Pixel's Now Playing is buggy on Android 15, but relief may be coming soon

If you’re a Google Pixel user who’s been grooving to the sounds around you, only to find Android 15’s Now Playing feature hitting all the wrong notes, you’re not alone. A month after the stable Android 15 update rolled out, Now Playing is still nowhere smooth enough for a public release — much to the frustration of music-loving Pixel fans.

The problem? Well, take your pick: sometimes the feature outright refuses to display the current track, other times it drags its feet, taking up to 40 seconds to identify a song — if it even bothers at all — like in the case of our Pixel 7a on the latest stable Android 15. And when it does work? It’s a hit-or-miss affair. For others, the Now Playing option completely disappears from their Pixel phones. But guess what? These issues didn’t start with the stable Android 15 update.

During the Android 15 beta days, these glitches were easy to brush off. After all, beta builds are notorious for quirks. But when these hiccups waltzed into the stable release — especially when a fix had been promised — it becomes less forgiving. From the Pixel 6 to the new Pixel 9 Pro, reports have flooded forums detailing a variety of Now Playing woes.

For some, the Now Playing icon has ghosted the lock screen entirely. Others see it pop up in notifications but not where it should be — like the lock screen or Always-On Display. Restarting the device provides a temporary fix, but who wants to keep rebooting their phone just to identify the catchy tune playing at the café?

Amid the chaos, there’s some intriguing news about the future of Now Playing. There have been calls for a complete facelift for the feature, with changes that make it more modern and robust. This modernization could involve AI-powered enhancements, smarter song recognition, album art, and perhaps even expanded functionality, as per leaked screenshots and insider reports. If this is part of the plan, it may align with the upcoming December Feature Drop or roll out gradually in 2025. These changes could mark the beginning of a more reliable Now Playing experience for Pixel users everywhere.

Interestingly, not everyone is stuck in this buggy limbo. Our Pixel 8 running the latest Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 seems to have found its rhythm. Songs show up on the lock screen like clockwork, no delays, no drama. Some users have also noted that Android 15 QPR1 Beta has already ironed out several issues, which suggests Google might be tuning up Now Playing ahead of the December Pixel Feature Drop. And for those dreaming of a perfect experience, the March 2025 Feature Drop could refine things further.

Google clearly knows about these issues, given the ongoing tweaks in the QPR beta releases. But until the stable channel catches up, you might have to rely on temporary fixes like rebooting your device or toggling the Now Playing feature off and on again. Sure, it’s not ideal, but hey, it’s something.

Pixel users can take comfort in knowing the fix is in sight. So, while we wait for December’s Feature Drop to bring the jam session back to life, let’s hope Google keeps its ears open and ensures Now Playing sings a smooth tune for everyone.

In other news, Apple Watch’s Smart Stack is the new Now Playing on watchOS 11.

Featured image: Google