DEV Community: ScreenLux

Setting Up a New Pixel? How to Open, Edit, Move and Resize Your Quick Settings Tiles

WatchLux — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:29:45 +0000

A new Pixel keeps its most-used switches one swipe away. Google's Pixel Phone Help says Quick Settings lets you find and change your settings from any screen, and you can add or move the ones you change often. This guide covers opening it, editing it and adding accessibility tiles, following Google's help pages.

Open Quick Settings

To find your first few settings, swipe down from the top of your screen.
To find all your Quick Settings, swipe down again.

Google says some of these steps work only on Android 11 and up, so check your Android version if a step doesn't match.

Turn a setting on or off

Tap the icon to turn a setting on or off. Dimmed settings are off.
Tap the name of a setting to quickly adjust it.
Touch and hold a Quick Settings icon to reach its advanced settings.

Add, remove or move a setting

From the top of your screen, swipe down twice.
To update the Quick Settings menu, tap Edit.
To add a setting, scroll down to find all the available settings, then tap Add.
To remove a setting, tap Remove.
To reorganize your settings, tap and drag them where you want them.

Google's page shows the Edit, Add and Remove buttons as icons that don't appear in its text, so look for them on your screen.

Resize a setting

To shrink a setting so it shows only its icon, tap and drag the right side of the icon to the left.
To show the setting's name, tap and drag the right side of the icon to the right.

Add an accessibility tile

Google's Accessibility Help lists accessibility features you can put in Quick Settings: color correction, color inversion, extra dim, one-handed mode, Live Transcribe, Sound Amplifier, Sound Notifications, Live Caption and Hearing Devices. Google says this works directly from Settings on Android 15 and up:

Open Settings, then tap Accessibility.
Select the feature you want to add as a tile.
Turn on Quick settings shortcut.
Swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings.

If you can't find the shortcut switch, Google says that feature isn't convertible to a Quick Settings tile.

Where to find more Pixel tips

Google's English (Australia) version of the page adds a path to more tips. Open Settings and scroll down. On Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, tap Device health and then Tips and support. On Pixel 9a and earlier, tap Tips and support and then Explore Pixel Tips.

A new-Pixel Quick Settings plan

Keep: the switches you use every day, near the top.
Remove: any tile you never touch.
Resize: shrink small tiles to icons so more fit.
Add: an accessibility tile if you use one.

Troubleshooting

A setting seems missing: Google says that if several settings are on, your phone sometimes hides icons to save space. Look for a dot at the top of the screen.
A tile appeared from an app: Google says some apps ask to add their icon as a tile. You can remove or re-add these at any time.
A tile won't turn into a shortcut: see the accessibility note above.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, with 4K video wallpapers for Android 8.0 and up, and once your switches are in order, a new background makes the phone feel finished. The app installs a live wallpaper service that plays the video loop on the Home Screen. The winter and holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android: ScreenLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 28, 2026): Pixel Phone Help, "Change settings quickly on your Pixel phone" (support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6111329); Android Accessibility Help, "Find accessibility services in Quick Settings" (support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/12637487)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

New iPhone for the Holidays? How to Take Screenshots, Capture Full Pages and Record Your Screen

WatchLux — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:24:55 +0000

A screenshot can keep a recipe, a gift list or a flight confirmation, and a screen recording can show a relative which buttons to tap. This guide covers both, plus the capture settings, and follows Apple's iPhone User Guide.

Take a screenshot

Quickly press and release the side button and the volume up button at the same time. On iPhone SE, quickly press and release the Home button and the side button at the same time.
If a thumbnail appears, tap it in the lower left of the screen. Apple lists these options:

Full Page: captures content beyond your iPhone screen. Drag your finger on the preview image on the right to see more of it. Apple's example is capturing an entire webpage in Safari.
Crop: drag the handles. To save a smaller portion of a full-page screenshot, tap the crop button Apple shows, then drag the handles.
Annotate: tap the markup button, then use the Markup tools.
Cancel or delete: tap the button Apple shows for it.

To save full-screen screenshots to your photo library, Apple says to swipe up, or tap the button on the preview, then choose an option. Screenshots with thumbnails save automatically. Instead of the hardware buttons, Apple says you can use Siri, AssistiveTouch or Back Tap.

To review them, open Photos, tap Collections, scroll down to Media Types, then tap Screenshots.

Record your screen

Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center.
If you don't see the Screen Recording control, add it to Control Center. Apple points to its Customize controls steps for that.
Tap the Screen Recording control, then wait for the 3-second countdown.
Swipe up to dismiss Control Center, then do the thing you want to record.

To stop, tap the red circle if your iPhone has a Dynamic Island, then tap the stop button. On other models, tap the red timer in the top left of the screen, then tap Stop.

Apple says some apps might not allow recording, and you can't record while using screen mirroring.

Add your voice

To record with audio, open Control Center, touch and hold the Screen Recording control, tap Microphone to turn it on, then tap Start Recording. Wait for the 3-second countdown, then start. Apple says recordings save to your photo library: go to Photos > Collections, scroll to Media Types, then tap Screen Recordings.

Change the screen capture settings

Go to Settings > General > Screen Capture. Apple says you can:

Full-Screen Previews: Apple says screenshots appear in full screen by default. Turn this off for a temporary thumbnail in the lower left.
Automatic Visual Look Up: on supported models and some languages, identifies objects and places in screenshots.
CarPlay Screenshots: turn on to capture screenshots from CarPlay.
SDR or HDR: SDR captures less brightness and color; screenshots use PNG and recordings use HEVC. HDR captures more brightness and color; screenshots use HEIF and recordings use HEVC (HDR10). Apple says it requires an HDR display to show the full quality, and on standard displays HDR screenshots appear in SDR.

A holiday capture checklist

Gift lists and recipes: screenshot them, using Full Page for long webpages.
Tech help for family: record your screen with the microphone on.

Troubleshooting

No thumbnail appears: check Full-Screen Previews in Settings > General > Screen Capture.
Screen Recording is missing from Control Center: add it with Apple's Customize controls steps.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, and a screenshot of a finished Lock Screen is a handy way to share a look with family. On iPhone, its live wallpapers arrive as Live Photos for the Lock Screen, so a winter design can move. The holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and iPad: ScreenLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 28, 2026): Apple iPhone User Guide, "Take a screenshot on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/take-a-screenshot-iphc872c0115/ios); Apple iPhone User Guide, "Take a screen recording on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/take-a-screen-recording-iph52f6e1987/27/ios/27); Apple iPhone User Guide, "Change the screen capture settings on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/change-the-screen-capture-settings-iph2d2500abc/27/ios/27)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Unboxed a New Pixel? How to Set Screen Timeout, Adaptive Brightness, Screen Attention and Colors

WatchLux — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:12:17 +0000

A new Pixel keeps most of its display controls in one place. Google's Pixel Phone Help says you can change brightness, font size, display size, rotation and more from Settings. This guide walks through the ones people usually want on day one: brightness, how long the screen stays on, colors and touch sensitivity. Google notes that some options are limited to certain Pixel models, and this guide repeats those limits where they apply.

Open the display settings

Open your phone's Settings app.
Tap Display & touch.
Tap the setting that you want to change. To see more settings, tap Advanced.

Google's tip: you can reach the settings you use most from any screen with Quick Settings.

Set the brightness

Tap Brightness level and move the slider.

Leave Adaptive brightness on

Google says Adaptive brightness fits your screen's brightness to the light around you. It's on by default, and you can still change brightness while it's on. Over time, your phone learns your preferences.

Google adds that on Pixel 4 and later, adaptive brightness can temporarily brighten the screen above the normal maximum in extremely bright lighting, like direct sunlight.

Choose how long the screen stays on

Screen timeout changes how long it takes for the screen to go black when you're not using the phone. Adaptive timeout can turn the screen off early when you're not using it, which Google says saves battery life and helps prevent accidental calls.

Open Settings.
Tap Display & touch > Screen Timeout > Adaptive timeout.

Turn on Screen attention (Pixel 4 and later)

Google says Screen attention keeps your screen turned on when you're looking at it. Its tip: it works best when the screen is well lit but not in direct sunlight.

Pick a color mode

Google lists these options for Colors:

Natural: the most accurate colors.
Boosted: accurate colors with more vividness.
Adaptive (Pixel 3 and later): the most vivid colors while keeping color details. This is on by default.

Tune touch sensitivity

Google lists touch sensitivity as a Pixel setting.

Adaptive touch: go to Settings > Display & touch > Touch Sensitivity > Adaptive touch to improve how well your phone senses your touch.
Screen protector mode: go to Settings > Display & touch > Touch Sensitivity > Screen protector mode to increase sensitivity when you use a screen protector.

Control screen rotation

Auto-rotate turns what's showing on the screen when you turn your phone. Google's tip: you can rotate the screen while Auto-rotate is off. Rotate your phone, then tap Rotate in the corner.

Smooth Display

Google says Smooth Display can automatically raise the refresh rate for some content. The page lists specific models, including Pixel 7, 7a, 8, 8a and Pixel Fold, so check that yours is included. Google notes it increases battery usage and is disabled when Battery Saver is on.

A first-day display plan

Brightness: set it once, then leave Adaptive brightness on.
Screen timeout: try Adaptive timeout.
Colors: compare Natural and Adaptive with a photo you know well.
Wallpaper: pick it last, once the screen looks right.

Troubleshooting

A setting is missing: Google says some options depend on the Pixel model, such as Screen attention (Pixel 4 and later) and Adaptive colors (Pixel 3 and later).
Smooth Display isn't working: Google says it's disabled when Battery Saver is on.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, with 4K video wallpapers for Android 8.0 and up, and a freshly tuned display is a good moment to pick a new background. The app installs a live wallpaper service that plays the video loop on the Home Screen. The winter and holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android: ScreenLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 26, 2026): Pixel Phone Help, "Manage screen & display settings on a Pixel phone" (support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6111557)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Just Unboxed an iPhone? How to Set Brightness, True Tone, Auto-Lock and Raise to Wake

WatchLux — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:11:29 +0000

A new iPhone looks great out of the box, but a few display settings decide how it feels day to day: how bright the screen is, how the colors adapt to the room, how long it stays on and whether it wakes when you pick it up. They take about five minutes to check. This guide follows Apple's iPhone User Guide and Apple Support.

Set the brightness

Apple says you can make the screen dimmer or brighter, and that dimming it extends battery life. Do one of the following:

Open Control Center, then drag up or down.
Go to Settings > Display & Brightness, then drag the slider.

Turn on Auto-Brightness

Apple says iPhone adjusts the screen brightness for current light conditions using the built-in ambient light sensor.

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Accessibility, tap Display & Text Size, then turn on Auto-Brightness.

Apple notes that turning off Auto-Brightness may increase power consumption. The switch lives under Accessibility, not under Display & Brightness, so it's easy to miss.

Turn on True Tone

Apple says True Tone automatically adapts the color and intensity of the display to match the light in your environment. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness, then turn True Tone on or off. Apple also lists a Control Center shortcut for it.

Choose how long the screen stays on

Apple says the display stays on while you're looking at it, but it dims and eventually locks when you look away for a while. To change how long that takes:

Go to the Settings app.
Tap Display & Brightness, then tap Auto-Lock.
Choose a length of time.

Apple notes that delaying or preventing Auto-Lock may increase power consumption. A longer time helps when you're navigating with Maps.

Decide whether iPhone wakes when you lift it

Apple lists three ways to wake iPhone: press the side button, raise iPhone, or tap the screen (tapping isn't available on iPhone SE). To turn off Raise to Wake, go to Settings > Display & Brightness.

Check Attention Aware Features

On an iPhone with Face ID, Apple says that if Attention Aware Features is turned on, iPhone won't dim or lock as long as it detects attention. To turn it on or off, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode.

A first-day display checklist

Brightness: set it by hand once, then leave Auto-Brightness on.
True Tone: turn it on and see whether whites look more natural in your room.
Auto-Lock: pick a time you can live with, and remember longer settings use more power.
Raise to Wake: keep it if you like glancing at the Lock Screen, or switch it off if it wakes too often.
Wallpaper: choose it last.

Troubleshooting

Auto-Lock is stuck at 30 seconds: Apple says Low Power Mode sets Auto-Lock to 30 seconds, and the battery icon turns yellow while it is active. Turn Low Power Mode off in Settings > Battery (on iPhone 15 and later, tap Power Mode), then choose a longer time. Apple says it turns off by itself when you charge to 80% or higher.
Can't find Auto-Brightness: look under Accessibility > Display & Text Size.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, and once the display is set up, a fresh Lock Screen wallpaper is the quickest way to show it off. On iPhone, its live wallpapers arrive as Live Photos for the Lock Screen, so a winter design can move. The holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and iPad: ScreenLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 26, 2026): Apple iPhone User Guide, "Adjust the screen brightness and color on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/adjust-screen-brightness-color-balance-iph60ba71065/ios); Apple iPhone User Guide, "Keep the iPhone display on longer" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/keep-the-iphone-display-on-longer-iph7117338a8/ios); Apple iPhone User Guide, "Wake, unlock, and lock iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/wake-unlock-and-lock-iph5a0b5b9c5/ios); Apple Support, "Use Low Power Mode to save battery life on your iPhone or iPad" (support.apple.com/en-us/101604)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

New Pixel for a Parent? How to Change Font Size, Display Size and Bold Text on Android

WatchLux — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:12:58 +0000

Setting up a new Pixel for a parent or grandparent over the holidays? The default text can feel tiny to someone moving from an older phone. Android has two separate sliders, one for text and one for everything else on screen, plus bold text and a quick way to change size later. This guide follows Google's Android Accessibility Help. Google notes some of these steps work only on Android 13 and up.

Font size vs. display size

Font size changes the size of text.
Display size makes all the items on your screen, like icons and buttons, smaller or larger.

Most people need a bit of both. Change one, look at the Home Screen, then change the other.

Make the font size larger

On the phone, open the Settings app.
Search for and select Font size.
Move the slider left or right to choose the preferred font size.

Google notes the font size setting doesn't apply to some apps.

Make the display size larger

Open the Settings app.
Search for and select Display size.
Move the slider left or right to choose the preferred display size.

Google says you get a preview of the change after you set each slider. If you don't like it, tap Reset settings to return display size and text to the original settings.

Add Font Size to Quick Settings

This lets the person who uses the phone adjust text later without hunting through Settings. Google says if you change font size from Settings, the Font Size tile is added to Quick Settings automatically.

From the top of the screen, swipe down to find Quick Settings.
Tap Font Size.
Tap Increase or Decrease, or drag the percentage slider left or right.

Google says you can adjust font size up to 200%.

Turn on bold text

Open the Settings app.
Tap Accessibility > Display size and text.
Turn Bold text on.

Google notes some apps won't use this setting.

Outline text on Android 16 and up

On Android 16 and up, Google offers outline text to make text easier to read:

Open Settings.
Tap Accessibility > Display size and text.
Turn Outline text on or off.

On Android 15 and below, Google points to high-contrast text instead.

Do it during setup

Google's tip: these settings can also be set from the start in the setup wizard. If you're unboxing the phone together, that's the easiest moment to choose sizes, before apps and widgets are arranged.

A gift-day plan

Unboxing: set font size and display size in the setup wizard.
First evening: turn on bold text and check Messages and the phone app.
Later: show them the Font Size tile in Quick Settings.
Home Screen: choose a calm wallpaper so the larger icons stand out.

Troubleshooting

Text in one app didn't change: Google says the font size setting doesn't apply to some apps.
Steps don't match: some steps work only on Android 13 and up, so check the Android version.
Too big: tap Reset settings and start again.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, with 4K video wallpapers for Android 8.0 and up, and a calm background keeps larger icons easy to pick out. The app installs a live wallpaper service that plays the video loop on the Home Screen. The winter and holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android: ScreenLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 22, 2026): Android Accessibility Help, "Change text & display settings" (support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/11183305)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Giving a Parent a New iPhone This Holiday? How to Make Text Bigger and Bolder with Display Zoom

WatchLux — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:12:45 +0000

A new iPhone is a common holiday gift for a parent or grandparent, and the first thing many of them say is that the text is too small. Before you wrap it, or on the day you set it up together, a few settings make the screen much easier to read. This guide follows Apple's iPhone User Guide, with the current iOS steps first and notes for iOS 26.

Start with Text Size

Apple lets you set one preferred text size for supported apps, including Calendar, Mail, Messages, Notes and Settings.

Go to the Settings app on the iPhone.
Tap Appearance, then tap Text Size.
Drag the slider left or right to change the text size.

On iOS 26: the same options are under Display & Brightness instead of Appearance.

Set it while the person who will use the phone is holding it. What looks fine to you may still be small to them.

Make the text bold

Go to the Settings app.
Tap Appearance (Display & Brightness on iOS 26), then turn on Bold Text.

Bold Text makes letters heavier everywhere, which helps a lot on a bright Lock Screen or in low light.

Magnify the entire screen with Display Zoom

Text Size only changes text. Display Zoom makes text and interface elements like icons and buttons larger too.

Go to the Settings app.
Tap Appearance (Display & Brightness on iOS 26), tap Display Zoom, then tap Larger Text.
Tap the confirm button, then tap Use Zoomed.

With everything larger, fewer apps fit on each Home Screen page, so it's a good moment to keep only the essentials on page one.

Go even bigger with Larger Accessibility Sizes

If the regular slider still isn't enough, Apple has extra sizes in Accessibility:

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
Tap Larger Text.
Turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes, then drag the slider to adjust the text size.

On the same Display & Text Size screen you can also turn on Bold Text, and Apple lists more options there, including Button Shapes, On/Off Labels, Reduce Transparency, Increase Contrast and Reduce White Point.

Change text size inside an app

Apple's tip: open Control Center, then adjust the Text Size slider. If it isn't there, tap the Add button in the top-left corner, tap Add a Control, then tap the Text Size control. This is handy for a parent who only needs bigger text in one app, like Messages.

A gift-day setup checklist

Text Size: set it with them, at a comfortable reading distance.
Bold Text: turn it on if letters look thin.
Display Zoom: choose Larger Text for bigger icons and buttons.
Control Center: add the Text Size control for quick changes.
Lock Screen: pick a simple, high-contrast wallpaper so the time is easy to read.

Troubleshooting

Some apps didn't change: the text size setting applies to apps that support it, so a few apps may stay the same.
Display Zoom option missing: Apple describes Display Zoom as a feature of supported iPhone models.
Text now too big: move the Text Size slider back a step.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, and a clean, high-contrast background keeps a bigger clock and larger icons easy to read. On iPhone, its live wallpapers arrive as Live Photos for the Lock Screen, so a winter design can move. The holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and iPad: ScreenLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 22, 2026): Apple iPhone User Guide, "Adjust iPhone display and text settings" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/adjust-iphone-display-and-text-settings-iphd6804774e/ios); Apple iPhone User Guide, "Make text easier to read on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/make-text-easier-to-read-iph3c076905a/ios)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

After the Clocks Change: How to Schedule Night Shift on iPhone for Warmer Evening Screens

WatchLux — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:04:29 +0000

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, and sunset comes about an hour earlier on the clock right after. That means more of your evening screen time happens in the dark. Night Shift shifts the colors of your iPhone display to the warmer end of the spectrum, which Apple says makes the display easier on your eyes. Here's how to turn it on and schedule it, following Apple's iPhone User Guide and Apple Support.

How Night Shift decides when to start

Apple says Night Shift uses your device's clock and geolocation to work out when it's sunset where you are. Then it shifts the display to warmer colors, and in the morning it returns the display to its regular settings. By default, Night Shift runs from sunset to sunrise.

That's the useful part around November 1: if you use the sunset setting, the schedule follows the earlier sunset on its own.

Turn Night Shift on or off manually

Apple notes manual Night Shift is helpful when you're in a darkened room during the day, like a movie afternoon with the curtains drawn.

Open Control Center.
Touch and hold the brightness control.
Tap the Night Shift button.

Schedule Night Shift

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Display & Brightness, tap Night Shift, then turn on Scheduled.
Tap From, then select Sunset to Sunrise or Custom Schedule.
If you choose Custom Schedule, tap the options to set the times you want Night Shift to turn on and off.

Set the color temperature

On the same Night Shift screen, drag the slider below Color Temperature toward the warmer or cooler end of the spectrum. Try it in the evening, in the room where you actually use your phone, so you see the real effect.

Pair it with Dark Mode

Night Shift changes color temperature; Dark Mode changes the interface to a dark color scheme. Apple's guide lets you schedule Dark Mode too:

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness.
Turn on Automatic, then tap Options.
Select Sunset to Sunrise or Custom Schedule.

Together, they make a phone that gets warmer and darker as the evening goes on.

A post-time-change setup

Before November 1: turn on Scheduled and choose Sunset to Sunrise.
First dark evening: set Color Temperature to a level you like.
Movie night: turn Night Shift on from Control Center.
Wallpaper: a darker image looks more natural with warm evening colors.

Troubleshooting

Night Shift won't turn on: Apple says some display accessibility settings, including Invert Colors, Grayscale and Increase Contrast, might turn off Night Shift.
Schedule seems off: Sunset to Sunrise depends on your clock and location, so check both.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, and a warm evening screen looks best over a calm, darker wallpaper. On iPhone, its live wallpapers arrive as Live Photos for the Lock Screen, so a winter design can move. The holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and iPad: ScreenLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 22, 2026): Apple iPhone User Guide, "Adjust the screen brightness and color on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/adjust-screen-brightness-color-balance-iph60ba71065/ios); Apple Support, "Use Night Shift on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch" (support.apple.com/en-us/118583)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

Longer Nights After November 1: How to Schedule Night Light and Bedtime Screen Options on Pixel

WatchLux — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:03:57 +0000

Clocks go back on Sunday, November 1, and the evenings get dark early. Google's Pixel Phone Help says Dark theme, Night Light and Grayscale can help you use your phone at night and make it easier to fall asleep. Here's how to schedule each one, plus a bedtime option that dims your wallpaper.

Google notes that some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up.

Schedule Night Light

Night Light reduces your screen's blue color and can turn your screen red or amber. Google says blue light can make it harder to fall asleep.

Open your phone's Settings app.
Tap Display & touch > Night Light.
To pick start and end times, tap Schedule:
- Turns on at custom time: enter your Start time and End time.
- Turns on from sunset to sunrise: this won't work if you turn off location services.

To stop it turning on automatically, tap Schedule > None.

Schedule Dark theme

Open Settings.
Tap Display & touch > Dark theme.
Tap Schedule, then select Turns on at custom time, Turns on from sunset to sunrise, or Turns on at bedtime.

Google says apps that work with Dark theme might extend battery life. The bedtime option, in Android 13 and later, ties Dark theme to Bedtime mode.

Dim the wallpaper at bedtime

In Android 13 and later, you can dim your phone's wallpaper at bedtime:

Open Settings.
Tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
Tap Bedtime mode, then turn on Bedtime mode.
Tap Customize > Screen options at bedtime.
Turn on Dim the wallpaper.

Google also notes the wallpaper dims when battery saver is on.

Turn on Grayscale at bedtime

In the same Bedtime mode screen options, turn on Grayscale to switch the screen to black and white as you wind down.

For Bedtime mode to work properly, Google says to update the Digital Wellbeing app and turn on notifications for Digital Wellbeing.

Comfort View on Pixel 10

On Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Comfort View uses filters to give your screen a softer color:

Open Settings.
Tap Display & touch > Comfort filters.
Turn Comfort View on or off. Turn on Adaptive to adjust intensity to your environment, or turn it off and use the Intensity slider.

Quick Settings

Google's tip: Dark theme, Night Light and Bedtime mode are available as Quick Settings, so you can toggle them without opening Settings.

A November evening setup

Night Light: sunset to sunrise.
Dark theme: at bedtime.
Bedtime mode: dim the wallpaper and turn on Grayscale.

Troubleshooting

Sunset schedule does nothing: turn on location services.
Bedtime options missing: update Digital Wellbeing and turn on its notifications.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, with 4K video wallpapers for Android 8.0 and up, and a dimmed bedtime wallpaper still looks good when the design is dark to begin with. The app installs a live wallpaper service that plays the video loop on the Home Screen. The winter and holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android: ScreenLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 22, 2026): Google Pixel Phone Help, "Change your screen color at night on a Pixel phone" (support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/7169926)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

How to Set Up a Holiday Home Screen on a Pixel Phone: Widgets, Folders and At A Glance

WatchLux — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:04:50 +0000

Late November is when your phone becomes a planning tool: travel, guest lists, gift lists, delivery tracking. A Pixel's Home screen can hold all of that in widgets and folders, with the At A Glance area showing what's next. Here's how to set it up, following Google's Pixel Phone Help page. Google notes that some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up.

Add a widget

On a Home screen, touch and hold an empty space.
Tap Widgets.
Find the app that has the widget you want.
To see the available widgets for that app, tap the app.
Touch and hold a widget. You'll see images of your Home screens.
Slide the widget where you want it, then lift your finger.

Tip from Google: some apps come with widgets. Touch and hold the app, then tap Widgets.

Holiday picks: a calendar widget for the week, a notes or to-do widget for gifts, and weather for travel days.

Resize a widget

Touch and hold the widget, then lift your finger.
If it can be resized, an outline with dots appears on the sides.
Drag the dots to resize.
Tap outside the widget when you're done.

Make a "Holiday" folder

Touch and hold an app or shortcut.
Drag it on top of another, then lift your finger.
To add more, drag each one on top of the group.
To name it, tap the group, then tap the suggested folder name, pick a suggestion above the keyboard, or type your own, such as "Holiday."

Put shopping, travel and airline apps in it now, and remove the folder in January.

Add a Home screen just for the season

Touch and hold an app, shortcut or group.
Slide it to the right until you get a blank Home screen.
Lift your finger.

Google says a Home screen is removed once its last item is moved off, so a seasonal page cleans itself up.

Add shortcuts to things inside apps

Touch and hold an app, then lift your finger. If it has shortcuts, you'll get a list.
Touch and hold a shortcut.
Slide it where you want it, then lift your finger.

Customize At A Glance

At the top of your main Home screen, At A Glance can show the date, daily weather, what's next on your calendar, Nest package delivery reminders and flight baggage claim info. That's a holiday-season list if there ever was one. To change what it shows:

Touch and hold that section.
Tap Customize, then Settings.

Google notes that you can't move At A Glance on Pixel phones.

Change the app layout

Touch and hold an empty space on the Home screen.
Tap Wallpaper & style.
Swipe left to select your Home screen.
Tap Layout, pick an icon size, then tap Apply.

Troubleshooting

Steps don't match your phone: Google says some only work on Android 14 and up; update Android.
Widget won't resize: not every widget can be resized; look for the outline with dots.
Removed the wrong item: "Remove" only takes it off the Home screen. "Uninstall" takes it off the device.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, with 4K video wallpapers for Android 8.0 and up. The app installs a live wallpaper service that plays the video loop behind your Home screen widgets. The winter and holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android: ScreenLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 21, 2026): Google Pixel Phone Help, "Add apps, shortcuts & widgets to your Home screens" (support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/2781850)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

How to Build a Holiday Home Screen on iPhone with Widgets: Calendar, Reminders and a Smart Stack

WatchLux — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:04:38 +0000

November fills up fast: Thanksgiving on the 26th, Black Friday right after, then December. Widgets put that information on your iPhone Home Screen so you don't have to open five apps to see it. Apple describes widgets as an easy way to view current information from an app at a glance. Here's how to build a holiday Home Screen, following Apple's iPhone User Guide.

Add a widget to the Home Screen

Go to the Home Screen page where you want the widget.
Touch and hold the background until the apps begin to jiggle.
Tap the edit button at the top of the screen, then tap Add Widget.
Scroll or search to find the widget you want, tap it, then swipe through the size and style options.
When you see the size you want, tap Add Widget.
While the apps are still jiggling, move the widget where you want it, then tap Done.

Holiday picks: Calendar for the week's plans, Reminders for a gift list, Weather for travel days, and Photos for last year's holiday pictures.

Turn an app icon into a widget

A faster route, from Apple's guide:

Touch and hold the app icon on your Home Screen.
To choose the widget size, tap one of the icons at the bottom of the pop-up menu.

To change it back to an app icon, touch and hold the widget, then tap the app icon option.

Edit a widget

Most widgets can show what you choose. Apple's example is a Mail widget switched to a different mailbox.

Touch and hold the widget.
Tap Edit Widget, then choose options.
Tap Done.

Ideas: point Reminders at a "Gifts" list, or set Weather to the city you're traveling to for Thanksgiving.

Use a Smart Stack

A Smart Stack is a widget with dots next to it. Apple says it uses information such as the time, your location and activity to show the most relevant widget at the right time. Add one from the widget gallery, then swipe up and down to see the widgets it holds.

To change it, touch and hold it and tap Edit Stack. Apple says you can then:

Reorder widgets by dragging them within the stack.
Drag a widget out of the stack onto the Home Screen.
Remove a widget by tapping the button in its upper-left corner.

A stack is how you fit Calendar, Reminders and Weather into the space of one widget.

Act right from the widget

Apple notes you can do tasks by tapping widgets: check off an item in the Reminders widget, play an episode from the Podcasts widget, or turn on lights with the Home widget, all without opening the app. A Reminders gift list you can tick off from the Home Screen is the most useful version of this in December.

Today View

Swipe right from the left edge of the Home Screen to see widgets in Today View. To allow this while iPhone is locked, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode) and make sure Today View and Search is on under Allow Access When Locked.

A sample holiday layout

Top of page one: a Smart Stack with Calendar, Reminders and Weather.
Below it: a large Photos widget.
Wallpaper: a calm, dark winter image so widgets stay readable.

Troubleshooting

Widget shows the wrong data: touch and hold it, tap Edit Widget, and choose again.
Can't place it: make sure the apps are still jiggling before you drag.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, and a busy widget page looks best over a calm background. On iPhone, its live wallpapers arrive as Live Photos for the Lock Screen, so a winter design can move. The holiday styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and iPad: ScreenLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 21, 2026): Apple iPhone User Guide, "Add, edit, and remove widgets on iPhone" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/add-edit-and-remove-widgets-iphb8f1bf206/ios)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

How to Change the Lock Screen Clock and Shortcuts on a Pixel Phone for Fall

WatchLux — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:00:19 +0000

A new season is a good excuse to refresh your Pixel's lock screen, and the clock is the biggest thing on it. On Android 16 and higher, Pixel lets you pick a clock style, color and size, and choose the two shortcuts at the bottom. Pair that with an autumn wallpaper and the whole phone feels new. This guide follows Google's Pixel Phone Help page.

Change the clock style (Android 16 and higher)

On your phone's home screen, touch and hold an empty space.
Tap Wallpaper & style.
Swipe right to Lock screen.
To find lock screen settings, swipe up.
Tap Clock.
At the bottom, choose what to change:
- Style: choose among preset clock styles. Use the slider to adjust the clock width.
- Color: change the clock color manually or match it with your wallpaper theme. Use the slider to adjust the shade.
- Size: toggle Large on or off.
Tap Apply.

Fall tip: matching the clock color to your wallpaper theme picks up the oranges and browns of an autumn image without any guesswork.

Set the lock screen shortcuts

Touch and hold an empty space on the home screen and tap Wallpaper & style.
Swipe right to Lock screen, then swipe up.
Tap Shortcuts.
At the bottom, tap Left shortcut or Right shortcut.
Tap the shortcut you want, then tap Apply.

Google lists these as available shortcuts: Do not disturb, Home, QR code scanner, Wallet, Camera, Flashlight, Mute and Video camera. With shorter days after the time change on November 1, Flashlight earns a spot.

Control notifications on the lock screen

Open Wallpaper & style > Lock screen, then swipe up.
Tap Notifications on lock screen.
Turn notifications on or off, then choose Compact View or Full list.

You can also choose whether to show viewed notification icons, silent notifications and sensitive content.

More lock screen settings

Under More lock screen settings, Google lists options to:

Add a line of text with Add text on lock screen. A short "Happy Thanksgiving" works.
Turn on Dynamic clock, so the clock size changes based on what's on the lock screen.
Show info on songs playing nearby with Now Playing.
Turn on Use device controls.

A sample fall setup

Wallpaper: a warm, simple autumn image with clear space behind the clock.
Clock: a bold style, color matched to the wallpaper.
Shortcuts: Camera on one side, Flashlight on the other.
Text: a short seasonal message.

Troubleshooting

No Clock option: these steps are for Android 16 and higher; update your phone.
Clock hard to read: try the Large toggle or a darker wallpaper.
Shortcut missing: only the shortcuts Google lists are available.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, with 4K video wallpapers for Android 8.0 and up. The app installs a live wallpaper service that plays the video loop on the Home Screen. The fall styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

Android: ScreenLux on Google Play

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 20, 2026): Google Pixel Phone Help, "Customize the lock screen on your Pixel phone" (support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/16520562)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux

How to Make a Thanksgiving Travel Lock Screen on iPhone: Widgets, Controls and a Linked Focus

WatchLux — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:59:54 +0000

Thanksgiving week is the busiest travel stretch of the year, and your Lock Screen can do more of the work. iPhone lets you keep more than one Lock Screen, so you can build a travel version with the widgets and controls you'll want in an airport or on the road, then swipe back to your everyday one when you're home. This guide follows Apple's iPhone User Guide.

Step 1: Create a new Lock Screen

Press the side button on your iPhone two times.
Touch and hold the Lock Screen, then tap the Add button to create a new Lock Screen. If you don't see it, touch and hold again and enter your passcode.
Tap one of the wallpaper options. A warm autumn photo, or a Weather wallpaper, suits the week.

Apple notes that if you don't see an option you want, such as Weather or Astronomy, scroll down and tap Get below it.

Step 2: Add travel widgets

Tap your existing widgets or tap Add Widgets. For travel, think about what you check most with the phone locked:

Weather for your destination.
Calendar for flight times and dinner plans.

Keep it to the few you'll actually glance at; a crowded Lock Screen is harder to read.

Step 3: Swap the controls

The two controls at the bottom (like the flashlight) can be changed. Apple's steps: tap one of the controls, then tap the remove button. The flashlight is worth keeping for dark parking lots, so think about which of the two you really need on the trip.

Step 4: Style the clock and photo

Apple lists these options, depending on the wallpaper:

Clock: drag the bottom right corner to increase the height, then tap the time to change the font or switch to a more transparent look.
Reposition: pinch to zoom and drag with two fingers.
Style: swipe left or right to try color filters.

Step 5: Save it

Tap Add or Done, then choose Set as Wallpaper Pair or Customize Home Screen.

Step 6: Link it to a Focus (optional)

If you've set up a Focus for travel or family time, link it so this Lock Screen appears whenever that Focus is on:

Press the side button.
Touch and hold the Lock Screen until Customize appears.
Tap Focus near the bottom of the wallpaper.
Select a Focus, then confirm.

Apple notes that if a Lock Screen links to a Focus, switching away from that Lock Screen also switches your Focus.

Switch back when you're home

Press the side button and touch and hold the Lock Screen until Customize appears.
Swipe to your everyday Lock Screen and tap it.

To delete the travel one, swipe to it, swipe up, tap the delete button, then tap Delete This Wallpaper. Or keep it for the December holidays.

Tips

Check readability with notifications showing. Busy art behind the clock is hard to read.
Give widgets room. Pick a photo with calm space near the top.
Name your Focus clearly so you know which Lock Screen it brings up.

Troubleshooting

No Add button: touch and hold again and enter your passcode.
Focus changed by itself: the Lock Screen you switched to or from is linked to a Focus.

Going further with ScreenLux

ScreenLux is the wallpaper app I built, and on iPhone its live wallpapers arrive as Live Photos for the Lock Screen, so a fall or Thanksgiving design can move. The seasonal styles are at customphonewallpapers.com. All artwork is created with generative AI tools.

ScreenLux is free to download and preview; subscription unlocks the full catalog and removes ads.

My team specializes in advanced generative AI art and video, and WatchLux and ScreenLux are where we apply it to the watch and the phone.

iPhone and iPad: ScreenLux on the App Store

Sources checked (official help pages, Oct 20, 2026): Apple iPhone User Guide, "Create a custom iPhone Lock Screen" (support.apple.com/guide/iphone/create-a-custom-lock-screen-iph4d0e6c351/ios)

Sean McCue, Founder, WatchLux and ScreenLux