6 new Android features that are tailored to you

SOURCE | 1 year ago

✨ Enhance your Social Media content with NViNiO•AI™ for FREE

Jun 10, 2025

[[read-time]] min read

Customize icons in group chats, elevate photos with the new image editor, add extra time to Safety Check and more.

Angana Ghosh

Director, Product Management, Android

General summary

Android is releasing six new personalized features for you. Customize group chats in Google Messages with unique icons and names. You can also use the redesigned Google Photos image editor with AI-powered suggestions. Plus, manage Google Home Favorites across devices and extend Safety Check in the Personal Safety app. New Emoji Kitchen stickers are available and you can make faster public transit payments from your Wear OS watch. Check out android.com/updates for more information.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

Bullet points

"6 new Android features that are tailored to you" introduces personalized updates for your Android devices. Personalize group chats in Google Messages with custom icons, names, and notification settings. Google Photos' redesigned editor uses AI to help you easily edit photos with a single tap. Customize Google Home Favorites across devices for faster smart home product management. Extend Safety Check time easily on your phone or watch if you decide to keep your outing going.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

Basic explainer

Android is getting some cool new features to make it more fun. You can now change how your group chats look and make your photos super awesome with special effects. It's also easier to control your smart home stuff from different devices. Plus, you can now pay for the bus or train with your watch even faster.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

Two people using an Android phone to add a custom icon to an RCS group chat in Google Messages, and then starting the group chat with a message that says, “Ready to catch some waves?” with an Emoji Kitchen sticker made up of a turtle and flexed biceps.

Today, we’re sharing six new Android features designed to be made your own. From a daily AI-generated audio show based on your interests, to customized Google Home Favorites across your devices, these personalized features travel with you whether you’re at home or on the go. Here’s what’s new.

Give your group chats a personal touch

Coming soon, you can personalize group chats with new features in Google Messages. Set up a custom icon for your RCS group chat and give it a unique name so it stands out from the rest. Plus, see which friends in your contact list have RCS enabled and mute notifications on specific group chats for a duration of your choosing.

Elevate group chats in Google Messages

Bring out the magic in every photo with the new image editor

Editing in Google Photos is easier than ever with our redesigned image editor, coming soon. New AI-powered suggestions help you elevate photos in a single tap and get the right tools the moment you need them — just tap, circle or brush what you want to edit. With Reimagine, just describe what you want to see and your ideas will come to life, and Auto frame helps you expand your scene or nail the perfect crop. Your go-to tools are always within reach.

Elevate images in Google Photos with a tap

Customize Google Home Favorites across devices

Coming soon, you'll be able to find and manage smart home products faster by setting up device-specific shortcuts for your Favorites in your Google Home app. For example, you can pin your security cameras to your Google TV, your kitchen speaker to your Android phone and your thermostat to your Wear OS smartwatch — whatever combination makes it easier to manage your home.

Manage smart home products with tailored Favorites on each device

Add extra time to Safety Check to extend your journey and peace of mind

Keep your outing going with peace of mind by extending the time of your Safety Check in the Personal Safety app. When you’re out exercising or exploring solo, Safety Check lets you schedule a specific check-in time to make sure you arrive back safely. And if you don't respond, your location is shared with emergency contacts. Now, if you decide to stop for a smoothie in the middle of your run, you can easily extend the check-in time with a tap of your phone or smartwatch — instead of creating a whole new Safety Check.

Go further and feel safer by adding extra time with a few taps

Express yourself better with new Emoji Kitchen stickers

New Emoji Kitchen sticker combinations are here to help you point 🫵 or flex 💪 your way to more expressive chats. From thankful carrots 🙏 + 🥕 to pointing pigs 🫵 + 🐷, remix your favorite emoji and share them with friends as stickers via Gboard.

Express yourself better with new combinations in Emoji Kitchen

Make faster public transit payments from your Wear OS watch

Riding public transit is now smoother than ever when you pay from your Wear OS smartwatch. You can tap right away with city transit cards even when the Google Wallet app is closed. If you use a credit or debit card to tap, make sure to turn this feature on first in your settings.

Learn about these features and more at android.com/updates, watch highlights from The Android Show: I/O Edition, and find out what Android 16 is bringing to your devices starting with Pixel today. If you have a Pixel device, also check out the newest updates.