{"id":565731,"date":"2025-11-12T15:40:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T15:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/565731\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T15:40:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T15:40:23","slug":"my-pixel-felt-slow-until-i-tried-this-automation-workflow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/565731\/","title":{"rendered":"My Pixel felt slow until I tried this automation workflow"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our smartphones are supposed to make life easier, but sometimes they just create a new set of tedious, repetitive tasks.<\/p>\n

For months, I felt like I was constantly fiddling with my Google Pixel<\/a> \u2014 manually adjusting settings, silencing notifications, or setting up the same routines.<\/p>\n

I got fed up and decided to stop using my phone and start directing it to handle the repetitive bits for me.<\/p>\n

After weeks of experimentation, I finally cracked the code and built an end-to-end automation workflow that now runs my Pixel on autopilot.<\/p>\n

Setting up Modes on Pixel<\/p>\n

\"Theatre\"create<\/p>\n

This is one of the most powerful changes I made.<\/p>\n

I built my custom Modes that combined different settings into single, intent-based actions. After all, why should I manually change five settings every time I sit down to write, drive, or watch a movie?<\/p>\n

For example, I hated fumbling with the volume slider right as the lights dimmed. My Theater mode is designed for instant, zero-distraction immersion.<\/p>\n

I usually trigger this manually via a shortcut on my home screen or a Quick Settings tile. When I enable the mode, the system sets the ring and alarm volume to 0. It also enables the DND mode, disables AOD, and dims the wallpaper.<\/p>\n

Aside from Theater mode, I also use Writing mode to create a distraction-free terminal. It is set to enable during my work hours and automatically enables DND and makes other changes on the device.<\/p>\n

I used to fumble with Bluetooth and music settings every time I got in the car. Driving mode makes the transition instant and safe. It uses the device\u2019s motion and Bluetooth connection and follows the relevant actions that I have set up.<\/p>\n

These are just three examples of how I use modes on my Pixel 8<\/a>. The possibilities are endless here. You can create as many custom modes as you want and tweak the entire Pixel UI experience accordingly.<\/p>\n

Define rules on Pixel<\/p>\n

\"Setting\"Finish<\/p>\n

This is absolutely one of the most useful, yet frustratingly limited, features on the Pixel. I\u2019m talking about Rules<\/a>, buried deep in the system settings.<\/p>\n

The first rule I created was for my workspace. I used the Wi-Fi trigger because it\u2019s generally faster and more reliable than pure location-based GPS on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

When my Pixel 8 connects to the office Wi-Fi network, it automatically puts the device to Vibrate mode.<\/p>\n

Conversely, my biggest fear at home is having my phone on silent and missing an important delivery or a family call while having dinner. I used the Location trigger this time, where I marked my home address with a comfortable radius.<\/p>\n

When I pull into the driveway, my phone registers the location and switches to ring mode, ensuring I can hear it from the next room. It\u2019s fantastic for peace of mind.<\/p>\n

While the basic functionality is a brilliant quality-of-life improvement \u2014 handling most common scenarios of switching between quiet and loud environments \u2014 the options are painfully limited.<\/p>\n

Google needs to take some clues from Samsung Routines<\/a> and give more options to automate device settings based on rules. Until then, third-party apps have to fill the gap, but I\u2019m holding out for a native solution.<\/p>\n

Schedule battery saver mode<\/p>\n

\"Pixel-automation-\"Pixel-automation-<\/p>\n

I recently upgraded to the Pixel 8, and while the performance is fantastic, I have been particular about managing its battery usage to ensure I make it through a busy day.<\/p>\n

Relying on the default Battery Saver mode wasn\u2019t cutting it for me, especially since I prefer to conserve power long before the phone hits the emergency 5% to 10% zone.<\/p>\n

I went into the Battery Saver settings and customized the schedule to activate early. I chose the percentage option and set it to 30%.<\/p>\n

Now, when my Pixel 8\u2019s battery level crosses that limit, the screen automatically dims slightly, the background activity is restricted, and the notification bar turns orange. This gives me a reliable indication that I need to be mindful of my remaining usage.<\/p>\n

When I finally put it on charge, the system is set to disable the battery saver mode when it reaches 90%.<\/p>\n

\"Pixel-automation-\"Pixel-automation-<\/p>\n

This is a fantastic automation that provides peace of mind, especially when you are dealing with potential spam, customer service, or other unknown calls.<\/p>\n

For me, knowing I have a record of every interaction from a number that isn\u2019t saved in my contacts is invaluable.<\/p>\n

You can open the Phone app<\/strong>, go to Settings > Call Recording<\/strong>, and enable the Automatically record calls with non-contacts<\/strong> toggle.<\/p>\n

Fly through your common tasks<\/p>\n

There you have it \u2014 the exact workflow I built that took my Pixel to the next level. When you start taking control of your phone\u2019s repetitive tasks, you will never go back to manual management.<\/p>\n

So what are you waiting for? Dedicate an afternoon to setting up just two or three of these automations, and you will see the return on investment.<\/p>\n

Aside from that, you can also use these tips to help you unwind with your Pixel in no time<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Our smartphones are supposed to make life easier, but sometimes they just create a new set of tedious,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":565732,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3159],"tags":[547,53,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-565731","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-mobile","9":"tag-technology","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115537486516566058","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/565731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=565731"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/565731\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/565732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=565731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=565731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=565731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}