<\/a><\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n \t\t Pixel’s not as clean as you think.<\/p>\n One Click Lock Screen<\/p>\n Having more options is always great<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with the simplest one. The first thing I noticed while setting up my Pixel<\/a> is how there\u2019s no way to lock the screen without pressing the side button. You get “Tap to Wake” and even “Lift to Wake,” but there\u2019s no gesture to lock the screen. That\u2019s a standard feature on most Android phones at this point.<\/p>\n So the first app on the list isn\u2019t the most exciting. It\u2019s called One Click Lock Screen<\/a>, and it lets you lock the screen using a home screen widget, a Quick Settings shortcut, or a notification. The thing I like the most is that its home screen widget is blank, so it stays invisible. You can even resize it to make the tap area larger.<\/p>\n MacroDroid<\/p>\n Automate almost anything<\/p>\n MacroDroid<\/a> is one of the best automation apps for Android. It lets you build automations based on simple \u201cif this, then that\u201d rules. That\u2019s without forcing you to write code or do anything complex, of course.<\/p>\n For instance, you can set up a macro that silences phone calls when the phone is in your pocket or hand. You can create another automation that enables auto-rotate when you\u2019re using apps like YouTube or Maps. It can even automatically turn off Bluetooth and location services when the battery is low.<\/p>\n There are over 80 triggers and 100 actions to mix and match, so it\u2019s only about how creative you can get. And you don\u2019t have to start from scratch. There are hundreds of community-made mods, so you can simply grab one that solves your problem and tweak it. If you\u2019ve found Pixel Rules to be a little too basic, this is the app to try.<\/p>\n Panels<\/p>\n Bringing Samsung\u2019s best idea to Pixel<\/p>\n This one can be subjective, but as someone who\u2019s switching from a Galaxy phone, I missed Edge Panels on my Pixel. Thankfully, getting it back wasn\u2019t difficult at all.<\/p>\n Panels<\/a> is a free app that adds a sidebar launcher, so you can swipe in from the edge of the screen to get to your apps, contacts, widgets, website shortcuts, and other toggles like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sound, and dark mode.<\/p>\n It\u2019s super handy for launching apps and checking widgets without going to the home screen. I can even access most of my quick settings toggle without swiping down from the top of the screen. It\u2019s also completely customizable, so I can move options around, resize the panel size, and even change its location. In many ways, it\u2019s actually better than Samsung\u2019s Edge Panel.<\/p>\n Wavelet<\/p>\n Make any earbud sound great<\/p>\n If you use wireless earbuds or headphones, this is the one app you shouldn\u2019t miss. Wavelet<\/a> is a system-wide equalizer that leans on AutoEq, which is a massive database of profiles tuned for specific headphones. You simply need to select your earbuds or headphone model, and it takes care of making it sound unbelievably good<\/a>.<\/p>\n The free version covers AutoEq and a graphic equalizer, which is enough for most people. But if you\u2019re an audiophile, the paid version has a bass booster, virtualizer, reverb effects, and plenty more, all for less than six bucks.<\/p>\n Essentials<\/p>\n The tweaks Google should\u2019ve shipped<\/p>\n I saved the best one for last. Pixel is known for its clean software, but sometimes, that can also sometimes make the phone feel like it’s too basic. For instance, I love how Samsung gives you Good Lock to tweak things exactly how you like. You don’t get that kind of flexibility on a Pixel out of the box, and Essentials<\/a> is an open-source app that changes that.<\/p>\n It bundles little tweaks that let you fix some of the biggest annoyances with your Pixel phone. For instance, it lets you remove that stubborn search bar from the home screen, that navigation bar from the bottom, and unnecessary status bar icons. It even lets you remap buttons, so you can assign the long press action on the volume up or down button for things like triggering the silent mode or controlling the music playback. Heck, it even lets you bring Google Maps\u2019 power saving mode to any Pixel phone.<\/p>\n
\n ![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/google-pixel-11-pro-xl-design.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tPixel doesn\u2019t have bloatware but I still had to uninstall 7 apps
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Widgets](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/widgets-menu-on-pixel-phone.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
\n Pankil Shah \/ MakeUseOfCredit:\u00a0Pankil Shah \/ MakeUseOf<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/panels-on-a-pixel-5.png\"){kind=tracking}
\n Jack Mitchell\/MUO<\/p>\n![\"Wavelet](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/wavelet-app-on-pixel-phone-jpg.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
\n Pankil Shah \/ MakeUseOfCredit:\u00a0Pankil Shah \/ MakeUseOf<\/p>\n![\"Essentials](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/essentials-app-on-pixel-phone.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
\n Pankil Shah \/ MakeUseOfCredit:\u00a0Pankil Shah \/ MakeUseOf<\/p>\n