Summary

  • The Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 7a have incredible hardware, get years of OS updates, and have exclusive features that make them stand out from the competition.
  • The Hold for Me feature on the Pixel 7 allows you to go about your day while waiting on hold, as it notifies you when a person connects on the other end.
  • Activating Notification history on your Pixel 7 allows you to see dismissed notifications without switching between apps, saving you time.

While Google is only months from announcing its next-generation flagships, the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, its current 7-series devices are no slouches. The Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and budget-friendly Pixel 7a sport incredible hardware, get years of OS updates, and have exclusive features that make them stand out from the competition.

Whether you recently picked up a Google Pixel 7 for a steal or you've owned it for months, there are a few settings tweaks that AP's expert editors recommend. And, while it takes seconds to make most of these changes, they can quickly save you hours.

Turn on your Pixel 7's Hold for Me feature

Hold for Me is our favorite Pixel feature. It's a game changer for people who make regular calls to businesses. When activated, it allows you to go about your day while you're waiting on hold. Your Google Pixel 7 notifies you when someone connects on the other end.

Hold for Me is available in the U.S., Australia, and Canada. If there's one feature you must activate from this list, it's this one.

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Tap the three-dot button in the upper-right corner of your screen
  3. Tap Settings from the drop-down menu.
  4. Tap Hold for Me.
  5. Turn on the Hold for Me switch.

Enable Notification history to see your alerts without switching between apps

Checking your notification history lets you find the notifications you dismissed without checking apps one at a time. It's best to turn it on as soon as you start using your new Pixel 7, as it can't recover notifications that came in before it was activated.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Tap Notification history.
  4. Turn on the Use notification history toggle.

To check your notification history, swipe down from the top of your screen to open the Quick Settings menu. Then, tap the History icon in the lower-left corner of your screen. If you don't see the History icon, swipe up until you've scrolled through all your notifications.

Block spam calls with automatic Call Screening

Hold for Me isn't the only feature to improve your time on the phone. The Pixel's Call Screening feature asks people calling from unknown numbers or suspected scammers to identify themselves before you answer. Google doesn't activate this feature by default, but you should, as it reduces the number of spam calls you'll answer.

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu button in the upper-right corner.
  3. Tap Settings from the drop-down menu.
  4. Tap Caller ID & spam.
  5. Turn on the Filter spam calls switch.

Turn on dynamic-themed icons to customize your new Pixel

Although Material You debuted on Android 12 in 2021, it came into its own with the release of Android 13. The 2022 mobile OS update rounded out the Material You experience with dynamic-themed icons for third-party apps. The feature is available on phones running Android 13, but it shines on the Pixel launcher.

To try out Material You's dynamic icons, open the Wallpaper & Style menu by long pressing on your Pixel 7's homescreen. Then, toggle the Themed icons switch to turn it on.

Skip 'Hey Google' by enabling Quick Phrases on your Pixel 7

Google Assistant is a powerful tool, especially when paired with compatible smart home devices. However, it can become a chore to say "Hey Google" when issuing simple commands. Quick Phrases skips the activation phrase for simple instructions (for example, stopping a timer or answering a call).

  1. Open Assistant and say, "Open Assistant Settings."
  2. Scroll down and tap Quick phrases.
  3. Toggle each switch to activate the quick phrase.

Depending on your smart home devices, you may be able to access more Quick Phrases. Tap the Other devices tab from the Quick Phrases menu to browse your options.

Change the Pixel Launcher's grid size to add more apps to your homescreen

Thanks to some fetching widgets and Material You, your Pixel 7's homescreen has the potential for a stunning layout. However, Google sets the default grid size for the Pixel launcher to 4x5, so to utilize your homescreen to its fullest potential, you'll need to resize your app grid.

Open the Wallpaper & Style menu by long pressing on your Pixel 7's homescreen. Then, tap App grid to browse your options (we recommend 5x5).

Left: 4x5 grid Right: 5x5 grid

Enable Google One VPN on your Pixel 7

Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro owners get free access to Google One VPN. While it's not as feature-rich as many of the top VPN apps, it's a simple way to protect your personal data. The VPN is part of the Google One subscription platform, so you'll need to download the Google One app from the Play Store.

  1. Open the Google One app.
  2. Tap Get started on the VPN tile.
  3. Turn on the Use VPN switch to activate it.

A key icon appears in your Status Bar when the VPN is running.

Make your Google Pixel phone even better with a smartwatch

Are you the proud owner of a Google Pixel 7 Pro? Did you recently splurge on the new Google Pixel Fold? If you answered yes to either question, you might want to add a wearable to the mix. The Google Pixel Watch sports good looks, sports awesome health and wellness features, and works perfectly with Google's smartphones.