Every release of Android brings with it improvements and fixes, many of which make your phone more secure from hackers and add new, useful features. Some are easy to spot and others not so much.
Though Android N is on the horizon, that doesn't mean Android 6.0 Marshmallow is on its way out. If you still haven't updated to Marshmallow (assuming your device supports it), now is as good a time as ever.
With our help, you'll be able to unlock more from your Android phone running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Here are 11 hidden features in Google's latest mobile operating system you may not have known about.
For the purpose of this guide, we'll be referring to hidden features as they exist on pure versions of Android 6.0 Marshmallow devices. (All screenshots included below are taken from a Nexus 6P.) If your device is running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but with a "skin" interface on top of it, the locations of certain settings may differ.
1. Google Now on Tap
IMAGE: SCREENSHOT RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
It's weird that the most important new feature in Marshmallow isn't one that's immediately visible.Google Now on Tap is essentially Google search in your apps. When you're within an app, you can press and hold the home button and Now on Tap will basically "scan" it for related information, which it will then display as cards.
Be warned, though. As we said in our Nexus 5X review, Now on Tap is a work in progress. Sometimes Now on Tap can be thorough and pick up on many keywords and sometimes it can fail to identify information.
2. "OK Google" anytime on the home screen
IMAGE: SCREENSHOT: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
It's easy to miss this one. In Marshmallow, the Google search bar is on every home screen, not just the main one. So long as your phone screen is active, you can say "OK Google..." and ask a question or search for anything.
3. File Explorer
IMAGE: SCREENSHOT: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
There are hundreds of third-party file explorers — many of which are free like the popular ES File Explorer File Manager and File Manager — that you can use to view and organize your files.
Though the file explorer built into Marshmallow isn't quite as comprehensive as third-party ones (i.e. you can't rename files and you can't create new folders), it's basic enough (move, copy, share files) to show where all your files are. You can also search for files by name using the search bar, which is handy.
To access the file explorer go to Settings > Storage & USB and then scroll down to the bottom and tap "Explore."
4. Lock screen message
IMAGE: SCREENSHOT: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
Sure, you could display a mushy message or a famous quote, but it's more useful to have your contact information on your phone's lock screen in case you ever lose your phone.
By including a phone number to contact, email address, or physical address on the lock screen, there's a greater chance someone will be able to return it if they find it.
To add a custom message on your lock screen, go to Settings > Security > Lock Screen Message and then type in your message. It'll appear as scrolling text.
5. Customize Quick Settings and Status bar
IMAGE: SCREENSHOT: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
The System UI Tuner unlocks experimental features to tweak and customize the Android UI. Google warns that these features may "change, break, or disappear in future releases" and to proceed with caution.
To enable the System UI Tuner, you need to open the Quick Settings menu by swiping down from the status bar with two fingers. Then, tap and hold the Settings gear icon in the upper right for a few seconds and let go.
You'll be brought to the Settings app and a pop-up message will say "Congrats! System UI Tuner has been added to Settings."
Scroll down and tap System UI Tuner and you'll get access to making tweaks to the Quick Settings pane and Status bar. Tap on Quick Settings and you can remove and re-arrange shortcut icons to your liking. Tap on Status bar and you can turn on and off which icons show up in the status bar.
6. Show battery percentage on status bar
There are various ways to see the exact battery percentage on your Android phone. The easiest way in Marshmallow is to swipe down from the status bar using two fingers; you'll see the battery percentage in the Quick Settings pull-down.
But if you want the battery percentage to always show on the battery icon, go into the aforementioned System UI Tuner and toggle the "Show embedded battery percentage" on. Now you can see how much power is left with a glance — just like on iOS.
7. Smarter volume controls
IMAGE: SCREENSHOT: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
A lot of people weren't happy with how Google messed with the volume settings in Lollipop. In Marshmallow, Google fixed the screwy volume controls.
Now, when you press the volume up and down buttons on your phone, you get individual sliders for adjusting the volume of the notifications, music and timer. To access the additional sliders, just tap on on the down arrow.
8. Manage app permissions
In Marshmallow, it's easier to manage app permissions. Don't want a certain app to log your location or have access to your phone's microphone? No problem — it's easy to revoke access.
Under Settings > Apps > *app name* > Permissions you can decide on a per-app basis which ones have access to things like location, the camera, microphone, etc.
9. Voice search from lock screen
Another no-brainer feature that you can easily miss unless you're paying close attention. On the lock screen, there's now a shortcut for Google voice search in the lower left corner where there used to be a shortcut to the phone dialer.
Swipe from the microphone icon and it'll launch a voice search.
10. Turn Battery Saver on
IMAGE: SCREENSHOT: RAYMOND WONG/MASHABLE
Marshmallow is far more battery efficient than previous Android versions thanks to the built-in Doze feature, which improves battery life by using the motion sensors to disable certain settings and background processes.
You can stretch that battery life further by turning on the Battery Saver feature (Settings > Battery > Battery Saver (in the menu icon in the upper right). With Battery Saver turned on, however, you will notice a reduction in performance, vibrations, locations services and background data.
11. Hidden 'Flappy Bird' clone
Like on Android 5.0 Lollipop, there's a hidden Flappy Bird clone within the operating system. To play it, go into Settings > About phone and keep tapping on the Android version number, until the "M" icon shows up. Tap the M to turn it into a marshmallow and then long press it until the game appears.
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