Nothing Phone (3) User Manual

Table of Contents

• First Steps
• Basics
• Advanced

First Steps

1. Hardware Layout

   The back of the Nothing Phone (3) features:

   • Flashlight
   • Rear Camera
   • Power Button
   • Essential Key
   • Glyph Interface
   • Volume Up Button
   • Volume Down Button
   • Glyph Button
   • SIM Card Tray
   • Charging Port
   • Bottom Speaker

2. Charging

   The Nothing Phone (3) charges at 65W. With a wired fast charging and a compatible fast charging adapter, it can reach 100% charge in just 1 hour. Alternatively, the 15W wireless charger fully charges the device in 162 minutes. Place the Nothing Phone (3) face up on a compatible wireless charger to charge it wirelessly.

3. Navigation

   3-Button Navigation

   • Back: Return to the previous screen or undo the last action.
   • Home Screen: Return to the launcher's home screen.
   • App Switcher: Open the App Switcher to switch to a recently opened app or to free up memory by closing background apps.

   Navigation with Gestures

   • Back: Swipe inwards from the left or right edge of the screen.
   • Home Screen: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
   • App Switcher: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen without lifting your finger.

4. Launcher

   Home Screen

   • Long press on an empty area to access home screen settings, widgets, and personalization.
   • Long press on app icons to view app shortcuts and rearrange icon positions.
   • Long press and drag an app icon onto another to create a folder.
   • Long press on a folder to access folder customization and change the folder layout.

   App Details Page

   • Swipe up from the bottom to access the app details page.
   • Long press the app icon and drag it to add apps to the home screen.
   • Swipe right on the app details page to view hidden app icons.

   Widgets

   • Open the widget menu via app shortcuts or long press on an empty area of the home screen.
   • Long press and drag any widget to the home screen.
   • Long press on a widget to resize or edit it.

5. Quick Settings/Notifications

   • Swipe down the status bar to access Quick Settings and the notification center. In Quick Settings, tap each tile to activate individual functions. Long press on the tiles to access more detailed settings.
   • Swipe down a second time to access expanded Quick Settings. Swipe left and right to access more Quick Settings tiles. Tap the edit icon (pencil) and drag the tiles to customize the layout.

Basics

1. Network

   • To change network settings, either swipe down Quick Settings and long press the first tile in the top left, or open the Settings app and tap "Network & Internet".
   • To establish a Wi-Fi connection, tap the WLAN menu item and switch the WLAN toggle on. Now select your desired wireless network and enter the password.
   • Internet sharing can also be activated via this page. Simply tap "Hotspot & Tethering" to select your preferred method and proceed with setup. This option can also be easily accessed via Quick Settings.

2. Connected Devices

   • To connect to a Bluetooth device, either swipe down the Quick Settings panel and long press the second tile in the top right, or open the "Settings" app and tap "Connected Devices".
   • Tap "Pair new device" and select the target device to connect it.

3. Installing/Deleting Apps

   Install

   Access the "Play Store" and sign in with a Google account. Search for the app in the top search bar and tap the blue "Install" button. The installed app can be found on the app details page.

   Delete

   Open the app details page, press and hold the app to be deleted, and drag it. Drag it to the top right corner of the screen and release it under the "Uninstall" label. Note: If this action is performed on the home screen, the area will be marked as "Remove", which only removes the icon from the home screen and does not uninstall the app.

4. Battery

   The Nothing Phone (3) features a 5.150 mAh battery that should last a full day with moderate to heavy use. When the battery is low, activate Battery Saver mode by either tapping the "Battery Saver" tile in Quick Settings or pressing the "Low Power" notification that automatically appears when the device's battery drops below 20%.

   Optimal Environment for Battery Usage

   The ideal operating temperature for the phone is between 32°F and 95°F (0°C to 35°C). Continuous use or charging the device in extreme temperatures can accelerate battery wear. Exposure to extreme temperatures will trigger the device's protective mechanisms to mitigate battery performance issues, and charging will be restricted to protect the battery when temperatures are outside a specified range.

   Optimal Charging Practices

   When a mobile phone is charged quickly, the battery receives more energy in a shorter time. Lithium batteries have a limited number of charge and discharge cycles. The fast charging process increases the chemical reaction speed inside the battery, which may lead to accelerated damage to the internal structure, thereby shortening the battery's overall lifespan. To address this, mobile phones are typically equipped with a complex Battery Management System (BMS) to optimize the charging process. By controlling the charging rate, monitoring battery temperature, and adjusting charging strategies, the BMS helps mitigate the impact of fast charging on battery longevity. It is recommended not to keep the phone in a high-performance charge state for extended periods and to stop charging once the battery reaches approximately 80% to minimize internal chemical reactions.

   Power Saving Tips for Wireless Connections

   To access information about the battery management system on the device, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Information. When the phone's screen is on and Wi-Fi is available, prioritizing Wi-Fi activation and connection can effectively save battery power and extend the phone's battery life. When GPS navigation is not in use, turning off the GPS function helps save battery power, allowing the phone to achieve longer battery life when GPS is deactivated. Turn on Bluetooth only when needed to avoid unnecessary battery consumption. For environmental protection, no charger is included in this package. This device can be powered by most USB power adapters and a cable with a USB Type-C connector.

5. Storage

   • To check the available storage space on the device, open the Settings app and tap "Storage". You will get an overview of the storage usage for each tile.
   • To clear app storage or app cache, open the Settings app and tap "App" then "All Apps" to see all installed apps and the respective storage space each app uses. Tap on a selected app to access the "More info" page, where two buttons will appear to clear storage or cache.

6. Sound & Vibration

   • Press the "Volume Up" or "Volume Down" button on the side of the device to adjust the volume for the last used audio source and open the audio menu.
   • In the audio menu, tap the top bell icon to switch between "Ringtone", "Vibration", and "Silent".
   • In the audio menu, tap the bottom icon with three dots to open a slider menu with four sliders to adjust the volume for media, calls, ringtones and notification sounds, and alarms, respectively.
   • In Quick Settings, tap the volume tiles to switch between "Ringtone", "Vibration", and "Mute".

7. Security

   • To change the unlock method, open the "Settings" app and find the "Lock screen & Security and Privacy" option. Access the "Device unlock" page to set the unlock PIN, add fingerprints, or capture facial data for device unlocking. Note: Unlocking via fingerprint/face data cannot be used without a PIN, otherwise anyone could unlock the device simply by swiping.

8. About Phone

   • Contains all device-specific information such as hardware information, phone number, etc.
   • Press the device name to edit how the Nothing Phone (3) is displayed on other devices.
   • When a new software update for the device is available, a dot will appear next to the Nothing OS version.

Advanced

1. Essential Key

   The Essential Key is located below the power button on the right side of your Phone (3) and works in conjunction with the Essential Space app to provide convenient screenshot and voice memo functions.

   The Essential Key supports various operations, such as long press and double tap, each triggering different functions within different interfaces:

   Functionality:

   • Capture Function: Long press the Essential Key on the home screen or lock screen to start recording immediately. The audio will be automatically saved in Essential Space. The system will intelligently extract important information, generate summaries, and transcribe audio data into text to help you organize your thoughts.
   • Screenshot: Long press the Essential Key on other interfaces to take a quick screenshot. After a successful capture, you will receive haptic feedback.
   • Voice Memo (Post-Screenshot): After taking a screenshot, continue to press and hold the Essential Key and start speaking to add voice notes directly to the captured content or ask questions about it.
   • View Datasets: Double-tap the Essential Key to quickly open Essential Space and access your recent recordings and screenshots.

   Functions of Essential Space:

   • Intelligent Analysis (requires Nothing account login): After logging into your Nothing account, the content recorded via the Essential Key will undergo intelligent analysis. This includes generating summary highlights and even recognizing and extracting location information directly from Google Maps links within the content. Please note: Logging into your Nothing account is required to activate these advanced analysis functions.
   • Voice Commands for Improved Organization: In voice memos, you can use voice commands such as "Remind me to buy baby formula tomorrow afternoon" or "Which mountain is this?". This feature helps you effectively manage daily tasks and get quick information.

2. Glyph Interface

   • The Glyph Interface consists of the illuminated micro-LED Glyph Matrix and the touch-sensitive Glyph Button on the back of the Phone (3). All pre-installed ringtones and notification sounds of the Nothing Phone feature custom-made, handcrafted Glyph patterns that illuminate the Glyph Matrix in sync with audio and vibration, offering you a new way to interact with the Nothing Phone (3).
   • To set up individual functions, go to the "Glyph Interface" section in the "Settings" app (Settings > Glyph Interface). Alternatively, you can long press the "Glyphs" tile in Quick Settings.
   • Drag the brightness slider to adjust the brightness of the Glyph Matrix. This will dim all Glyphs from maximum brightness to the set brightness. Tap the "Automatic Brightness" button to automatically adjust the Glyph Matrix brightness.
   • To preview and set ringtones, access the Ringtones tab in the Glyph Interface settings. Choose between setting the default ringtone or linking individual contacts with unique ringtones, then choose between Nothing Signals (handcrafted Glyphs) or My Sounds (imported sounds).
   • To add a custom ringtone, go to My Sounds and press "Add New Sounds". This will open the file browser to select the files to import.
   • Notification sounds can be set similarly, choosing between original Nothing Signals and imported sounds.
   • Further functions of the Glyph Interface include:
     • Flip to Glyph – Temporarily mutes the device and vibration when the Phone (3) is held face down, to avoid distractions but not miss important calls. There is an Essential Notification option to choose whether to receive only essential notifications.
     • Glyph Toys – a collection of micro-experiences that bring your phone to life. Tap the Glyph Button to switch between utilities or games. Personalization is supported by downloading APKs to import custom toys.
     • Glyph Button – the button on the back is used to control the interaction of the toy on the Glyph Matrix. Tap to cycle through the toys displayed on the Glyph Matrix. Long press to activate dynamic toy interactions.
     • Essential Notifications – Mark a notification as Essential by long-pressing the incoming notification banner and activating the toggle. Assign persistent icons on the Glyph Matrix for unread notifications from specific contacts, apps, and keywords. The Glyph Matrix will remain illuminated until you read or dismiss the notification.
     • Volume Indicator – uses the Glyph Interface to display the volume level.
     • Bedtime Schedule – temporarily turns off the Glyph Interface at specific times on selected days to ensure users are not disturbed at night.
     • Do Not Disturb – temporarily turns off the Glyph Interface.

3. App Shortcuts

   • App-specific shortcuts can be accessed in the launcher by long-pressing an app icon to display the extended shortcut menu.
   • Tip: The shortcut can also be converted into a standalone icon by dragging it to the home screen.

4. Max Icon Size & Large Folder

   • The Nothing Launcher offers the ability to expand any app icon on the home screen up to four times its size, allowing users to have full personalization options. To use this feature, long press an app icon and press the expand icon to enlarge the selected app icon.
   • The same procedure can be applied to folders, allowing users to organize their home screen without an additional step to open the folder for the first three apps within it.

5. Do Not Disturb

   • Do Not Disturb mode ensures an interruption-free experience by temporarily muting all notifications and incoming calls not on the whitelist, and hiding all non-visible notifications in the status bar and notification bar. To activate this function, open Quick Settings and tap the "Do Not Disturb" tile.
   • To modify the list of people/apps that are whitelisted, simply long press the "Do Not Disturb" tile in Quick Settings and edit the important people/apps. This allows them to bypass notifications.
   • In Do Not Disturb mode, the Glyph Interface is also temporarily deactivated by default. To change this behavior, long press the "Do Not Disturb" tile in Quick Settings and disable the "Mute Glyphs" toggle.
   • When playing games, you can quickly block incoming calls or notifications without activating "Do Not Disturb" mode. Via the shortcut panel in game mode on the left side of the game, you can block incoming calls or notifications individually.

6. Google Assistant

   Google Assistant is a virtual, personal assistant that can perform a variety of tasks through a natural language interface. It can be activated by briefly pressing and holding the power button or by swiping up from the bottom right corner of the screen. Learn more about things you can say to Google Assistant in the Google Assistant app.

7. Battery Sharing

   The Nothing Phone (3) is capable of charging other Qi-compatible, wireless chargers with its wireless charging coil. To activate this function, open the Quick Settings menu and turn on the Battery Sharing function. The Glyph Interface will light up when the function is successfully activated.

8. Screenshot

   • To take a screenshot on the Nothing Phone (3), simultaneously press the Volume Down button and the Power button. The image will be saved in the Screenshot album in the "Google Photos" app. By default, this folder may not sync with your main photo album. To access the album, go to Google Photos and navigate to the "Library" tab at the bottom right.
   • To take an extended screenshot, first take a normal screenshot and wait for the "Capture more" button to appear at the bottom of the screen. Once you tap this button, a full page view for each scrollable surface will be displayed. Simply drag the edges to adjust the size of the screenshot.
   • You can also use the three-finger screenshot gesture to take screenshots. To activate the screenshot gesture, go to "Settings > Special features > Gestures > Screenshot gesture" and enable this function.
   • You can also quickly edit the screenshot by pressing the thumbnail that appears after taking the screenshot. Make any desired changes, such as cropping or annotating, and then click "Save" in the top left to save the edited screenshot.

9. NFC

   NFC (Near Field Communication) allows the Nothing Phone (3) to connect with other NFC-enabled devices when two devices are in close proximity to each other. The most common application is using the Nothing Phone (3) as a virtual credit/debit card via Google Pay. It is recommended to keep NFC enabled for convenience, as it does not consume much battery in standby mode. To disable this function, open Quick Settings and tap the "NFC" tile.

FAQ

F: How do I turn on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: Press and hold the power button until the Nothing logo appears on the display.

F: How do I transfer data from my existing phone to my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: During the setup wizard, there is an option to copy data from an existing device, either via a Google account backup or by connecting the two devices with a cable.

F: How can I change the language?

A: The language can be set on the first screen of the setup wizard. It can also be changed under Settings > System > Languages & Input.

F: How do I activate location services?

A: Location services can be activated under Settings > Location. When this option is enabled, apps that require location services will request permission to access your location data when you open the app for the first time.

F: How do I activate Find My Device on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: Find My Device is automatically activated after you sign in to a Google account. However, location can only be accessed if location services are turned on. For more information, see Settings > Google > Find My Device.

F: How can I back up the data on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: The Nothing Phone (3) uses Google's standard backup routine when connected to Wi-Fi and charging in standby for 2 hours. To perform a backup immediately, navigate to Settings > Google > Backup and tap the "Turn on" button.

F: How can I change the wallpaper and accent colors on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: The wallpaper and accent colors can be changed by long-pressing an empty spot on the home screen and selecting "Personalization" from the popup menu. By default, the Phone (3) uses Android's "Dynamic color" feature to extract colors from the wallpaper, unless otherwise specified.

F: How do I use screen recording on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: To set up the screen recording function, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to access the expanded Quick Settings. Press the edit icon (pencil) and drag the screen recording tile from the hidden tiles to the top. To start recording, swipe down to open Quick Settings, find the newly added screen recording tile, tap it once, and confirm to start recording after the three-second countdown displayed on the right in the notification bar. To stop recording, swipe down to open the notification center and tap "Stop" to save the recording. The file can be accessed in Google Photos > Library > Movies.

F: How do I add the Nothing X widget to my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: Like any other widget, the Nothing X widget can be accessed by long-pressing an empty spot on the home screen and selecting "Widget" from the pop-up menu.

F: How do I record with my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: Start the Camera app and tap the "Video" option in the mode selection bar.

F: How can I set and use a password on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: Go to Settings > Security & Privacy > Device unlock to choose your preferred unlock method. Note that you must first set a pattern/PIN to use fingerprint or face unlock.

F: How can I reset my Nothing Phone (3) to factory settings?

A: To perform a factory reset, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).

F: How do I eject the SIM card tray on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: Insert the included SIM card removal tool into the hole next to the SIM tray on the bottom of the phone.

F: How do I connect my Ear (2) to my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: The Fast Pair function is initiated on the Nothing Phone (3) when an unpaired Ear (2) is opened with the earbuds in the case. Go through the Fast Pair setup to complete pairing. If Fast Pair does not appear, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Pair new device to search for Nothing Ear (2). For more details, refer to the Nothing Ear (2) manual.

F: How do I activate battery saving on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: When the Nothing Phone (3) battery drops below 20%, a low battery notification will appear, prompting you to activate battery saving. To activate it manually, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to access the expanded Quick Settings. Press the edit icon (pencil) and drag the Battery Saver tile from the hidden tiles to the top. Tap the icon to turn it on or off in Quick Settings.

F: How do I force restart my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Up button simultaneously until the Nothing logo appears on the display.

F: How do I activate Game Mode on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: Game Mode is automatically activated when a listed app is launched. To edit the list of apps, go to Settings > Special features > Game Mode > App list. Apps listed as games in the Play Store are automatically added to this list.

F: How do I know when a new software update is available?

A: Once a new software update is available, a notification will appear reminding you to update to the latest version. However, you can also manually check for updates by going to Settings > About phone > Software info (the phone's software information). When a new update is available, a red dot will appear next to the Nothing OS version identifier.

F: How can I hide notification details on the lock screen?

A: Go to Settings > Lock screen > Privacy to select the "Notification preview" option.

F: How do I activate call waiting on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot icon to the right of the search bar. Then navigate to Settings > Call accounts > Additional settings and turn on Call waiting.

F: How can I block numbers on my Nothing Phone (3) / put them on a blacklist?

A: Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot icon to the right of the search bar. Then navigate to Settings > Blocked numbers > Add number to block incoming calls and SMS from the added number.

F: How can I cast my Nothing Phone (3) screen to my TV?

A: To set up the screen casting function, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to access the expanded Quick Settings. Press the edit icon (pencil) and drag the Screen casting tile from the hidden tiles to the top. To start casting, swipe down to open Quick Settings and find the newly added Screen casting tile. Tap it once and select the target device connected to the same local network.

F: How do I activate dark theme on my Nothing Phone (3)?

A: Dark theme is enabled by default. To change it, swipe down to access Quick Settings. Find the "Dark theme" tile and tap it to turn it on or off.

F: How can I recover deleted photos or videos?

A: Open the Gallery app and navigate to the albums in the bottom bar. Then tap "Recently deleted" to view items deleted within the last 30 days.