Articles by: Sean Riley

A self-professed "wearer of wearables," Sean Riley is a Senior Writer for Laptop Mag who has been covering tech for more than a decade. He specializes in covering phones and, of course, wearable tech, but has also written about tablets, VR, laptops, and smart home devices, to name but a few. His articles have also appeared in Tom's Guide, TechTarget, Phandroid, and more.

Articles by: Sean Riley

How to Use Android Nougat's Quick Switch Feature

By Sean Riley published 28 October 16

It's easier than ever to jump between two apps in Android. Here's how to use the Quick Switch capability added to Android Nougat.

How to Customize Quick Settings in Android Nougat

By Sean Riley published 28 October 16

Android Nougat refines the process of selecting Quick Settings and ordering them. Here's how it's done.

How to Manage Doze Mode in Android Nougat

By Sean Riley published 28 October 16

Doze mode remains a core feature in Android Nougat. Here's how to manage which apps will still send notifications when your phone is in Doze mode.

How to Use Multi-Window Mode in Android Nougat

By Sean Riley published 27 October 16

Android Nougat adds multi-window functionality to the mobile OS. Here's how to switch into the new Multi-Window mode on your Android phone.

ESET Mobile Security and Antivirus Review

By Sean Riley published 20 September 16

ESET Mobile Security offers very good malware protection, but too many of its essential features are premium-only.

Upgrading to the iPhone 7? Read This Before You Do

By Sean Riley published 13 September 16

Getting an iPhone 7? Here are tips for wiping data from your old phone and getting the most money when you resell or trade it in.

How to Turn Off In-App Purchases in Android

By Sean Riley published 12 August 16

Worried that your kid may rack up big bills with in-app purchases on your Android device? Here's how to disable that feature.

How to Create a File Shortcut in Android

By Sean Riley published 5 April 16

Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to create home screen icons for individual files such as MP3 files, Word documents or photos.

How to Customize Android Marshmallow With System UI Tuner

By Sean Riley published 13 January 16

Android Marshmallow offers a new set of customization options through a menu called System UI Tuner. Here's how to use it to customize your quick settings, status bar and more.

How to Activate Google Now in Android Marshmallow

By Sean Riley published 18 December 15

You can now activate Google Now from your phone's lock screen. We'll show you how along with steps for setting up Google Now to respond to your voice.

How to Manage Doze Mode in Android Marshmallow

By Sean Riley published 15 December 15

Android Marshmallow's Doze Mode increases battery life by ceasing all but the most critical functions of your phone while it's at rest. Here's how to make sure notifications from your most important apps still get through.

How to Delete an App in Android Marshmallow

By Sean Riley published 14 December 15

The latest version of Android introduces a streamlined method for deleting apps from your home screen. Here's how it works.

Should You Root Your Android Phone?

By Sean Riley published 24 August 15

If you 'root' (gain admin rights to) your phone, you can run a bevy of new software, improve performance and kill bloatware, but you also could void your warranty or brick your device. Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

Android Version History: A Timeline of New Features

By Sean Riley published 2 July 15

Here’s a timeline of Android versions and significant updates. We explain the key features that were bundled into each major Android release.

Other versions of this page are available with specific content for the following regions: