Android 13 is getting its first replace since its August launch by the use of a Pixel safety patch and a considerable amount of fixes for Android units.

The September patch will have an effect on a number of units within the Pixel Four sequence (the 4, Four XL, 4a, and 4a 5G) in addition to these within the Pixel 5 (the 5, 5a, and 5a 5G), and Pixel 6 (the 6 and 6 Professional) traces. In keeping with Google (opens in new tab), the roll out begins at the moment and can “proceed over the following week in phases relying on service and machine.” The replace may even launch to Pixel 6a units afterward within the month. Machine house owners will get a notification informing them to obtain the patch as soon as it has been made obtainable.

Pixel updates

Google highlights 4 particular modifications addressing issues with the battery and the biometrics on these Pixel telephones. There have been reviews of the batteries quickly draining (opens in new tab) after upgrading to Android 13. The blame is being place on “sure launcher background actions”, nonetheless the patch notes do not go into element what these background actions are. 

The replace additionally addresses an issue that prevented wi-fi charging. Again in August, customers on the Google Pixel subreddit out of the blue discovered the wi-fi charging characteristic on their cellphone out of the blue stopped working. A number of discovered a workaround like pairing the Pixel Stand to the cellphone and exhausting rebooting the machine, but it surely wasn’t a constant repair.

For biometrics, Google improved “fingerprint recognition and response in sure situations.” Some Pixel house owners found (opens in new tab) a bug that will unlock the cellphone utilizing a fingerprint not registered with the scanner. And in some situations, the scanner would settle for the fingerprint of a totally totally different particular person. Evidently, this was a serious safety flaw. 

As for the opposite two modifications, the patch fixes a Bluetooth connectivity drawback that prevented sure units from connecting to Pixel telephones and Google is making some changes to the consumer interface. Apparently, notifications would seem means shorter than it ought to on the lock display.

Android fixes

Aside from the 4 Pixel particular updates, there are 51 extra fixes that can come out to all Android units that deal with safety vulnerabilities. This replace might be launched periodically all through the remainder of the month. 

Trying on the September Safety Bulletin (opens in new tab) on the Android Open Supply Mission web site, the fixes are break up throughout two packages and concern bugs that vary from average severity to crucial.  One of many extra essential fixes will arrive within the first package deal, known as the September 1st safety patch. In keeping with the notes, there’s a drawback with the Android framework that would enable a nasty actor to achieve elevated entry to a tool’s assets while not having administrator permission.

For the second package deal, known as the September fifth safety patch, it fixes some issues with sure third-party elements like these from MediaTek and Qualcomm. The patch notes do not go into deep element what precisely is within the September fifth package deal. As an alternative it tells readers to take a look at the respective safety bulletin webpages for these third-party elements if they need particulars. 

Trying on the September bulletin for MediaTek (opens in new tab), the corporate’s patch seems to be centered on fixing improper validations that would give dangerous actors an analogous elevated entry on Android units. For Qualcomm (opens in new tab), its replace deal with the identical vulnerabilities, whereas additionally fixing some reminiscence corruption points. 

So in complete, Pixel house owners are doubtlessly taking a look at 55 safety fixes coming to their machine. In the event you’re taken with getting the assorted updates, Google has a set of directions on replace your cellphone (opens in new tab). 

And in case you weren’t conscious, Google lately confirmed that the upcoming Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional smartphones might be revealed on October 6 within the Made By Google occasion. You should definitely take a look at TechRadar’s Pixel 7 protection to study extra.