Skip to main content
Tech Radar Tech Radar TechRadar The source for Tech Buying Advice
Subscribe
RSS
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
Technology Magazines
(opens in new tab)
Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)
Why subscribe?
  • The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12.99
(opens in new tab)
View Deal (opens in new tab)
  • News
  • Best
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
  • How To
  • Deals
  • More
    • Versus
    • Appliances
    • Audiovisual
    • Cameras
    • Car Tech
    • Computing
    • Coupons
    • Downloads
    • Entertainment
    • Fitness
    • Laptops
    • Phones
    • Smart Home
    • Tablets
    • TVs
    • Wearables
    • About Us
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • iPhone 15
  • ChatGPT
  • Wordle clues
  • Best phones
  • Best VPN

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. How-to
  3. Mobile Phones

Android 6.0 Marshmallow tips and tricks

By Matt Hanson
published 29 September 2015

Google's sweetest and smartest Android yet

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Get answers fast with Now on Tap

Get answers fast with Now on Tap

It's now easier than ever to find exactly what you need with Android 6.0 Marshmallow's new Now on Tap feature.

All you need to do is just touch and hold the home button of your device and information – as well as apps – will appear depending on what you're reading, watching or listening to.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Boost your battery life

Boost your battery life

Android 6.0 Marshmallow can give your battery a new lease of life thanks to a range of new battery saving features that makes the software use your battery in smarter ways, making it last longer between charges.

Apps that you hardly ever use will go into App Standby mode, which means they won't guzzle your battery in the background – leaving you more time to use your favourite apps.

Meanwhile the new Doze feature automatically puts your device into a sleep state when it detects that you haven't picked it up in a while, saving the battery without you even having to think about it.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Unlock with just a touch

Unlock with just a touch

Fingerprint scanning has been built in to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, making it even more convenient – and secure – to use your fingerprint to unlock your Android device.

The technology, known as Nexus Imprint, makes the new Nexus devices better than ever at registering your fingerprints – but older devices will also benefit. Not only can you now use your fingerprints to unlock your device, but you can also use it with Android Pay and on the Play Store and other apps, to pay for goods and services.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Better App permissions

Better App permissions

Making sure that apps only have access to the data you want them to is now even easier, with Android 6.0 Marshmallow's revamped permissions that allows you to have complete control over your apps, allowing you to state what you want to share and when.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Use voice commands from the lock screen

Use voice commands from the lock screen

Android 5.0 Lollipop allowed you to quickly access the phone and camera apps from the lock screen, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow goes even further by allowing you to access voice commands without having to unlock you device - all you need to do is swipe.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Do even more with your voice

Do even more with your voice

Not only can you use voice commands from the lock screen, but now voice commands are even more useful and powerful in Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

You can now have a conversation with apps, making controlling your device with your voice feel more natural. For example you could say "listen to NPR" and Android 6.0 Marshmallow will open up your radio playing app and tune in to the NPR station.

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
A smarter way to launch apps

A smarter way to launch apps

Android 6.0 Marshmallow has a new launcher for finding and loading up your favourite apps. It lists the apps installed on your device alphabetically and you can vertically scroll through the list to find what you're looking for.

You can also type in the name of the app your searching for, but the new launcher has an even smarter trick up its sleeve: it learns what apps you launch at certain times of the day and in certain places, so it can predict what apps you're looking for. These predicted apps are displayed at the top of the launcher and it could make loading up apps easier than ever.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Seamlessly switch between devices

Seamlessly switch between devices

Android 6.0 Marshmallow makes it easier than ever to switch devices with Auto Backup for Apps. This means when you get a new Android device all of your apps will automatically install on your new device.

Even better, if you launch an app on your new device you'll be able to pick up from exactly where you were on your old device.

Call Log, sync settings, Do Not Disturb settings, Accessibility settings and much more are also backed up and restored.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Free your storage space with Flex Storage

Free your storage space with Flex Storage

While you can expand storage space in many Android devices with microSD cards (something we'd love Apple to consider), there was still a gap between what you could do with internal and external storage.

With Flex Storage you can insert an SD card and Flex Storage will allow the memory card to act like internal memory, letting you install apps, games and more on the SD card without any extra fiddly settings. It will also encrypt your data so it can only be opened on your device.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Easy peasy sharing

Easy peasy sharing

If you love sharing photos, videos and more with other people – or even devices around your home, then the new Direct Share option will be perfect for you.

All of the people, apps and services that you share with the most often are presented to you, letting you share with just a single tap.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Matt Hanson
Matt Hanson
Social Links Navigation
Managing Editor, Core Tech

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. Ever since he got an Amiga A500+ for Christmas in 1991, he's loved using (and playing on) computers, and will talk endlessly about how The Secret of Monkey Island is the best game ever made.

See more Mobile phones how-to
  1. Richard Montanez looks at someone while stacking shelves in Flamin' Hot
    1
    Hulu and Disney Plus will make streaming movie history in June – and it's about time
  2. 2
    I test PC gaming headsets for a living - and these are my top picks for every budget
  3. 3
    5 ways that ChatGPT is better than Google Bard (and 3 ways it isn't)
  4. 4
    9 surprising foods to cook in an air fryer
  5. 5
    This $399 AMD-based one-eyed PC is one of the wackiest designs I’ve seen in 25 years
  1. How to watch Rabbit Hole online – stream every episode of the new spy thriller starring Kiefer Sutherland
    1
    How to watch Rabbit Hole online – stream the new spy thriller starring Kiefer Sutherland free online
  2. 2
    Netflix’s auto-play feature is the absolute worst
  3. 3
    Microsoft pushes out an emergency fix for the dangerous 'acropalypse' bug
  4. 4
    5 foods to avoid putting in the air fryer
  5. 5
    Google's slow destruction of Fitbit is everything wrong with modern tech

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Contact Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Advertise with us (opens in new tab)
  • Web notifications (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.