The Moto G 5G is packed with powerful features that go beyond its standard specifications, primarily thanks to Motorola’s customized Android experience, known as My UX or Moto Actions. The most significant moto g 5g hidden features are the Kinetic Gestures, which allow you to perform common tasks, like launching the camera or turning on the flashlight, with simple, intuitive movements of the phone.
This guide reveals the best “hidden” controls and settings on your Moto G 5G, providing step-by-step instructions to activate features that will significantly speed up your daily use and boost your privacy.
Essential Moto Actions (Kinetic Gestures)
Motorola’s Kinetic Gestures are the most popular and useful hidden features, often overlooked by new users. These actions are typically found within the Moto app or under Settings > Gestures.
- Fast Flashlight (Chop Twice)
The Fast Flashlight feature is one of Motorola’s most famous and practical gestures.
- What it does: Allows you to instantly turn the flashlight on or off with two quick, chopping motions of the phone.
- How to Activate:
- Go to Settings or open the Moto app.
- Select Gestures (or Moto Actions).
- Toggle on Fast flashlight.
- Pro Tip: You don’t have to unlock the screen; the gesture works immediately from any state.
- Quick Capture (Twist Twice)
Never miss a photo opportunity again with the Quick Capture camera gesture.
- What it does: Instantly opens the camera app with a quick, double-twist of your wrist while holding the phone.
- How to Activate:
- Go to Settings or the Moto app.
- Select Gestures.
- Toggle on Quick capture (or a similar camera-related gesture).
- Bonus: You can repeat the double-twist action to quickly switch between the rear and front-facing cameras.
- Three-Finger Screenshot
This feature makes taking a screenshot significantly faster and easier than fumbling for physical buttons.
- What it does: Captures the current screen by simply placing three fingertips on the display for a moment.
- How to Activate:
- Go to Settings or the Moto app.
- Select Gestures.
- Toggle on Three finger screenshot.
- Quick Launch (Double Tap the Back)
A newer gesture, Quick Launch allows you to assign a shortcut to a double-tap on the back of your phone.
- What it does: Launches a specific app or performs an action (like playing/pausing media) with a double-tap on the phone’s back cover.
- How to Activate:
- Go to Settings > Gestures (or the Moto app).
- Select Quick Launch.
- Toggle it on and then select the Gear icon to choose your preferred custom action (e.g., launching an app like Spotify or WhatsApp).
Boosting Your Privacy and Security
Beyond gestures, the Moto G 5G includes a dedicated security suite with powerful hidden features.
Moto Secure Folder
The Moto Secure app allows you to create a completely private space on your phone for sensitive apps and files.
- Secure Folder: This is a password or PIN-protected area where you can clone applications (like banking or social media) and store private documents or photos. Apps inside this folder are completely separate from their standard counterparts.
- Stealth Mode: For enhanced privacy, you can use Stealth Mode within the Secure Folder settings. This hides the Secure Folder app icon from your home screen and app drawer, making it look like it was never installed. You can only access it via the Security menu in the phone’s main Settings.
- How to Access: Look for the dedicated Moto Secure app in your app drawer, or go to Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy and select Secure folder.
Flip for Do Not Disturb (DND)
A simple yet effective feature for instantly silencing your phone when you need quiet.
- What it does: Activates Do Not Disturb mode immediately when you place the phone face down on a flat surface.
- How to Activate:
- Go to Settings or the Moto app.
- Select Gestures.
- Toggle on Flip for DND.
Display and Performance Optimization Tips
While not strictly “hidden,” these advanced settings can drastically improve your phone’s battery life and user experience.
Optimizing the 120Hz Display
The Moto G 5G (often the 2024 model) features a fast 120Hz refresh rate, but you can adjust it for better battery life.
- High Performance (120Hz): Provides the smoothest scrolling and gaming experience.
- 60Hz Mode: Forces the screen to a lower refresh rate, which is recommended if you are trying to maximize battery life, as the phone’s hardware sometimes struggles to maintain a consistent 120Hz.
- How to Change:
- Go to Settings > Display.
- Tap Display refresh rate.
- Choose Auto (recommended for balance) or select 60Hz for best battery life.
Fine-Tuning Dolby Atmos Audio
The Moto G 5G includes Dolby Atmos support for rich stereo speaker sound. You can fine-tune this for different content types.
- What it does: Allows you to enable spatial audio and switch between specific equalizer presets.
- How to Access: Look for the dedicated Dolby Atmos app in your app drawer, or check Settings > Sound & vibration. You can choose settings for Movies, Music, Podcast, Gaming, or create a Custom
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Moto G 5G’s “RAM Boost” feature?
RAM Boost is a feature that allocates a portion of your phone’s internal storage to act as virtual memory (RAM), aiming to improve multitasking. While it is intended to help, some tech experts suggest turning it off on models with limited RAM (like the 4GB variant) because the storage is much slower than the physical RAM, which can sometimes lead to apps crashing or loading slower.
How do I use two apps at once (Split Screen Mode)?
The Moto G 5G supports split-screen multitasking through a specific gesture:
- Open the first app you want to use.
- Use the Swipe to split gesture (swipe your finger back and forth across the middle of the screen).
- The first app will move to the top half of the screen.
- Select the second app you want to run from your app drawer.
How do I access the “hidden” battery percentage indicator?
While the main battery indicator is visible in the Quick Settings panel, you can display the exact numerical percentage directly in the status bar at the top of the screen for an at-a-glance check. Go to Settings > Battery and toggle on Battery percentage.
Can I remove the navigation bar buttons?
Yes. By default, the Moto G 5G may use 3-button navigation (back, home, recent apps). You can switch to a more modern Gesture Navigation system to hide these buttons and use the full screen space. Go to Settings > Gestures > Navigation mode and select Gesture navigation.
To learn more about these powerful features, watch this helpful guide on the Moto G 5G Tips and Tricks + Hidden Features.
