Our smartphones can display a lot of information and provide useful shortcuts even when they are locked, and it is necessary to try Google Assistant’s ambient mode. This allows you to use many of the best features without having to open your phone, saving your precious time and avoiding the annoyance of having to scratch your finger to authenticate your device.
Ambient Mode is an enhanced lock screen that appears when your phone is charging. It shows current weather, upcoming alarms and calendar events. You can control the playing of music without opening your device, use Google Assistant or control other smart devices synced with your mobile. Set up a sort of screensaver by launching a slide show of images stored in Google Photos or view anytime or click Notifications you received.
Many devices running Lenovo, Nokia, Sony, Transsion and Xiaomi running Android Orio or later already have ambient mode available. OnePlus recently announced that this feature will be available on OnePlus devices, including the OnePlus 3 and all newer models, so this is a good time for you to get acquainted with the setup process of ambient mode. (It’s that simple.)
How to use Google Assistant’s Ambient Mode on Android
- Open the Google app on your phone. It’s usually pre-installed on Android devices, but you can grab it from the Play Store if you don’t have it.
- Launch the app, and then tap “More.” Go to Settings > Google Assistant, and then tap on the “Assistant” tab and scroll down to Phone. Scroll down again to the “Personalization” section and look for an “Ambient Mode” option.
- Once the Ambient Mode setting is turned on, all you have to do is your device then plug in a charging cable. The Google App’s ambient screen should automatically pop up over your lock screen and you can access the various shortcuts, photo slideshows, and other information without having to unlock your phone.
