Handy hack for Pixel’s new shortcut system

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Alright, Pixel pals: We’ve talked about the many hidden treasures you can unearth on a phone that’s very Googled, thanks in large part to the arrival of Android 12. But there’s one cool new feature you can make. again handy with a bit of sneaky customization.

I’m talking about the Quick Tap system that was introduced on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro last month and is also now available on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G.

Quick Tap, if you haven’t found it yet, is an excellent new shortcut system that connects to the physical press of your favorite phalanx. Once you’ve set it up, you can simply double-tap on the back of your Pixel’s body to trigger certain actions on the phone.

Good, isn’t it? I believe so. This is a smart time saver and a fantastic way to create your own quick access shortcuts to any function you want. The only problem is that the list of available options is very limited as of now, and what is the most practical and logical shortcut to that setting — especially for those of us on the new Pixel 6 model — isn’t in action.

Like most things on Android, where there’s a will, there’s a way. And I’ve found a super simple method to improve the Pixel’s Quick Tap feature and make it do one obvious and very helpful thing that it won’t do now.

Pixel Fast Tap Limit

We’ll get to that right away: The missing functionality I’m really concerned about is the simple and straightforward ability to silence your phone in the Pixel’s new tappity-tapping shortcut system. This would be a welcome option for Quick Tap on any Pixel, really, but there’s a reason it’s especially relevant for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

The newest Pixel devices, you know, no longer have the handy mute shortcut that every Pixel could enjoy before they enjoyed it. On past Pixels, a quick press of the power and volume up buttons will silence your phone in an instant. It’s always been the easiest and most convenient way to get your phone out in an instant, without having to get confused with on-screen menus or options.

However, on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, Google omitted that option. The reason, it seems, is that it conflicts with an awkward new setting where the device’s power button now pulls up Google Assistant by default. Because of that, the power and volume-up combo has become the way to summon standard power menu which actually lets you shut down or restart your device.

It’s a little messy, frankly, and more than a little silly. I mean, come on: It’s called strength button — not the Assistant button! But it’s also another indication of how hard Google is working to put the Assistant anywhere and everywhere and make it as easy as possible for you to use.

(On the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G, the same settings are also available — but unlike the newer Pixel 6 models, if you choose no to have your power button pull up the Assistant, the old volume up mute shortcut still works. On the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, it doesn’t exist at all no matter what you do.)

Now, for the fix.

Pixel Fast Tap Expansion

By default, the new Pixel Quick Tap system can handle six different functions:

Why silencing your phone isn’t part of that list is beyond me. But with about 20 seconds of tweaking, gosh, we can change that.

The trick has to do with the last Pixel Quick Tap option — which opens an app on your phone. And it revolves around a basic app as it can and is completely free from the Play Store called, to be more precise, Mute.

After much searching and experimenting I came across this random little gem and realized it was the perfect answer to our pressing problem. It doesn’t look like much, and it hasn’t even been updated for almost five years. But don’t let that throw you off. For our current purpose, it is appropriate what we need.

All you have to do is install the app and then open it once. You’ll be asked to allow Mute to change your system settings — permission which is obviously needed if it’s going to be able to silence your phone for you. This app does not require any permissions or other means of access, and can’t even access the internet. What it does, literally, is silence your phone every time it is activated.

See where we’re going with this? The next step is to open your Pixel’s Quick Tap settings — by heading to the System section of your Pixel’s settings, then tapping “Gestures” followed by “Quick Tap” (again, only available on Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 5, and Pixel 4a 5G).

Make sure the toggle at the top of the screen is on and on. Next, select the “Open app” option at the very bottom of the list, then tap the gear-shaped settings icon next to it and select “Mute” from the list of options that appears.

Return to your home screen, and that’s it: Now, whenever you double-tap the back of the Pixel, you’ll feel a brief vibration and see a small visual confirmation that Mute is turned on. Your phone’s media and ringer volume will shoot to zero, and Android’s Do Not Disturb mode will be activated. Double-tap again, and Do Not Disturb will rewind while your volume setting pops back up to the previous level.