Android 13 is here for Google’s Pixel devices, and if you have a compatible model, you can grab the software now by requesting the over-the-air update in your settings panel. The software update is available for Pixel 4 and later, including the latest version of the Pixel 6a. Please note that this is a rolling release, so you may not have access to the update yet.
We’ve covered Android 13 changes throughout each beta release. But if you’re still on Android 12 or earlier, you might be wondering what the new features will look like. There isn’t much that stands out in terms of interface design. While Android 13 is essentially the refined version of what Android 12 tried to be, you might have a hard time telling what’s new. I reviewed Android 13 on a Pixel 6 Pro and Android 12 on a Pixel 5 to find some of the main differences. This is what I managed to discover with the first release of Android 13.
Note that this isn’t what the software will look like when it’s available for smartphones made by companies like Samsung and OnePlus, as they use custom builds on their respective devices. Android 13 is still on its way to these smartphones.
How to update to Android 13 on your Pixel device
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
OK, first things first: if you want Android 13 on your compatible Pixel smartphone, you’ll need to find out if it’s been released to you yet. This depends on things like your carrier, but you can see if you can download the update by going to your settings panel and requesting it.
If you had Android 13 beta, you may have already received the software update request. But if you weren’t enrolled in the program, don’t be surprised if you still don’t see the option to install Android 13.
I recommend that you don’t bother with the Android dev tools to try to force the update to your device, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. You can still enroll your Pixel devices in the Android 13 beta if you’re desperate for the update.
Enjoy the freedom of app notifications
Screenshot: Florence Ion/Gizmodo
I’m excited to announce that by default, apps won’t bother you in Android 13. In Android 12 and earlier, if you wanted to close an app, you had to go deep into the app’s settings and close it manually. App notifications are now turned off by default until you enable them, either through a popup when you first install the app or through the standard settings menu.
QR codes in the notification shade
Screenshot: Florence Ion/Gizmodo
QR codes seem to be becoming the norm for restaurant menus, so you might as well give in and pin the option to the quick settings in your notification shade for quicker access.
In Android 13, pull down the notification shade, tap the edit icon, and then drag to add the Scan QR Code shortcut to your Quick Settings list. When you need it, tap it and it will quickly launch the scan option. It’s much more accessible than in previous versions of Android, which required you to launch the Google Assistant app or go into the camera app and select the QR code shortcut.
Media output selector with a new coat of paint
Screenshot: Florence Ion/Gizmodo
The big thing about Android 13 is that it’s the solidification of the Material You design paradigm. So when you head to the playback output selector, you’ll see a much more refined looking panel in Android 13 than in Android 12.
Bathe in the aesthetics of matching app icons
Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Google’s Android OS still doesn’t allow you to change your icon pack from one of the many floating around in the Play Store. At least Android 13 now offers a matching icon pack to make things look more uniform, as long as the developer of the third-party app you’re using has targeted the latest APIs.
You can enable matching icons from the Wallpaper & Style menu by enabling the Theme Icons feature, which appears to be still in beta. Note that Pixel devices running Android 12 will also see this capability as a beta feature, but it may not work as well with third-party apps as it does on Android 13.
Change the language of specific apps on Android
Screenshot: Florence Ion/Gizmodo
My bilingual ass was excited to finally try the multilingual app settings, which weren’t available in the Android 13 beta. In the Settings panel, under Languages & Input, tap App Languages to toggle and change the ‘language of a specific application. Unlike Gboard, which lets you change the language for input, this will change the language of menu items, prompts, and dialog boxes. This feature is limited to only a few apps at the moment.
Choose a screensaver
Screenshot: Florence Ion/Gizmodo
If you use accessories like the Pixel Stand 2 or want to look at something while your phone is charging nearby, you can set one of the new screensavers in Android 13. Previously, Android 12 only offered one option: the clock, but Android 13 offers three new ones: colors, news and weather, and photos. Only two are customizable.
To access the screen saver, go to Display > Screen Saver > Current Screen Saver. Then tap an option. You can choose between a digital or analog clock if you choose the clock option, while the colors will go through the rainbow. If you select Photos, you can choose which Google Account or locally stored folder to include images from. The news and weather option is not customizable.
When you’re done choosing your screensaver, don’t forget to select When to start. Choose from three options: while charging, while docked, or while charging or docked.
A large, unfinished media player
Screenshot: Florence Ion/Gizmodo
I can’t help but think of the bit I read from Ars Technica’s Ron Amadeo, who tweeted about the unfinished app icons in Android 13’s new media player. In fact, the newly created media player, which is more large and features the album art in the background, it looks like it’s still “in progress” according to the media app. Regardless, it looks better than what Android 12 had before.
The Easter egg is different with each version of Android
Screenshot: Florence Ion/Gizmodo
An undeniably significant change in every version of Android is the easter egg that lives in the settings panel. You can access it under About Phone > Android Version. Tap the Android version a few times until you see an analog clock pop up. Set the clock to 1pm (or 1pm for Americans) and you’ll see the number 13. Circle the number 13 with your finger to bring up different emojis, like the wallpaper Emoji.
Some Android 13 features are still missing
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Android 13 offers a lot of changes that can’t be captured visually – I think support for MIDI 3.0, Bluetooth LE Audio and Spatial Audio – but some features still haven’t made it out of the beta.
According to 9to5Google, we’re still missing a unified search capability from the Pixel Launcher, which lets you search your device through the search bar on the home screen. In Android 12 and earlier, the search bar is different from the app drawer, and it’s annoying to have to tap the correct search bar to search your device. The lauded and revamped Security and Privacy Center has yet to appear in the settings menu. And the announced cross-device messaging and copy-and-paste features between Android and Chrome OS aren’t available yet, though they should be rolling out this fall.