Android 14 shipped dozens of features, most of which never get discovered because they live under three settings menus. Here are eleven worth knowing.
1. Clipboard history
On Gboard, hold the clipboard icon. You'll see your last 50 copied items. Long-press to pin items permanently.
2. Schedule send for any SMS
In the default Messages app, long-press the send button. A scheduling option appears. Useful for sending birthday wishes at midnight without staying up.
3. App pairs in split screen
On most Android 14 phones, open Recents → tap an app icon → "Open in split screen view" → choose the second app. Save the pair to your home screen for one-tap split-screen mode.
4. Notification history
Settings → Notifications → Notification history → on. You can now see every notification dismissed in the last 24 hours — useful when you accidentally swipe away an OTP.
5. Tap-to-pay shortcut
Long-press the power button to open Google Pay instantly, even with the screen locked. Set this once in Settings → System → Gestures → Power button.
6. Live Caption for any video
Settings → Sound → Live Caption → on. Press volume up and a caption icon appears. Now any video — even those without subtitles — gets live captions.
7. Vibrate on type
For people who type without looking, Settings → System → Keyboard → Gboard → Preferences → Vibrate on keypress. Tiny haptic confirmation per key.
8. Pin screen for guests
Hand your phone to someone briefly? Pin the current app so they cannot switch apps or open private messages. Settings → Security → App pinning.
9. Bedtime mode
Settings → Digital Wellbeing → Bedtime mode. Screen goes black-and-white, notifications silence automatically, and Bluetooth disconnects at your chosen hour.
10. Built-in screen recorder
Pull down quick settings → edit → drag the Screen Recorder tile in. Tap to record. Supports audio, internal sound, and showing taps for tutorials.
11. Material You wallpaper colours
Long-press the home screen → Wallpaper & style → choose a wallpaper. Material You auto-extracts colours and applies them across the entire system UI.