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Pixel Settings & Home Screen Setup

Your Pixel, your way.

Customize your Google Pixel with these 8 pro tips.

A smiling woman looks at her Pixel phone. She has dark wavy hair and is wearing a pink sweatshirt
A smiling woman looks at her Pixel phone. She has dark wavy hair and is wearing a pink sweatshirt
Our phones are more than just accessories – they’re how we work, how we play, and how we keep in touch with loved ones.

That’s why Pixel phones are designed to be highly customizable. Whether it’s adjusting the layout of your home screen or the way you see notifications, Pixel’s interface is yours to configure.

Here are eight easy ways to make Pixel uniquely yours.

1. Change up your home screen

Your home screen is the first thing you see when you open your phone, so it should look, feel, and function exactly how you need it to. With Pixel, you can rearrange the home screen’s layout and even adjust the size of the icons to suit your tastes or accessibility needs. To

change
the home screen layout, open Settings, navigate to Wallpaper & Style, and tap Layout.

Looking for some wallpaper inspiration?
Let your inner artist out by prompting Google’s AI wallpaper to create an image for you, or play with emoji to create a fun, patterned wallpaper to greet you every time you open your phone.

The shown screens are based on Pixel devices with Android 14. The steps might be different if you have an earlier operating system.
2. Find your most used settings fast with Quick Settings

Pixel makes it easy to access and adjust your favorite phone settings. Just swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Quick Settings menu. You can also

change
your Quick Settings by tapping the pen icon in the corner. Rearrange the order of the menu, add certain items, remove others – the choice is yours. Looking for more customization options, like changing notification sounds or setting your default search engine? Just head to Settings and search for the feature you want.

The shown screens are based on Pixel devices with Android 14. The steps might be different if you have an earlier operating system.
3. Increase touch sensitivity with Screen Protector Mode

Screen protectors help keep your phone safe, but they can also reduce your touchscreen’s sensitivity. You can customize your touchscreen to make it more sensitive with Screen Protector Mode. Pixel 8 and more recent models will even detect your screen protector automatically and ask if you want to turn on Screen Protector Mode. To change your screen sensitivity, go to Settings, tap Display, then select Screen Protector Mode. Now you can adjust it to your ideal level. 

4. Gestures or buttons? You choose

Pixel lets you pick the navigation system that feels intuitive to you. Your settings default to “Gesture Navigation,” meaning you swipe to operate your device. But if you’re more comfortable with buttons like “home” and “back,” don’t stress. Just

swap gestures for buttons
by going to Settings, System, then Navigation Mode in your Pixel’s settings. Or you can tailor your preferences on a case-by-case basis. Say your power button opens Google Assistant, but you want it to work in a more familiar way. Go to Settings, tap System, then Gestures, and select Press and hold the power button. Now pressing and holding the power button turns your phone off and on.

Pixel 9 Pro

Customize your Pixel

Change up how your Google Pixel looks and functions in a few easy steps.
Pixel 9 Pro

Customize your Pixel

Change up how your Google Pixel looks and functions in a few easy steps.
pixel 9 pro and pro XL
pixel 9 pro and pro XL
5. Create the ultimate shortcut with Quick Tap

Access your most frequently used actions with your Pixel’s special customizable button. With Quick Tap, you can pick preset actions like pausing music or taking a screenshot, then perform them with two taps on the back of your Pixel. Select Quick Tap actions by opening Settings and tapping System, then Gestures, and selecting Start an action with a quick tap.

6. Never forget a notification with Notification History
We’ve all been there – a bunch of notifications come in while you’re away from your phone and one or two slip through the cracks. Organize your notifications with Pixel’s Notification History feature so you don’t forget to respond to a text or call. And if you want to be reminded about something at a later time, you can snooze notifications with a tap. To turn Notification History and snoozing on and off,
navigate
to Settings and tap Notifications.
7. Capture the moment by launching your camera quickly
Instantly open your camera by
pressing
the power button twice. Once you’re in the camera app, you can flip from your front to back camera by
t
wisting your phone twice from side to side
. Whether it’s a cute pet pose or an amazing concert moment, you’ll never miss a photo op.
8. See essential information even with your phone locked
Sometimes you need to check the time or see new notifications but don’t want to pick up your Pixel. The Always On display setting shows you basic information, like battery level and notifications, even when your phone is locked. You can choose which information shows up so sensitive notifications remain private. Activate
Always On
and customize it by navigating to Settings, tapping Display, then Advanced, and selecting Lock screen.

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