songs discretely, sending them to the master log, or have it also show the name of songs on the lock screen.

To see these songs on the lock screen, go to Settings > Sound > Advanced > Now Playing and toggle on Show on Lock Screen. On the same screen, you can view the master log under Now Playing History.

How to use Live Caption to subtitle audio and videos

Live Caption is another feature that leverages Google’s strong artificial intelligence prowess to caption audio messages and videos for those times when listening isn’t an option. Live Caption works across all apps except for phone calls and video chats. You can even mask profanity and enable sound labeling for things like laughter. Right now, the feature works in English only, but more languages are coming soon, as is support for the Pixel 3 line and other Android 10 and 11 devices.

Thankfully, there’s a very quick and easy way to access this. All you have to do is hit the Volume Button on the side of the phone, and under the on-screen volume slider, you’ll see an icon at the bottom that looks like lines of text in a box. Tap that icon to toggle on or off Live Captions. To control settings regarding this feature, you can head to Settings > Sound > Live Caption.

How to use touch-free gestures with Motion Sense

The Pixel 4’s Motion Sense feature brings radar technology into the fold, enabling gesture-based interactions that don’t require you to pick up the phone or touch it at all. These include waving over the phone to snooze an alarm, silence a call, or skip a song, as well as reaching to the phone to check notifications. As we note in our review, waving to snooze an alarm is a feature that we love for being way too easy. If you’re a chronic snoozer, this will either be your best friend or your (or perhaps your work’s) worst enemy.

To turn on Motion Sense, tap into Settings > System > Motion Sense, where you can choose your gestures.

How to enable Flip to Shhh to quickly enter do not disturb

Meant to help you minimize distractions from your phone, Flip to Shhh puts your Pixel in Do Not Disturb mode when the phone is placed face down on a flat surface. First introduced in the Google Pixel 3, it does exactly what you’d expect it to and helps get your phone out of your thoughts in a quick, intuitive, and mindlessly easy way.

To turn this on, head to Settings > System > Gestures > Flip to Shhh and toggle it on.

How to bring back the three-button navigation bar

With Android 10, Google officially switched over to gesture-based navigation by default. It works much in the same way that the iPhone’s gestures do, but the back function presents a unique issue for Android. Currently, there are still slide-over menus that would typically be accessed through a swipe back — the same gesture that now acts as a back function. These menus now must be accessed by tapping on the left edge of the screen and holding for a beat until you can pull to the right to access the menu hiding underneath. These menus are typically also accessible from a Hamburger menu icon in the corner of the app’s interface, so you don’t have to use that gesture if you don’t want to. But, if you miss it and the traditional three-button navigation bar, you can certainly get them back.

Head to Settings > System > Gestures > System Navigation, and you select between three-button navigation and gestures. Note that you might have some trouble getting Google Assistant to work at the moment.

How to customize the style of your interface

If you want to create a unique aesthetic for your phone, you have many visual customization apps to choose from in the app store. We especially recommend OnePlus’ OxygenOS for a wide variety of display and graphic choices. If you’d rather not spend extra time, memory space, and money on third-party apps, Google has come out with the Pixel Style as a new contender in the realm of look customization. It lets you choose between accent colors for the user interface, a handful of fonts, icon shape, and quite a few wallpapers.

In order to let your unique style come to life, go to Settings > Display > Styles and Wallpapers to customize your Pixel display to match your preferences.

How to turn on 90Hz all the time

As a fair warning, turning on the 90Hz feature to run 100 percent of the time you use your phone will cause battery issues. The Pixel 4 is already known for having a limited battery life, and this feature will drain it. That said, the device, along with the Pixel 4XL, can support a 90Hz rate— or a 90 frames per second display. For comparison, most other standard smartphones are capable of running on 60 frames per second. You’ll likely notice a considerable difference between the smoothness and sensitivity of the 90Hz device; It will impact your video streaming, game playing, and general usage on your phone. Check right now to see if your 90Hz feature is already turned on by following the pathway Settings > Display > Advanced > Smooth Display. Google generally limits a phone’s use of the 90Hz feature to try and save the device’s battery life. If you prefer this type of performance, though, there is a way to override Google’s settings. 

To enable the override, you’ll need to turn on “Developer Options.” Go to Settings > About Phone and then tap on Build Number multiple times. A notification will pop up on your screen once “Developer Options” has been turned on. At that point, you can go to System > Advanced > Developer Options > Force 90 Hz Refresh Rate. If you toggle that feature on, it will remain on all the time. Once you’ve flipped it on, you’ll notice a few changes; your device’s overall performance will run smoother and cleaner than before, but your battery will drain frequently. Keep a charger handy.

Editors' Recommendations

• Your iPhone could steal this Pixel Tablet feature when it gets iOS 17
• Does the Google Pixel 7a have a headphone jack?
• Have the Android 14 beta on your Pixel? You need to download this update now
• Does the Pixel 7a have a 90Hz display? We answer the burning question
• Wear OS 4 is coming to your smartwatch this year — here’s what’s new