Android’s major 2022 update is the thirteenth iteration of the mobile operating system and is out now in the wild. It initially headed for Google’s own Pixel phones, before moving on to handsets from the likes of Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, Nokia and others.
Much like iOS, Android is now mature and refined enough that it doesn’t need a full overhaul every 12 months, so we’ve gotten used to not having too many huge changes every year.
That said, there are improvements and upgrades in Android 13 that are worth talking about. Here are the ones you should check out once it hits your handset.
1. Auto Theme Icons
Android 12 has made significant progress in terms of interface appearance theme with wallpapers and colors. Now Android 13 builds on that with auto-theming icons, which means app icons on the home screen will automatically change color to match the wallpaper.
But there are a few caveats. For now at least, auto-themed icons are only available on Pixel devices, and app developers need to provide compatible icons for the theme to work. Most apps from Google have been updated, for example, but it can take some time for the creators of your favorite apps to catch up.
2. New notification permissions
This is a relatively minor change, but it has the potential to make a big difference. Android 12 introduced a system that forces apps to ask for permission to access your phone’s camera and location, for example, the first time they need it.
In Android 13, this protocol has been extended to notifications. Instead of an app that just sends you alerts, forcing you to accept them or dig into the Settings page to turn them off, you’ll see a notification permission request. When this request appears depends on the developer, but it will usually be quite early.
As before, you can change app settings (including notifications and other permissions) by going to settings. Press on apps and See all appsthen choose an application and select Permissions.
3. Custom Vibes
If you prefer alerts that vibrate instead of rattling, you’ll be pleased to hear that Android 13 has added more granular control over how these vibrations work.
Essentially, you can now choose different vibration levels for calls, alarms and other notifications, as well as tactile feedback. You can also make incoming calls vibrate your phone first, then gradually add audible sound.
To find all these new options in Android settings, tap sound and vibrationthen Vibration and haptics. Each option has a slider, so you can carefully control the vibrations quite precisely.
4. Faster access to QR code scanner
With the pandemic, QR codes have grown in popularity as a way to access and present information without having to touch anything.
Android has been reading QR codes for a long time, but Android 13 makes its QR code reader a bit easier to access. Open quick settings with a two-finger swipe from the top of the screen, then tap the pen icon (bottom right) to make changes, and you’ll see there’s a Scan the QR code option that you can drag into the Quick Settings panel.
Bonus Tip: Another Android 13 tile you can add to the Quick Settings panel, similarly, is One-handed mode. It drags out some UI elements so they’re easier to reach with your thumb.
5. More Secure Photo Access
Android and iOS borrow from each other all the time. In this case, Google has tricked an idea from Apple and now allows users to limit app access to their phone’s photos. It’s not all or nothing anymore – now apps will only have access to the images and videos you select, not your entire gallery
You will only see the change when an app needs access to your photos and videos. You will notice a new selector that will allow you to select one or more images or clips, starting with the most recent.
The redesigned interface also lets you select specific albums from your phone’s gallery and any connected cloud storage.
One of the most obvious upgrades you’ll see on Android 13 is a redesigned media player widget. It appears under Quick Settings and on the lock screen when media is playing.
Two of the visual changes you’ll notice are that the play button is larger and moved to the right, and the progress bar now has a wavy effect when a podcast, video, audiobook, or song is activated. .
As before, the background of the media player widget is covered by any artwork available from the app in question (album art, for example). In the top right corner of the widget, you can see where the media is playing, whether it’s your phone’s speaker or a connected device, such as a Chromecast.
7. Better audio output selection
Another small but significant change is how Android 13 revamped the audio output selection screen. This is handy if you listen to audio from your phone on Bluetooth speakers or other streaming devices, for example.
[Related: 9 essential Android features you’re probably not using]
With media playback, go to Settings and choose sound and vibrationthen touch the To play… link under Media Volume. The link should include the name of the app playing.
Not only does the redesigned pop-up dialog make it easier to switch between outputs, from wireless headphones to connected car stereos, but it also lets you adjust relative volume levels.