Motorola Moto X Play Tips and Tricks
Factory OS: Android 5.0 (Lollipop)
Have you updated your Operating System?
Then view tips for the most recent OS version(s): Android 9 (Pie) & Android 8 (Oreo)
Or view tips for all Android versions
There are a couple of ways to bring up one of your contacts.
First, while in your Contacts App, simply start typing in the search bar at the top of the screen.
Or else a quicker method is to use the Google Search widget (installed by long pressing on a vacant part of your homescreen and installing the widget) and start typing the name of the contact you want to dial. This will quickly filter the correct contact.
If you call someone regularly this can be useful as you will have a shortcut to them handily placed on your homescreen.
To bookmark a Contact on your Home Screen, then first go into your Contacts App.
Find the Contact you want to add to the Home Screen and press on them.
Then press More or the Menu key and select Add shortcut to home.
Then go to your Home Screens, find the Contact you’ve just added. Press, hold and drag to another position.
When browsing on your phone you may notice images are quite blurry. This is because your telecom provider is compressing the images before they are downloaded on to your phone.
There is no way to prevent this, but if you have a WiFi connection nearby, then you can turn that on. This will mean that all browser downloads come through the WiFi connection, rather than the carrier, and your images will appear normally.
This tip is relatively obvious, but some users overlook it.
Once you go into your Apps screen you should see a row of dots. This indicates which of the 5 App screens you are on. Rather than flick between each screen, you can simply press one of the dots and you will jump to that homescreen.
Or alternatively, slide your finger across the dots to move between screens.
To copy photos to your computer, plug the device in via a USB cable. (you might have to install your device’s software or drivers first).
Then locate the new drive on your PC. Go to the /DCIM/Camera/ folder Your photos will be stored there.
This may vary slightly between devices, however once you have opened the device’s drive, you can do a quick search for .jpg files which will show you where your photos are located.
To store a phone number that you have received in an email, hold down on the number and you will be given the option to call, send an SMS or add the number to your contacts
If you tend to run out of battery power quickly, then you can turn on Power saving mode.
Pull down the notification screen by swiping your finger from the top of the phone. Then select Power Saving. You may need to scroll along the available icons.
To change the settings, then pull down the notification screen again, press the Gear icon at the top. Then under System select Battery and then Power saving mode to change the options.
Android now comes with a sound Equaliser so you can adjust your bass and treble.
Simply open a music file using the Music Player App. Then go to Settings – SoundAlive and select Custom.
Then simply drag the sliders up and down to adjust the bass and treble.
Instead of the simple swipe gesture to unlock your phone, you can set a custom one which can be extremely difficult for a thief to guess.
From your homescreen, go to Settings – Personal – Lock screen – and security – Screen lock type and choose Pattern.
It is also a good idea to untick Use visible pattern. Then if someone is watching over your shoulder while you entering your pattern, it will be harder for them to remember the pattern.
If you have forgotten your unlock pattern, then after 5 unsuccessful tries a button will appear saying ‘Forgot pattern’. Press this and you will be asked to enter your Gmail username/password. The phone will then ask for a new unlock pattern. If you don’t have a Gmail account, then you will have to either call your carrier or factory reset your phone.
If you want to go to settings, then you can go to your list of Apps and open the Settings App.
There is however a quicker way. Simply position your finger right at the top of the screen and drag it down. You may need to do this twice on some phones.
Your notification bar will appear and you can then press the small Gear icon at the top of the screen to go to the Settings.


