Feature: Grandparents Mode

  • This could be a useful mode and feature update for the latest Android 16.

  • My grandad used to be a tech wiz by learning stuff from me

  • He’s now 77 and his brain is degrading so fast that he forgets how to switch on the TV.

  • Living at this age, since we’re close by it’s helpful, but when it comes to using a phone, he forgets a lot of things (no, it’s not Alzheimer’s).

Might seem like a rant, but I was just giving good reasons why this could be a major thing.

I’ve only added features I could think of, if you guys think this could be a hit and have more ideas, please add them by commenting on it. Thank you!

They have a simple view mode for Pixels, which is the same idea, to make using the phone easier for those that might be older. They just execute on it way differently than the ideas you suggested. Wouldn’t be a bad idea for them to bring what you mentioned to this existing feature.

Pixel Simple View

@Poe
I hope that becomes an Android feature. Cause my grandparents use Samsung lol. Felt right to mention this as an Android feature rather than ONE UI feature.

Tilden said:
@Poe
I hope that becomes an Android feature. Cause my grandparents use Samsung lol. Felt right to mention this as an Android feature rather than ONE UI feature.

Samsung has their own version of it.

Tilden said:
@Poe
I hope that becomes an Android feature. Cause my grandparents use Samsung lol. Felt right to mention this as an Android feature rather than ONE UI feature.

Samsung Easy Mode

Worth a read.

Samsung has ‘Easy mode’ which works pretty good… forces a simple Home screen layout with bigger items, larger text, and high contrast.

I think a lot of manufacturers have some variation of this and might be something better left to them to implement?

IQOO Funtouch OS has a simple mode which launches a Windows Phone-like launcher.

Just going to ask this here since there aren’t many better places. What other apps/features do folks use to help make the elderly’s lives easier?
Tried installing some screensharing apps (TeamViewer, I think) a while back on dad’s phone and half the banking apps stopped working because ‘nu-uh, you’re getting scammed sir, please uninstall that app.’ Now that most calling apps have screenshare, life is certainly easier, but banks and secure screens (entering pass/PIN) are still blacked out during screen share.
And also I would like some way of doing things on my dad’s phone even if it’s only while he’s active on his phone (there’s only so much you can do with screen share and calling out instructions). TeamViewer was supposed to help with that, but it turned out installing it was a no-go.