If you keep many credit cards, transit passes, and other stuff in Google Wallet, you’ll love this new shortcut. It lets you add Google Wallet to your phone’s lock screen or Quick Settings for easy access. This means you can switch cards fast without having to unlock your phone or open the app. Especially for Pixel phone users, Google is planning a new shortcut in the Android 16 update that will let you open Google Wallet even quicker.

On most good Android phones, you can choose what happens when you double-tap the power button. But on Pixel phones, this action always opens the camera, which is great if you’re into taking photos but not so much if you aren’t. The good news is, that Google is changing this so you can choose to open Google Wallet instead with that double-tap.

I found some clues about this feature in the latest Android 15 beta update. There’s talk of a new settings page where you can decide if double-tapping the power button opens the camera or your wallet app. You’ll find this under Settings > System > Gestures, where there’s a new option for the double-tap power button.

When this setting is turned on, you can jump right into your wallet app by double-tapping the power button, no matter if your screen is on or off. And it’s not just for Google Wallet; it’ll open any wallet app you’ve set as your default, thanks to a change made in Android 15.

This feature isn’t ready yet in the current Android 15 beta, so we won’t see it in the next stable update. But we might see it in an early version of Android 16. I’ll keep an eye on Google’s updates to tell you when this handy shortcut becomes available.

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The way Android gets updates has gotten better over time. Google has been working on making these updates more regular, and other phone makers have followed suit. If you own a Pixel 9 and use T-Mobile, you’ll be happy to know that the January 2025 update is now ready for your phone.

Better Late Than Never

Google kicked off the year with its first Android update in early January 2025. While it’s not a massive update, it brings several fixes that tackle some common annoyances. Google pushed this update out two weeks ago, but if you’re with T-Mobile, you’re just getting it now.

T-Mobile is currently sending this update to all Pixel 9 devices on its network. Google rolled out this update earlier, and it includes improvements in performance and fixes for bugs. One notable fix is for the issue where dark icons would unexpectedly switch to light ones after the December 2024 update.

The update also tackles problems like flashing lines on the screen, audio delays, app stability, and camera issues when switching to external cameras.

This update is available for all models of the Pixel 9 series including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Carrier Testing

It’s common for updates to take a bit longer for those using carrier-locked phones, like those from T-Mobile. When you buy a phone directly from a carrier, they do extra checks to make sure the update works well with their network, avoiding issues like dropped calls.

If you have an unlocked Pixel 9, you’ll get the update as soon as Google releases it. However, carrier versions like those on T-Mobile might see a delay, which in this case was about two weeks.

This delay can be a bit frustrating if there are urgent fixes for security or app issues. If you’re on T-Mobile, you can check if the update is available by going to Settings > System > Software updates > System update, or you can manually update using the OTA images from Google’s website.

Google is now rolling out the Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3 update for Pixel phones before its official release in March.

This update brings more changes than the usual monthly fixes. It’s perfect for adding new features and making big design changes without waiting for the next big Android update. Google labels these updates as “suitable for general use” because they’re stable enough for everyday use.

Here’s what’s been fixed:

• Phone Calls: No more random restarts when you’re on a call.
• Apps: When you go back to an app from the list of recent apps, it won’t take you to the home screen anymore.
• Language Settings: Fixed a problem where changing languages could make the keyboard hide in some apps.
• Video Recording: Got rid of that annoying clicking sound in the background.
• Wireless Charging: Fixed issues that could stop your phone from charging wirelessly.

Other improvements include:

• Better stability, connection, and how your phone responds.
• Fixed crashes that could happen when starting workouts on connected wearables.
• Stopped system crashes from certain errors.
• The feedback app for beta testers now works without crashing when you report issues.

This update, with the latest security fixes for January 2025, is available for Pixel 6 through to the new Pixel 9 series, including all the variations like Pro and Fold models, and also for the Android Emulator.

You can get this update through the Android Beta Program, or if you prefer, you can manually install it using factory images or OTA files.

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