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The HTC 10 knows a few tricks, and maybe offers some treats along the way; you just have to know where to look. To get the most out of HTC’s latest and greatest, here’s nine settings to check out.
Disable HTC Sense Ads
HTC Sense will display ads on your device in apps such as BlinkFeed, unless you disable the feature. Open Settings > Personalize > Manage ads and check the box to disable the feature. Note, it won’t block ads in Chrome or other apps, but it will stop HTC from sending ads to your device.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Add more fingerprints
The HTC 10 will let you register up to five different fingerprints for unlocking the phone, apps or making purchases. Open Settings then Fingerprint Scanner. Enter your password, then tap on Add fingerprint and follow the prompts.
Here you can also enable or disable waking the device when placing a finger on the home button while the screen is off.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
BlinkFeed be gone
HTC’s BlinkFeed is a customized newsfeed that lives to the left of your home screen, but it’s not for everyone. Turn off BlinkFeed by long-pressing on an empty spot of your home screen and selecting Manage home screen pages. Swipe right until BlinkFeed is selected, then tap Remove.
Enlarge ImageScreenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Customize button backlight
The backlight for the back and multitasking buttons default to turning on only when touched, but you can set the backlight to turn on as whenever the screen is on.
Go to Settings > Display, gestures & buttons > Navigation button backlight and select your preferred setting.
Enlarge ImageScreenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Get to know gestures
With gestures you can launch the HTC 10’s camera, wake the screen, or unlock the device directly to its home screen.
To view how each gesture works, or disable gestures you don’t want, open Settings > Display, gestures & buttons > Motion Launch gestures. Tap on a number near just under the preview section to view an animation detailing how to use the gesture. Alternatively, tap on a gesture to enable or disable it.
Enlarge ImageScreenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Flex storage
MicroSD support in the HTC 10 lets you add up to two terabytes of additional storage. And starting with Android Marshmallow, you can combine a device’s internal storage with a microSD card, taking away the need to manage where apps and media is installed.
After inserting a microSD card, go to Settings > Storage and tap on the gear icon next to the card’s name. Next, select Format internal. During this step anything on the card will be deleted, so make sure nothing important is on it. Follow the prompts to complete the process.
Enlarge ImageScreenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Custom headphone settings
The first time you plug headphones into the HTC 10, you’re asked to set up a custom audio profile. Each profile is specific to you and the pair of headphones you use. Follow the prompts, then name the profile (preferably with a name that references the specific headphones).
With headphones connected to the phone, open Settings > HTC BoomSound with Dolby Audio and select an old profile. Finally, tap on the “+” sign.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Freestyle themes
HTC’s new Freestyle themes do away with traditional app icon grids. Instead your wallpaper acts as a background, and stickers act as shortcuts to an app of your choosing. Open the Themes app located in the app drawer to find new Freestyle themes under the From HTC category.
Enlarge ImageScreenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Check out Boost+
A new app from HTC, Boost+, helps you keep tabs on memory usage and storage information. But it also lets you password protect an app or apps of your choosing. Once an app is locked, the only way to open it is to enter a pattern you set.
Other notable features include battery optimization when playing games on the HTC 10.
Enlarge ImageScreenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Editors’ note: This story was updated on May 5, 2016 to clarify how flex storage works, and remove an incorrect reference to HTC using capacitive buttons on the 10 for the first time.
