Latest news with #PixelUsers
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Hidden controls in latest QPR beta help Pixel users customize their lock screen clocks
The slider can be found in the updated Wallpaper & style app. Go to Settings > Wallpaper & style > Clock . You'll see the options for changing the look of the lock screen clock along with the slider directly underneath. Swipe your finger across the slider to see the different options you can choose from. The recently released Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 update adds another customization option that is hidden from Pixel users in the beta. This option allows you to choose between a "rounded" or a "sharp" font for the clock. This works only with the default clock. Once again go to Settings > Wallpaper & style > Clock . From the preview image of the default clock, long-press on the clock itself and you will see a notification that says either "Style changed to round" or "Style changed to sharp." Tapping on the clock will continually alternate between the "round" or "sharp" styles. New lock screen customization features for compatible Pixel models with Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 installed. | Image credit-PhoneArena To see the difference between the two styles, look at the numerals on the clock. The "sharp" image uses a straight line on the starting and ending points of the numerals while the "round" style uses, well, a rounded line at the spots where a numeral starts and ends. You might find the style of one of the two options more to your liking although it is such a minor customization that most people will prefer just to leave this alone. Now, in the unlikely event that these two lock screen clock customization features have you chomping at the bit to install the beta, I can tell you from personal experience that this is not the type of beta software that will brick your phone or take away your must-have features. Still, it is a beta so you should make sure to back up your data before loading it. You'll need to go to or tap on this link. When the Android Beta for Pixel site loads, tap on the rectangular "View your eligible devices" button. You'll be sent to a page with an image of your Pixel phone. Underneath that image will be a button to press to opt into the Android 16 QPR1 Beta. Tap it and after a few minutes go to Settings > System > Software update > System update . Follow the directions to install the update. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Android Authority
11-06-2025
- Android Authority
What's going on with Extra Dim on Pixel phones running Android 16?
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Some Pixel users say Extra Dim is less effective after updating to Android 16. Reports vary, with other Pixel owners saying their devices are unaffected. A Google account suggested that a third-party app may be causing the issue. If your Pixel screen feels a little brighter than it used to with Extra Dim enabled, you might not be imagining things. A handful of Reddit users are reporting that the feature seems less effective after installing the Android 16 update, though not everyone is seeing the same behavior. A post from a Pixel 8 Pro owner claimed that the Extra Dim setting was 'noticeably brighter than before' after updating to Android 16. Even after adjusting the intensity slider back down to the minimum, the screen remained brighter than expected. Another user with a Pixel 9 described a similar experience, saying the toggle makes 'zero difference' now, especially when compared side-by-side with a Pixel 6. A third thread echoed the sentiment, but while some commenters agreed that the feature feels less efficient, others reported no problems. Owners of the Pixel 7, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9a said Extra Dim still works as expected for them, suggesting the issue might be device-specific. An official Google account recommended that one user try safe mode to rule out third-party apps. Some users found their Extra Dim intensity slider had shifted to the middle post-update, which might explain the brightness spike in some cases. However, even after manually returning the slider to its lowest setting, some say the dimming is still weaker than before. An official Google account recommended that one user try safe mode to rule out third-party apps causing the issue, but it's not clear whether that was tried or made a difference. We previously saw in Android 16 Beta 2 that Extra Dim was integrated directly into the brightness slider on the Pixel 9 series, removing the standalone toggle. While this made dimming more automatic, it may explain some of the confusion, though not all of the users reporting the issue are using a Pixel 9 device. Are you seeing the same behavior on your Pixel with Android 16? If Extra Dim is acting differently for you, or still works just fine, let us know in the comments. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
03-06-2025
- General
- Android Authority
Android 16 QPR1 will suggest photo wallpapers of your loved ones from Google Photos
Robert Triggs / Android Authority TL;DR Google Pixel users on Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 are now getting personalized wallpaper suggestions. The suggestions are curated from your Google Photos library, mainly featuring people and pets. Users can revoke access if they don't want their photos to appear as suggestions when setting a wallpaper. Setting your phone's wallpaper is the first and often underrated step towards personalizing your device and making it truly yours. There are a ton of wallpaper options out there, and we even have some favorites from the Google Pixel lineup. While abstract art and landscape photography make for great wallpaper choices, many of us prefer something even more personal, like a photo of a loved one, right on our home screen. However, sifting through hundreds of photos to find one good picture to set as a wallpaper is tedious. Google is changing the game for Pixel users running Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, now suggesting personalized wallpapers from the photos they have clicked and uploaded to Google Photos. The Wallpaper & Styles app from Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 includes the following string: Code Copy Text Suggested photos While the string doesn't directly mention it, Google Photos is the default photo app in the QPR beta, so photo suggestions are most likely to come from there. We joined the dots with a service within Google Photos that mentions 'curated wallpapers,' indicating that the Wallpaper & Styles app could pull in photos from Google Photos. AssembleDebug / Android Authority That's precisely what has happened now. With a recent Google Play System update, as well as after updating the Google Photos app to v7.31, the Wallpaper and Styles app on Google Pixels on Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 now suggests wallpapers from your Google Photos libraries in the main wallpaper selection screen, We can see six photos as suggestions. It seems the images are selected with a bias towards people and pets. If you don't want your images to appear in the Wallpaper & Style app as suggestions, you can revoke its access from the Google Photos app. Surfacing photos directly in the Wallpaper & Styles app is a nice touch, especially since many people would love to have their children, partners, parents, or pets showcased on their home screen. The app also allows users to select other photos if they don't like the current suggestions. Such a change puts the personal touch into personalization, and we're all in for it. These personalized wallpaper suggestions curated from Google Photos are now rolling out to users. To get the option to show up in your Pixel's Wallpaper & Style app, ensure that you are on the latest Google Photos version and Google Play System Update on the latest Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 release. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Google Pixel Phone Battery Problems: Google Explains Cause. Here's How To Fix It
Google updated its Pixel phones earlier in May with a routine update. Some users surprisingly found their battery life plummeting. Why would a simple tweaks and fixes update do this? Google has now commented and explained the fault. Here's how to fix it. Google Pixel 9 Getty Images The update arrived on May 6, with security patches for the Pixel 6 and later handsets. It was an update not to be skipped, because it had 28 security issues which were addressed in it. It also had some feature tweaks, such as a fix for a problem where the microphone wasn't recording well and a solution for problems caused when pairing by Bluetooth with selected smartwatches was impacted. So far, so normal. But soon after installing it, some Pixel users noticed terrible battery life, as reported by 9to5Google. Not only was the battery life dwindling much faster than usual, there were also reports of overheating issues. 'As always with battery issues following an update, much of this can boil down to perception. However, with the quantity of user reports circulating, it's hard to write this one off. The issue appears to be affecting all Pixel devices, from 2021's Pixel 6 up to the latest Pixel 9 generation,' the site commented. Now we know why. Talking to the same site, Google has explained that it wasn't its fault at all. 'Speaking to 9to5Google, Google says that battery issues being reported by Pixel owners with the May 2025 are due to an ongoing bug with the Instagram app and have nothing to do with the May update itself,' it said. It's good to know the reason but that doesn't solve the problem, of course. However, there's good news. It seems that the Instagram issue makes sense as a number of complaints about battery life commented that Instagram was 'eating up battery life'. And better news: the latest Instagram update fixes the issue. If you've been suffering with it, update Instagram pronto and it looks like it'll solve the problem.
