Essential Apps for Pixel Phone to Download First

If you're new to the Pixel phone, you're in for a treat. Google's Pixel series is known for its seamless integration with other Google services, making it a great choice for those already invested in the Google ecosystem.

One of the first apps you should download on your Pixel phone is Google Photos. With unlimited storage for photos and videos, it's a must-have for anyone who takes a lot of pictures or videos.

Google Drive is another essential app to download, especially if you're used to storing files in the cloud. With 15GB of free storage, you can access your files from anywhere and share them with friends and family.

Google Maps is a no-brainer for anyone who loves exploring new places. With real-time traffic updates and Street View, you'll never get lost again.

You might enjoy: Phone Cases Pixel 9

Backdrops is a top-notch wallpaper app available on the Play Store, offering access to countless designs, many of which are free to use.

It's super easy to save wallpapers to your 'Favorites' tab, and useful information like resolution and file size are also easy to surface.

The app's user interface is aesthetically pleasing and friendly, making it a pleasure to use.

Google's Pixel phones have built-in wallpaper capabilities, including auto-generation via artificial intelligence and an 'Emoji Workshop' feature, but Backdrops still offers a more extensive selection of wallpapers.

Backdrops is a standout option for wallpaper apps, offering access to countless designs, many of which are free to use.

It's super easy to save wallpapers to your 'Favorites' tab, and useful information like resolution and file size are also easy to surface.

Backdrops has a friendly and streamlined user interface, making it a pleasure to use.

The app's selection is unmatched, even by Google's built-in wallpaper capabilities, which have been bolstered in recent years.

Nothing quite beats the selection on offer from Backdrops, not even auto-generation via artificial intelligence or the 'Emoji Workshop' feature.

A different take: Do Phone Apps Use Data

Snapseed is a powerful photo editing app that's available for both Android and iOS devices. It's known for its advanced tools and features that can help you take your mobile photography to the next level.

Snapseed offers a range of tools and filters that can help you enhance and edit your photos. One of its standout features is the "Selective Adjust" tool, which allows you to make precise adjustments to specific areas of an image.

The app also features a range of filters and effects that can be applied to your photos, from subtle adjustments to more dramatic transformations. I've personally used the "HDR" filter to great effect in Snapseed, which can help to add depth and contrast to your images.

Snapseed's interface is highly intuitive and easy to navigate, even for those who are new to photo editing. The app's developers have done a great job of making its advanced features accessible to users of all skill levels.

On a similar theme: Why Is My Phone Opening Apps on Its Own

If you're looking to lock apps on your Pixel phone, you have two options to consider. There's app pinning, which allows you to pin one app that phone users can access without a password, found in Settings > Security and privacy > More security and privacy > App pinning.

Alternatively, you can download a third-party app locking app from the Play Store to set timers, passcodes or fingerprint unlocking on apps. Just be sure to read the app store reviews on anything you're considering installing, as you'll be giving the app total access over your phone.

To give you some peace of mind, I tested out a few app locking apps and found that Applock Pro has a 4.2/5 rating on the Play Store and over 100 million downloads. If you want to lock apps using Applock, you'll need to open the Play Store, search for Applock, select it and press Install.

Check this out: Lock Phone Apps

Some popular third-party app locking apps include Applock, which has a 4.2/5 rating on the Play Store and over 100 million downloads, and Applock Pro. These apps often have a pattern passcode that you'll need to input to unlock the apps you've selected, and some may have ads that you can get rid of with a cheap subscription plan.

If you forget your passcode, you can add a security question to help you get back into your phone.

Google Authenticator is a two-factor authentication app that adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts. It generates a time-based one-time password (TOTP) that is unique to your device and can only be used once.

This app uses a six-digit code that is valid for a short period, usually 30 seconds, to prevent hackers from accessing your accounts even if they have your password. The code is generated based on a secret key that is shared between your device and the authenticator app.

Google Authenticator is available for both iOS and Android devices and can be used with a wide range of online services, including Google accounts. It's a simple and effective way to add an extra layer of security to your online accounts.

On a similar theme: Google Pixel Photo App

You can lock apps on a Pixel phone using two main options: app pinning and third-party app locking apps.

App pinning is a native setting that allows you to pin one app, which can be accessed without a password. To set it up, go to Settings > Security and privacy > More security and privacy > App pinning.

However, if app pinning won't cut it for you, you can install a third-party app locking app, which offers more control over the process. These apps will give you the option to set timers, passcodes, or fingerprint unlocking on apps.

To give you some peace of mind, I tested out a few app locking apps and found three that seemed most trustworthy and easy-to-use: Applock, Applock Pro, and others.

Applock is one of the simplest to use, with a 4.2/5 rating on the Play Store and over 100 million downloads. To lock apps using Applock, you'll need to create a pattern passcode, which you'll have to repeat to verify it.

A different take: Cell Phone Security Apps

When you try to open a locked app, you'll be prompted to input the pattern code you created earlier. This lock screen usually has ads, but a cheap subscription plan gets rid of them.

If you forget your passcode, the third-party lock apps I tested all suggest adding a security question, so you can use this to get back into your phone.

Here's a quick comparison of the two options:

Google is rumored to be working on surfacing more battery-related information in its upcoming Android 15 release.

Smartphone batteries are consumable products, and as such they chemically degrade over time, making it essential to keep tabs on their health.

Battery Guru is the app to beat for monitoring your phone's battery health, with features like charging and discharging stats, battery health calculations, and temperature alarms.

The app is free to use, with a paid tier to remove ads.

Pulsar, a music player app, doesn't try to shoehorn streaming services down your throat, giving you complete control over your music library.

It automatically organizes your music into categories like 'Albums,' 'Artists,' 'Songs,' and 'Genres,' making it easy to find what you're looking for.

Chromecast support is also included, allowing you to stream your music to a TV or other device.

Suggestion: Mental Health Phone Apps

Distractions can be a major productivity killer, especially when it comes to listening to podcasts. Pocket Casts is a great solution for this.

One of the best things about Pocket Casts is that it's distraction-free, allowing you to focus on your podcasts without added noise. A discovery feed shows you trending podcasts without being overwhelming.

You can also create an account to sync your settings and listening history across multiple devices, making it easy to pick up where you left off.

Check this out: Texting Apps without Phone Number

To listen to podcasts without added distractions, consider using a dedicated podcast app. Pocket Casts is a great option for its attractive software design and simple navigation.

It's free from the distractions inherent in YouTube Music, which has taken over as the new home for podcast streaming. You can also create an account to sync your settings and listening history across multiple devices.

A discovery feed in Pocket Casts shows you trending podcasts without being overwhelming, and a 'Stats' section helps you track your overall playtime. Pocket Casts' focus on a core experience makes it a natural choice for those who want to listen to podcasts without distractions.

App pinning is a feature on Pixel phones that allows you to lock a specific app so that it can be accessed without fully unlocking the phone.

You can pin an app by going to Settings > Security and privacy > More security and privacy > App pinning and turning it on. This will allow you to access the pinned app without entering a password.

To set up app pinning, you don't need to install any additional apps. It's a native setting on Pixel phones.

Here are the two options for locking apps on a Pixel phone:

This feature is great for letting someone access a specific app without giving them access to your personal files.

Stay Free is an app that can help minimize phone use, with over 10 million downloads on the Play Store and a glowing overall rating of 4.7/5.

To use Stay Free, you'll need to install it from the Play Store, then open it up to see a dashboard showing your phone use between apps. The app is easy to use and pretty effective, making it a great tool for anyone looking to reduce distractions.

Related reading: Phone Apps to Play with Friends

To lock apps, you'll need to select the Usage Limits option, then Add Usage Limit and choose Apps, Websites, or Categories. From there, you can select the app or category you want to lock and set a block limit.

You can choose from different styles of locking, including permanent, based on a schedule, based on a use limit, and 'variable' which means you set the block limit every time you open the app.

Check this out: How to Lock My Apps on My Phone

App Management is a breeze on Pixel phones, thanks to native settings that make it easy to control app access. You can pin apps, which allows users to only access that app without fully unlocking the phone.

Pinning an app is a great option if you want to let someone play a game or watch a video without accessing your personal files. This feature is especially useful for parents who want to let kids use their phone without worrying about them getting into sensitive areas.

To set up app pinning, follow the step-by-step guide, which doesn't require you to install anything.

See what others are reading: Why Will My Phone Not Let Me Download Apps