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Google Pixel • Easier to Use • 15–20 minutes

Make your Pixel easier to use — Google Pixel

Read this firstThe last step, Simple View, changes how the whole phone looks and works while it is on. Nothing is deleted, and turning Simple View off puts everything back exactly as it was, so it is safe to try.
You do not have to change everything at once. Work through these steps in order and stop whenever the Pixel feels comfortable. Simple View needs a recent Android version, and the menu names below match the newest software, which is why step 1 checks for an update first. The last step, Simple View, is a last resort: save it for when the gentler changes above are not enough.

  1. Check for an Android update

    Open Settings > System > Software updates > System update, then tap Check for update. Follow the on-screen steps if one is available.

  2. Make words and app pictures bigger

    Why: Font size makes the words bigger. Display size makes app pictures, buttons, and menus bigger too.

    What to do: Open Settings > Display > Display size and text. Drag the Font size slider to the right, drag the Display size slider to the right, and turn on Bold text.

    What to look for: On the newest Pixels, this menu is called Display and touch instead. The preview on the screen shows the new sizes as you change them.

  3. Leave only the essential apps on the Home screen

    Why: A Home screen with only a few everyday apps is easier to look at, and there is less to tap by mistake.

    What to do: Touch and hold any app you do not need, then drag it to Remove at the top of the screen. On some Pixels, tap Remove in the small menu that appears instead. Repeat until only the essentials are left, such as Phone, Messages, Camera, and Photos.

    What to look for: The app is not deleted. It stays installed in the app drawer, which you open by swiping up from the bottom of the Home screen.

  4. Optional: lock the phone to one app

    Why: App pinning locks the phone to a single app. It is handy when handing the phone to someone for one job, such as making a call or looking at photos.

    What to do: Open Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy > App pinning, and turn on Use app pinning.

    What to look for: On the same screen, turn on Ask for PIN before unpinning. Without it, anyone can leave the pinned app with a simple gesture.

  5. Last resort: turn on Simple View

    Why: Try the gentler changes above first. If the Pixel is still too complicated, Simple View is the Pixel’s built-in simple mode. It makes words and app pictures larger, simplifies the Home screen, uses simple 3-button navigation, and adds easy shortcuts for contacts, the clock, and the weather.

    What to do: Open Settings > Accessibility > Simple View, which is listed under Quick Access. Turn on Use Simple View.

    What to look for: The Home screen rearranges into a simple grid. Simple View needs a Pixel 6 or newer with a recent Android version, and it is also offered when a new Pixel is set up for the first time.

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