The best keyboard shortcuts for Android smartphones

Android also has a variety of options for you to use hidden functions with keyboard shortcuts. This practical tip shows you which these are and how you can use your mobile phone even better in the future.

More Android thanks to keyboard shortcuts

With the following key combinations you can not only switch between recently opened apps faster, but also take screenshots or quickly mute your phone.

• App change: Just hold the home button for a short moment and you will see your most recently used apps. At the bottom right you can simply reset the list, press the pie chart on the left, you will get to the Android Task Manager. Tip: If you have moved an application to the background using the Home button, it is usually called up in the same state as you left it.
• Photograph the screen: If you simultaneously press the home and off button, your entire screen is saved as a so-called screenshot. You will then find the PNG file in the Android root directory under "/ Pictures / Screenshots". From Android 4.2. you will also receive a notification in the status bar. Tip: The Google Nexus 4 and some versions of HTC One use the volume down and power off buttons for the screenshot function and otherwise work analogously.
• Mute the call: If your cell phone rings at an unsuitable moment, you only have to press one of the two volume buttons to silence your phone - the call is then neither rejected nor accepted. Alternatively, simply place your smartphone upside down on the display.
• Restart cell phone: Instead of pressing the power button twice for several seconds, you can simply restart it. Hold the power button down for about a second or two to open the device options. Here you have the most important basic functions of Android at a glance and can, for example, easily activate offline mode or switch off the sound.

This guide applies to Android 4.3. on the Samsung Galaxy S4. We have taken appropriate differences into account where possible. The best keyboard shortcuts for Windows 7 can be found in this practical tip