Add apps and links to the notification bar

Android puts your most frequently required settings on the notification bar, which reveals itself when you swipe down from the top of the screen. Exactly what it includes depends on the version of Android you’re running and how your phone manufacturer has customised it, but it generally includes Airplane Mode, Wi-fi, Bluetooth and a shortcut to the Settings app.

Tile Shortcuts (free from www.snipca. com/33832) lets you add your own favourite apps and even web links. The latter option is particularly useful if you frequently visit the same site, like a map location to check traffic or a train-status page if you need to plan your commute.

Launch the app, tap ‘+’ to create a new shortcut, then choose what you want to link to. If it’s an app on your phone, tap App, and select the app from the list of installed software. If it’s a web page, tap URL.

Choose an icon for your tile. If you’re creating a link to an app, Tile Shortcuts gives you several options based on the app’s existing logo, but you can choose a custom icon from your photo library by tapping Custom Icon.

Tap the tick at the bottom of the screen (see left-hand screenshot below left) to save your new tile and it will be added to your list of ‘Active tiles’. As well as a name, it will be given a number, like Tile 1, Tile 2 and so on. Make a note of this, then swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Notification Bar and tap the bar’s pencil icon to edit its contents.

Swipe up until you find your new tiles at the bottom of the editing box, then hold down on the one you want to add (only its number, not its name, will be shown – see right-hand screenshot below left) and drag it on to the notification bar. Once there, its placeholder icon will be switched for the one you chose, and the number will be replaced by its name. You can now tap it every time you need to use whatever it links to or launches.