DEV Community: WatchLux

Setting Up a New Pixel? How to Open, Edit, Move and Resize Your Quick Settings Tiles

WatchLux — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:29:45 +0000

A new Pixel keeps its most-used switches one swipe away. Google's Pixel Phone Help says Quick Settings lets you find and change your settings from any screen, and you can add or move the ones you change often. This guide covers opening it, editing it and adding accessibility tiles, following Google's help pages.

Open Quick Settings

To find your first few settings, swipe down from the top of your screen.
To find all your Quick Settings, swipe down again.

Google says some of these steps work only on Android 11 and up, so check your Android version if a step doesn't match.

Turn a setting on or off

Tap the icon to turn a setting on or off. Dimmed settings are off.
Tap the name of a setting to quickly adjust it.
Touch and hold a Quick Settings icon to reach its advanced settings.

Add, remove or move a setting

From the top of your screen, swipe down twice.
To update the Quick Settings menu, tap Edit.
To add a setting, scroll down to find all the available settings, then tap Add.
To remove a setting, tap Remove.
To reorganize your settings, tap and drag them where you want them.

Google's page shows the Edit, Add and Remove buttons as icons that don't appear in its text, so look for them on your screen.

Resize a setting

To shrink a setting so it shows only its icon, tap and drag the right side of the icon to the left.
To show the setting's name, tap and drag the right side of the icon to the right.

Add an accessibility tile

Google's Accessibility Help lists accessibility features you can put in Quick Settings: color correction, color inversion, extra dim, one-handed mode, Live Transcribe, Sound Amplifier, Sound Notifications, Live Caption and Hearing Devices. Google says this works directly from Settings on Android 15 and up:

Open Settings, then tap Accessibility.
Select the feature you want to add as a tile.
Turn on Quick settings shortcut.
Swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings.

If you can't find the shortcut switch, Google says that feature isn't convertible to a Quick Settings tile.

Where to find more Pixel tips

Google's English (Australia) version of the page adds a path to more tips. Open Settings and scroll down. On Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, tap Device health and then Tips and support. On Pixel 9a and earlier, tap Tips and support and then Explore Pixel Tips.

A new-Pixel Quick Settings plan

Keep: the switches you use every day, near the top.
Remove: any tile you never touch.
Resize: shrink small tiles to icons so more fit.
Add: an accessibility tile if you use one.

Troubleshooting

A setting seems missing: Google says that if several settings are on, your phone sometimes hides icons to save space. Look for a dot at the top of the screen.
A tile appeared from an app: Google says some apps ask to add their icon as a tile. You can remove or re-add these at any time.
A tile won't turn into a shortcut: see the accessibility note above.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, with 4K video wallpapers for Android 8.0 and up, and once your switches are in order, a new background makes the phone feel finished. The app installs a live wallpaper service that plays the video loop on the Home Screen. The winter and holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android: ScreenLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 28, 2026): Pixel Phone Help, "Change settings quickly on your Pixel phone" (support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6111329); Android Accessibility Help, "Find accessibility services in Quick Settings" (support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/12637487)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

New iPhone for the Holidays? How to Take Screenshots, Capture Full Pages and Record Your Screen

WatchLux — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:24:55 +0000

A screenshot can keep a recipe, a gift list or a flight confirmation, and a screen recording can show a relative which buttons to tap. This guide covers both, plus the capture settings, and follows Apple's iPhone User Guide.

Take a screenshot

Quickly press and release the side button and the volume up button at the same time. On iPhone SE, quickly press and release the Home button and the side button at the same time.
If a thumbnail appears, tap it in the lower left of the screen. Apple lists these options:

Full Page: captures content beyond your iPhone screen. Drag your finger on the preview image on the right to see more of it. Apple's example is capturing an entire webpage in Safari.
Crop: drag the handles. To save a smaller portion of a full-page screenshot, tap the crop button Apple shows, then drag the handles.
Annotate: tap the markup button, then use the Markup tools.
Cancel or delete: tap the button Apple shows for it.

To save full-screen screenshots to your photo library, Apple says to swipe up, or tap the button on the preview, then choose an option. Screenshots with thumbnails save automatically. Instead of the hardware buttons, Apple says you can use Siri, AssistiveTouch or Back Tap.

To review them, open Photos, tap Collections, scroll down to Media Types, then tap Screenshots.

Record your screen

Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center.
If you don't see the Screen Recording control, add it to Control Center. Apple points to its Customize controls steps for that.
Tap the Screen Recording control, then wait for the 3-second countdown.
Swipe up to dismiss Control Center, then do the thing you want to record.

To stop, tap the red circle if your iPhone has a Dynamic Island, then tap the stop button. On other models, tap the red timer in the top left of the screen, then tap Stop.

Apple says some apps might not allow recording, and you can't record while using screen mirroring.

Add your voice

To record with audio, open Control Center, touch and hold the Screen Recording control, tap Microphone to turn it on, then tap Start Recording. Wait for the 3-second countdown, then start. Apple says recordings save to your photo library: go to Photos > Collections, scroll to Media Types, then tap Screen Recordings.

Change the screen capture settings

Go to Settings > General > Screen Capture. Apple says you can:

Full-Screen Previews: Apple says screenshots appear in full screen by default. Turn this off for a temporary thumbnail in the lower left.
Automatic Visual Look Up: on supported models and some languages, identifies objects and places in screenshots.
CarPlay Screenshots: turn on to capture screenshots from CarPlay.
SDR or HDR: SDR captures less brightness and color; screenshots use PNG and recordings use HEVC. HDR captures more brightness and color; screenshots use HEIF and recordings use HEVC (HDR10). Apple says it requires an HDR display to show the full quality, and on standard displays HDR screenshots appear in SDR.

A holiday capture checklist

Gift lists and recipes: screenshot them, using Full Page for long webpages.
Tech help for family: record your screen with the microphone on.

Troubleshooting

No thumbnail appears: check Full-Screen Previews in Settings > General > Screen Capture.
Screen Recording is missing from Control Center: add it with Apple's Customize controls steps.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, and a screenshot of a finished Lock Screen is a handy way to share a look with family. On iPhone, its live wallpapers arrive as Live Photos for the Lock Screen, so a winter design can move. The holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and iPad: ScreenLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 28, 2026): Apple iPhone User Guide, "Take a screenshot on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/take-a-screenshot-iphc872c0115/ios); Apple iPhone User Guide, "Take a screen recording on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/take-a-screen-recording-iph52f6e1987/27/ios/27); Apple iPhone User Guide, "Change the screen capture settings on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/change-the-screen-capture-settings-iph2d2500abc/27/ios/27)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner? How to Use Timers, Alarms and the Stopwatch on a Wear OS Watch

WatchLux — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 01:37:30 +0000

Thanksgiving dinner runs on timing: the turkey, the rolls, the pie. A Wear OS watch can keep that schedule with timers, alarms and a stopwatch. This guide follows Google's Wear OS Help and Google Pixel Watch Help.

Before you start

Google's Wear OS page gives separate steps for different watch versions. The steps below are the ones the page labels Wear 3; the page has separate steps for Wear 2 watches. Google also says that if your watch and phone are synced, alarms set on your phone also go off on your watch.

Set a timer

On your watch, open the Timer app.
Pick a preset timer length, or scroll and tap Add to add a new timer length.
Tap Start.

Once it's running, Google lists these controls:

Pause a running timer.
Reset a paused timer.
Start again to resume.
Remove a timer to delete it.

If you exit the app while a timer is running, you can see its progress and come back later. To reopen the app, open your list of notifications and tap Timer Open.

If your watch and phone are synced, you can dismiss a phone timer from your watch. When the timer goes off, you'll see a notification on your watch, and you swipe right to dismiss it.

Use the stopwatch

On your watch, open the Stopwatch app.
Tap Start.
Tap Pause to stop it, then Reset to return a paused stopwatch to zero.

As with timers, you can leave the app and return later through the Stopwatch Open notification.

Set an alarm on any Wear OS watch

On your watch, open the Alarm app.
To add a new alarm, tap Add.
Pick the time you want.
Choose options for the alarm: one time or repeating, plus sound and vibration.
Tap Done to save it.

To turn an alarm on or off, open the Alarm app and switch it. To remove it, tap the alarm, then tap Delete. When an alarm goes off, tap Snooze to delay it for a short time, or swipe right or tap Alarm off to dismiss it.

Set an alarm on a Pixel Watch

Google's Pixel Watch Help gives these steps:

Press the side button next to the crown.
Swipe up and tap All apps.
Tap Alarm.
Tap Add new alarm.
Set a time, then tap Confirm.

To edit an alarm later, open Alarm and tap the alarm. Google says you can change its time, change its schedule for days of the week, turn vibration or sound on or off, or delete it.

Sync Pixel phone alarms to a Pixel Watch

Google says this feature is available for Pixel Watch 2 and later paired with Pixel phones. When synced, both devices alert you for each alarm.

On your phone, open Clock.
Tap More and then Settings.
Turn on Alarm sync.
Choose your watch and tap Sync.

Tap Alarm rings on to choose Adaptive Ringing or Watch and phone. If syncing doesn't work, Google suggests checking that both devices have the latest operating system and Clock app updates, and that the watch is connected to your phone.

A holiday kitchen checklist

Morning: set a repeating alarm for the oven.
While cooking: start one timer per dish.

Troubleshooting

Alarms don't match your phone: check that your watch and phone are synced.

Going further with WatchLux

WatchLux is the watch face app I built, and a clear face is handy when you're glancing at the clock between tasks. It has over 750 faces on both watchOS and Wear OS, with animated designs for Wear OS 6 and later, including updated Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch models. The holiday styles are at customwatchface.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

WatchLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android and Wear OS: WatchLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 26, 2026): Wear OS by Google Help, "Use the alarm, timer & stopwatch" (support.google.com/wearos/answer/6300982); Google Pixel Watch Help, "Set and manage alarms on Google Pixel Watch" (support.google.com/googlepixelwatch/answer/13532591)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Setting Up an Apple Watch for the Holidays? How to Make a Memoji Watch Face with Your Own Character

WatchLux — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 01:37:11 +0000

If you're setting up an Apple Watch for the holidays, one of the quickest ways to make it feel like yours is a face built around your own character. The Memoji app on Apple Watch lets you design a Memoji and turn it into a watch face. This guide follows Apple's Apple Watch User Guide.

Create your Memoji

Apple says you can choose skin color, hairstyle, facial features, headwear, glasses and more, and create multiple Memoji for different moods.

Go to the Memoji app on your Apple Watch.
If you're using the Memoji app for the first time, tap Get Started. If you've already made a Memoji, scroll to the top, then tap the add button.
Tap each feature and scroll the Digital Crown to choose the options you want. As you add features such as hairstyle and eyewear, your character comes to life.
Tap the add button to put the Memoji in your collection.

Turn a Memoji into a watch face

Go to the Memoji app on your Apple Watch.
Tap the Memoji you want.
Scroll down, then tap Create Watch Face.
Return to the watch face and swipe left to see your new Memoji watch face.

Apple says the watch face is also added to your collection in the Apple Watch app on iPhone. To see it there, open the app, tap My Watch, then swipe through your collection below My Faces.

What you can customize

Apple's list of faces describes the Memoji face as one that features the Memoji you've created, plus all the Memoji characters. The customizable feature is Character. To edit a face on the watch, touch and hold the display, then tap Edit.

Add complications

Apple lists many complications for this face, including Activity, Alarms, Battery, Calendar, Heart Rate, Messages, Music, Timers, Weather and World Clock. To add or change one:

With the watch face showing, touch and hold the display, then tap Edit.
Swipe left all the way to the end. If a face offers complications, they're shown on the last screen.
Tap a complication to select it, then turn the Digital Crown to choose a new one.
Press the Digital Crown to save your changes, then tap the face to switch to it.

Edit, duplicate or delete a Memoji

In the Memoji app, tap a Memoji, then choose an option:

Edit: tap features such as eyes and brows, then turn the Digital Crown to choose a variation.
Duplicate: scroll down, then tap Duplicate.
Delete: scroll down, then tap Delete.

Switch, reorder or remove the face

Switch: touch and hold the display, swipe to the watch face you want, then tap it. Apple adds that you can swipe from one face to another if you go to Settings > Clock and turn on Swipe to Switch Watch Face.
Reorder: touch and hold the display, touch and hold again, then drag the selected face left or right.
Remove: touch and hold the display, swipe to the face you don't want, swipe up, then tap Remove. Apple says you can always add the face again later.

Troubleshooting

Can't find the new face: return to the watch face and swipe left, as Apple describes.
A face is missing: Apple notes that not all watch faces are available in all countries or regions or on all models.

Going further with WatchLux

WatchLux is the watch face app I built, and a Memoji face is one look; this is for the days you want another. It has over 750 faces on both watchOS and Wear OS; on Apple Watch the live designs are videos, so they move. The holiday styles are at customwatchface.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

WatchLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and Apple Watch: WatchLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 26, 2026): Apple Watch User Guide, "Use Memoji on Apple Watch" (support.apple.com/guide/watch/memoji-apdfb5de8996/watchos); Apple Watch User Guide, "Apple Watch faces and their features" (support.apple.com/guide/watch/faces-and-features-apde9218b440/watchos); Apple Watch User Guide, "Add complications to the watch face on your Apple Watch" (support.apple.com/guide/watch/add-complications-to-the-watch-face-apd8d0b9c582/watchos); Apple Watch User Guide, "Change Apple Watch faces" (support.apple.com/guide/watch/change-apple-watch-faces-apda6559ad78/watchos)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Unboxed a New Pixel? How to Set Screen Timeout, Adaptive Brightness, Screen Attention and Colors

WatchLux — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:12:17 +0000

A new Pixel keeps most of its display controls in one place. Google's Pixel Phone Help says you can change brightness, font size, display size, rotation and more from Settings. This guide walks through the ones people usually want on day one: brightness, how long the screen stays on, colors and touch sensitivity. Google notes that some options are limited to certain Pixel models, and this guide repeats those limits where they apply.

Open the display settings

Open your phone's Settings app.
Tap Display & touch.
Tap the setting that you want to change. To see more settings, tap Advanced.

Google's tip: you can reach the settings you use most from any screen with Quick Settings.

Set the brightness

Tap Brightness level and move the slider.

Leave Adaptive brightness on

Google says Adaptive brightness fits your screen's brightness to the light around you. It's on by default, and you can still change brightness while it's on. Over time, your phone learns your preferences.

Google adds that on Pixel 4 and later, adaptive brightness can temporarily brighten the screen above the normal maximum in extremely bright lighting, like direct sunlight.

Choose how long the screen stays on

Screen timeout changes how long it takes for the screen to go black when you're not using the phone. Adaptive timeout can turn the screen off early when you're not using it, which Google says saves battery life and helps prevent accidental calls.

Open Settings.
Tap Display & touch > Screen Timeout > Adaptive timeout.

Turn on Screen attention (Pixel 4 and later)

Google says Screen attention keeps your screen turned on when you're looking at it. Its tip: it works best when the screen is well lit but not in direct sunlight.

Pick a color mode

Google lists these options for Colors:

Natural: the most accurate colors.
Boosted: accurate colors with more vividness.
Adaptive (Pixel 3 and later): the most vivid colors while keeping color details. This is on by default.

Tune touch sensitivity

Google lists touch sensitivity as a Pixel setting.

Adaptive touch: go to Settings > Display & touch > Touch Sensitivity > Adaptive touch to improve how well your phone senses your touch.
Screen protector mode: go to Settings > Display & touch > Touch Sensitivity > Screen protector mode to increase sensitivity when you use a screen protector.

Control screen rotation

Auto-rotate turns what's showing on the screen when you turn your phone. Google's tip: you can rotate the screen while Auto-rotate is off. Rotate your phone, then tap Rotate in the corner.

Smooth Display

Google says Smooth Display can automatically raise the refresh rate for some content. The page lists specific models, including Pixel 7, 7a, 8, 8a and Pixel Fold, so check that yours is included. Google notes it increases battery usage and is disabled when Battery Saver is on.

A first-day display plan

Brightness: set it once, then leave Adaptive brightness on.
Screen timeout: try Adaptive timeout.
Colors: compare Natural and Adaptive with a photo you know well.
Wallpaper: pick it last, once the screen looks right.

Troubleshooting

A setting is missing: Google says some options depend on the Pixel model, such as Screen attention (Pixel 4 and later) and Adaptive colors (Pixel 3 and later).
Smooth Display isn't working: Google says it's disabled when Battery Saver is on.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, with 4K video wallpapers for Android 8.0 and up, and a freshly tuned display is a good moment to pick a new background. The app installs a live wallpaper service that plays the video loop on the Home Screen. The winter and holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android: ScreenLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 26, 2026): Pixel Phone Help, "Manage screen & display settings on a Pixel phone" (support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6111557)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Just Unboxed an iPhone? How to Set Brightness, True Tone, Auto-Lock and Raise to Wake

WatchLux — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:11:29 +0000

A new iPhone looks great out of the box, but a few display settings decide how it feels day to day: how bright the screen is, how the colors adapt to the room, how long it stays on and whether it wakes when you pick it up. They take about five minutes to check. This guide follows Apple's iPhone User Guide and Apple Support.

Set the brightness

Apple says you can make the screen dimmer or brighter, and that dimming it extends battery life. Do one of the following:

Open Control Center, then drag up or down.
Go to Settings > Display & Brightness, then drag the slider.

Turn on Auto-Brightness

Apple says iPhone adjusts the screen brightness for current light conditions using the built-in ambient light sensor.

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Accessibility, tap Display & Text Size, then turn on Auto-Brightness.

Apple notes that turning off Auto-Brightness may increase power consumption. The switch lives under Accessibility, not under Display & Brightness, so it's easy to miss.

Turn on True Tone

Apple says True Tone automatically adapts the color and intensity of the display to match the light in your environment. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness, then turn True Tone on or off. Apple also lists a Control Center shortcut for it.

Choose how long the screen stays on

Apple says the display stays on while you're looking at it, but it dims and eventually locks when you look away for a while. To change how long that takes:

Go to the Settings app.
Tap Display & Brightness, then tap Auto-Lock.
Choose a length of time.

Apple notes that delaying or preventing Auto-Lock may increase power consumption. A longer time helps when you're navigating with Maps.

Decide whether iPhone wakes when you lift it

Apple lists three ways to wake iPhone: press the side button, raise iPhone, or tap the screen (tapping isn't available on iPhone SE). To turn off Raise to Wake, go to Settings > Display & Brightness.

Check Attention Aware Features

On an iPhone with Face ID, Apple says that if Attention Aware Features is turned on, iPhone won't dim or lock as long as it detects attention. To turn it on or off, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode.

A first-day display checklist

Brightness: set it by hand once, then leave Auto-Brightness on.
True Tone: turn it on and see whether whites look more natural in your room.
Auto-Lock: pick a time you can live with, and remember longer settings use more power.
Raise to Wake: keep it if you like glancing at the Lock Screen, or switch it off if it wakes too often.
Wallpaper: choose it last.

Troubleshooting

Auto-Lock is stuck at 30 seconds: Apple says Low Power Mode sets Auto-Lock to 30 seconds, and the battery icon turns yellow while it is active. Turn Low Power Mode off in Settings > Battery (on iPhone 15 and later, tap Power Mode), then choose a longer time. Apple says it turns off by itself when you charge to 80% or higher.
Can't find Auto-Brightness: look under Accessibility > Display & Text Size.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, and once the display is set up, a fresh Lock Screen wallpaper is the quickest way to show it off. On iPhone, its live wallpapers arrive as Live Photos for the Lock Screen, so a winter design can move. The holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and iPad: ScreenLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 26, 2026): Apple iPhone User Guide, "Adjust the screen brightness and color on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/adjust-screen-brightness-color-balance-iph60ba71065/ios); Apple iPhone User Guide, "Keep the iPhone display on longer" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/keep-the-iphone-display-on-longer-iph7117338a8/ios); Apple iPhone User Guide, "Wake, unlock, and lock iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/wake-unlock-and-lock-iph5a0b5b9c5/ios); Apple Support, "Use Low Power Mode to save battery life on your iPhone or iPad" (support.apple.com/en-us/101604)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

New Pixel for a Parent? How to Change Font Size, Display Size and Bold Text on Android

WatchLux — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:12:58 +0000

Setting up a new Pixel for a parent or grandparent over the holidays? The default text can feel tiny to someone moving from an older phone. Android has two separate sliders, one for text and one for everything else on screen, plus bold text and a quick way to change size later. This guide follows Google's Android Accessibility Help. Google notes some of these steps work only on Android 13 and up.

Font size vs. display size

Font size changes the size of text.
Display size makes all the items on your screen, like icons and buttons, smaller or larger.

Most people need a bit of both. Change one, look at the Home Screen, then change the other.

Make the font size larger

On the phone, open the Settings app.
Search for and select Font size.
Move the slider left or right to choose the preferred font size.

Google notes the font size setting doesn't apply to some apps.

Make the display size larger

Open the Settings app.
Search for and select Display size.
Move the slider left or right to choose the preferred display size.

Google says you get a preview of the change after you set each slider. If you don't like it, tap Reset settings to return display size and text to the original settings.

Add Font Size to Quick Settings

This lets the person who uses the phone adjust text later without hunting through Settings. Google says if you change font size from Settings, the Font Size tile is added to Quick Settings automatically.

From the top of the screen, swipe down to find Quick Settings.
Tap Font Size.
Tap Increase or Decrease, or drag the percentage slider left or right.

Google says you can adjust font size up to 200%.

Turn on bold text

Open the Settings app.
Tap Accessibility > Display size and text.
Turn Bold text on.

Google notes some apps won't use this setting.

Outline text on Android 16 and up

On Android 16 and up, Google offers outline text to make text easier to read:

Open Settings.
Tap Accessibility > Display size and text.
Turn Outline text on or off.

On Android 15 and below, Google points to high-contrast text instead.

Do it during setup

Google's tip: these settings can also be set from the start in the setup wizard. If you're unboxing the phone together, that's the easiest moment to choose sizes, before apps and widgets are arranged.

A gift-day plan

Unboxing: set font size and display size in the setup wizard.
First evening: turn on bold text and check Messages and the phone app.
Later: show them the Font Size tile in Quick Settings.
Home Screen: choose a calm wallpaper so the larger icons stand out.

Troubleshooting

Text in one app didn't change: Google says the font size setting doesn't apply to some apps.
Steps don't match: some steps work only on Android 13 and up, so check the Android version.
Too big: tap Reset settings and start again.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, with 4K video wallpapers for Android 8.0 and up, and a calm background keeps larger icons easy to pick out. The app installs a live wallpaper service that plays the video loop on the Home Screen. The winter and holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android: ScreenLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 22, 2026): Android Accessibility Help, "Change text & display settings" (support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/11183305)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Giving a Parent a New iPhone This Holiday? How to Make Text Bigger and Bolder with Display Zoom

WatchLux — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:12:45 +0000

A new iPhone is a common holiday gift for a parent or grandparent, and the first thing many of them say is that the text is too small. Before you wrap it, or on the day you set it up together, a few settings make the screen much easier to read. This guide follows Apple's iPhone User Guide, with the current iOS steps first and notes for iOS 26.

Start with Text Size

Apple lets you set one preferred text size for supported apps, including Calendar, Mail, Messages, Notes and Settings.

Go to the Settings app on the iPhone.
Tap Appearance, then tap Text Size.
Drag the slider left or right to change the text size.

On iOS 26: the same options are under Display & Brightness instead of Appearance.

Set it while the person who will use the phone is holding it. What looks fine to you may still be small to them.

Make the text bold

Go to the Settings app.
Tap Appearance (Display & Brightness on iOS 26), then turn on Bold Text.

Bold Text makes letters heavier everywhere, which helps a lot on a bright Lock Screen or in low light.

Magnify the entire screen with Display Zoom

Text Size only changes text. Display Zoom makes text and interface elements like icons and buttons larger too.

Go to the Settings app.
Tap Appearance (Display & Brightness on iOS 26), tap Display Zoom, then tap Larger Text.
Tap the confirm button, then tap Use Zoomed.

With everything larger, fewer apps fit on each Home Screen page, so it's a good moment to keep only the essentials on page one.

Go even bigger with Larger Accessibility Sizes

If the regular slider still isn't enough, Apple has extra sizes in Accessibility:

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
Tap Larger Text.
Turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes, then drag the slider to adjust the text size.

On the same Display & Text Size screen you can also turn on Bold Text, and Apple lists more options there, including Button Shapes, On/Off Labels, Reduce Transparency, Increase Contrast and Reduce White Point.

Change text size inside an app

Apple's tip: open Control Center, then adjust the Text Size slider. If it isn't there, tap the Add button in the top-left corner, tap Add a Control, then tap the Text Size control. This is handy for a parent who only needs bigger text in one app, like Messages.

A gift-day setup checklist

Text Size: set it with them, at a comfortable reading distance.
Bold Text: turn it on if letters look thin.
Display Zoom: choose Larger Text for bigger icons and buttons.
Control Center: add the Text Size control for quick changes.
Lock Screen: pick a simple, high-contrast wallpaper so the time is easy to read.

Troubleshooting

Some apps didn't change: the text size setting applies to apps that support it, so a few apps may stay the same.
Display Zoom option missing: Apple describes Display Zoom as a feature of supported iPhone models.
Text now too big: move the Text Size slider back a step.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, and a clean, high-contrast background keeps a bigger clock and larger icons easy to read. On iPhone, its live wallpapers arrive as Live Photos for the Lock Screen, so a winter design can move. The holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and iPad: ScreenLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 22, 2026): Apple iPhone User Guide, "Adjust iPhone display and text settings" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/adjust-iphone-display-and-text-settings-iphd6804774e/ios); Apple iPhone User Guide, "Make text easier to read on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/make-text-easier-to-read-iph3c076905a/ios)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

After the Clocks Change: How to Schedule Night Shift on iPhone for Warmer Evening Screens

WatchLux — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:04:29 +0000

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, and sunset comes about an hour earlier on the clock right after. That means more of your evening screen time happens in the dark. Night Shift shifts the colors of your iPhone display to the warmer end of the spectrum, which Apple says makes the display easier on your eyes. Here's how to turn it on and schedule it, following Apple's iPhone User Guide and Apple Support.

How Night Shift decides when to start

Apple says Night Shift uses your device's clock and geolocation to work out when it's sunset where you are. Then it shifts the display to warmer colors, and in the morning it returns the display to its regular settings. By default, Night Shift runs from sunset to sunrise.

That's the useful part around November 1: if you use the sunset setting, the schedule follows the earlier sunset on its own.

Turn Night Shift on or off manually

Apple notes manual Night Shift is helpful when you're in a darkened room during the day, like a movie afternoon with the curtains drawn.

Open Control Center.
Touch and hold the brightness control.
Tap the Night Shift button.

Schedule Night Shift

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Display & Brightness, tap Night Shift, then turn on Scheduled.
Tap From, then select Sunset to Sunrise or Custom Schedule.
If you choose Custom Schedule, tap the options to set the times you want Night Shift to turn on and off.

Set the color temperature

On the same Night Shift screen, drag the slider below Color Temperature toward the warmer or cooler end of the spectrum. Try it in the evening, in the room where you actually use your phone, so you see the real effect.

Pair it with Dark Mode

Night Shift changes color temperature; Dark Mode changes the interface to a dark color scheme. Apple's guide lets you schedule Dark Mode too:

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness.
Turn on Automatic, then tap Options.
Select Sunset to Sunrise or Custom Schedule.

Together, they make a phone that gets warmer and darker as the evening goes on.

A post-time-change setup

Before November 1: turn on Scheduled and choose Sunset to Sunrise.
First dark evening: set Color Temperature to a level you like.
Movie night: turn Night Shift on from Control Center.
Wallpaper: a darker image looks more natural with warm evening colors.

Troubleshooting

Night Shift won't turn on: Apple says some display accessibility settings, including Invert Colors, Grayscale and Increase Contrast, might turn off Night Shift.
Schedule seems off: Sunset to Sunrise depends on your clock and location, so check both.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, and a warm evening screen looks best over a calm, darker wallpaper. On iPhone, its live wallpapers arrive as Live Photos for the Lock Screen, so a winter design can move. The holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and iPad: ScreenLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 22, 2026): Apple iPhone User Guide, "Adjust the screen brightness and color on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/adjust-screen-brightness-color-balance-iph60ba71065/ios); Apple Support, "Use Night Shift on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch" (support.apple.com/en-us/118583)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Longer Nights After November 1: How to Schedule Night Light and Bedtime Screen Options on Pixel

WatchLux — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:03:57 +0000

Clocks go back on Sunday, November 1, and the evenings get dark early. Google's Pixel Phone Help says Dark theme, Night Light and Grayscale can help you use your phone at night and make it easier to fall asleep. Here's how to schedule each one, plus a bedtime option that dims your wallpaper.

Google notes that some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up.

Schedule Night Light

Night Light reduces your screen's blue color and can turn your screen red or amber. Google says blue light can make it harder to fall asleep.

Open your phone's Settings app.
Tap Display & touch > Night Light.
To pick start and end times, tap Schedule:
- Turns on at custom time: enter your Start time and End time.
- Turns on from sunset to sunrise: this won't work if you turn off location services.

To stop it turning on automatically, tap Schedule > None.

Schedule Dark theme

Open Settings.
Tap Display & touch > Dark theme.
Tap Schedule, then select Turns on at custom time, Turns on from sunset to sunrise, or Turns on at bedtime.

Google says apps that work with Dark theme might extend battery life. The bedtime option, in Android 13 and later, ties Dark theme to Bedtime mode.

Dim the wallpaper at bedtime

In Android 13 and later, you can dim your phone's wallpaper at bedtime:

Open Settings.
Tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
Tap Bedtime mode, then turn on Bedtime mode.
Tap Customize > Screen options at bedtime.
Turn on Dim the wallpaper.

Google also notes the wallpaper dims when battery saver is on.

Turn on Grayscale at bedtime

In the same Bedtime mode screen options, turn on Grayscale to switch the screen to black and white as you wind down.

For Bedtime mode to work properly, Google says to update the Digital Wellbeing app and turn on notifications for Digital Wellbeing.

Comfort View on Pixel 10

On Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Comfort View uses filters to give your screen a softer color:

Open Settings.
Tap Display & touch > Comfort filters.
Turn Comfort View on or off. Turn on Adaptive to adjust intensity to your environment, or turn it off and use the Intensity slider.

Quick Settings

Google's tip: Dark theme, Night Light and Bedtime mode are available as Quick Settings, so you can toggle them without opening Settings.

A November evening setup

Night Light: sunset to sunrise.
Dark theme: at bedtime.
Bedtime mode: dim the wallpaper and turn on Grayscale.

Troubleshooting

Sunset schedule does nothing: turn on location services.
Bedtime options missing: update Digital Wellbeing and turn on its notifications.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, with 4K video wallpapers for Android 8.0 and up, and a dimmed bedtime wallpaper still looks good when the design is dark to begin with. The app installs a live wallpaper service that plays the video loop on the Home Screen. The winter and holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android: ScreenLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 22, 2026): Google Pixel Phone Help, "Change your screen color at night on a Pixel phone" (support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/7169926)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Holiday Travel Safety: How to Set Up Emergency SOS and Emergency Contacts on Pixel Watch

WatchLux — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:02:56 +0000

Winter travel season starts with Thanksgiving week, and it's a good time to make sure your Pixel Watch can get you help if you need it. Emergency SOS takes a couple of minutes to set up, and it's much better to do that now than to wonder about it on a dark road. This guide follows Google's Pixel Watch Help page on safety features.

Know what your watch model needs

Google is specific about connectivity:

The Wi-Fi version of Google Pixel Watch relies on your phone to call emergency services. Your phone has to be nearby and connected through Bluetooth.
The LTE version doesn't need a phone to call emergency services, but it needs an active LTE connection on the watch.
Certain regions require an active LTE carrier or Safety Signal to support emergency calls from a Pixel Watch.

If you've unlocked your watch at least once since startup, Google says you can call an emergency contact without unlocking it.

Turn on Emergency SOS

On the watch:

On Google Pixel Watch, swipe down.
Tap Settings > Safety & emergency > Emergency SOS.
Choose how you want to start Emergency SOS:
- Touch & hold to call: calls emergency services after you quickly press the crown 5 consecutive times, then touch and hold the screen for 3 seconds.
- Automatically call: calls emergency services after a 5-second countdown when you quickly press the crown 5 consecutive times.

Or in the app on your phone:

Open the Google Pixel Watch app.
Tap Settings > Safety & emergency > Emergency SOS.
Turn on Emergency SOS.

Google notes that this does not set up Emergency SOS on your Pixel phone. That's a separate setting.

How to use it

On Google Pixel Watch, press the crown 5 times.
Touch and hold the screen for 3 seconds to call emergency services.

If you let go before 3 seconds, the watch goes back to the first screen and the call isn't placed. If you place a call by mistake, Google says not to hang up. Tell the operator the call was accidental.

Add emergency contacts

You can add several contacts and choose one primary contact:

On Google Pixel Watch, swipe down.
Tap Settings > Safety & emergency > Emergency SOS.
Tap Manage contacts, and choose to allow or deny access to the contacts saved on your phone.
Tap the contact's name, then their number.
To choose a primary contact, tap Emergency Services or a contact in your list.

You can also set Emergency SOS to call a chosen emergency contact instead of emergency services. You can add contacts in the safety app on your Pixel phone, too.

Turn on Emergency Location Service

Google says that with Emergency Location Service turned on, your phone shares your location with regional emergency responders if they use ELS. On LTE models it's on by default. To check:

On Google Pixel Watch, press the crown.
Tap Safety > Emergency Location Service.
Turn on Use emergency location service.

A pre-trip checklist

Know your model: Wi-Fi watches need the phone nearby.
Pick a start method: touch and hold, or automatic calling.
Add contacts: at least one family member, with a clear primary.
Check ELS: confirm it's on.

Troubleshooting

SOS won't call on a Wi-Fi watch: check that your phone is nearby and connected by Bluetooth.
LTE watch can't connect: confirm the watch has an active LTE connection.
Phone SOS not set: set it up separately on your phone, as Google notes.

Going further with WatchLux

WatchLux is the watch face app I built, and once safety is handled, the face is what you'll look at most on the trip. It has over 750 faces on both watchOS and Wear OS, with animated designs for Wear OS 6 and later, including updated Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch models. The holiday styles are at customwatchface.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

WatchLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android and Wear OS: WatchLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 22, 2026): Google Pixel Watch Help, "Get help in an emergency with Google Pixel Watch safety features" (support.google.com/googlepixelwatch/answer/12663810)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Thanksgiving Road Trip? How to Use Check In on Apple Watch So Family Knows You Got There Safely

WatchLux — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:02:14 +0000

Thanksgiving is November 26 this year, and it's one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. The text everyone's family asks for is "let me know when you get there." On Apple Watch, Check In sends that message for you. It tells a friend when you arrive, when a workout ends, or when a timer runs out, and it alerts them if something doesn't go as planned. This guide follows Apple's Apple Watch User Guide.

What you need

Apple lists two requirements for Check In:

Your Apple Watch must be near its paired iPhone, or connected to the internet over Wi-Fi or cellular.
Both you and the person you're checking in with need an Apple Watch with watchOS 11 or later, or an iPhone with iOS 17 or later.

Start a Check In from Messages

This is the version for a drive, a train ride or a walk back from a friend's house.

Go to the Messages app on your Apple Watch.
Start a new message or select an existing conversation, tap the add button, then tap Check In.
Tap Edit, tap Check In, then choose an option:
- When I arrive: specify your destination, how you're traveling (driving, transit or walking), and add extra time if needed.
- After a timer: specify a period of time.
Tap Send.

With When I arrive, Apple says Check In monitors your journey and notifies your friend if your watch isn't progressing for an extended period, or if it doesn't reach your destination as expected. When you arrive, Check In completes on its own and lets your friend know.

With After a timer, Check In notifies your friend if you don't end the Check In before the time you set.

Start a Check In from Workout

Walking off the Thanksgiving meal, or getting a run in before everyone wakes up? You can attach a Check In to a workout:

Go to the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
Turn the Digital Crown to the workout you want to do.
Tap the workout to begin.
Swipe right, then tap Check In.

Check In notifies your friend when the workout completes.

Running late? Add time

To add time to an active Check In:

Open the Smart Stack. From the watch face, swipe up from the bottom of the screen or turn the Digital Crown.
Tap the Check In widget.
Scroll down, then tap Add Time.

Cancel a Check In

If you've finished your trip, or want to end the session for any reason, cancel it so your friend knows:

From the watch face, turn the Digital Crown to open the Smart Stack.
Tap the Check In widget.
Scroll down, then tap Cancel Check In.

A holiday travel checklist

Before you leave: confirm the person you're checking in with has iOS 17 or later, or watchOS 11 or later.
At the car: start a When I Arrive Check In with the right travel mode.
Stuck in traffic: add time from the Smart Stack.

Troubleshooting

No Check In option: check that both people meet the software requirements above.
Check In isn't tracking: make sure the watch is near your iPhone, or on Wi-Fi or cellular.
For emergencies: Apple's safety page notes you can press and hold the side button to call emergency services. Check In is for peace of mind, not a substitute for that.

Going further with WatchLux

WatchLux is the watch face app I built, and a face with a clear time and date helps when you're glancing at your wrist from the driver's seat at a stop. It has over 750 faces on both watchOS and Wear OS; on Apple Watch the live designs are videos, so they move. The holiday styles are at customwatchface.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

WatchLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and Apple Watch: WatchLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 22, 2026): Apple Watch User Guide, "Use Check In on Apple Watch to let friends know you've arrived" (support.apple.com/guide/watch/use-check-in-apd7f329202c/watchos); Apple Watch User Guide, "Safety features on Apple Watch" (support.apple.com/guide/watch/safety-features-apd95ec0adc6/watchos)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux