12 Best Nothing Phone (1) Tips and Tricks You Should Know

The Nothing Phone (1) generated hype for its unique design and glyph lights. Its software, Nothing OS, is lean, clean, and has useful features.

Android is about customization and optimizing your device. Here are some of the best Nothing Phone (1) tips and tricks for you, the consumers. There’s something for everyone!

1. Enable Music Visualization

There are several features of Glyph lights on the Nothing Phone (1) available right out of the box. However, one easter egg enables a hidden feature – Music Visualization. When enabled, the Glyph lights will sync to the music you’re playing on the phone to give a cool effect. Here’s how to enable the secret feature.

Step 1: Open the Phone app on your Nothing Phone (1).

Step 2: Enter random number in dialer and select ‘Create new contact’ at top.

Step 3: When prompted to enter the contact’s First name, input “Abra” and save.

Step 4: Open the Settings app and select Glyph Interface.

Step 5: Tap on Ringtones and select ‘Add a contact’ under Custom contacts.

Step 6: When prompted to select a contact, choose Abra.

Step 7: Tap on Nothing ringtones.

Select a ringtone and save it to set as your ringtone.

Unlock the Music Visualization option on your Nothing Phone (1) by following these steps.

Step 9: Go to the Glyph Interface settings and select Music visualization.

Step 10: Enable Music Visualization feature.

2. Use Glyph Lights in the Camera App

Here’s a practical use case of the Glyph lights on the Nothing Phone (1). If you’re taking photos in the dark, you can use the Glyph lights to brighten the scene. The Glyph lights are softer and more diffused compared to the camera flash, making them a better alternative. They are also useful for macro shots since they require more light.

Here’s how you can use the Glyph lights with the camera.

Step 1: Open the Camera app on the Nothing Phone (1).

Step 2: Switch to the desired mode and tap the flash icon in the top-left corner.

Step 3: Tap it multiple times until you arrive at the Glyph lighting mode.

In this mode, all Glyph LEDs on the rear will light up to illuminate the scene. There are other camera tips and tricks you can check out to improve shooting experience!

If you haven’t used always on display before, it’s a feature that keeps your phone’s screen always on. You can check the time, date, and pending notifications when using always on display, making it handy. Here’s how you can enable it on the Nothing Phone (1).

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your phone and go to Display.

Step 2: Tap on the Lock screen option and toggle on ‘Always show basic info of lock screen.’

Step 3: Tap ‘Always show basic info of lock screen’ and set the Schedule to None if you don’t want the always-on display to turn off during the day.

4. Show Fingerprint Scanner Icon

The Nothing Phone(1) has an in-display fingerprint scanner to unlock the device. When the screen is turned off, it can be difficult to locate the fingerprint scanner. So, Nothing has given us an option to show the fingerprint icon every time we move the phone slightly. This makes it easy to find the scanner and unlock the phone. Here’s how to enable it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your phone and navigate to Screen lock & Security.

Step 2: Tap on Fingerprint and enter your PIN to access the menu.

Step 3: Toggle on ‘Show fingerprint icon.’

5. Link and Control Your Tesla

Tesla and Nothing have collaborated to integrate a feature into the Nothing Phone (1) that allows you to control your car from the phone. If you own a Tesla, here’s how to set it up.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and go to Experimental features.

Step 2: Select Connect to Tesla.

Step 3: Tap on Connect and log in using your Tesla account.

6. Customize the Home Screen and UI

Android 12 introduced the Material You design language with colors across the UI matching the wallpaper. The Nothing Phone allows you to change UI colors and use custom icon packs in the launcher. How can you do it?

Step 1: Long-press an empty space on your home screen and select Customization.

Step 2: Tap on Wallpaper & Style.

Step 3: Choose a color from the palette at the bottom to set it across the UI.

Step 4: If you don’t like the default options, tap Basic colors to choose from 4 simple colors to theme the interface.

Step 5: Scroll down on the page and find the App grid option. Tap on it and choose the number of apps you want to see on the Home Screen.

After completing, go back. Step 6: To customize your icons, select the Icon Pack.

Step 7: Select an icon pack that you’ve installed or tap Add to view the list of icon packs on the Play Store.

Here’s how to customize your home screen using Nothing Phone 1’s features:

7. Use Game Mode While Gaming

Smartphone gaming is incredibly popular these days. If you spend hours on COD mobile or enjoy Genshin Impact on your Nothing Phone (1), make sure to enable Game Mode. This will minimize distractions while gaming. Follow these steps to enable it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your phone and navigate to System.

Step 2: Select the Game mode option and tap on Apps.

Step 3: Add apps and select games to enable Game mode.

Step 6: Enable Mistouch prevention to avoid activating swipe gestures while gaming.

8. Enable Screen Attention

Screen attention is a feature that keeps the screen on while you’re looking at it. This is handy if you don’t want your phone’s display to turn off while reading an article. Here’s how to enable it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and go to Display.

Step 2: Tap on Screen timeout and toggle on Screen attention.

Your screen will remain on even after the set time while you’re looking at it.

The Nothing Phone (1) is one of the few devices with wireless charging at its price point. In addition to wireless charging, the device also supports reverse wireless charging, or as Nothing calls it — Battery Share. Once enabled, simply place the phone you want to charge on the back of the Nothing Phone (1) and it will start charging!

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your phone and go to Battery.

Step 2: Tap on Battery Share and enable ‘Allow battery share.’

Step 3: Use the slider to choose the desired Battery share cutoff percentage. If your phone’s battery falls below this percentage, the sharing function will cease.

If you place a Qi-enabled device on the back of the Nothing Phone, it will start charging and be indicated by glowing LEDs. Impressive, right?

Ever wondered how anyone can unlock your phone with your fingerprint while you sleep? Lockdown mode prevents that. When enabled, you need to unlock the phone with your PIN first, then you can use your fingerprint to unlock it next time. Here’s how to access Lockdown mode.

Step 1: Press the power button + volume up button simultaneously on your Nothing Phone (1) to bring up the power menu.

Step 2: Tap on Lockdown.

Your phone will lock instantly and require a PIN to unlock it, as fingerprint and other biometrics cannot be used.

11. Quickly Open the Camera With a Gesture

No matter what you’re doing on your phone, you can open the camera quickly using a gesture on your Nothing Phone. To enable it, follow these steps.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your phone and go to System.

Step 2: Select Gestures and tap ‘Quickly open camera.’

Toggle on ‘Quickly open camera.’

Even if your phone is locked, you can open the camera app by double-pressing the power button.

12. Automatically Record Calls From Specific Numbers

Call recording is a commonly used feature. Although you can record calls using the Phone app on the Nothing Phone, you also have the option to automatically record calls from specific numbers. Here’s how to set it up.

Step 1: Open the Phone app on your device and tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.

Step 2: Select the Settings option.

Step 3: Under General, choose Call recording.

Step 4: In the Always Record section, toggle on ‘Numbers not in your contacts’ if you want to record calls from all unknown numbers.

Step 5: Automatically record calls from specific contacts by choosing Selected numbers.

Step 6: Tap Choose a contact and select the number from your contact list to automatically record calls.

Step 7: Toggle on ‘Always record selected numbers.’

That’s it. You’ve set up automatic call recording for the chosen contact.

Improve Your Experience of Using Nothing

The Nothing Phone (1)’s software is less feature-rich than some other custom UIs, but it has its own nifty tricks that improve the user experience. What did you think of the Nothing Phone (1) tips and tricks? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

Sumukh Rao

Sumukh specializes in refining editorials and improving language efficiency. With his insights and reviews, he simplifies tech for consumers and aids in selecting the right gadgets. Despite his engineering degree, he chose writing as his passion, contributing articles to publications such as TechPP and XDA-Developers for the past 5 years. When not typing on mechanical keyboards, Sumukh promotes VR Gaming as the next big thing.