12 apps I urge non-techies to install on their Android phones

The Android apps that come preinstalled on a telephone have a number of benefits. For one, they’re already there — you don’t want to go to the Play Retailer and sift by means of quite a few choices to search out one that may meet your wants. Secondly, they’re often from the producer itself, which implies they’re tightly built-in into the broader framework of your telephone.

Nonetheless, as is commonly the case in life, what’s best isn’t at all times the perfect, and that is very true for smartphone apps that non-tech-savvy customers would possibly make use of. These customers would possibly profit extra from a extra approachable or supportive product that you simply or they would wish to put in.

Every time I’m tasked with fixing somebody’s telephone or providing solutions, I at all times overview their put in apps and recommend enhancements that will make their lives a little bit simpler. This features a checklist of apps that they will arrange themselves, others that will require some hands-on help from me, or direct replacements that provide extra performance or improved usability.

Right here’s the checklist of apps I urge non-techies to put in on their Android telephones:

Lots of the apps I point out on this checklist require some intervention by an skilled or technically-minded consumer earlier than the smartphone proprietor can use them. I’m conscious that not everybody has bodily entry to those gadgets, which makes this course of considerably difficult. In these moments when the whole household isn’t gathered collectively on the year-end tech assist symposium, higher referred to as “the vacations,” TeamViewer will turn out to be useful.

When put in on each the host and management gadgets, this distant assist app lets you troubleshoot or set up apps on the consumer’s behalf. This contains file transfers, permitting you to ship APKs out of your system to the consumer’s system for later set up.

Importantly, the host system should set up the TeamViewer QuickSupport app, whereas the management system requires the total TeamViewer app.

Whereas Google Chrome is the default browser on Android, it’s not significantly user-friendly for newcomers. Sure, it’s straightforward to make use of, however it lets adverts by means of like a sieve and doesn’t dim internet pages in low mild. Most of its issues stem from its lack of assist for extensions. My private choice is Firefox, however I’m conscious that it too may be difficult for some customers.

Are there any alternate options? Microsoft Edge is a greater resolution in case your non-techie consumer additionally makes use of the browser on Home windows. It additionally features a broader extension library, permitting for correct standalone ad-block and darkish mode assist.

Then there’s Banana Browser, which I imagine is the perfect browser for video content material. This might function a substitute for a number of social media platforms, together with YouTube and TikTok. It contains its personal media participant, assist for nearly each video platform, together with TikTok, built-in video ad-blocking and Sponsorblock, and background playback assist.

You might have to set it as much as go well with its major consumer greatest, however as soon as it’s up and operating with all of the settings toggled and levers pulled, it shouldn’t require common upkeep.

It took me a very long time to undertake cellular funds, however now I can hardly bear in mind what it was wish to stay with out them. Whereas some telephones supply a preinstalled app that takes care of those duties — I exploit a Samsung telephone with Samsung Pay preinstalled — I’ve opted for Google Pockets as an alternative for a number of causes.

I exploit it for extra than simply cellular funds; it doubles as my boarding go once I fly and my loyalty card holder once I’m at my favourite shops. And, in fact, I exploit it to simply pay for gadgets whereas holding my bodily card secure and sound. I can also’t start to rely the moments Pockets has saved me once I by chance left my money and playing cards at residence.

Better of all, I’d argue that Pockets is the best app on this checklist to arrange. It’s so user-friendly that I’d encourage each non-techie to begin their cellular funds journey with it.

Fb continues to be utilized by tons of of tens of millions of individuals every single day, however the official app has grown giant and sluggish. Enter Nobook. My most popular Fb portal, this light-weight different eliminates all of the disadvantages of the full-fat app, together with rampant adverts and advised posts, the choice to obtain content material, and tremendous fast load instances. Customers may also alter the standard of the content material in order that it masses extra effectively on slower networks.

The app encompasses a surprisingly easy setup; nonetheless, it’s supplied by means of GitHub, so I like to recommend that an skilled consumer carry out the preliminary steps for non-techies.

Now, let’s speak safety. Password administration is the quickest means a non-technical consumer can enhance their on-line privateness. Neatly storing all of their important unlock and account knowledge behind a service that requires a single password means they’ll solely ever have to keep in mind that one password. This not solely permits non-techies to make use of extra advanced passwords, however it additionally means they’re far much less more likely to overlook that grasp password.

The most effective password supervisor is Bitwarden. It may be accessed on numerous platforms, makes autofill a breeze on Android, and may be personalized with relative ease.

Once more, I recommend establishing Bitwarden for the meant consumer, together with creating an account and strolling them by means of greatest password etiquette. However as soon as they’ve grasped the ins and outs, they may be capable to get pleasure from autofill throughout Android and another system.

Multi-factor authentication is a should, however oddly sufficient, Android doesn’t come preinstalled with an authenticator app. Whereas there are many choices, together with my present possibility, Authy, Google Authenticator might be probably the most approachable for non-techies.

The app shops 2FA codes inside the scope of 1’s Google account, that means that even when a telephone is misplaced, the codes stay safe.

Authenticator apps generally is a nuisance to arrange, so that you’ll doubtless want to help the meant consumer in getting began. Nonetheless, when 2FA is in play, it’ll improve that consumer’s digital safety perimeter from a flimsy picket fence to a moated fort wall.

Fast Share is a irritating service that makes transferring information from one system to a different a chore. Whereas my household often opts to switch information utilizing WhatsApp, it isn’t at all times sensible for bigger video information. That’s the place Localsend is available in.

It has its limitations, however Localsend makes transferring giant items of information from one system to a different over a Wi-Fi community a breeze. It’s good for household gatherings, simply acknowledges different gadgets on the community, and works swiftly. I exploit it to bounce information from my telephone to my PC or different gadgets every single day.

Localsend will have to be arrange on the consumer’s system, however after every part is in place, sending information to them will likely be as straightforward as “Open Localsend, and faucet Settle for.”

Google Pictures is often preinstalled on Android gadgets these days, however this wasn’t the case on my dad’s newer system. The significance of Pictures might be identified to nearly each Android Authority reader at this level, however briefly, it simplifies backing up photographs to a secondary supply — Google’s storage. For non-techies snapping comparatively small-sized pictures, the 15GB free area on supply is more likely to be adequate, making it an incredible set-it-and-forget-it resolution.

Pictures can be simple to arrange, however the meant consumer might have to be walked by means of the assorted different choices obtainable inside the app itself.

Nonetheless, for these moments when the consumer desires to view the place their WhatsApp photographs are saved, an easier app like Google Gallery is nicely value putting in too.

My mother and father use YouTube loads and commonly sit by means of what finally ends up being hours of adverts each month. I don’t need them to waste their time or by chance faucet on an errant and presumably malicious advert of their video searching travels. As a companion to YouTube, I recommend they set up Tubular.

This open-source YouTube frontend bypasses adverts, presents quite a few high quality changes when Wi-Fi or mobile sign energy is low, and doesn’t require Google Play Companies or a Google account to make use of.

Because it’s hosted on F-Droid, it does require some hands-on set up time from an skilled consumer. You’d additionally have to stroll the consumer by means of the assorted features of the app.

In one other case of “why wasn’t the app put in on my dad’s telephone?” Recordsdata by Google is the proper file administration software for individuals who want a Swiss pocket knife. It makes trying to find particular information extraordinarily straightforward, sensibly categorizes information by sort, after which presents per-folder views inside, and contains helpful add-ons, akin to PDF assist and a safe Secure Folder for delicate paperwork.

As I discussed, Recordsdata by Google is often put in on fashionable Android gadgets by default, particularly in the event that they don’t have a file administration app made by the producer itself. Nonetheless, in some circumstances, you’ll need to seize it to your non-techie companion.

Now for a suggestion from my Android Authority colleagues. Once more, Gboard is ever-present on many Android gadgets, together with Pixels and another product that makes use of a near-stock Android interface. Nonetheless, this isn’t at all times the case. On Samsung gadgets, for example, Samsung Keyboard takes priority, though it pales compared to Google’s keyboard.

Gboard does every part higher. It contains extra strong autocomplete, spelling correction, and fluid swipe typing. Many of those options appear marginally essential to non-techies till they’re really put into use. It’s a case of when you’ve tried it, you may’t return.

Switching keyboards isn’t tough on Android, however there are a number of steps concerned, so this would possibly require a hands-on or distant session to arrange the brand new system. Better of all, in the event that they don’t like Gboard, they will at all times swap again to the default keyboard with out a lot fuss.

That’s it for my checklist, however what about you? Which apps do you suggest to your non-technical family and friends for his or her gadgets? Let’s talk about within the feedback part under.