{
  "id": 19688195,
  "title": "Attention, Android power users: This app unlocks 30+ features you won’t find in Settings",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/attention-android-power-users-this-app-unlocks-30-features-you-wont",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-12T18:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ZDNet",
    "slug": "zdnet",
    "url": "https://www.zdnet.com/uncategorized/essentials-android-app-power-user-settings/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Android enthusiasts seeking advanced features will find Essentials, a power-user toolbox offering 30+ mods and tweaks. Essentials is not available on the Google Play Store; instead, it must be sideloaded from its official GitHub Repository. Before proceeding with sideloading, users must familiarize themselves with the new sideloading process and adjust relevant permissions.\n\nTo use Essentials, open the app, search for the desired feature, and enable it. Users will encounter multiple permission requests, which are necessary for utilizing certain features. For instance, enabling App Lock requires granting Essentials permission for Accessibility features. App Lock allows users to require authentication for specific apps, enhancing privacy.\n\nOther features include button remapping, app freezing, Google Maps battery-saving modes, sound and haptics customization, wallpaper and widget management, status bar icon customization, edge lighting, flashlight pulsing, notification management, Always-On Display control, and more. Users should be aware that enabling certain features may necessitate additional permissions or the use of tools like Shizuku to bypass Android's restrictions. Once installed, users can customize various aspects of their Android device using Essentials, which provides functionalities not found in other tools.",
  "summary": "Is Android Settings not delivering enough power? The Essentials app features 30+ mods and tweaks – but you won’t find it in the Play Store",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}