Google has already announced its latest Pixel Feature Drop (more here) which is rolling out as part of the greater Android Security Update for December, which brings a ton of bug fixes and optimizations to the new Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, as well as other eligible handsets in the Pixel lineup. We’ve got the details for you after the break.
Those on the beta channel will have been running the December Security patch on their handsets for a while already, but those who have waited for the stable release to roll out should check out the changelog below. It’s a big, big bugfix that is available to download from here if you don’t want to wait for the OTA to reach your handset.
Eligible Handsets
Global
- Pixel 4a: TQ1A.221205.011
- Pixel 4a (5G): TQ1A.221205.011
- Pixel 5: TQ1A.221205.011
- Pixel 5a (5G): TQ1A.221205.011
- Pixel 6: TQ1A.221205.011
- Pixel 6 Pro: TQ1A.221205.011
- Pixel 6a: TQ1A.221205.011
- Pixel 7: TQ1A.221205.011
- Pixel 7 Pro: TQ1A.221205.011
Canada
- Pixel 4a: TQ1A.221205.011.B1
O2 (UK)
- Pixel 6a: TQ1A.221205.012
- Pixel 7: TQ1A.221205.012
- Pixel 7 Pro: TQ1A.221205.012
Changelog
Apps
- Fix for issue causing text input to certain fields in the Phone app to display in a darker color
- Fix for issue occasionally causing playback errors when seeking through video content in certain apps
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing text messages from restoring from cloud backups during device setup
- General improvements for background performance in certain Google apps
Audio
- General improvements for USB audio support for various cables or accessories
- General improvements to support various audio codecs with certain devices or accessories
Battery & Charging
- Battery usage in Settings displays information since the last full charge (up to 7 days)
- Fix for the issue occasionally causing the device to power off while Battery Share is active
- Fix for issue occasionally causing higher battery usage during media playback with certain apps
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing Adaptive charging from working in certain conditions
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing wireless charging from working with certain accessories
- General improvements for charging, battery usage or thermal performance in certain conditions
Biometrics
- Fix for the issue occasionally causing audio to skip when played over certain Bluetooth devices or accessories
- Fix for issue occasionally delaying when the fingerprint icon is displayed on the lock screen
- Fix for the issue occasionally preventing the fingerprint sensor from detecting touch while the always-on display is active
- Fix for issue where fingerprint enrollment may occasionally display visual glitches in certain conditions
- Improvements for face unlock lock screen helper text shown in certain conditions
Bluetooth
- Fix for issue causing music playback to continue without audible sound after ending a call while using certain Bluetooth accessories
- Fix for issue occasionally causing audio to skip when played over certain Bluetooth devices or accessories
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing audio switching between connected Bluetooth devices in certain conditions
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing Bluetooth Low Energy devices from displaying a device name during pairing
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing connection to car head units using older Bluetooth versions
- Fix for issues occasionally preventing the discovery of certain Bluetooth devices or accessories
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing previously paired Bluetooth devices from reconnecting
- General improvements for Bluetooth stability and performance in certain conditions
Camera
- Fix for issue occasionally causing the Camera app to crash while zoomed in or switching modes
- Fix for the issue occasionally causing the viewfinder preview to display a blank screen
- Fix for issue where the video that is recorded while switching between camera modes occasionally shows gaps in playback
- General improvements for camera stability and performance in certain conditions
Display & Graphics
- Fix for the issue occasionally causing the screen to flicker when waking from the always-on display
- Fix for issues occasionally causing visual artifacts or glitches while using certain apps or games
Framework
- Fix for issue occasionally causing notifications to display in a different color theme from the system
- Fix for issue occasionally causing the wrong character to display after a new line in certain apps or UI elements
- Fix for issue occasionally causing Work Profile app notifications to appear even if Work Profile is paused
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing certain apps to rotate to landscape orientation
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing the keyboard from being dismissed while using certain apps
Sensors
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing “tap to wake” or “lift to wake” from working in certain conditions
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing Adaptive brightness from activating in certain conditions
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing Quick Tap from triggering app or system shortcuts in certain conditions
- Fix to improve Adaptive brightness transitions during phone calls in certain conditions
- General improvements for proximity sensor performance under certain lighting conditions
System
- General improvements for system stability and performance in certain conditions
- General improvements to optimize device thermal performance in certain conditions or use cases
Telephony
- Fix for issues causing reduced network or call stability under certain conditions
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing network SIM cards from activating in certain conditions
- General improvements for network connection stability and performance in certain conditions
- General improvements for network connectivity after toggling airplane mode off
- General improvements for switching between 3G to 4G on certain carrier networks
- General improvements for VPN connection stability and performance on mobile networks under certain conditions
- General improvements for Wi-Fi calling stability and performance for certain carriers or networks
- Improve dual SIM network connectivity in certain conditions
- Improve RCS messaging stability under certain conditions
Touch
- General improvements for touch response and performance in certain conditions
User Interface
- Change for home screen search bar behavior to open the Google app when tapping the G logo
- Fix for the issue occasionally causing the “Pause work apps” button to display over the app drawer or in the wrong position
- Fix for issue occasionally causing certain Settings toggles to appear disabled, or set to the wrong state
- Fix for issue occasionally causing device color theme to change unexpectedly
- Fix for issue occasionally causing home screen app icons to appear duplicated after adjusting grid size
- Fix for issue occasionally causing home screen widgets or icons to appear small or scaled down in certain conditions
- Fix for issue occasionally causing media player controls to appear invisible or hidden in the notification shade
- Fix for issue occasionally causing notification overflow dot to overlay app icons on the lock screen
- Fix for issue occasionally causing notifications to disappear or appear invisible in the notification shade
- Fix for issue occasionally causing screenshot captures to fail in certain conditions
- Fix for issue occasionally causing suggested apps in Search to overlap or display over results
- Fix for issue occasionally causing text to appear incorrectly cut off or truncated at different font sizes
- Fix for issue occasionally causing UI to reset after adjusting display resolution
- Fix for issue occasionally causing wallpaper to appear black or empty in certain conditions
- Fix for issue occasionally enabling touch interaction during the lock screen transition after the screen is turned off
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing media player album art from updating when content changes
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing media player controls from displaying on the lock screen
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing the screen to appear blank or frozen after launching certain apps
- Fix for issue where incoming notifications would occasionally display over others listed in the notification shade
- Fix to improve the responsiveness of At A Glance home and lock screen widget for certain conditions or use cases
- Fix to improve spacing for certain UI modals in device setup and Settings
- General improvements for performance in certain UI transitions and animations
Wi-Fi
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing hotspot from turning on in certain conditions
- General improvements for Wi-Fi network connection stability & performance in certain conditions