Header Banner
gadgethacks.mark.png
Gadget Hacks Shop Apple Guides Android Guides iPhone Guides Mac Guides Pixel Guides Samsung Guides Tweaks & Hacks Privacy & Security Productivity Hacks Movies & TV Smartphone Gaming Music & Audio Travel Tips Videography Tips Chat Apps
Home
Nexus 7

Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen

Dec 12, 2014 08:00 PM
Hand holding a smartphone displaying various app icons and a user's profile picture.

We all have apps that we use most frequently, or system preferences that we're regularly adjusting. Whether it's Netflix or a new game that you're hooked on, there are times when you want quick and easy access versus searching for them, even if they're on your home screen.

Instead of hunting through your settings, app drawer, or home screen, I'm going to show you how to consolidate all of your most-used items into an easy-access floating panel. By using the free app Floating Toucher by Digital Life International, you can have access to various apps and toggles right at the tip of your finger, right when you need them.

Get Floating Toucher

Floating Toucher works as a Swiss Army knife for your Android, placing apps, system preferences, and shortcuts in a panel which is accessed by tapping an inconspicuous, floating button on your screen. Grab it for free from the Google Play Store to get started.

Floating Toucher app interface with install option, designed for mobile phones.

Set Up Your Panel

The first thing you'll want to do is add apps and toggles to your panel. To remove an existing slot, just tap and hold it, then select the empty space and choose from a list of your apps, actions, or shortcuts.

Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen
Settings menu with various options for configuration and customization.
Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen
Settings menu with various options for configuration and customization.

Customize the Panel Display

A great thing about this app is its customization options. You can choose from some basic colors and backgrounds, but the best thing to do is choose your own image from your gallery. After that, set the "Alpha" (i.e., transparency) level to your liking using the slider.

Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen
Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen
Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen
Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen

Use a Unique Floating Pointer

Along with customizing the panel, you can also choose from various icons to serve as a "pointer," the small circle that launches the floating panel. Unfortunately, you're not able to choose a custom image from your gallery unless you upgrade from within the app.

Settings interface for a mobile application with icons and sliders.
Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen
Settings interface for a mobile application with icons and sliders.
Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen

Extra Settings & Premium Features

Under the settings you have a few options for the floating panel as well as some premium features, which you can unlock individually or purchase the full premium version for $3.99.

The free version does come with enough to absolutely make the app usable, but with premium features, you'll be able to add extra panels, add folders to your panel, choose a custom pointer image, and more.

App settings menu with options for general preferences, auto-launch, and more.
Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen
App settings menu with options for general preferences, auto-launch, and more.
Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen

Use Your New Floating Toucher

Once you've set your panel up, simply tap the floating pointer to launch it. The toucher can be hidden by long-pressing it, then re-enabled by tapping the notification in your Notification panel.

Smartphone screen displaying various app icons and the time.
Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen
Smartphone screen displaying various app icons and the time.
Get Fast Access to Your Most Used Apps, Shortcuts, & Toggles from Any Screen

You can easily access the panel from within any screen and perform actions on the fly. Give it a try and tell us what you think in the comments below, or hit us up on our Facebook, Google+, and Twitter feeds.

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

Related Articles

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!