How to Get the Most Out of Notification Dots in Android Oreo

Notification dots are one of the most useful new features in Android Oreo, which Google unveiled this week at its annual I/O conference in Mountain View, California. The cute little white circles give you more information about a notification without having to open the app itself, which can be especially handy if you’re busy and distracted. But how do you actually get them on your phone? This article will walk you through the process so that you can enjoy the benefits of the new feature as soon as possible!

 Enable the new feature

As you install more apps, it’s inevitable that your home screen will become more cluttered. This can make finding new notifications and old notifications alike difficult. With notification dots, you won’t have this problem anymore. After installing and opening an app, a small dot will appear on the icon if there is an unread notification present. You can then tap the app icon to view or dismiss the notification within one swipe, without ever needing to open the app itself.

 Configure each app’s behaviour

1. Head into Settings on your phone and tap on Notifications & status.
2. Scroll down and tap on an app, like Gmail or Twitter.
3. On this screen, you’ll see a toggle for Show notification dots under the App notifications section.

 

Stop notifications from appearing on your lock screen

The process of disabling notifications from appearing on your lock screen is a bit more complicated than it was in previous versions of Android. Fortunately, there’s a hidden setting you can use instead. It takes two quick taps and a little luck to find it, but once you know how, it’s as easy as pie.

•  Go into Settings > Apps & Notifications > Show All Notifications

 

See which apps have you pinned

Pinning apps is a great way to help prioritize apps and keep them around for easy access. There are a few simple steps that you can follow for optimal use.

•  Make sure you have enabled notification dots. To do this, head over to Settings > System > Notifications & Status Bar > Advanced Notification Profiles
•  Toggle on show messages from unknown sources on phone and notifications at the bottom (this option might not be available depending on what version of Android your device is running).
•  Tap Show dot from apps then select only those applications that need or deserve notification dings on your lock screen. Selecting everything will result in all alerts showing up as notification dots so it’s best if you try and stick with 3-5 at most.

 Take action from your home screen

Android’s notification dots are a new and improved way for you to see if you have any notifications. If your phone is laying face down, simply press and hold on the icon, and then release to view your notification. To dismiss a notification, just swipe it away! They’re pretty easy!

 Use two apps at once with split-screen mode

I often find myself jumping between a couple different apps while working, and with Android 8.0, I can now do this with ease. With split-screen mode, you can use two different apps at once on your screen, instead of simply opening up a new tab or window for each one. This is great for multitasking!

First tap on the recent app icon and select Split Screen from the drop-down menu.

Drag the two sections apart so they are divided equally on your screen. You’ll notice that some apps will automatically resize themselves so that it fits on half of your screen.