Android 13 is the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system (internal codename Tiramisu for all Are you a fan of desserts?), and as usual it brings a bunch of new features and upgrades to Android phones and tablets. We’ve been playing with it for a few months and it’s more evolution than revolution Android 12. Don’t expect any disruptive changes.
It is currently available for some Android phones and will continue to roll out to others in the coming months. We’ve rounded up many of the top new features here and have instructions on how to download them yourself.
How to download Android 13
If you have a Google Pixel phone (Pixel 4 and Pixel 4A and newer), you can download Android 13 right now. Simply go to Settings > System > System Updates and press Check for updates.
Other Android devices such as Samsung, Asus, HMD (Nokia phones), iQOO, Motorola, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, Vivo, and Xiaomi will likely receive the update later this year. If you can’t wait, it should be noted that some of these devices are eligible for the Android 13 Beta program (Google has List of manufacturers here, including Samsung). If your device is supported, you can Sign up for the beta program via this link.
Once you sign up, you can download and install the latest beta release as an over-the-air (OTA) update, but be careful — beta releases can be unstable and glitchy. Before signing up, we strongly recommend you backup your android phoneor risk losing precious data indeed.
Updates will pop up automatically, but you can always check if you have the latest version by going to Setting > System > System update and mining Check for updates. Want to get out of beta and go back to Android 12? Go to Google Android Beta Pagescroll down to find your device and tap Opt out. This will require erasing all locally saved data so make sure you back up your device. You’ll get an update prompt so you can roll back to an earlier version.
If you don’t have a Pixel or device in the Beta program, check the manufacturer’s website, forum, or social media to find out when you can expect to see Android 13.
Top New Android 13 Features
We’ve noted 13 of our favorite features and improvements in the latest version, but there are many smaller upgrades. You can learn more at Google Developer Site.
Even more customization
Google via Simon Hill
Further development on Google Material you concept allows for deeper personalization, Android 13 supports more colors in theme options. Currently, you can choose from four background colors and four base colors, but in Android 13, there are 16 colors for each. Simply touch and hold on an empty part of the home screen or access Setting and choose Wallpapers & styles to find new color theme options. If you turn on Theme icons, you should also look at those now. (Google is encouraging more developers to make them, so it’s not just Google and system app icons.)
Improved copy and paste
Courtesy of Google
When you copy something in Android 13, a small floating panel pops up at the bottom of the screen that you can tap to edit the content. Sometimes you will see relevant options. For example, if you copy a URL, you will have an option to open it in your browser. You can also copy on one Android device and choose to paste on another nearby (if you’re signed in to the same Gmail account), so you don’t have to email yourself from your phone. to the tablet again. Your clipboard history is now automatically deleted after a while (maybe an hour) to protect your privacy.
Advanced Security
Have some improvements in Android 13 limit what your app can access. First, when an app requests access to media files, they are categorized as image, video, or audio files. With the new photo picker, you don’t have to give access to all your photos. You can specify which photos and videos the app can access instead of allowing the app to drill down into your entire photo library (a feature that’s already available). on iPhone since iOS 14).
Until now, allowing an app to scan for nearby Wi-Fi Devices meant granting the app permission to track location. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case, as there’s now a separate Neighborhood Wi-Fi Device permission option. Privacy dashboard (accessed via Setting > Privacy > Privacy Dashboard), which shows all apps that have accessed the camera, microphone, location, and other permissions in the last 24 hours, can now show a history from the last seven days.
Less notifications
When you install an app with Android, that app has permission to send you notifications by default. Android 13 changes that. From now on, apps must ask for permission before they can start sending you notifications.
Better tablet support
Google via Simon Hill
Like Google is finally getting serious about tablets, there are some changes in Android 13 designed to make life with a larger screen a little easier. On an Android tablet or folding phone, you can now see the taskbar at the bottom with your frequently used apps (you can hide it), a two-column arrangement for quick settings and notifications, and easier drag and drop for multitasking with options. choose to pin app pairs in the Recent Apps Menu. There’s also support for Wear OS smartwatches to unlock the tablet automatically, and support for audio switching, meaning your wireless headphones will switch from phone to tablet when you start. play movies on your blocking media. Google has rolled out updates to more than 20 Google apps with redesigned interfaces that take advantage of larger screen sizes, including YouTube Music and Google Maps (Android 13 not required).
