Common Shortcuts

Updated on December 6, 2024

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Using your Pixel device running GrapheneOS (Android 14) becomes much easier with these shortcuts and gestures. You donโ€™t need to memorize them all right awayโ€”over time, youโ€™ll naturally become familiar with the ones you use most as you experiment. ๐Ÿš€


The Physical Buttons #

If you have one of our pixel devices, the device will have three physical buttons.

  • Power button (single small button above the longer one)
  • Volume buttons (consisting of volume up and volume down)

These three buttons alone can be pressed in certain ways to access several useful shortcuts explained below…

Physical Button Combinations ๐Ÿ•น๏ธ #

  • Lock / Wake screen: ๐Ÿ”’Single press the power button to lock or wake the screen.
  • Open Camera Instantly ๐Ÿ“ท: Double-press the Power button to launch the camera, even when locked.
  • Take a Screenshot ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ: Press the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously.
  • Activate Silent Mode ๐Ÿ”•: Press the Power and Volume Up buttons to switch to silent mode.
  • Mute Incoming Calls ๐Ÿ“ž๐Ÿ”‡: Press the Volume button during an incoming call to mute the ringtone. This can be enabled under Settings > Sound & Vibration > Shortcut to prevent ringing.
  • Open Power Menu ๐Ÿ”‹: Press and hold the Power button to access the power-off menu. From here, you can Restart or Power Off your device.
    • Tip ๐Ÿ’ก: Restart your phone at least once a week to maintain optimal performance.

Customizing Physical Buttons ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ #

If you donโ€™t like the default shortcuts, you can adjust them:

  • Navigate to Settings > System > Buttons to customize physical button behaviors.
  • Additional shortcut options can be found under Settings > System > Gestures.

Software Shortcuts and Gestures ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ #

Any shortcuts that are done on the screen itself are generally considered software shortcuts or gestures. These too are used to access things more efficiently and navigate the device effectively. Some of the common ones are explained below.

Quick Settings Access โšก #

Swipe down from the top of the screen to access Quick Settings for toggling features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more.

Check out the User Interface Overview article for more info on navigating the device for the first time!

Split-Screen Mode ๐Ÿ“Š #

Use two apps simultaneously:

  • Open an app, go to Recent Apps, tap the appโ€™s icon, and select Split screen.
  • Choose another app to share the screen.

Tap to Check Phone ๐Ÿ‘€ #

  • Double-tap the locked screen to wake it up without pressing the power button.

This allows you to check the lock screen for notifications or other information quickly, This makes it easy to glance at updates without fully unlocking the device.

Lock Screen Shortcuts ๐Ÿ”“ #

  • Customize lock screen shortcuts by navigating to Settings > Display > Lock Screen > Shortcuts.

Things like a torch shortcut or camera shortcut can be put on the lock screen for easy access.


With these shortcuts and gestures, navigating your device becomes faster and more intuitive. As you explore, youโ€™ll find the setup that works best for you. ๐Ÿ™‚

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