Google has begun sharing what new features and changes to expect in November from the core system apps on our Android devices, including some tweaks to the Play Store’s UI and support for QR codes in Google Wallet.
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With Android 14 and Wear OS 4 both now fully released, this month’s Google System Updates showcase a few other improvements coming for our phones, tablets, and smartwatches, including the ability to connect a Wear OS watch to “multiple phones.”
Update: The latest patch notes reveal new changes coming to the Play Store on Wear OS, among other upgrades.
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In recent days, Google Pixel and Samsung owners have noticed that Smart Lock’s Trusted devices option has gone missing.
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As part of the September 2023 Google System Updates, Android is set to gain better support for using a PIN with the FIDO2 security standard, among other improvements.
Update: Ahead of the expected October launch of Android 14, Google is now discussing the addition of stylus and trackpad gestures for Android’s built-in web browser.
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Among other changes in Android’s Google System Updates for August, the Play Store is changing all of its ads to now read as “Sponsored.”
Update: The latest patch notes point to improvements in emergency situations and an expansion of Google Wallet.
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A new update for “Google Partner Setup,” a required internal Android app, is rolling out now via the Play Store.
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Android’s Google System Updates for July are set to bring “valuables” sharing to Wallet and more.
Update: The latest updates include improvements to the Google Play Store, a new UI for family groups, and newly “prioritized” updates for Android’s WebView browser.
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Google shared today that Play services is dropping support for Android 4.4 KitKat, which is nearly 10 years old, in August.
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The Google System Updates for June 2023 are set to include Google Wallet improvements for foldables and more.
Update: The Play Store is set to gain a new tab, while Google Password Manager is getting some improvements.
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The Google System Updates for April 2023 bring improvements to the Play Store, including making it easier to download apps over cellular data.
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Google System Updates for March 2023 give you more control over the loyalty/rewards cards in your Google Wallet, and more.
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In the latest example of a late Google Play system update, the February 2023 patch for Pixel phones is just rolling out today after having missed its original month.
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The Google System Updates for February 2023 include an improvement to Android’s Nearby Share notifications and more.
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Google Play system updates occasionally lag behind the current month, with the Pixel 6 and 7 series starting to see the January 2023 release today after skipping December entirely.
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We’re still waiting for the ability to use Wear OS to unlock Android devices and Chromebooks. Watch Unlock was demoed earlier this year, and ongoing work reveals how Smart Lock will be sticking around as “Extend Unlock.”
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The Google System Updates for January 2023 include an updated QR code scanner with support for Matter devices, a revamp of Play Games profiles and what they’re used for, and some other tweaks.
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Google’s December Play System Updates ready a beta test for keeping a digital driver’s license in your Android phone’s Wallet app while also preparing for next year’s Pixel Tablet.
Update 2: Google is readying the launch of an expanded “Find My Device” feature for Android, along with expanded support for digital car keys.
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Back in September, Google announced a few updates to Nearby Share, including sharing to your own devices. Another upcoming change will have Nearby Share “show in the first row as a sharing option” in the system Android sheet.
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Google has begun previewing the latest changes to Android as part of November’s Google Play System updates, including improvements for Wallet and parental controls.
Update: Google is bringing its updated photo picker to nearly every Android device, including ones that are quite outdated.
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Google Play services powers many key features on Android devices that might not be obvious to end users, and Google is now offering an explanation directly on your phone as part of a new approach.
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Google is beginning to reveal the improvements coming to Android phones, TVs, watches, and more as part of the October 2022 Google Play system updates, including a fix for using Google Wallet with Face Unlock on the Pixel 7
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Like on phones, many Wear OS features are delivered via Google Play services, and the latest version reveals what backups on watches will cover, as well as more features for Google Wallet.
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Since launch, the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have been running a Google Play system update from July, but some users are now being prompted to install a new version only to have that download fail.
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Apple, Google, Microsoft, and others in the industry want to replace website/app passwords with “passkeys” that just require you to unlock your device. Starting today, Android and Google Chrome will support signing in with passkeys.
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