Practical Tips for Using Your Android Tablet
Get more out of your Android tablet with tips on split screen, home screen organization, Google Play, kids mode, and essential settings for daily use.
At a Glance
Organize your home screen
~28sQuick Tip
Put your most-used apps on the first home screen page and less-used apps on further pages or inside folders so your main screen stays uncluttered.
Use split screen for multitasking
~30sWarning
Not all apps support split screen. If an app doesn't offer the split screen option, it can only be used in full screen mode.
Download apps from the Google Play Store
~22sSet up Parental Controls
~21sAdjust display and font size
~19sUse the notifications panel and quick settings
~28sQuick Tip
Enable "Do Not Disturb" at night by tapping that tile in quick settings. It silences notifications so they don't wake you, while still allowing calls from certain contacts if needed.
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Android tablets are versatile devices that can serve as reading devices, video players, video calling stations, web browsers, and much more. Whether you have a Samsung Galaxy Tab, a Lenovo tablet, or another Android brand, most of the tips here apply to all of them.
Organize your home screen
Long-press on any app icon to move it. Drag it to a new location or to the edge of the screen to move it to a different page. Drag one app on top of another to create a folder — this is a great way to group related apps (like a "Family" folder with WhatsApp, Zoom, and FaceTime). To remove an app from the home screen, long-press it and drag it to "Remove" at the top.
Use split screen to do two things at once
Many Android tablets let you view two apps side by side. To activate split screen: tap the square Overview button (usually at the bottom of the screen) to see your recent apps, then long-press on an app's title bar or tap its icon and choose "Open in split screen view." Then choose a second app to fill the other half. This is useful for watching a video while browsing the web, or comparing two documents.
Google Play Store for apps
Unlike Amazon Fire tablets, Android tablets use the Google Play Store. Tap the Play Store icon, search for an app, and tap "Install." You'll need a Google account (Gmail) to download apps. Most popular apps are free.
Set up Kids Mode (or Parental Controls)
If grandchildren or other children will use the tablet, look for "Kids Space" or "Google Kids Space" on tablets from brands like Lenovo and Samsung. You can also go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing > Parental Controls to set screen time limits and content filters. Samsung tablets have a dedicated "Kids Mode" in the notification panel.
Notifications panel
Swipe down from the top of the screen to see all notifications and quick settings. Swipe down a second time to see the full panel of quick settings tiles — Wi-Fi toggle, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, screen brightness, and more.
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