Google just dropped a little Pixel Buds Pro gem with Android 15

Google just dropped a little gem ahead of Android 15’s official release, and it’s going to make controlling your buds a whole lot easier. If you’re the proud owner of the Pixel Buds Pro or the new Pixel Buds Pro 2, there’s a fresh feature in town that will change the way you manage Noise Control, and it’s now tucked right into the redesigned Android 15 Volume menu.

As 9to5Google reports, this handy feature quietly started rolling out over the weekend, bringing “Noise Control” directly to your Volume controls. No more hunting around in the Pixel Buds app to tweak your settings. Now, when you’re adjusting volume on your phone, just tap the three dots that appear below the slider. You’ll find a brand-new button labeled “Noise Control” sitting alongside options for Spatial Audio and Live Caption. And here’s where the magic happens: tap it, and you’ll get an overlay that lets you switch between Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, or turn Noise Control off altogether.

This streamlined approach is a big win for anyone who likes quick, in-the-moment adjustments without having to dive into separate apps. Plus, it’s not just for the latest Pixel Buds Pro 2 — this feature works for the original Pixel Buds Pro as well.

Now, while it would’ve been nice if Google had bundled this update with the launch of Pixel Buds Pro 2 earlier this week, better late than never. Most of us are still rocking Android 14 at the moment, but Android 15 stable is expected to land mid-October, so it’s right around the corner. That means this nifty Noise Control feature is just the beginning of what’s to come.

As for other Volume menu updates, the layout has had a complete overhaul in Android 15. It’s sleek, it’s compact, and it’s smarter about showing what you actually need. When music or podcasts are playing, the Volume panel shrinks to only display the Media bar, cutting the clutter. Need more? Just tap those three dots, and you’ll see the familiar options for Spatial Audio (Off, Fixed, or Head Tracking) and Live Caption. It’s all about keeping things simple, but powerful.

For those already getting a taste of Android 15 in beta, the update should be rolling out as a server-side switch, which means you don’t have to lift a finger — just look out for that Noise Control button popping up the next time you adjust your volume. Of course, if you prefer to stay old-school, the Pixel Buds app and the Pixel Battery widget are still around as alternatives.