19 hidden Android features you should be using | Tom s Guide

19 hidden Android features you should be using

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If you’re keen to find some hidden Android features, we wouldn’t blame you. The sheer number of handy tricks and hacks buried within Android devices is a big part of why they’re some of the best phones around. Even knowing just a few of them will help you get so much more out of your Android phone.

But how can you find out about them if they’re, well, hidden? If only someone would put together a handy list of tutorials explaining some of the best hidden features. oh, wait!

Obviously, Android has been around for a long time now, and has a devoted and knowledgable user base, so we’re well aware that readers may know some of these hidden features already. We’re willing to bet that at least one or two of them will be new to you though.

All that’s left to do is for you to read on and discover 19 hidden Android features you should be using.

Note: to ensure you can use all of the features below, you’ll want your device updated to the latest Android version, currently Android 14 at the time of this page’s latest update. We can show you how to update Android if you need some help.

19 hidden Android features you should be using

1. Enable Android Developer Options

This is a gateway to accessing a lot of settings that most Android users don’t know about. You can change things like the maximum number of connected Bluetooth devices at once, or modify the background processes limit so your phone doesn’t take on too much at once. Developer options give you power-user control over your device, but be careful not to mess with anything you don’t understand, as some settings could seriously mess up your phone’s setup.

1. Open the settings app and tap about phone, then tap build number 7 times.

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2. Enter your passcode and then return to the settings menu. Tap System Settings and then Developer Options.

(On a Samsung device, tap Software information, then tap Build number 7 times).

2. Delete Cookies

Personalized ads are one of the biggest bugbears in modern life and, while you can’t avoid them everywhere, deleting cookies from your phone’s browser is a great way to take back your privacy. The name cookies may sound harmless but this is actually code for trackers, which will gather data about your usage. Thankfully, on Android, it’s easy to delete cookies on Chrome.

1. On Chrome, tap the three dots in the corner, then tap history. Now tap Clear browsing data.

2. To delete every cookie, select the Time range box and tap All time. Now select the Cookies and site data tick box and tap Clear data.

3. Restrict background data

This is a great way to extend your phone’s battery life and stop you from running out of data three weeks before your plan renews.

A whole host of apps that pretty much everyone uses are constantly refreshing and looking for a wi-fi connection in the background. Disabling this is a great way to make your phone last longer but it will also stop you from receiving notifications from the likes of Whatsapp unless it is current open on your phone. On the plus side, the avalanche of notifications when you next connect to Wi-Fi will make you feel very popular!

1. Open Settings and tap Mobile Network, then data usage.

2. Tap Data saving, then toggle Data saving on.

3. To make exceptions for certain apps, tap Unrestricted apps and toggle on any apps to exempt them.

4. Split screen

While not quite the same as having two phones at once, using split screen on Android is handy for those wanting to multitask. Unless you have great eyesight or a particularly big phone, it may be best to use split-screen on one of the best Android tablets instead. Not all apps are compatible with split-screen but many leading ones are.

1. Swipe up to bring up your app tray.

2. Tap the menu button, then tap Split screen.

3. Open another app and drag the margin to adjust the split.

5. View all saved Wi-Fi Networks

You can view all of the Wi-fi networks that you’ve saved to your phone in one place, which is super handy. If a network is now defunct, or you no longer have permission to use it (like an old job) you can also delete it from your saved networks and stop automatically connecting.

1. Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi.

2. Tap the three dots and select Advanced settings.

3. Tap Saved networks to see and manage previous networks.

6. Check Notification History

If you’re one of those popular people who gets more messages than Santa in December, it can be easy to miss a notification on your phone. Luckily, on Android, you can recap every notification you’ve received. Keep in mind, Android only saves 24 hours of notifications (to prevent slowdown), so you can’t go back too far.

1. Open Settings, tap Notifications, then tap More settings.

2. Tap Notification history and then toggle it on. Next time you get a notification it will appear there for 24 hours.

7. One-handed mode

If you don’t have one of the best small phones but still want to control everything with one hand, you’re in luck! Most leading Android phones feature a one-handed mode. With a swipe of the screen, the whole user interface will drop down and be much easier to reach. This is very helpful for those with accessibility issues and anyone with small hands who may struggle to reach certain parts of the screen.

1. Open Settings app and tap System Settings.

2. Tap One-handed mode and toggle one-handed mode on.

3. To use one-handed mode swipe down on the bottom of the screen.

8. Share Wi-Fi passwords via a QR code

If you’re done telling every guest the Wi-Fi password, or are in a large group looking to connect, you can avoid any confusion around uppercase or lowercase and other sticking points by generating a QR code instead. All you need is one Android device that’s already connected to the network and then everyone else can scan it with their devices and connect straight away. You’ll need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network to share its password.

1. Open the Wi-Fi menu and tap the gear next to the network.

2. Tap QR code or Share.

9. Translate text

Now the perils of the pandemic are easing, international travel is back on the cards. It can be difficult on vacation to know what to order from a restaurant menu that isn’t in your first language, and a whole load of other issues spring up when you can’t speak the language. Luckily Google has us sorted when it comes to translating the written word in seconds.

1. On Chrome, tap the camera icon next to the search bar. This will open up Google Lens (it also has its own app).

2. At the bottom of the screen, tap translate and then point your camera at the text and take a picture.

10. Live Transcribe

A fantastic accessibility feature for those who are deaf or hard of hearing is being able to transcribe conversations in real time. This feature is also useful for making notes and keeping a record of conversations. You can even add a shortcut to the screen for quick use in any situation.

1. Open Settings and tap Accessibility, then tap Live Transcribe.

2. Tap Open Live Transcribe to use the system once or toggle on Live Transcribe shortcut to on if you intend to use it regularly (this adds a small Live transcribe button to the bottom right of the screen).

11. The Chrome dinosaur game home screen widget

This might not help with your productivity, but on Android you can add everyone’s favorite timewaster to your home screen. The chrome dinosaur game (where the titular dinosaur has to jump over cactuses) has its own widget that can be added to take pride of place in your home screen and launch it in seconds. Just don’t expect to get anything done ever again.

1. Tap and hold on an empty part of the home screen, then tap Widgets.

2. Under the Chrome section, tap on Chromium Dino and then drag the widget where you want it and tap Done.

3. Tap the widget to play!

12. Smart Lock

Locking your phone is an important security measure, but it can also be a pain when you’re just relaxing or working from home. Luckily, Android lets you disable your lock screen in locations where you feel safe, meaning you can get in and out of your phone quickly. Just note that this feature works with Google Maps, so you will obviously need an internet connection at that location.

1. Open the Settings app, tap password and security and then tap System security.

2. Tap Smart Lock and then tap Trusted places.

3. Tap Add trusted places and then select your safe space.

13. Set a data limit

With streaming services, social networks and other apps constantly chipping away at our data allowances, it can be easy to go over your limit. With this feature, not only can you save yourself some unwanted charges, but you can also cap your data in terms of both monthly and daily usage. If you set your cap below your plan’s limit, you can keep data for when you really need it or have a data binge at the end of the month!

1. Open Settings and tap Mobile network, then tap Data usage.

2. Tap Data usage limit and choose a daily or monthly limit.

3. Enter your data allowance for each day/month and select whether you want a warning or for your phone to stop mobile data immediately.

14. Set Medical Information for first responders

Hopefully you never have to use it, but your phone can store your important medical information for first responders to help you in a crisis. However, if you’re not able to help and you have a passcode or touch or face ID set up, it can be tricky for them to access. Using the Medical info setting, anyone who finds you can see via the emergency call page any vital information such as blood type or allergies that you need to share. This feature takes moments to set up but might just save your life.

1. Open the Settings app, tap on Safety & Emergency.

2. Tap Medical info, then tap add.

3. Enter your information in the appropriate fields.

15. Block Spam texts

No one wants their personal phone to be invaded by scams and dodgy spam texts. Intrusive and just plain annoying at their best and dangerous and malicious at their worst, it’s thankfully super easy to limit the amount of spam you receive. There will never be a complete spam blocker but this goes a long way to reducing it for just seconds of work. If you do receive a potential spam message, remember never to click on a link or enter any personal information.

1. Open the Messages app, tap the three dots icon, then tap Settings.

2. Tap Spam protection.

3. Toggle Enable spam protection to on.

16. Force peak refresh rate

If you’re looking to get the most out of your phone’s display, perhaps for gaming or an extended YouTube session, you’ll want the video to be as smooth as possible. Forcing the highest possible refresh rate on your phone may increase battery usage but will also produce the best results.

1. Open the settings app, then tap Developer settings.

2. Tap Force peak refresh rate.

17. App pinning

If you often find yourself sharing your phone with friends or family, you’ll have felt the dread of them swiping on your phone. You just wanted to show them a meme and suddenly they’re accessing the last six months of Whatsapp messages. Never again. With app pinning, you’ll be able to lock someone into the app of your choice when you pass them the phone. To end app pinning simply swipe up and enter your pin.

1. Open the Settings app and tap Security & privacy, then tap More security settings.

2. Select App pinning and toggle App pinning to on.

3. To pin an app, open your current apps, tap the icon above the app then select pin.

18. Lower screen resolution

If you need to eek out as much charge from your battery as possible, there are a few obvious tools you can employ. Obviously, you can turn the screen brightness down, or you can enable Battery Saver mode. But did you know that on certain Android devices, including the Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro, you can adjust your device’s actual screen resolution. By making your screen resolution lower (usually lowering it from 1440p to 1080p), you can save battery life! It’s another trick that could let you save just enough charge to get by.

To lower your phone’s display resolution, open Settings and tap Display. Then tap Screen resolution and select High resolution (it’ll be on Full resolution by default).

19. Enter the secret diagnostics menu

If you’re suffering from hardware problems on your Google Pixel phone, you can enter the Pixel’s secret diagnostics menu. Usually, this is used by professionals fixing your phone, but there’s no reason you can’t use it to. This mode allows you to perform diagnostic scans on most, if not all of the major hardware components of your phone. Note: this feature is only available for U.S. Pixel users.

To enter the Pixel diagnostics menu, open the Phone app and enter the code *#*#7287#*#*. You don’t need to dial the code, as straight away you’ll be taken to the diagnostics menu. Now you can hit Start Test to run a full hardware diagnostics test. Or you can select Groups or individual components to test.

There you go, you’re now an Android master. Remember many Android phones have their own unique features that might not be listed here so be sure to have an investigate. If you’re looking for even more Android advice learn how to record custom alarm sounds on Android, how to enable 10-bit photos and videos on Android, how to move Android apps to an SD card or how to print from an Android phone or tablet. If you’re phone’s a bit slow try how to speed up an Android phone or tablet.

10 things you didn’t know your smartphone could do

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The secrets of your smartphone

Smartphones are great; they’re basically a computer in your pocket packed full of features to make your life easier. In fact, the chances are you don’t fully appreciate exactly how powerful or useful your mobile is.

Here are ten things you may not have realised your smartphone could do, and some tips on how to enable these hidden features.

Follow our tips advice and you’ll be unlocking your phone’s latent capabilities, all the while making your life significantly easier and more pleasant.

Change the launcher

Almost every smartphone maker overlays Android with its own interface, be it Samsung’s TouchWiz or HTC’s Sense. But despite their best efforts they can’t please everyone. Features are frequently lacking or forced on you, and things just don’t look or feel as they should.

Thankfully there’s a solution. Many third parties have unleashed their own UI (user interface) creations onto the Google Play Store, allowing you to download new launchers in place of whatever one your smartphone came with.

First, open the Google Play Store app and type ‘launcher’ in the search field. You’ll now have a list of the most popular launchers available. We’d recommend Google Now Launcher for a free and authentic Android experience, and Nova Launcher for a more in-depth customisable UI.

Download and run the launcher that interests you, just like you would an ordinary app. Once you’ve done so, you’ll be provided with the option to change your default Home selection to the new launcher. Select the new launcher, then follow any additional instructions that appear to enable it.

You should now find that pressing the home button takes you to a new-look homescreen and app tray. Key operations will remain the same, as will your phone’s distinct notification and settings menus.

If you wish to return to your phone’s default UI, or to switch between multiple installed launchers, you can do so by going into the appropriate Home option in the settings menu. This may vary according to your phone model.

Control other devices with infrared

You’re sat in front of the TV and you want to change the channel or volume – but the only device to hand is your trusty phone. It’s a common scenario. The good news is you may not need to get up off the couch.

An increasing number of Android phones are being released with infrared blasters, particularly high-end handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9.

If your phone has one of these, in theory it can control anything that responds to infrared signals. You’ll likely find that your smartphone already has an app that makes use of it hidden away somewhere, which can be programmed to control your TV or set-top box, but for the best results follow our tips for guaranteed infrared control.

First, ensure you have a decent remote app. Arguably the best app you can download for this purpose is the Peel Smart Remote. In fact, Peel makes the remote app for Samsung’s and HTC’s latest flagships, such is its quality.

Peel will turn your Android phone into a universal remote app for your TV, set-top box, DVD player, Blu-ray, Roku, Apple TV, and audio system, as well as any IR-controlled home appliances like air conditioners and heaters. It even includes a smart TV guide that adjusts to your preferences.

We’ve mentioned Android phones already, but Peel even makes provision for the hitherto IR-less iPhone. The Peel Pronto is a free-standing device that sits in your living room, connects to your iPhone over Bluetooth Smart, and relays remote commands using a 360-degree IR output system.

The bad news: it’s not currently available in the UK. If you’re planning a visit to the US or Canada, however, it’ll set you back $49.99. A European launch was promised back in early 2015, so keep your eyes peeled.

Identify songs

You may already know that you can get Shazam or SoundHound for your smartphone, both of which can be used to identify a song as it’s playing. But did you know that Google, Apple and Microsoft have also created their own song identification tools?

They’re built right into their respective virtual assistants, so you can just ask Google Now or Siri what’s playing, or tap the Music Search icon inside Cortana. The quality of these systems vary according to their library access, but the core function is the same.

For iPhone users, simply press and hold the home button to activate Siri. Then ask ‘What’s playing?’. Siri will then employ Shazam to listen out for a few seconds and tell you what song is playing in the background.

On Android, Google Now does something very similar. Hit the mic button or say the ‘OK Google’ audio prompt (depending on how your phone is configured), then say ‘What song is this?’ You can also type the question in the Google search box if you want to be discrete.

Windows Phone also has such a system in Cortana. Say ‘Hey Cortana’ or hit the search key, followed by the mic button to initiate a voice-based search. Then ask ‘What song is playing?’. Like Google Now, you can also type the music search term in.

Turn your phone into a games console

There are some tremendously powerful Android phones around, but raw power isn’t all that’s required for a good gaming experience. Sometimes you need a big screen and a proper controller too.

The good news is that these things are within your reach, especially if you already own a Sony or older Samsung handset. Both support MHL (aka Mobile High-Definition Link), which is a way to connect phones and other portable electronics to HD televisions and monitors. The result is lag-free mirrored content – ideal for gaming.

First up, you need to buy an MHL cable. You can pick one of these cables up for very cheap online these days – we’re talking around the £5 for some of the cheaper example. It’s probably best to shop for a lead according to your phone’s brand, however.

If you want to invest a little extra in a top notch one for your phone’s brand, there’s this one from Sony, or this one from Samsung.

We should note here that Samsung seems to have cut MHL support from the Galaxy S6 onwards, so make sure to check that your phone supports the MHL standard before investing in any extra equipment.

Once you have the cable, plug one end into the micro USB port on your phone and the other into an HDMI cable, which then needs to run to an HDMI port on your TV.

Touchscreen controls are fine, but you might want to connect a wireless controller to create the full console experience. You should note, though, that you will likely experience varying amounts of lag with such a wireless MHL set-up, even with something like the MOGA Pro Controller.

It simply seems to be a result of the Bluetooth connection standard, so if you demand the speediest response time, best go with a wired controller.

You can achieve a similar gaming experience with the iPhone, but you’ll need an Apple TV for the job. If you have one, bring up Control Centre on your iPhone, tap AirPlay, select your Apple TV, and turn mirroring on. Now you simply need to launch a game on your phone to enjoy it on the big screen.

One other point worth mentioning is if you’ve got a PS4 and a phone or tablet in the Sony Xperia Z range – we’re talking from the Sony Xperia Z2 through to the Sony Xperia Z5 and everything in between – you can use the PS4 Remote Play function.

This essentially means streaming your PS4 games to your Sony phone over your Wi-Fi network, just like you can with a PS Vita handheld. To do so, download the Remote Play app from the Google Play Store.

Fire up the app and follow the instructions to pair up your phone to the PS4 and to a DualShock 4 remote. Again, you’ll find there’s a little lag, even over a very strong 5GHz Wi-Fi network, but it’s certainly playable in a pinch.

Use your smartphone as a level

Most smartphones include an accelerometer, which is a sensor that’s used to identify your phone’s orientation. Smart developers have figured out that this means your phone can be used as a spirit level.

If you have an Android phone, you can download apps to do this, but if you have an Apple device running iOS 7 or higher (surely pretty much everyone using an iPhone today), the function is built in. It’s a little hidden away, though.

To find this function, open up the Compass app on your iPhone. Now swipe left anywhere on the screen. The actual compass function will slide aside and a spirit level feature will appear.

Lay your iPhone flat on a surface, and two overlapping circles will merge to provide you with a reading. Hold your iPhone upright or on its side, meanwhile, and you’ll be able to use its edge to reveal the angle of your flat surfaces (whether vertical or horizontal).

In any case, the picture will go green when you have a flat surface. Tapping the screen will adjust the default angle, allowing you to tilt and take measurements. Tap again to reset.

For Android devices there are countless spirit level apps in all forms – many of which come with additional functions. For its iOS Compass-like simplicity, try downloading Bubble Level – Spirit Level from developer NixGame. It works in a very similar way, and it looks very sharp.

Automate your life

Your smartphone already runs much of your day-to-day life, but it can do so without your ongoing attention. IF (previously IFTTT or If That Then This) is a powerful app that creates simple connections between apps and functions.

You could, for example, set mobile data to turn off when you’re connected to Wi-Fi or automatically save tagged social network photos to a cloud storage service of choice. To make things even easier, there are dozens of pre-created ‘recipes’, so you can instantly automate almost everything.

The first thing you need to do, of course, is download the IF app for iOS or Android.

Then, once you’ve opened it up, scroll through the description of how IF works. It’s all about trigger channels – the ‘if’ part of the equation – and action channels – the ‘then’ part.

Once you’ve signed up for your free IF account, swipe to the right or hit the little recipe bowl icon. Now hit the ‘+’ button to start formulating recipes.

Scroll down the list of suggested services and tap the icons of the services you want to include. Each icon tapped will take you to a login page for that particular service, where you must give approval for IF to utilise it. This step varies according to the service, but it’s all pretty self-explanatory.

Once approval has been granted, IF will supply you with a list of popular recipes centred on that service. For example, the top Dropbox recipe will save any Facebook photos you’re tagged in to the cloud storage service.

Google Calendar’s most popular recipe, meanwhile, will automatically add any Foursquare check-ins to your calendar, so you never forget where you’ve been.

You can also create your own recipes from scratch. Just head back to that Suggested Services recipe page and hit the ‘Create a Recipe’ button at the bottom. IF has made this incredibly easy – just hit the ‘if+’ button to add a service from the list followed by a pre-supplied trigger, then select the ‘then+’ button to do the same for the action channel. Simple!

Learn your heartbeat to get healthier

Many of us would love to lead fitter, healthier lives, but perhaps not to the extent that we’re prepared to splash out on a dedicated fitness tracker. Guess what? You don’t need to spend a penny to monitor your heartbeat.

Your smartphone can do it for you. If you have a fairly recent flagship Samsung, phone, like the Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, or Samsung Galaxy S5, you have it easiest of all. Just boot up the S Health app, select Heart Rate, and position your forefinger over the sensor next to the camera flash on the back.

Even if you don’t have a phone with this feature built in, though, you can obtain similar results. Download the right app, and your phone will make smart use of its camera to record your heartbeat – a scientifically sound process known as photoplethysmography.

There are a bunch of apps that claim to track your heartbeat, not all of which are worthwhile. We’d recommend downloading Instant Heart Rate from Azumio, a proven app that’s free for both iOS and Android.

True to its name, booting the app up will instantly guide you towards obtaining an initial pulse reading. To do this, you simply need to place your forefinger over your phone’s camera lens in a well lit environment (the flash may automatically activate), keeping as still and relaxed as possible.

Once you’ve obtained your heart rate, you’ll be able to label and tag the reading for later reference.

Of course, data without proper interpretation is useless. Head to the target-shaped tab in the app to determine your max heart rate, and to establish the kind of exercise intensity you need in order to achieve your goals.

Instant Heart Rate is also compatible with both Apple Health and Google Fit, which means its valuable data can be used in other health and fitness apps. It (or an equivalent app) is a handy tool to slot into your fitness programme, whatever your age or fitness level.

Use volume buttons to skip songs

Using a phone as an MP3 player is great, but when the screen’s off and the phone’s in your pocket it can be a chore to skip that Haddaway song you drunkenly added to your playlist. However, with a little bit of alteration you can make your volume buttons double as a way to skip tracks.

On BlackBerry 10 this is easiest of all. Just head to ‘System Volume’ in the settings screen and turn ‘Music Shortcuts’ on. Once you’ve done that you’ll be able to skip to the next track by holding the volume up button and play a previous one by holding the down button. A tap on either of them will change the volume as usual.

On Android, something similar can be achieved with the help of a free third party app, such as Pocket Skip Track. This allows you to skip a song with a tap or two of the volume buttons.

Once you’ve downloaded the app, simply open it and flick the top Service toggle to the ‘On’ position. Now select your chosen music player from the following option – the stock player and Google Play Music are both well supported, while Spotify appears to be somewhat spottily-covered through selection of the ‘Other players’ and ‘Compatibility’ settings.

We had no joy with a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, but other users have reported Spotify success in this way.

You’ll probably want to keep the ‘Number of clicks’ option set to ‘Double clicks,’ so that you don’t accidentally skip tracks. It’ll also let you make small, quick volume adjustments as normal. It’s even possible to fine-tune the delay between the two clicks.

Unfortunately there’s no equivalent way to do this on iOS without a risky jailbreak, and Windows Phone 8 has no way of doing it without first turning the screen on.

Restore deleted photos on your phone

If you get a bit too tap-happy whilst navigating through your stored pictures (we’ve all been there), it’s possible to accidentally delete one of your many treasured cat or food photos. If you have an iPhone or an Android phone, however, all is not lost.

Head to the Albums section of Apple’s default Photos app. Scroll down until you see the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder. This handy album stores all of the pictures you delete for 30 days. Only after this month-long spell will they be deleted for good.

Enter the Recently Deleted folder and tap on the picture(s) you want to rescue. Now hit the ‘Recover’ button in the bottom right-hand corner. Your picture will be restored to the main photo album.

You’ll notice that there’s also a Delete command in the bottom left-hand corner. This is a full delete command, allowing you to fully erase any embarrassing or incriminating evidence for good.

There’s a similar provision on Android with Google Photos, assuming you’re using that app for your photo management. BONUS TIP: If you’re not, you really should be.

When you delete a picture in Google Photos, it won’t be lost forever. Rather, it will be sent to the Bin folder for 60 days (twice as long as with Apple Photos) before being erased.

This Bin folder can be accessed through the side menu by swiping in from the left or hitting the ‘burger’ menu button.

Tap and hold on a photo to select it, as well as any others you might wish to restore, and hit the restore button at the top of the page. Alternatively, hit the bin icon to speed up the picture’s trip to oblivion.

Block annoying numbers

No longer do you have to suffer PPI claims lines and other nuisance callers, as most smartphones offer the ability to block numbers.

With iOS 9 on the iPhone there are several ways to do it, but the easiest is just to go into the Phone app and navigate to the Recents tab. Locate the offending number and tap the ‘i’ next to it, followed by ‘block this caller’.

You can unblock a number any time through the same method.

On Android, things can be a bit more convoluted, depending in part on what phone you have. It may be that you can do it in a similar way to iOS 9. On the HTC One M9, for example, you can simply tap and hold a number in your call history and then tap ‘Block contact’.

Other smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S6, feature an auto reject list, which is found in the phone settings menu. This allows you to manually add numbers to a list of rejected callers.

However, if all else fails, there are third party apps to do the job. We’d recommend downloading Truecaller as a top free app for the job. Just open the app, enter your phone number, and you’ll find a tab dedicated to blocked numbers.

In fact, Truecaller will go even further than allowing you to block numbers. It maintains an active database of identified cold callers, and will often use this to identify who’s calling, so you can avoid nuisance callers.

On Windows Phone 8.1, head into the Phone app, pull up the bottom menu, and select the ‘blocked calls’ option to enter the ‘Call + SMS filter’ section. The first time you do this will activate the block function.

Once enabled, press and hold on a number in your call history, and you’ll be able to opt to ‘block number’.

In Windows 10 Mobile, Call + SMS has been replaced by the Block and Filter app. Open that up, and you’ll be able to add select numbers to a list that will be – you guessed it – blocked and filtered.

https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/hidden-android-features-you-really-need-to-be-using

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