Android 13 Release Date
The new OS began rolling out to Pixel devices first, on August 15, 2022. Other devices will receive it later in the year. Google released developer previews in February and March and put out a beta version every month until July, behind the final release. You can see the full schedule and details on Android’s developer site.
How to Download Android 13
You can get Android 13 through a wireless download to your device, just like how it worked with older versions. You’ll get a notification if the update is available for your device. You can also check for an Android OS update manually to “force” the update. Follow that link for specifics. The update options for Pixel devices, for example, is in Settings > System > System update.
Android 13 Features
There are quite a few changes with this update, some that are slated to arrive in a later Android 13 release.
Material You updates. Android 13 builds on Material You, Android 12’s UI revamp, which allowed a range of customizations like matching your wallpaper colors to your app themes. Enhanced privacy controls. The OS also improves on Android 12’s privacy features, including the option to allow app access to specific photos rather than all of them, an auto-clear feature that deletes content from the clipboard after a set time, and a 7-day look at the privacy dashboard instead of only 24 hours. Split-screen from notifications. Drag a notification to one side of the screen to quickly open that app in split-screen mode. Just long-press the notification and decide where on the screen it should go. Android reporter Mishaal Rahman has a video showing how it works. More notification control. This feature forces the app maker to ask permission to send notifications, similar to the prompt you get on many browsers. Per-app language settings. Users can set a different language for each app, rather than one global default setting. Faster pairing. Fast Pair lets you quickly pair a device with your phone so you don’t have to manually walk through the settings app to do it. You’re alerted about the device when Android identifies that something is wanting to pair with it. Bedtime dark mode. With this option, you can trigger dark mode automatically at bedtime. Easier guest app installs. Choose which apps to install to the guest profile when you make a new guest user in Android 13. Follow typing with magnifier. In the accessibility settings, a new toggle is available that makes the area you’re magnifying automatically follow the text as you type. Greater lock screen access. Through a setting called Control from locked device, Android 13 removes the requirement to unlock your phone to access smart home controls. Smarter touch controls. Android tablets will register your palm and stylus pen as separate touches. So whether you’re writing or drawing on your tablet, you’ll experience fewer accidental stray marks that come from simply resting your hand on the screen. Foreground Services (FGS) Task Manager. This new feature shows the list of apps that are running a foreground service, and provides a stop button to instantly end any of them. You’ll receive a notification to stop a task if Android detects that it’s been running for at least 20 hours within a 24-hour window. Google describes FGS Task Manager here.
Many other changes have been documented by Mishaal Rahman at Esper, and others, including these:
Vibration strength adjustments are available for alarms. There’s a brand-new interface when creating a new profile. A flag is available for toggling the bottom search bar in the launcher app drawer instead of having it be at the top. The power, settings, and other buttons in the notification shade are moving to the bottom of that screen. Quick Settings tile for QR code scanning. The media player’s progress bar changes to squiggles to show the part you’ve already listened to. Japanese text wrapping has been improved. Native support for spatial audio and Bluetooth LE. You’ll get a notification if an app uses a large amount of battery during a 24-hour period. Like screenshots, Android 13 displays a notification after copying text, with the option to edit the clipboard before you paste it. Developers can create longer or wider picture-in-picture windows. Lock screen rotation for larger devices. Native support for DNS over HTTPS (DoH). Activate dark mode at a set bedtime schedule.
Visit Google’s Android 13 page to learn more about the OS.
Android 13 Supported Devices
Most Android devices that support Android 12 can upgrade to Android 13. Including Google Pixel (3 and up), Android 13 will roll out to devices from Samsung Galaxy, Asus, HMD (Nokia phones), iQOO, Motorola, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, vivo, Xiaomi, and more.
The Latest News About Android 13
You can get more smartphone news from Lifewire. Here are some of the latest stories about Android 13 and Android phones.
