New Android 12 features for Xperia smartphones

Android 12 features on Xperia smartphones 

This article explains how to enable and use new features on Xperia models running Android 12. Find more details on Android 12 here.

Responsive motion

The user interface (UI) in Android 12 has been enhanced with smooth motion and animations. You can now enable One-Handed Mode to shift the screen downwards and reach elements more easily with one hand. 

• To enable One-Handed Mode, go to Settings → System → Gestures → One-handed mode.
• To use One-Handed Mode, double-tap the Home button

Conversation widgets

Add the conversations with people you chat with the most to the Home screen. See recent messages, missed calls and status updates. Follow the steps below to enable Conversation Widgets​:

1. Long-press an empty space on the Home screen.
2. Tap Widgets.
3. Click on the arrow next to Conversations.​
4. Tap and hold the Conversation Widgets.
5. Place the widgets on the Home Screen, then release.

Area magnification

You can now zoom in on a part of your screen using a window magnifier without losing context. You can still see the area surrounding the part you're zooming in on. Simply tap the Area magnification shortcut on the screen to zoom in.

To enable Area magnification, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings​ → Accessibility.
2. Tap Area Magnification.​
3. Enable Short-cut.

Extra dim

Dim your display even lower than the lowest brightness setting. Extra dim is perfect for night-time scrolling or any situation where the screen appears too bright. 

You can enable Extra dim in one of two ways:

• Go to Quick settings → Turn on Extra Dim.
• Go to Settings → Accessibility → Extra Dim.

To use Extra Dim, turn it on then decrease the screen brightness.

Bold text

See text more clearly by switching the font on your phone to bold.

To enable Bold text, go to Settings → Accessibility → Text and Display → Bold Text.

Greyscale

Adjust how colours display on your device to greyscale.

To enable Greyscale, go to Settings → Accessibility → Text and Display → Colour Correction → Tap the toggle to enable “Use Colour Correction” → Choose Greyscale mode​.

Mic & Camera indicators and toggles

Whenever an app is using your microphone or camera a new indicator will appear in your phone’s status bar, as shown in the image below. Xperia smartphones running Android 12 support status bar indicators but toggle switch control is not available.

Approximate location permissions

Some apps (e.g. navigation apps) need precise location information to do their job, while other apps only need your approximate location. With Android 12, you can choose whether you're sharing your precise or approximate location with an app.

To enable approximate location, choose "Approximate" when an app is asking for permission to share your location. The image below shows the Maps application asking for access to a device's location. 

Privacy dashboard

Privacy dashboard gives you an overview of when apps have accessed your location, camera or microphone over the past 24 hours. You can manage permissions from the dashboard.

To enable Privacy dashboard, go to Settings → Privacy → Privacy Dashboard. ​

Scrolling screenshots

Scrolling screenshots allow you to capture all the content on the page in one image. Visit the following article for more information on taking screenshots in Android 12.

Easily switch to an Android phone

With Android 12, you can transfer all your data from your old phone to your new Android device using a cable or shared Wi-Fi connection. Here's how to do it (works for iPhones too): 

1. Connect to Mobile Network with both phones.
2. When the "Copy apps and data" appears on the new phone, select "Next"
3. You will have the option to do it via cable. If you want to proceed wirelessly select "No cable?" at the bottom left.
4. "Copy another way?" will appear on the screen. Select OK.
5. Click Next.
6. Open the Google app on your old device
7. Notification will appear on the old device to set up the new device.
8. Keep the Google app open on the old phone.
9. Type "set up my device" in the search box.
10. Verify your phone.
11. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Related article: Xperia Transfer 2 app: How to transfer data/content from an old Android phone or iPhone to your new Xperia phone