15 quick ways to get more out of your Nexus 5

We’re impressed with the Nexus 5. It’s a whole lot of phone for very little money. If you’re like us and already ordered Google’s latest flagship, you might be interested in a little help. We’ve got a variety of Nexus 5 tips for you here that range from the basics, to the lesser known.

How to change your launcher

Android has always boasted some serious customization credentials and there are loads of launchers available via Google Play which can transform your home screen with new colors, themes, icons, and more (we recommend Nova Launcher). The Nexus 5 has a Google Experience launcher which is currently exclusive to the phone. Download a new launcher and you can change to it by going to Settings and choosing Home under Device. Select the launcher you want, and uninstall any you don’t want via the trashcan icon.

How to get productive

Head into your apps and you’ll find the all new Quickoffice which allows you to create, review, and edit Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. QuickOffice was bought by Google, which means it should continue to get better and better.

How to launch the camera quickly

Swipe to the right on your lockscreen and the camera will launch.

How to set data limits

If you’re stuck with a monthly allowance for data then you should set those limits right now. Head into Settings > Data Usage and tap Set mobile data limit. The Mobile data option at the top will need to be turned on for you to set this. You can slide the red bar to set a limit and the orange bar will deliver a warning. You can shut off your data when you hit the limit, or

How to talk to Google Now

Just swipe from left to right or say “OK Google” when you’re on the home screen of your Nexus 5 and your virtual assistant will appear, ready to scour the Web, deliver directions, or call your wife. By the way, your language needs to be set to English (US) for the “OK Google” command to work.

How to change SMS texting apps

Hangouts is your default one-stop-messaging-shop on the Nexus 5, but you don’t have to use it if you have a better alternative. Download an alternative SMS app (we recommend Handcent SMS) then go to Settings and tap More under Wireless & Networks followed by Default SMS app. Pick the one you want from the list of options.

How to use new gestures in Chrome

You can still swipe through your open tabs in Chrome, but you have to swipe horizontally on the toolbar for it to work. You can also drag down from the toolbar to enter the tab switcher, and you can tap and hold the menu button then drag your finger down to open the menu and select menu items without lifting your finger, which is designed for easier one-handed use.

How to get the KitKat easter egg

Go to Settings > About phone and tap on Android version multiple times until you see a big K. You can muck it around with it and you’ll see an Android logo in the KitKat style, as well. It’s just for fun.

How to use Android Device Manager

One quick security step that’s well worth taking with your new Nexus 5 is to head to Android Device Manager and register your device. Now, if you ever lose it or it gets stolen, you’ll be able to locate it, send a message, lock it, or even erase the contents remotely.

How to back up your Nexus 5

Go to Settings > Backup & reset and choose Back up my data. This will ensure your app data, Wi-Fi passwords, and other settings are not lost, and you can associate the backup with a Gmail account if you want to. It will come in handy when you change to your next phone.

How to control music from the lockscreen

If you’re using Play Music you’ll see music controls and full screen album art on the lockscreen. You can skip tracks and pause in here, but you can also now scrub (skip within a song) through tracks by holding one of the music controls to get the track preview to pop up and then dragging the circle to where you want to play.

How to add widgets to the lockscreen

If you just slide left on the lockscreen you’ll see the option to add widgets, so you can glance at your email, or see the latest tweets, without having to unlock your Nexus 5. Remember that you’ll have to enable widgets via Settings > Security > Enable widgets first.

How to access Quick Settings quickly

You can drag the notification bar down and tap the quick settings icon at the top right, but there’s a quicker way. Just drag down the notification bar with two fingers and you’ll be straight into the Quick Settings menu. It lets you toggle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, screen brightness, and other things easily.

How to root your Nexus 5

The good folks over at XDA Developers have an All-In-One Beginner’s Guide that’s excellent for anyone considering rooting their Nexus 5. You’ll find an easy method, full instructions, and learn how to make a proper backup, and flash a custom ROM.

How to take a screenshot and record your screen

You can press the Power and Volume down buttons together to take a screenshot on the Nexus 5, but the latest version of Android also allows for screen recording. Until some app developers take advantage of this command you’re stuck with a convoluted method involving the Android SDK and adb commands (anyone who took screenshots on older versions of Android will know what we’re talking about).
That’s all the Nexus 5 tips we have for you right now, but you can be sure we’ll update this piece with new ones when we uncover them. If you want to post a tip of your own we’d love to hear it.