Gestures and actions in Motorola’s Android 12 phones

A key feature of Motorola smartphones is the proprietary Moto app with gestures and actions. In the app, the owner will find useful features and settings not usually available in other manufacturers’ phones. With every Android version, the Moto app is updated with new features and gestures. In this article we’ll take a look at the description of gestures and actions in Motorola phones on Android 12.

What are Moto Actions and gestures?

Moto actions and gestures are proprietary features and settings in Motorola phones. The main purpose of actions and gestures is to increase the usability of your Motorola phone. The Moto Actions application contains useful and convenient features that are not available by default on Android. These features include: quick camera activation, getting a screenshot without using physical buttons, getting a scrolling screenshot, switching tracks with buttons, quickly turning the flashlight on and off, and so on.

Some functions and gestures become standard in Android over time. For example, the scrolling screenshot feature only became standard in Android 12. In Moto Actions, scrolling screenshot has been supported since Android 9.

How do you use Moto Actions and gestures?

Moto actions and gestures are integrated into the firmware of every Motorola phone. Gesture or action functionality is linked to firmware-supported features and built-in sensors. Therefore, you will not be able to install the Moto Actions application on another manufacturer’s phone for full-fledged use.  You can interact with all available gestures and actions through the Moto Actions application. Some functions can also be found in the phone settings.

To use actions and gestures, you need to activate the corresponding action or gesture.

Procedure:

1. Open the Moto Actions app.

2. Scroll the page, select an action or open the “Gestures” menu.

3. A list of all available gestures will appear in the new menu. Select the desired gesture.

4. In the next menu, enable the gesture.

5. Each gesture has a brief instruction on how to use the gesture.

6. To learn how to use the gesture, press the “Try” button.

What are new features in Android 12?

Android 12 introduces two new gestures and an additional design setting.

Gesture Quick Actions. Allows you to set the launch of an application or perform a specific action by double-tapping the back panel with your finger. You can set up one action from the list:

• Open the recorder. Launch the recorder application.
• Play / pause music. Pause and play music in the player.
• Create a screenshot. Capture a screenshot.
• Screen recording. Tap to start screen recording.
• Back to Home screen. Return to the Home screen from any menu or application.
• Open an application. Launch any installed application.

Split screen gesture. Splits the screen into two parts for working with two applications by swiping from the left edge of the screen to the right edge of the screen and back. The gesture does not work in applications that do not support split screen.

The visual layout settings have received additional functions. You can create design themes and use a color palette taken from the background image.

Some gestures and actions have been moved from Moto Actions application to the “System” section in the phone settings. The “Gestures” menu contains functions and actions that allow you to customize the navigation and control of your phone. In particular, activate the “One Hand Control” gesture to reduce and move the screen within reach of your thumb. The menu also contains some other popular proprietary gestures: quick camera activation, fast flashlight, three-finger screenshot, and so on. Since some of Motorola’s budget Android 13 phones won’t include the signature Moto Actions app. Such models include the Motorola Moto E13, G13 and G23. Instead of the Moto Actions app, gesture control in these models will only be available from the settings menu.

What features enable in Android 12?

In Android 12, the Moto Actions app hasn’t received any significant visual differences compared to Android 10 and 11. Each time you enter the app, information with a specific gesture or action is randomly displayed. You can familiarize yourself with the new feature, enable the feature or disable it.

You can also navigate to a specific section in the Moto Actions app at the beginning of the page. There are 5 sections available:

• Personalize.
• Gestures.
• Tips.
• Display.
• Play.

Personalize

The Personalize section allows you to customize the visual appearance of the system. Eight settings are available:

• Layout – change the size of the application grid, 7 presets.
• Fonts – select the font style, 6 presets.
• Colors – setting the background color of the buttons on the Quick Access Toolbar. There are 5 presets and manual selection of colors. You can also choose the colors taking into account the installed desktop image.
• Icons shape – the shape of the application’s icon. Available 5 presets: square, circle, drop, etc.
• Sound – to set the ringtone for SIM 1 and SIM 2, notification and alarm sounds. You can use preset ringtones or set a downloaded melody.
• Interface size – select the size of application icons on the desktop, application menu, and settings. Four presets are available
• Font size-select a text size. Four presets are available.
• System theme – select light or dark backgrounds. Also available to set automatic switching depending on the time of day. In the daytime – light design, in the evening – dark design.

A set of four pre-installed themes allows you to quickly change the appearance of the system. If you want, you can create and save your own theme.

The wallpaper menu allows you to quickly change the lock screen and home screen. You can select a preset static or dynamic image. Or you can install your own picture or photo.

Gestures

The gestures section contains useful settings that allow you to access certain functions more easily. Most gestures work when you interact with the phone.

• Quick Launch. Double-tapping the back panel with your finger triggers a specific action: launch a selected application, start a voice recorder or screen recording, take a screenshot, pause and play a tune.
• Quick Capture. A double circular motion with your wrist triggers the main camera. Repeated action after starting the camera switches to the front camera.
• Quick flashlight. Turns the main camera’s flash on and off with two sharp, chopping motions of the hand.
• Three finger screenshot. Getting a screenshot by touching the phone screen with three fingers.
• Lift to unlock. Turn on automatic screen backlighting and unlock the screen by face detection. The gesture requires the addition of a digital face scan to recognize and unlock the screen.
• Flip for DND. If you turn your phone upside down, silent mode is automatically started.
• Pick up to silence. Lifting the phone mutes the ringer.
• Swipe to split. The screen will split into two parts if you slide your finger from the left edge of the screen to the right and back.

Tips and tricks

The tips and tricks section provides help on how to use your phone, applications, and various features:

• Take a tour. A step-by-step guide with an introduction to the phone and available features.
• What’s New Android 12 Features. Getting to know the new features and functions of Android 12.
• Getting Started. Lets you learn about the phone’s main features and configure the relevant functions.
• Moto essentials. Description of the main features, functions and applications of Motorola phones.
• Camera. Tips and recommendations for using the camera in your phone. Description and operation of new functions, modes, guide to different camera modules.

Display

The Display section helps you customize the phone’s screen. Two functions are available to the user:

• Peek Display. Allows you to view interactive notifications with brief information when the screen is off. For example, to see missed notifications or message text from a communication app.
• Attentive display. The screen does not dim or turn off while the owner is looking at the phone’s screen. The feature is convenient when reading or watching embedded videos on websites. The screen turns off if there is no activity for a long period of time. And with Attentive Display, the screen will not turn off as long as the user is in front of the phone.

Play

The Entertainment section contains gestures and actions related to music, sound, and games:

• Games. Set up quick access to games. And with Gametime, you can turn off incoming calls and notifications to focus on the game. If necessary, you can set exceptions for important calls and notifications.
• Media controls. Use the volume buttons to switch tracks forward and backward in your music player. A short press increases or decreases the volume, and a long press switches the track.
• Dolby Atmos. Adjust the sound when playing through the phone speakers or headphones. There are 5 customizable presets for each type of audio: music, movie, game, podcast and custom. Also automatic mode with audio type recognition and preferred settings.

Conclusion

This article provides a detailed description of gestures and actions in Motorola’s Android 12 phones. Using gestures and actions will help make it easier to access frequently used apps and features. Gestures are mostly set up and controlled in Moto Actions application. In the application, the user can customize the visual appearance, activate and configure the necessary gestures, as well as get help about the functions and the phone. At the same time, some gestures and actions are moved to the phone settings – System – Gestures. And in some budget Android 13 phones there will be no Moto Actions application. In these models, gestures will only be accessed from the settings menu.

What do you think about actions and gestures on Motorola phones? Share your opinion in the comments.

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