Nothing Phone (3) User Guide

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Basic Settings
• Advanced Settings

Introduction

1. Hardware Layout

   The phone features a flash light, rear camera, power button, Essential Key, SIM card tray, charging port, bottom speaker, Glyph Interface, volume up button, volume down button, and Glyph button.

2. Charging Method

   The Phone (3) supports 65W charging, which can fully charge the device in approximately 1 hour with a compatible adapter and cable. It also supports 15W wireless charging, taking about 162 minutes for a full charge. For wireless charging, place the Phone (3) face up on a compatible wireless charger.

3. Navigation

   There are two navigation methods: 3-button navigation and gesture navigation.

   • 3-Button Navigation:
     • Back: Returns to the previous screen or cancels the last operation.
     • Home: Returns to the home screen.
     • App Switcher: Opens the app switcher to switch between recently opened apps or close background apps.
   • Gesture Navigation:
     • Back: Swipe inward from the left or right edge of the screen.
     • Home: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
     • App Switcher: Swipe up and hold from the bottom edge of the screen.

4. Launcher

   Home Screen

   • Long-press on an empty area to access home settings, widgets, and customization options.
   • Long-press an app icon to access options like delete, app info, or resize icons. You can also drag icons to rearrange them.
   • Drag and drop one app icon onto another to create a folder.
   • Long-press a folder to customize its appearance and layout.

   App List Screen

   • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the app list.
   • Long-press and drag an app icon to add it to the home screen.
   • Swipe right on the app list screen to view hidden apps.

   Widgets

   • Access the widget menu by long-pressing an empty space on the home screen or from app shortcuts.
   • Long-press and drag widgets to the home screen.
   • Long-press widgets to resize or edit them.

5. Quick Settings / Notifications

   Swipe down from the status bar to access Quick Settings and the notification center. Tap tiles to toggle features on/off. Long-press tiles for more detailed settings. Swipe down again to expand Quick Settings. Swipe left or right to access other settings pages. Tap the edit icon (pencil) to customize tile layout.

Basic Settings

1. Network

   To change network settings, long-press the first tile in the Quick Settings panel or go to Settings > Network & Internet. To connect to Wi-Fi, tap the Wi-Fi tile in Quick Settings, turn on Wi-Fi, select your network, and enter the password. You can also enable tethering via Settings > Network & Internet > Access point & tethering.

2. Connected Devices

   To connect Bluetooth devices, long-press the tile in Quick Settings or go to Settings > Connected devices. Tap "Add new device" to search for and select a device to pair.

3. App Installation/Uninstallation

   Installation

   Open the Play Store, log in with your Google account, search for the app, and tap "Install". Installed apps can be found in the app list.

   Uninstallation

   Open the app list, long-press the app you want to uninstall, and drag it to the "Uninstall" area at the top right. Note: Uninstalling from the home screen only removes the icon, not the app itself.

4. Battery

   The Phone (3) has a 5150mAh battery that provides all-day usage. To conserve battery, tap the "Battery Saver" tile in Quick Settings or enable it when the battery level drops below 20%. The optimal operating temperature is 0-35°C (32-95°F). Extreme temperatures can affect battery performance. Fast charging can accelerate battery degradation; the phone uses a Battery Management System (BMS) to optimize charging. It's recommended to stop charging when the battery reaches around 80%. For power saving tips, keep the screen off when not in use, prioritize Wi-Fi over mobile data when available, and turn off GPS when not needed. Bluetooth should only be turned on when necessary. Note: The package does not include a charger; use a USB power adapter and USB Type-C cable.

5. Storage

   Check available storage in Settings > Storage. To clear app storage or cache, go to Settings > Apps > All apps, select an app, and tap "Clear storage" or "Clear cache".

6. Sound & Vibration

   Adjust volume using the side buttons. The audio menu allows switching between Ring, Vibrate, and Silent modes. You can also access a slider menu for media, call, ringtone, and alarm volumes. Quick Settings also allows switching sound modes.

7. Security

   Change lock screen settings in Settings > Security & Privacy. You can set up PIN, fingerprint, or face data for unlocking. Fingerprint and face unlock require a PIN to be set first.

8. Device Information

   View hardware information and phone number in Settings > About phone. You can edit the device name here. A dot next to the Nothing OS version indicates a software update is available.

Advanced Settings

1. Essential Key

   The Essential Key is located below the power button on the right side. It can be configured to perform various actions like taking screenshots or recording voice memos via the Essentail Space app. Long-pressing the key can initiate a recording. Double-pressing it opens Essential Space to access recent recordings and screenshots. Essential Space offers features like Intelligent Analysis (requires Nothing account login) for summarizing content and extracting information, and improved voice memo management for setting reminders and answering queries.

2. Glyph Interface

   The Glyph Interface uses a micro-LED matrix and touch sensors on the back. It synchronizes with audio and vibrations to display patterns for notifications. Settings can be accessed via Settings > Glyph Interface or by long-pressing the Glyphs tile in Quick Settings. You can adjust brightness, customize ringtones and notification sounds, and use features like "Flip to Glyph" to mute incoming calls and vibrations. "Glyph Toys" offers interactive utilities and games. The Glyph button on the back controls the Glyph matrix display. "Essential Notifications" allow persistent icons for important notifications. A volume indicator displays the current volume level.

3. App Shortcuts

   Long-press app icons to access their shortcut menus. You can also drag and drop shortcuts to the home screen to create custom icons.

4. Max Icons & Big Folder

   Enlarge app icons up to 4x on the home screen by long-pressing and selecting the resize option. Folders can also be resized, and the first three apps within a folder are directly accessible without opening it.

5. Silence Mode

   Silence Mode temporarily disables notifications and calls except from prioritized contacts or apps. It also hides non-essential notifications. To enable, tap the "Silence Mode" tile in Quick Settings. Long-press the tile to edit the list of allowed contacts/apps. By default, Glyph Interface is also muted in Silence Mode; this can be changed by toggling off "Mute Glyphs". Game Mode can also be used to block calls and notifications during gameplay.

6. Google Assistant

   Activate Google Assistant by short-pressing the power button or swiping up from the bottom right of the screen. Ask questions or give commands via voice. More details are available in the Google Assistant app.

7. Battery Sharing

   Enable Battery Sharing in Quick Settings to charge other Qi-compatible devices by placing them on the back of the Phone (3). The Glyph Interface will light up when the feature is active.

8. Screenshot

   Take screenshots by pressing the volume down and power buttons simultaneously. Screenshots are saved in the Google Photos app. For long screenshots, tap "Expand" on the thumbnail after taking a regular screenshot and adjust the capture area. You can also enable 3-finger swipe screenshots in Settings > Special features > Gestures. Screenshots can be edited immediately after capture.

9. NFC

   NFC allows for quick device connections and is commonly used for mobile payments like Google Pay. It's recommended to keep NFC on for low power consumption in standby mode. Toggle NFC in Quick Settings.

FAQ

• Q: How do I turn on the Nothing Phone (3)?
  A: Press and hold the power button until the Nothing logo appears on the display.
• Q: How do I transfer data from my old phone to the Nothing Phone (3)?
  A: Use the setup wizard's backup options (Google account) or connect both devices with a cable.
• Q: How do I change the language?
  A: Go to Settings > System > Languages & input.
• Q: How do I enable location services?
  A: Go to Settings > Location. Apps will request access when first opened.
• Q: How do I enable "Find My Device"?
  A: It's automatically enabled with your Google account. Location services must be on for it to work. See Settings > Google > Find My Device.
• Q: How do I back up my data?
  A: Connect to Wi-Fi and charge for 2 hours, or manually go to Settings > Google > Backup > Turn on.
• Q: How do I change the wallpaper and accent color?
  A: Long-press an empty area on the home screen, select "Customize", and change wallpaper and accent color. The phone uses Android's dynamic color feature.
• Q: How do I record my screen?
  A: Add the "Screen Record" tile to Quick Settings (swipe down twice, tap edit icon, drag tile). Then, swipe down to Quick Settings and tap the "Screen Record" tile to start. Tap "Stop" in the notification center to finish.
• Q: How do I add Nothing X widgets?
  A: Long-press an empty area on the home screen, select "Widgets", and add the Nothing X widget.
• Q: How do I shoot a video?
  A: Open the Camera app and select "Video" from the mode selection bar.
• Q: How do I set up a passcode?
  A: Go to Settings > Security & Privacy > Device unlock. You'll need to set a pattern/PIN first for fingerprint or face unlock.
• Q: How do I reset the Nothing Phone (3) to factory settings?
  A: Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).
• Q: How do I eject the SIM tray?
  A: Insert the SIM eject tool into the hole next to the SIM tray at the bottom of the phone.
• Q: How do I connect Nothing Ear (2) to the Nothing Phone (3)?
  A: If not already paired, open the Ear (2) case near the phone for Fast Pair. If Fast Pair doesn't appear, go to Settings > Connected devices > Add new device and search for Ear (2).
• Q: How do I enable Battery Saver?
  A: It prompts automatically at 15% battery. Manually enable it via Quick Settings by adding the Battery Saver tile.
• Q: How do I force restart the Nothing Phone (3)?
  A: Press and hold the power and volume up buttons simultaneously until the Nothing logo appears.
• Q: How do I enable Game Mode?
  A: Game Mode activates automatically for listed apps. Edit the app list in Settings > Special features > Game Mode > App list.
• Q: How do I check for software updates?
  A: A notification will appear for available updates. You can also check manually in Settings > About phone > Software information. A red icon next to "Nothing OS" indicates an update.
• Q: How do I hide message details on the lock screen?
  A: Go to Settings > Lock screen > Privacy and select notification preview options.
• Q: How do I enable Call Waiting?
  A: Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Calling accounts > Additional settings > Call waiting.
• Q: How do I block phone numbers?
  A: Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Blocked numbers > Add number, and enter the number to block.
• Q: How do I cast my screen to a TV?
  A: Add the "Screen Cast" tile to Quick Settings. Then, swipe down to Quick Settings and tap the "Screen Cast" tile. Select your casting device on the same network.
• Q: How do I enable Dark Theme?
  A: Dark Theme is enabled by default. Toggle it in Quick Settings via the "Dark Theme" tile.
• Q: How do I restore deleted photos and videos?
  A: In the Gallery app, go to Albums > Recently deleted to find items deleted within the last 30 days.