Feeling annoyed by the bugs in Pixel's Now Playing feature? A new update is being released.

      Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends

      If you own a Google Pixel phone, you may have encountered some problems with the “Now Playing” feature, which could malfunction or fail to operate. Thankfully, a solution is on the horizon and is anticipated to be released in the next few days. A recent update on Google’s Issue Tracker (shared on Reddit) suggests that the issue affecting Pixel's “Now Playing” has been addressed, with the fix scheduled for inclusion in an upcoming software update, likely the upcoming March Pixel Drop. The bug impacts anyone with a Pixel 6 or newer models, including the Pixel 9 series. Depending on the specific model, the feature may fail to identify songs or may not function at all.

      The “Now Playing” feature on Google Pixel phones is designed to offer users a seamless and private method for identifying music that is playing nearby. This functionality primarily relies on on-device processing, utilizing a locally stored database to recognize songs without needing to continuously send audio data to external servers, emphasizing user privacy. When activated, Now Playing automatically shows the title and artist of any song detected on the Pixel’s lock screen, allowing for instant music identification without requiring any user action. It also maintains a history of identified songs, enabling users to revisit previous identifications and mark their favorites.

      According to Android Authority, the March Pixel Drop will include more than just a fix for the “Now Playing” feature. It should also address issues with a glitchy back gesture on Pixel devices and implement general performance and stability enhancements. Furthermore, it could finally introduce a long-anticipated battery charging limit feature, customizable “Do Not Disturb” schedules known as Modes, home screen icon shape customization, and more.

      It remains unclear why Google took so long to resolve the “Now Playing” issue, but it is reassuring to see that a solution is finally on the way.

      Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer, primarily focusing on mobile topics.

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