The February security patch is rolling out to all currently supported Google phones, starting with the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G and ending with the Pixel 7 series and Pixel 6a. Pixel 3a and earlier phones have received OS and security updates for three years and are no longer supported. The 3a series received its last update in September 2022. Phones from other manufacturers receive updates according to their own update frequency. For Samsung, it shouldn’t take too long for the latest phones, but other manufacturers may tell a different story.
In addition to his Pixel 7-exclusive fix for Clear Calling instability, Google is rolling out a fix for touch issues with Braille keyboards and work profile calendars not updating. The company also mentions fixing his Bluetooth connection with “certain devices or accessories.” This may help drivers who have been unable to pair their phones to their car stereos in the last month. However, Google’s language is pretty vague here, so be sure to test your connection after updating. Here’s the full changelog of what’s included in this month’s patch:
On Pixel phones, installing a security patch is as simple as going to your phone’s system settings, looking for the “System” option at the bottom of the top-level menu, and then “System Updates” where you can start the installation. Google also offers factory images and his OTA files for those who prefer the manual route.
If you want to stay up to date, you can also join the Android Beta Program. Then you can try out some of the new feature sets included in the Pixel Feature Drop in March. It is currently being tested as Android 13 Quarterly Platform Release 2 Beta 3. If history shows, the first Android 14 developer preview could also be on the horizon, but we’ll have to wait for more official details.