Android 10 Rules feature goes live (for one Pixel user?)

Android 10 has been available since August, but it seems like the platform still holds lesser known features. One of these features is a so-called Rules capability, first discovered by XDA earlier this year. Now, it turns out that the feature has gone live for at least one user.

A Pixel 2 XL user in Germany shared screenshots of the Rules feature with 9to5Google (settings > system), and it essentially allows you to change sound profiles (e.g. silent, Do Not Disturb etc) based on your location or connected Wi-Fi hotspot.

The screenshot also shows that you can adjust the location’s accuracy as well, so the rule could kick in when you’re near a location or at a specific place. It’s believed that Rules can be suggested for you based on repeated actions too (e.g. switching to Do Not Disturb at home every day).

This feature could be handy if you forget to turn your phone on silent after work, for example. You’d simply create a rule that automatically toggles silent mode when you’re connected to home Wi-Fi or when you’re physically at home.

The Android 10 Rules feature doesn’t seem to be quite as expansive as the likes of LG’s Smart Settings feature. LG’s function allows you to toggle specific sound profiles, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi toggles based on whether you’re home or not. But it also lets you open specific apps when you plug in earphones or connect to a Bluetooth accessory.

Hopefully we see more OEMs offering this kind of feature, as it reduces the need to manually tweak sound profiles and other settings. Are there any other features you’d like to see in stock Android? Give us your picks!