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Huge Pixel feature drop today brings ‘astrolapse,’ Locked Folder, more
June 18, 2025
If you own a Pixel phone, today’s a big day! Google is now rolling out the latest feature drop for its line of Pixel phones.
Are you new to Pixels? Essentially, a feature drop is a quarterly update to all currently supported Pixel phones. Rather than issue a few cool updates each month as it used to do, Google now saves up all its new stuff and dumps them all out every three months. Today marks the second drop of 2021.
Related:All Google Pixel phones released so far
As usual, there are a lot of new updates included with this drop aside from the usual monthly security patch. We break them all down below. If you want to install it on yourPixel 3/3 XL,Pixel 3a/3a XL,Pixel 4/4 XL,Pixel 4a/4a 5G, orPixel 5, just head toSettings > System > Advanced > System Update > Check For Update. Or, conversely, just wait for the OTA notification, which should come at some point today.
Astrolapse
Google’s Night Sight and ASTROphotography modes make taking nighttime photos a snap. With the latest Pixel feature drop, though, there’s a new setting known as “astrolapse.” Essentially, this feature records a short film that shows the stars moving across the night sky.
For this to work best, your phone will need to be perfectly still and in a place with low levels of light pollution. The longer you set the timelapse for, the more movement you’ll see across the sky.
Unfortunately, this feature is limited to the Pixel 4/4XL, Pixel 4a/4a 5G, and Pixel 5. Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a users are out of luck.
Locked Folder
AtGoogle I/O 2021, the company shared information about an upcoming Pixel feature called Locked Folder within theGoogle Photosapp. Well, it’s rolling out today! As one may have guessed, the feature allows you to preserve photos behind a passcode so they stay private and safe.
you’re able to move photos you’ve already shot to a locked folder. Or, you can choose to save a photo you’re about to take to your locked folder. The GIF above shows how easy it is to select where you want your photo to go before you take it.
Obviously, photos in Locked Folder won’t show up on smart displays or in your Memories.
Other Google Pixel feature drop updates
Here are the rest of the Pixel feature drop items rolling out today:
That’s it for the new Pixel feature drops! You’ll need to wait until September 2021 for the next one.
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