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Which Pixel 5 Settings Should You Change First?

Start with a screen lock, Play Protect, app permissions and lock-screen privacy. Then tune Pixel 5 battery and display settings around your needs—and check its ended update support.
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Start with a screen lock, then review Play Protect, app permissions, lock-screen notifications and the phone’s update status. After that, leave Adaptive Battery and battery optimization on, and tune display settings to balance battery life with readability and convenience. One important caveat: Google lists the Pixel 5 as no longer receiving Android version or security updates.

Which Pixel 5 settings should you change first?

Work through security and privacy before changing optional display preferences. Settings names and paths can vary with your installed Android version and region; if a path below differs, search for the setting by name in the Settings app.

  1. Set a screen lock. Open Settings and find the screen-lock option under Security. Choose a lock method you can reliably use.
  2. Review Security and Google Play Protect. Open Settings > Security and check for warnings. In Google Play, open your profile menu and select Play Protect to review its status.
  3. Check Find My Device. Find it in Settings by searching for “Find My Device,” then confirm it is configured as you want.
  4. Review permissions and sensitive access. In Settings > Privacy, check app permissions and camera and microphone access. Revoke access an app does not need.
  5. Choose what appears on the lock screen. Search Settings for lock-screen notifications and decide whether notification content should be visible while the phone is locked.
  6. Check update status. In Settings, open About phone and look for Android version and Android security update. The Pixel 5 is no longer supported for Android version or security updates.

Google’s Pixel security and privacy guidance covers these protections. Reviewing them helps you understand which apps can access sensitive information and what someone might see without unlocking your phone.

How do I make my Pixel 5 battery last longer?

Keep Adaptive Battery and optimization enabled

Leave Adaptive Battery and battery optimization on. Google says the Pixel learns recent app-usage patterns and that optimization after setup or a reset can take a few weeks. Its guidance is: “For best results keep Adaptive Battery and battery optimization on.” Find the controls by searching Settings for “Adaptive Battery” or “battery optimization”; exact paths can vary. See Google’s Pixel battery guidance.

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Adjust the screen to suit your priorities

There is no universally best display configuration. Lower brightness when comfortable and choose a shorter screen timeout if you want the display to switch off sooner. Dark theme is another option to try. These changes can reduce display power use, but readability and preference matter more than a fixed rule.

For further savings, consider turning off Always-on Display or Smooth Display. Always-on Display keeps information visible without waking the phone; disabling it trades that convenience for less display activity. Smooth Display can make motion look smoother, while turning it off trades smoothness for lower power use. Google lists the Pixel 5’s Smooth Display as supporting refresh rates up to 90 Hz. Search Settings for each feature because labels and availability may differ on your software version.

How should you set text, color and viewing comfort?

Google’s Pixel display settings guide describes Adaptive brightness, Night Light, color modes, and font and display size controls. The guide covers multiple Pixel generations, so confirm the options available on your Pixel 5 rather than assuming every control applies to it. If you do not see a named path, search Settings for the feature.

  • Adaptive brightness: Use it if you want the phone to adjust brightness based on surrounding light; change brightness manually if the result is uncomfortable.
  • Night Light: Try it if you prefer a warmer screen at selected times.
  • Color and size controls: Adjust color mode, font size or display size for comfortable viewing.

The Pixel 5 has a 6.0-inch FHD+ OLED display with 1080 × 2340 resolution and 432 ppi, according to Google’s Pixel phone specifications. Those specifications describe the panel; they do not determine which color or size setting will feel best to you.

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Which Pixel 5 shortcuts are worth setting up?

Shortcuts are optional: enable only the ones that fit how you use the phone. Google’s Pixel gesture guide describes swiping on the fingerprint sensor to open notifications and shortcuts involving the Power button. The guide cautions that steps may vary by device, so check the options shown on your handset before relying on a particular gesture.

Does the Pixel 5 still get security updates?

No. Google’s current Pixel update-support list says the Pixel 5 no longer receives Android version or security updates. You can check the Android version and security update level under Settings > About phone, but changing settings cannot restore official support.

This support status matters if you rely on the Pixel 5 as your primary phone: a screen lock, careful permissions and Play Protect are useful safeguards, but they do not replace security updates from Google.

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