Android
Enhanced Android Theft Protection and Pixel Watch charging screen: Comprehensive Rollout
Google is currently rolling out significant new features for Android theft protection and an updated charging screen for older Pixel Watch models, providing both Android phone users and smartwatch owners with advanced security and usability enhancements.
Android Theft Protection: Advanced Features for Device Security
Google is introducing a comprehensive set of theft protection features for Android devices to safeguard users’ data in the event of device theft. These features include Theft Detection, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock, all of which are now becoming widely available.
- Accessing Theft Protection: You can access these new security tools through your phone’s Settings app. Navigate to Google > All services tab > Personal & device safety, or simply search for “theft” in the settings menu to find the relevant options quickly.
- Theft Detection Lock: Theft Detection Lock activates when someone tries to steal your device while it’s in use. If your phone is grabbed and taken, the display turns off automatically, and the device will require authentication to regain access. This feature uses device sensors, Wi-Fi, and smart connections to detect theft and lock the device swiftly.
- Offline Device Lock: If the thief tries to disable the internet connection to prevent tracking, Offline Device Lock steps in to secure your phone. This feature ensures your phone stays locked even without an internet connection, adding an extra layer of security in offline scenarios.
- Remote Lock: If your phone is stolen, you can remotely lock it by visiting android.com/lock. This feature allows you to input your pre-verified phone number and security challenge to lock your device quickly. Google believes this method is faster than using the traditional Find My Device feature and the link to Remote Lock can also be found in the Find My Device settings. Once activated, your device’s screen can be locked twice a day through these methods.
To use these theft protection features, you must enable them in advance and set up Remote Lock by confirming your phone number. Disabling any of these features requires biometric authentication for added security.
Google’s Theft Protection is currently rolling out to Pixel and Samsung devices globally, with more Android 10 and newer devices expected to follow. However, the feature isn’t yet available on tablets. Google initially announced Theft Protection at their I/O 2024 event and began testing the feature in Brazil in June before expanding it worldwide.
Pixel Watch Charging Screen Update: A Visual Refresh for Older Models
Alongside theft protection for phones, Google is also updating the charging screen for older Pixel Watch models, providing users with a cleaner, more modern look. Initially introduced with the Pixel Watch 3, this refreshed screen design is now arriving on older Pixel Watch devices.
- Visual Changes: The previous charging screen featured an elaborate green animation and a two-line clock. With the update, the animation has been removed, and a sleeker design with a yellow accent for the ring and other interface elements has been introduced. The time is now displayed in white.
- New Features: On the Pixel Watch 3, the charging screen includes a time-to-full estimate, displayed on the right side of the screen. When the screen is activated, users will notice a brief loading animation while the estimate is calculated. However, on older Pixel Watch models, this time-to-full estimate is not yet functional, though it may be enabled in a future update.
- Day/Date and Timer Display: Users will see the day and date displayed on the charging screen, with the information flipped compared to previous versions. If a timer is set, it will appear on the left; otherwise, the day/date will be shown on the left, and the month will be displayed on the right.
This new charging screen design is available on Pixel Watches running Wear OS 5. If you are not seeing the updated interface yet, ensure that your apps are up to date, and try restarting your watch.
In summary, Google is pushing forward with two key updates: enhanced theft protection features for Android users and a refreshed charging interface for older Pixel Watch devices. These features are designed to enhance security and usability, providing more control and ease of use across devices. Android users can feel more secure knowing their devices are protected, while Pixel Watch owners can enjoy a cleaner, more intuitive charging display.
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.
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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