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Remember when Rules was a big new thing on Android? Yeah, me neither. It is long forgotten 2019 feature It still exists, as I recently discovered, and is actually quite useful.
The Rules feature is still available in Android 16and it’s really simple. You can use it to create automations by setting conditions that trigger an event based on your Wi-Fi or location. While the automations aren’t as open-ended, they’re still a nifty way to change settings you modify regularly.
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How to set up Rules on your Pixel to create automations
The rules work much like Google Home routines. Except, of course, you’re not creating automations for smart devices. Rather, rules create automations that change certain phone settings on your Google Pixel device based on your location or the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to.
Let me walk you through the steps to setting a rule. I used a Pixel 10 Pro for this guide, but any Google Pixel device running Android 10 or higher should have this feature.
1. Open Settings on your Google Pixel.
2. Get into System settings.
3. Tap Standards in System Settings.
4. Tap Next and give what is necessary permissions to access Wi-Fi and location data.
5. Touch the Add rule button.
6. Choose your rule type: Wi-Fi or Location.
7. Set the location or Wi-Fi network.
8. Next, set the action What do you want your Pixel to do?
9. Play the final Add button in the lower right corner.
This is an additional step that can help you a lot. In the Rules settings menu where you just created an automation, enable the option to Automatically suggest rules based on the changes you periodically make to your settings.
The beauty of a Pixel is that it makes everything better
If you weren’t sure how you could benefit from the “Automatically suggest rules“, is a fantastic way to let your phone think. Even if you can’t think about which settings you change frequently and under what conditions, your Pixel will notice your patterns and suggest useful automations based on that.
I really hope Google integrates this with Gemini and Google Home in the future, allowing us to do even more with the Rules feature. It seems like the natural path for Google to take, especially now that Gemini is front and center for Android and the rise of AI agent.
Feature-Laden Perfection
The Google Pixel 10 comes with Android 16 installed out of the box and a promise of seven years of security and operating system updates. It’s also the first to receive new Android features and benefits from monthly Google Pixel updates called Pixel Drops. The cameras are stellar, the phone looks and feels phenomenal and works like silk.
