Missing some Android 15 features after update? Here's what you should know

Update 23/10/24 09:00 am (IST): In a follow-up post, the same product expert has now confirmed that they’ve got word from Google confirming that the new Weather app is rolling out gradually. Here’s their statement:

We received an update that the Pixel Weather app is being gradually rolled out. If you haven’t seen it yet after updating to Android 15, you can check the Play Store for app updates in the coming days. While the new weather app is part of the Android15/Fall Pixel Drop release, the updates for these drops don’t always arrive at the same time.

Update 17/10/24 05:05 pm (IST): A product expert on Google’s support forums says they’ve escalated the issue where Pixel users aren’t able to get the new Weather app on their devices. We’ll have to wait for an official response.

Original article published on October 16, 2024, follows:

If you just updated to Android 15 and noticed that some of the features you were excited about are nowhere to be found, you’re not alone. Many users who downloaded the OTA update today are voicing their frustration over missing features they were expecting—either because Google highlighted them or they appeared in beta versions.

Here’s a breakdown of some key features that didn’t make it into today’s release, as highlighted in multiple posts on Reddit.

Missing Android 15 features

Several elements expected with Android 15 and the October Feature Drop have either gone missing or aren’t functioning as promised. One notable absence is the new Pixel Weather app, which Google and other tech enthusiasts have been hyping. However, after the update, most users report that the app has yet to appear on their devices. Luckily, you can still get the Weather app manually by sideloading it on your device. 

Another missing feature is the Notification Cooldown, designed to reduce repetitive notifications by spacing them out. Users were eager to try this functionality, but it seems to be unavailable for now. Similarly, Battery Health Diagnostics, which appeared during beta testing, appears to be limited to Pixel 9 devices in the stable release, leaving other Pixel users without access to the tool.

Android expert Mishaal Rahman notes that the feature was removed with the Android 15 beta 4.2 update itself. While Google hasn’t provided any official reason, Rahman claims it likely got the boot “because most Pixels aren’t set up to accurately report battery health statistics.”

The Adaptive Screen Timeout, a feature intended to adjust the screen-off timer based on usage patterns, also hasn’t made its way into the update. Users report being unable to activate it despite its earlier announcement. Even Theft Protection hasn’t made it way over to some Pixel phones, according to user reports.

Some users are even confused about the Satellite Messaging feature which was to come with the Android 15 update. According to a recent report by Android Authority, the feature is set to go live with Android 15, however, only a few carriers support the feature. Furthermore, only certain plans come with Satellite Messaging support. For example, T-Mobile customers in the US can go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs > T-Mobile > Satellite Messaging to toggle on the feature.

Confusion between Android 15 and Pixel Drop features

Some of the disappointment stems from miscommunication. Google bundled Android 15’s release alongside the October Feature Drop announcements, making it seem like all new features would land together. However, several of these features are tied to Google Play Services updates, which may roll out later this month or in staggered phases.

For instance, several users are wondering what happened with the “charging optimization” page where users can set an 80% charge limit to preserve battery life. This feature was first uncovered with the Android 15 beta 4 update but was fully added with the A15 QPR1 beta. This explains why we aren’t seeing the feature with the Android 15 update. Instead, users will have to wait for the December Feature Drop to get it.

As one user put it, “The A15 OTA is separate from the October Play Services update, which is the Feature Drop. I’m still sitting on the September Play Services version after upgrading.”

A familiar frustration

Longtime Pixel users might not be surprised by this chaotic rollout, but it’s still a point of contention. For now, if you’re missing a feature, it might not be a bug, it’s probably just waiting on the next Play Services update. So you’ll simply have to wait for Google to start seeding Play Service updates to get some of the new features that were touted to come with Android 15. In the meantime, if you want to see all the Android 15 features that are actually available right now, the folks over at 9to5Google have a pretty detailed article highlighting everything new.