Google at the moment quietly launched Put on OS 6.1, nevertheless it’s not accessible on any watches simply but.
Formally, “Put on OS 6.1 is predicated on a Quarterly Platform Launch (QPR) of Android 16 (API stage 36.1).” Particularly, that’s Android 16 QPR2 launched in December as the primary minor SDK Launch.
The platform’s final .1 launch was Put on OS 5.1 in November 2024 that introduced a giant Android 15 (from 14) improve.
Google says “this model of Put on OS doesn’t introduce any conduct adjustments” for utility builders.
As for brand spanking new options, Put on OS 6.1 “can now robotically set [your] time zone primarily based on [your] bodily location.” This location-based time zone adjustment “helps the machine’s time keep correct as customers journey between areas, even on units with out a community connection.” There’s a user-facing desire to manage this beneath Settings > Date & Time > Use location.
There are additionally “Refined children’ experiences” on Put on OS 6.1 for “supervised accounts and children’ standalone watches.”
- Youngsters commencement: When a consumer with a supervised account reaches the age of consent, they’ll “graduate” to a non-supervised account. This transitions the machine to a typical Put on OS expertise, eradicating parental controls and giving the consumer full entry to machine settings.
- Improved reauthentication help: If customers’ credentials change into invalidated, they’ll now re-validate their Google Account instantly on their watch or by the companion app. This functionality eliminates the necessity for a manufacturing unit reset if the consumer adjustments their password or in any other case adjustments their account particulars after finishing preliminary machine setup.
As of at the moment, BP4A.250916.026.E2 is offered in Android Studio’s emulator. It’s presumably coming to the Pixel Watch as the subsequent quarterly replace.
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