Google Revives Pixel Now Playing's Manual Song Search on Lockscreen

The latest update to Google’s Pixel phones brings back a beloved feature that many users had been missing since the redesign of the Now Playing function. After removing the ability to trigger a manual song search from the lockscreen, Google is now reinstating this functionality with an update to version B.23 of Android System Intelligence.

The revival of “Tap to see what’s playing” on the lockscreen marks a significant change in Google’s approach to its music discovery feature. Users can once again tap the icon beneath the fingerprint sensor to initiate a manual search for songs currently playing around them. Upon tapping, the system microphone indicator will appear, accompanied by the message “Identifying song….” Once the song is identified, Now Playing will display the rich information with cover art, a heart icon indicating whether you’ve saved the track, and an option to open the song in your set music app.

This update is rolling out widely today, and users can expect it to be available after updating their Android System Intelligence to version B.23. To ensure the feature is enabled, users must also have updated Now Playing in the Google Play Store. The revised functionality provides a convenient way for Pixel owners to quickly identify songs playing around them, making it easier than ever to add new tracks to their music libraries or share them with friends.

The reintroduction of manual song search on the lockscreen highlights Google’s ongoing efforts to refine and enhance its audio recognition capabilities within Now Playing. The feature has become an essential part of the Pixel experience, allowing users to seamlessly discover and engage with their favorite songs in a variety of situations.

As Google continues to improve and expand its music-related features, this update serves as a welcome reminder that user feedback plays a significant role in shaping the direction of Android development. By bringing back this much-missed functionality, Google demonstrates its commitment to delivering a more comprehensive and intuitive experience for Pixel users. As the technology landscape evolves, it will be fascinating to see how Google leverages Now Playing and other audio-related features to drive innovation and user engagement within the Android ecosystem.

Source: https://9to5google.com/2026/04/09/pixel-now-playing-search/