I’ve used Moto Gestures for years, but this one hidden setting changed how I multitask

I’ve been a fan of Moto Gestures from the beginning. Everyone knows how to turn on the flashlight on a Motorola smartphone by chopping in midair, but there are other useful functions.

Picking up the phone silences an incoming call, and I think it’s fantastic that I can put my Moto in Do Not Disturb mode by simply placing the device face down.

I’ve never been able to get the figure-eight just right to bring up the camera app, but it’s there for people who like quick access for in-the-moment photos.

However, physical gestures aren’t the only ones that help you get more from your Motorola.

Navigational gestures also make me more productive. My favorite gesture isn’t even turned on by default, but more people need to know about it.

If you enjoy multitasking on your Moto phone, make this switch, and you’ll love your device even more.

Swipe gesture for easier multitasking

No need to fumble around

Multitasking isn’t an amazing experience on most Android phones.

The ability to create and save app pairs has certainly helped, but I want to pull up two apps in the shortest amount of time, and I don’t want to be bound by app pairs I’ve already put together.

Fortunately, Moto has a gesture that simplifies the process: Swipe to split.

When enabled, you can swipe back and forth across the screen to bring up multitasking. It immediately splits the app you’re using and gives you a chance to pull up a second app.

It’s a fantastic feature if I’m on WhatsApp or Google Messages and someone asks me about a calendar event. I can stay in the chat while getting the information I need.

It’s a little tricky at first and takes some getting used to. You need to make sure you’ve activated the back gesture by swiping left to right across the screen and then back again.

If you don’t feel the haptics and the tug of the back gesture, it’s not going to work.

When you get used to it, it’s amazing, and I’ve been using it more than I thought I would.

Underrated Motorola software

Hello UI doesn’t do much, but it’s solid

Hello UI doesn’t typically rank high on my list of Android versions, but that’s not a bad thing.

It’s unoffensive and doesn’t bog down the user experience with too many unnecessary features.

I wouldn’t say it’s stock Android, but it’s not a bloated mess either. I could do without the Moto AI functions, but the rest is clean and runs smoothly.

I wish Motorola would offer better software support for its devices, but I wouldn’t expect that anytime soon.

I don’t know when Android 16 will ship, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it doesn’t arrive until we’re closer to receiving Android 17 from Google. It’s a frustrating part of liking Motorola phones, but thankfully, there are other benefits.

Moto Gestures add to an already strong value

It’s hard to beat the company’s midrange phones

Moto Gestures encapsulate Motorola perfectly. They’re simple, effective, and add value to the products.

I understand the Motorola Razr line can get pricey, but one of my favorite phones this year is the base Motorola Razr 2025. It can often be found on sale or with a carrier discount for under $500, making it a fantastic bargain.

The Moto G Stylus 2025 is also excellent and can be purchased for under $350 if you find the right deal. It features a capable Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset and 8GB of RAM, ensuring a smooth multitasking experience on the G Stylus.

It’s hard to find a bad value in the Motorola lineup, and Moto Gestures are the icing on the cake.

Dive deep into your phone’s settings

I never read manuals. I enjoy jumping right into a new product and figuring things out as I go along. However, it’s easy to overlook helpful new features and functions.

I don’t know why Swipe to split isn’t enabled by default, but it’s a setting every Motorola owner should check.