Android 16 is now available for Google Pixel smartphone users. While this version doesn't revolutionize the system, it does bring a series of welcome tweaks. Among them, a discreet but practical improvement allows you to redefine the use of the Power button.
Android 16 finally lets you choose what double-tapping the Power button does
For several generations, a quick double-tap of the Pixel's power button automatically launched the camera. A handy shortcut for quickly capturing a scene, but one that isn't necessarily suitable for all uses. Good news: Android 16 now offers an alternative.
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By going to Settings > System > Gestures > Double-tap the Power button, you can now replace the camera trigger with opening Google Wallet. A simple change, but one that can significantly improve the phone's usability if you regularly use the payment and card storage app.
For those who pay with their phone or show their loyalty card several times a week, this physical shortcut quickly becomes second nature. Being able to access Wallet as soon as the phone is out of your pocket, without going through the home screen, is a real time saver.
A first step towards more customization?
This new setting remains limited, however: for now, it only offers a choice between the camera and Google Wallet. But it could well mark the beginning of a broader shift in Google's customization philosophy.
Samsung, for example, has long allowed you to configure that double-tap to open a multitude of apps or system functions, from Notepad to Sound Recorder to the flashlight. At Google, that level of flexibility isn't there yet, but the addition of Wallet in Android 16 suggests the company could offer more possibilities in the future.
For Pixel users, this is a small step in the right direction. And for those who have just updated their phone, it's probably one of the first settings to try.
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