Pixel’s Now Playing feature may soon turn into a standalone app

Google looks set to reshuffle one of the Pixel’s most impressive tricks. According to fresh findings from Android Authority, the long-running ‘Now Playing’ feature may soon live inside its own dedicated app, distributed through the Google Play Store rather than buried within system services.

There is no official announcement yet, and the app is not publicly available. But code discovered in version B.21 of Android System Intelligence suggests Google is actively preparing the move. Earlier hints were also spotted by 9to5Google, pointing to a gradual transition that has been in the works since last year.

From background feature to a standalone app

For the uninitiated, Now Playing is Pixel’s always-on song recognition tool. It listens locally on the device and displays track information directly on the lock screen without sending recordings to the cloud. And it is one of those features that feel indispensable once you get used to it.

Until now, the feature used to be bundled inside Android System Intelligence; the same framework that powers tools such as Live Caption and Smart Text Selection. Its interface has remained largely unchanged for years, offering a simple history list and favourites tab.

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Now, the new code strings suggest something more substantial. References to “Download the new Now Playing app” and a Play Store redirect imply that Google intends to spin it out entirely. The newly found package name indicates this is not a minor UI tweak but a full-fledged app with its own presence.

There are also references to Now Playing having a “new home” for settings and song history, reinforcing the idea that Google wants to give the feature more breathing room.

Still a Pixel exclusive

Now, a Play Store listing might suggest broader availability, but that does not appear to be the plan. Android Authority reports that installation is gated behind device-level checks in Android Canary builds. In practical terms, that means it is likely to remain restricted to supported Pixel devices.

That mirrors Google’s recent approach with Pixel Weather, which also became a standalone app while staying within the Pixel ecosystem.

Whether Google eventually expands access beyond Pixel devices remains an open question. Now Playing has long stood apart from mainstream music recognition apps thanks to its offline processing and seamless integration. Opening it up would make it a direct rival to tools such as Shazam, but there is no sign of that shift yet.

Will you download the standalone Now Playing app on your Pixel phone? Drop a comment to let us know.