I take advantage of Google Pockets day by day and this hidden function made it much more handy

Android 16 is formally out now, and if in case you have a Pixel 6a or newer, you’ll be able to obtain the replace proper now. At the moment, Android 16 is a comparatively small replace that lays the muse for Google’s future plans, together with its Material Expressive 3 design language, which is anticipated to launch later this 12 months.

That stated, Android 16 does embrace a number of new options so that you can discover, equivalent to reside replace notifications (just like the iPhone’s reside actions) and a brand new Superior Safety safety setting that gives stronger safeguards to your cellphone in opposition to on-line assaults and dangerous apps.

Nevertheless, for me, one of many standout options of Android 16 is not notably flashy, but it surely does characterize a major quality-of-life enchancment nonetheless. In the event you often use Google Pockets for on a regular basis purchases, like shortly grabbing a espresso, this new setting Google has added to Android 16 will make it simpler than ever to entry Google Pockets on Pixel gadgets.

Google has launched a brand new setting that lets you double-tap the facility button to open Google Wallet, making it simpler and faster to entry the app, choose a card, and make a contactless fee (by way of Android Authority). Earlier than Android 16, Pixel house owners may solely double-tap the facility button to open the digital camera app. Whereas this was useful, if you end up making extra Google Pockets purchases all through the day than making an attempt to open the digital camera app, it is in all probability value contemplating altering this setting.

Learn how to open Google Pockets shortly with Android 16

Google is taking part in meet up with this new function

If you wish to change your energy button to open Google Pockets as an alternative of the digital camera app, it’s extremely straightforward to do. Simply go to Settings > System > Gestures > Double press energy button and alter the setting to Pockets as an alternative of Digital camera. Now, while you double-tap the facility button, your Pixel will open Google Pockets relatively than the digital camera app, permitting you to shortly choose a card and make a purchase order with it.

Some folks might argue that it is higher to maintain the double-press setting on the digital camera app, as a result of you’ll be able to simply entry the pockets app from the Fast Settings menu and the digital camera is what extra folks scramble to achieve sooner as an alternative.

That is a sound level, however as somebody who has used an iPhone most of their life, I am very used to double-pressing the facility button to open Apple Pockets. This new Android 16 setting permits my Pixel to do the identical, which I desire, as I typically change between the 2 gadgets and I wish to maintain comparable functionalities like this if I can.

Whereas it is good to see Google lastly implement this with Android 16, it nonetheless lags behind Samsung. With One UI 7, Samsung gives considerably extra customization choices for adjusting the double-tap performance on the facility button. You may set it to open not solely the digital camera app but in addition any app in your gadget. This implies you’ll be able to set it to Google Pockets, X, Instagram, TikTok, or no matter app you want to open immediately.

It could be nice if Google adopted this strategy for Pixel gadgets as nicely, permitting you to set it to any app you favor, relatively than simply opening the digital camera or pockets.

I am completely happy Google has made this variation although, and making purchases with Google Pockets simply received far more handy due to it. You may obtain Android 16 now on a Pixel 6a and newer. I examined this function on my Pixel 8a operating Android 16 and it really works flawlessly.

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