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Notifications are amazing things; they can make short work out of what could be a lengthy task, or they can add new functions to your device. Normally you’d find the standard selection of notifications at the top of your phone or tablet, but thanks to a new app, you can add a variety of interactive notifications to your notification centre.
The Notification Toggle app is a free download from the Google Play store and includes a plethora of different shortcuts, features and toggles that can all be added to your very own bespoke notification bar. Users have the choice to make their custom bar as detailed or as basic as they want, but the app makes it straightforward to get started.
In this tutorial, we’ll explore the various sections of the Notification Toggle app, as well as guide you through the process of creating your own toolbar and mention some of the toggles you really should be including. Check out the two-minute guide to see how you can then perform a toolbar back-up.
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For even more tutorials, make sure to check out the latest issue of Android Magazine.
Toggle menus
When you first open up the Notification Toggle app, you’ll be greeted with a selection of menus that house different toggles. Each menu caters for different sections of your phone and by pressing the + icon to the side of each menu, you can see a list of the toggles within.
Top or bottom?
You’ll find two sets of boxes that you can tick, with the left representing the toggle to be placed at the top of your menu, while ticking the right will put the toggle on the bottom. It’s important to keep the two sets of toggles balanced, so pick a matching amount.
Extra toggles
The most interesting toggles you can implement are at the bottom of the list under the Other tab. Here you can find quick settings to access your flashlight, camera, or even a quick shortcut to set a previously created alarm. Scroll to the right of the screen when you’ve made the selections.
Add an app shortcut
The next menu will provide you with the necessary tools to add an installed app icon to your notifications bar. This icon will work as a shortcut to it, providing quick access. Press on the + icon and select any number of apps from the menu that duly appears.
Set priorities
You can change a number of settings within the app to help make your customised notification bar a bit easier to use. For example, the Notification Priority option enables users to choose how often they want to be alerted when a new notification is available.
Change icons
Another option worth checking out is Change Icon. Here you can set the style, size and colour of icons that relate to certain toggles, but without having to go through complex procedures to set it up. Simply go through the list and make the necessary choices.
The finished product
Head back out of the app and drag the notification bar down for the menu to appear. Depending on how you customised it, you should now have two bars of shortcuts in front of you. Simply press on one of them to access its corresponding function or app.
Android Wear compatibility
If you own an Android Wear smartwatch, you can use Notification Toggle to create a bar of toggles on your smartwatch’s home screen. Go to the Android Wear section within the app and choose from the various options that are provided. You can even add app shortcuts to it.
