How to set up Essential Space on a Nothing Phone (4a) Pro

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-set-up-essential-space-on-a-nothing-phone/ · Checked October 2026 · 4a) Pro (A069P, EEA), Nothing OS 4.1, Android 16 (build FroggerPro-B4.1-260907-1153-EEA · Nothing Phone

13 of 13 steps with real screenshots · 4 official sources below

Device

Android

Shown on

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro (A069P, EEA), Nothing OS 4.1, Android 16 (build FroggerPro-B4.1-260907-1153-EEA)

App

Settings

Real screenshots

13 of 13 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

4 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Tap Get started

   The welcome screen says that by continuing you agree with Nothing's Terms of Use and Privacy policy.

   Done

2. 

   Read the feature list and tap Continue

   Get insights from your captures, Transcribes and summarises what's on your mind, and Remember more, effortlessly. The note says some features may require you to sign in with your Nothing account.

   Done

3. 

   Pick a location option

   Essential Space asks for this device's approximate location: While using the app, Only this time or Don't allow. We tapped Only this time.

   Done

4. 

   See where the Essential Key is and tap Got it

   QUICK ACCESS: Double-Click Essential Key from anywhere to enter Essential Space. The yellow mark shows the key on the left edge of the phone. Got it is at the bottom right.

   Done

5. 

   Double-click the Essential Key

   The setup then waits with Double-Click to Continue next to the key. Press the real key twice.

   Done

6. 

   Read what is new and tap Continue

   Two newer features: Live note taking and Tap into your Memory. The note says Live note taking will require NOS 4.0, and Memory will require NOS 4.0 and the latest version of Essential Search.

   Done

7. 

   Read about live note taking and tap Continue

   LIVE NOTE TAKING: Enter the new note taking experience from the home page of Essential Space or straight from your lock screen.

   Done

8. 

   Accept or Decline Memory

   Memory: see and manage your memories in the new Memory Manager; each memory shows the captures it links back to. Tap Accept or Decline. We tapped Decline.

   Done

9. 

   See the main page

   With nothing saved yet, For you says: Events and tasks collected from your Essential Space captures will appear here. Search is the magnifier at the bottom right.

   Done

10. 

    Tap the profile icon

    On the main page, tap the round profile icon at the bottom left, left of For you. It opens Essential Space's Settings.

    Done

11. 

    In Settings, tap Essential Key

    Under General: Language detection (English on ours), then Essential Key: Set the trigger conditions for the Essential Key.

    Done

12. 

    Choose the Essential Key options

    Disabled When Screen Is Off or Locked: when enabled, pressing the Essential Key will have no effect when the phone screen is off or in a locked state. Activate with Single Tap Before Use: when enabled, you must first single-tap the Key to activate the Essential Key; within the next 2 seconds, normal operations can be performed; after 2 seconds, it resets. Both were off on ours.

    Done

13. 

    Check Essential Memory

    Back in Settings, scroll down. Essential Memory: Enable creation of new memories and use memories to improve Essential Search results. It was off on ours after Decline in step 8; Manage Essential Memories is below it.

    Done

If you do not see this option

• No Live note taking or Memory? The setup says Live note taking will require NOS 4.0, and Memory will require NOS 4.0 and the latest version of Essential Search. On an older Nothing OS, update the phone first. Ours ran Nothing OS 4.1.

  

• Settings look different? Check your Essential Space version. Its App info page lists it at the bottom: ours said Version 2.2.0, App installed from Google Play Store.

  

• Asked to sign in? Nothing says full features need you to be logged in to your Nothing account. Its Welcome to Nothing sheet offers Email login, Create an account and a Google button. Source: How do I access Essential Space?

  

If this does not work

• Key does nothing with the screen off? Check Disabled When Screen Is Off or Locked in Essential Key Settings (step 12). With it on, the key has no effect while the screen is off or locked.

  

• No AI summaries? Nothing says you must be logged in to your Nothing account for AI analysis of what you record, such as summary reports and key highlights. Sources: What is the intelligent analysis of Essential Space?, How do I access Essential Space?
• Want a voice memo instead of a screenshot? Nothing says long press the Essential Key: recording starts on the preview page and runs until you release the key; then short press the key to save. A double press shows your most recent recordings. Sources: How do I add voice memos using the Essential Key?, How to use the Essential Key to access recent recordings?

About this guide

Essential Space calls itself "a universal space and smart organizer for all your thoughts, idea, and memories". The first run is a short setup; after it, the main page waits for your first captures.

The screenshots are from our Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, the European model A069P, with Nothing OS 4.1 and Android 16 (build FroggerPro-B4.1-260907-1153-EEA), in Dark mode, taken on 27 October 2026. The Settings pictures are from Essential Space version 2.2.0, as its App info page shows. In the setup we allowed notifications, chose Only this time for location and declined Memory.

Good to know

Under Storage in Settings, Cloud storage says: Back up your Essential Space captures and sync them between your devices. Ours showed OUT OF SYNC and "0 B of 2.15 GB used", with Backup off.

Where the key is and what a short press does: the Essential Key on the (4a) Pro.

For other ways to take a screenshot, see take a screenshot on a Nothing Phone.

In short: Double-press the Essential Key or open Essential Space, Get started, Continue, location choice, Got it, double-click the key, then Continue and Accept or Decline. Profile icon, Settings, Essential Key for the key options.

📷 See real photos from the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro in our Camera Lab, next to 10 other phones.