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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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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Google is now updating Pixel phones with Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3, and the most noticeable change is the removal of the globe icon from the bottom-right corner of the keyboard when you only use one language.

Back in Android 15 QPR1, Google added a globe icon to the keyboard. When you tapped it, you’d see a list of languages you could choose from, along with the old “Google Voice Typing” option. However, if you only used Gboard with one language, you might find yourself accidentally hitting the globe instead of the enter key, which was annoying since December.

Now, with today’s QPR2 Beta 3 update, if you have just one language set up, the globe icon disappears. This makes things simpler because not many people use Google Voice Typing, especially when they have Gboard or Assistant Voice Typing on Pixel phones.

One vs. Two Languages

If you have more than one language set up in Gboard, the globe icon stays and works like before. A quick tap changes the language, and holding it down opens up a menu for more options.

Android 15 QPR2 is expected to become official in March with the next big Pixel update, with one more small patch coming in February. Right now, Beta 3 seems pretty stable.

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