Now for those of you, who don’t know what Tasker is, well it’s an Android automation app that can automate almost anything on your Android. For instance; it can send you an emergency text to your significant others before you battery dies, auto-rotate the screen when you open YouTube app or automatically disable lock screen when you at home etc. In a nutshell, tasker is like IFTTT i.e. If this happens do that i.e. it lets you trigger actions based on events like location, time, state and gesture etc.
Although Tasker is a paid app (3$ on PlayStore) and it does worth every single penny, it also comes with a steep learning curve. So before buying the app from the Play Store, try the 7 days trial version. In this guide, you will see 10 useful Tasker profile. However, if you are a complete beginner, I suggest you watch this video first.
Best Tasker Profiles
1. Night Mode
Description – At Night, this profile will automatically, turn Wi-Fi OFF, activate the silent mode and then revert to the old settings in the morning. Overall, helps to save a bit battery juice. Profiles > Click on + sign > Choose Time for your night mode > Add new task and give it a name you want Task > Give it a name (optional) > Tap on the “+” icon > Audio > silent mode > On. Goto the task once again > Tap on the “+” icon > Net > WiFi > Off
2. Emergency Text
Description – Send an automatic SMS to your loved once (a pre-defined contact) when your battery is about to die. Profile > State > Power > Battery level > Set it between 5 to 0 %. Set up a new task for this profile > Give it a name > click on the + icon > Phone > Send Sms > Specify the number and enter the text.
3. Keep Screen On
Description – Temporary disable the automatic screen OFF when you using reading apps like pocket or Reddit etc. This way, you don’t have to touch the screen frequently, just to keep it on. Profile > Application > Select the apps, for which you want to keep screen ON. Set up a new task for this profile > Give it a name > click on the + icon > Display > Display timeout > increase the time limit to your desired level.
4. Automatically start playing Music when headphones are plugged
Description – When you plug-in your headphones, the phone will automatically launch your favorite music player, increase the volume to a desired level and then start playing music last played music. Profile > State > Hardware > Headset Plugged > Any New task > click on the + icon > App > Launch App > Select your music player app. New task > increase the volume to maximum.
To play music automatically, you will need media utilities plugin. So, install that from Google play and then come back to your task. New Task > Plugin > Media Utilities > tap on the pencil icon to select configuration and then Smart Play option. Watch this video for detail breakdown.
5. Launch one Application automatically after another
Description – In the morning I usually check for my emails first, followed by Google analytics, Adsense, and few social media. You can automate it such that, next app will open automatically once you close the first one. Profile > Application > Select your first application from the list. New task > click on the + icon > App > Launch App > Select the app that you want to launch after you close the first app. This will launch the second app just after first is launch, but we want the second app to launch when we are done using the first app. So, come back to profile section > tap on the second app name > select move to exit option.
6. Toggle WiFi and 3G
Description – People use WiFi at home and turn OFF 3G but when they go out they prefer 3G as there is no WiFi. So without toggling this manually, you can use Tasker to automate it. Profile > Location > Net=On, GPS=Off, Radius 500m, Get Fix Task > Action: Net > WiFi > On Task > Action: Net > WiFi > Off See detail steps from here.
7. Silent Incoming calls by turning your phone
Description – If you receive an incoming call while you are at the meeting, you can quickly put your phone in silent mode, by changing its screen orientation to face down. BTW, In most Android pressing volume key also silent incoming calls, so you don’t really need this profile ) BTW, In most Android pressing volume key also silent incoming calls, so you don’t really need this profile, but anyways, here is how it works. Profile > State > Sensor > Orientation > Face Down New task > click on the + icon > Audio > Silent Mode > On
8. Shake your phone to turn on flash light
Description – If your phone supports LED flash, which almost every phone does these days, then you can shake your Android to turn ON flashlights. This is useful when the light goes OFF or when you are in the basement and you don’t have time to go through settings. Start with download Tesla Led Plugin from Google Play. Again I don’t have Android with LED support, but I am sure now you can do it on your own. Here is an overview that will help. Profile > Event > Sensor > Shake > Choose your preference New task > click on the + icon > Third party > TeslaLed > make desired changes
9. Notify when the battery is charge
Description – Best practice is to recharge the battery at 30-40% and stop at 80-90%. Overcharging or Over-draining affects battery life. Therefore you can use Tasker to set up an alert when your battery level goes down to 30 and exceed 80%. Profile> Event > Power > Battery Full > set the priority as you like Now create a new task > click on the + icon > Alert > Notify Sound > type in ‘Disconnect Battery’ or something like that in title
10. Lock your applications
Description – Password protected apps, you don’t want other to use. In the profile section > Click on + sign > application > select the applications you want to lock Now create a new task > click on the + icon >Display > Lock > Enter the password Wrapping Up Tasker is a powerful automation app. If you can imagine some kind of automation, you can probably do it with Tasker. Everything depends on your imagination and skills. In this section, we have only scratched the surface and talk about the basic tasker profiles. There are many advanced stuffs, we can do with Tasker, check out our part 2 and 3 of tasker series (link above). Also Read: 15 Best Tasker Plugins to Completely Automate Your Android 9 Best Tasker Alternatives for Android Automation Video Tutorial.
