16 Simple Tips and Tricks to Get More from Your LG G3

BY GreenBot Staff

Published 19 Aug 2014

The G3 was one of the best Android smartphones of the time. Beating the competition with its gorgeous QHD display in an almost bezel-less package. Of course, it’s not all about hardware with the G3, as it also provides many great software features. If you are a new G3 owner. These quick and simple tips will help you get the most out of your excellent phone.

Run Two Apps at Once with Dual Window

Dual Window lets you run two apps side by side with ease.

Samsung has given their devices the ability to run two apps side by side at the same time. The feature is limited on some apps. It can most certainly come in handy when trying to multitask. To access the Dual Window feature on the G3, hold down the back button. A menu above will pop up with a list of apps. You can drag one app to the top and one to the bottom. A few apps can even interact with one another. Suppose the file manager messaging app is opened in Dual Window. In that case, you can easily drag a photo from the file manager into the messaging app.

Take Notes, Doodle with QMemo+

QMemo+ makes it easy to jot down a quick note or draw a bad Android figure.

QMemo debuted on the Optimus G; it remained a helpful feature on the G3. The feature is only a swipe away on the G3, no matter what you do. Using a similar gesture to accessing Now, swipe up from home. QMemo is also available by swiping diagonally up to the right. The feature can also be operated by holding the volume up button when locked.
QMemo allows you to take a screenshot of whatever is on the current screen. You’ll immediately be able to jot notes down via text or by drawing directly on the screenshot. You can also switch to the personal view, which gives you a blank canvas for notes and doodles. The most straightforward use of QMemo+ is its ability to take screenshots. Offering an alternative to the volume-down power button combination that can sometimes be tricky to pull off.

Remember to Change Your Quick Settings

Too many options in the quick settings menu? Change or rearrange options to get what’s important to you front and center.

LG has provided quick settings options in the notification panel for some time now; it’s straightforward to customize.
Then your notification panel will open. Swipe through the quick settings options until you see the edit icon at the very end. A list of the options are displayed in the notification panel. Each option has a checkbox to the left of it and three lines to the right of it. Checking a box will show the option in the notification panel; unchecking it will remove it. If you want to change the order of notifications on the panel. Touch and drag it to the position of your choosing. It will be in the Quick Settings panel immediately.

Tweak the Navigation Bar

More buttons! Get quick access to your notification panel QMemo+ by adding more buttons to your navigation bar.

While it defaults to the same navigation bar layout as stock Android. You can add a few extras to it even by changing the theme. You can have up to 5 buttons on the navigation bar. Additional buttons for the notification panel, QMemo+, QSlide, and Dual, are now the only options available. So don’t get your hopes up for the ability to have a custom app on your navigation bar. You can also drag around the icons to change the order. While limited to only four options, users can also change the theme of the navigation bar. You can choose between white or black, each with a gradation theme. It’s nothing special, but it’s a nice touch. To change the navigation bar, go to the Display tab in the settings menu and tap on the Home touch buttons.

Set Up a Knock Code

Setting up Knock Code is very easy, you’ll have a backup pin just in case you forget it.

Knock Code is a fascinating, innovative feature. And makes a great alternative to the addition of fingerprint sensors in smartphones today. Knock Code debuted on the G2. Allowing you to create a code in the form of a combination of taps on specific screen areas. If you don’t want a password, pin, or pattern to unlock your G3, Knock Code is where it’s at. You can use Knock Code while your phone is asleep to immediately jump into the phone. Without having to turn the screen on, then enter your password.
Under the General tab in the settings menu, go to Security > Lock Screen > Select screen lock. Select Knock Code; you will then be asked to create and confirm a Knock Code. The setup will require you to create a backup pin if you forget your knock code.

Guest Mode keeps Your Stuff Safe from Prying Eyes

Get some peace of mind when handing over your phone to someone else with the Guest Mode.

Guest Mode lets someone else use the phone without getting full access to your files, photos, or other private content. The feature allows the owner to set a specific unlock pattern and select what applications are available in this mode. This limited functionality can be helpful if you have sensitive information on your phone. Even to restrict the apps they access. Like kid-safe games for your child.
To enable Guest Mode, Under the General tab in the settings menu, tap on Guest Mode. From there, you can select which apps guests will have access. Change the wallpaper, and select the lock screen type. If the other person unlocks your G3 with the designated Guest Mode code. They’ll be in the walled garden you have sculpted for them.

Change the System Font Home Themes

Changing the system font on the G3 only takes about three taps.

If you’re looking to liven up your home screen experience. Or want a more playful font spanning across most of your apps, this provides an easy way to do both.
The new font will be displayed system-wide. This means everything will change all the text in your status bar and in the messaging app.
The pre-installed options are kept to a minimum. But more are available to download with the Smartworld app.
Under the Display tab in the settings menu, tap on Font type and select your font.
After you change the system font. You can also change the Home theme the same way by going to the display settings and tapping on the Home screen.

 Get a grip with One-handed Operation

Held the G3 with one hand with One-handed operation.

The G3 is a powerful smartphone with great features across the board, but there’s no denying it’s a big phone. You’ll likely use it with two hands unless you have giant hands. Luckily, it has a feature to help alleviate this problem called One-handed operation.
With the One-handed operation enabled. You can adjust the alignment of the dialer, keyboard, and lock screen, making them easier to use with one hand.
Under the General tab in the Settings menu, tap on One-handed operation. Check the boxes for the features you’d like to enable, and you’re good to go.

Quickly Launch Apps with Shortcut Keys

Looking for a quick way to shoot a photo or take a note? The G3 had you covered.

While the phone is locked and sleeping, you launch the camera by pressing and holding the volume down button. Holding down on the volume-up button while the phone is locked will launch the QMemo+.
This is a cool feature at your fingertips. Still, the downside to the shortcut keys is there is no way to change which apps they summon. Still, you’re stuck with the camera and QMemo+, whether you like it. The only option in the General tab in Settings is to disable the shortcut keys altogether.

Smart Cleaning Reminds You to Clean Up Your Junk

One G3 feature is called Smart Cleaning. It will remind you to delete what you don’t use and other data to free up space on the phone.
Smart Cleaning will remind you to delete temporary files or items found in the download folder. It will also suggest you delete cache from apps and apps that haven’t been used after a certain amount of time.
By default, both the notification and interval idle period is set at 1 month. But both can be reduced or lengthened.
Smart cleaning settings can be found under the General tab in the settings menu.

Grow or Shrink App Views

A quick pinch gesture is all it takes to change the view in your recent apps menu, gallery, messaging.

One nifty feature missed on some smartphones is the ability to change the size of the view of specific applications. Previously, the feature was in the Gallery Messaging apps. Still, the later software on the G3 brought the same functionality to the app’s menu.
You can shrink or grow the app’s view with a simple pinch-in or out gesture in any supported app. The gesture shrinks or enlarges text in the messaging application, increases or decreases the number of viewable apps in the menu. Changes the thumbnail size of albums in the gallery. It’s hardly a game-changing feature, but it was an excellent option.

Make Health an Icon on Your Home Screen

Make Health an icon instead of a large widget with this workaround.

Health is a handy app. It lets you track your steps and exercise stats, and even map your path during a run. Unfortunately, the only way you could get to it was through a widget on your home screen. This also meant that you won’t find Health in the app drawer. Luckily, with a third-party app, you can create an icon for Health, quickly freeing up some home screen space.

Download QuickShortcutMaker from the Play Store. Open QuickShortcutMaker and search for Health. When the result populates, tap on the downward-pointing arrow to reveal the app’s activities. Tap on com.lge.lifetracker.MainActivity.

To test the shortcut, tap on the Try section on the next screen. Tap on Create Health, which will appear as an icon on your home screen.

Accessibility Tweaks

The accessibility settings menu on the G3 is full of little tweaks you may not be aware of.
Touch Zoom allows you to tap three times on any phone area, except the keyboard navigation bar, to zoom in. Once in this zoomed-in mode. You can pan by dragging two fingers around to adjust the zoom with a pinch gesture. Another three taps will bring you back to the star view.
Flash alert is exactly what it sounds like, the camera flash will light up when incoming notification calls arrive. Helpful when you’ve lost your phone or to add some blinding flair.

Get quick access to frequently-used phone features with Universal Touch.

Once known as Universal Touch. Today’s updated version is called Assistive Touch Swipe, enabling an always-on icon that will be available across every phone screen. Tapping the icon brings up a large window in the center of the screen. Offering essential functions for volume, power, home, and screen capture settings.

You can also launch apps for settings, calling, and messaging browsers by drawing the first letter of the application’s name on the open Universal Touch window.

Lock Your Photos and Videos Away for Your Eyes Only

Securely hide your private photos and videos with lock.

If you have sensitive photos or videos that you want to, make sure nobody can access them but you. The LG G3 provided a way to lock them behind a password with its lock feature.
Before you can start locking away your selected content, you must set up a password. To do this, go to Settings > Security > lock. It will ask whether you want to set a password or a pattern and a valid email address if you lose it. You can go into the gallery app. Tap on the action overflow three vertical dots button on the top right tap on the lock. Select the content you want protected, and be hidden and accessible only by a password.

Lock Screen Customization

Unless you disable it completely, you probably look at your phone’s lock screen several times a day. If you need to spruce it up, head to Settings > lock screen to get your tweak.
This menu will allow you to change the type of lock screen, wallpaper, unlock animation, and your shortcut. You’ll also be able to enable lock screen widgets here. I suggest you spend some time getting to know this menu well.

Root Your G3 with One Click

Rooting your G3 is only a tap away.

If you’re looking to root your G3. Stump Root is an app that will root any U.S. variant with one click.

To get your root on, you’ll need to head over to the XDA thread and download Stump Root via your phone or computer. After that, you’ll need to sideload the app onto your phone; you’ll find a handy guide here to do that.

If you’re in a quiet area, I’d suggest you turn the media volume down on your G3. Stump Root has some old-school Nintendo music that plays when you first open it. The app gives you one function. Grind, tapping it will begin the rooting process. And in case of a problem with the root download. Don’t forget to back up all that you have on the phone before you start. If all goes well, you’ll be asked to restart your phone. Install the Super Su – Root Checker Superuser/SU and enjoy your newly-rooted G3.