Google releases first Pixel Now Playing app update

Google is rolling out the first update to its Pixel Now Playing app, moving from version 2026.03.02.x to 2026.03.24.x via Google Play.

Google has not published new release notes, and no confirmed feature changes have been identified yet.

The update appears to be a gradual rollout, with some users noticing a new lockscreen prompt, icon shortcut behavior, and a Quick Settings Tile option.

Because Now Playing is a core Pixel song-recognition feature, even a small release could affect lockscreen access and set up future Pixel Drop changes.