New Android 16 Update: Double tap your power button for Google Wallet

Android has just made it easier for you to use Google Wallet with its latest update. If you often need to show your credit cards, transit passes, or other items stored in Google Wallet, you’re in luck. The new Android 16 Beta 2 lets you open Google Wallet with a simple double press of your phone’s power button.

Before this update, on Pixel phones, double-tapping the power button would always open the camera app. But now, thanks to Android 16 Beta 2, you can change this. You can find this new option under Settings > System > Gestures. Here, you can decide if you want the double tap to open the camera or your wallet app.

Once you set it to “Wallet,” you can double-tap the power button from any app, and Google Wallet will pop up. However, if your phone is locked, you’ll need to unlock it first before you can see your cards. This extra step keeps your information secure so that only you can access your wallet details.

I tried this feature on a Pixel 9 Pro updated to Android 16 Beta 2, and it works smoothly. Changing the setting to “Wallet” made it easy to access Google Wallet just by double-tapping the power button.

While this update is convenient for quick access to Google Wallet, I think it could be even better with more options. Right now, you can only choose between the camera and the wallet. It would be nice if we could customize this gesture for more apps like many other phone brands allow. Still, for now, Google seems to prefer keeping things straightforward.

This update makes daily tasks simpler for anyone needing fast access to their digital wallet, showing once again how Android keeps improving user experience.