Google has dropped the May 2025 update for Pixel phones - here's what it brings

Google has rolled out its May 2025 update for Pixel phones, and it brings a handful of fixes that should smooth out some nagging quirks. Starting today, all supported Pixel models running Android 15 will see the new builds arrive in phases over the next week. As always, you’ll get a notification when it’s ready, but you can also head into Settings > System > Software update to check manually.

This month’s release is light on flashy features and heavy on solid polish. First up, there’s a fix for audio recording. If your voice notes or in-app recordings have sounded tinny or hissy, that should be behind you now. Google says the microphone quality in certain apps will no longer degrade unexpectedly.

Google also says that the update fixes a Bluetooth bug that left some smartwatches stuck in limbo under specific conditions. It’s possible that this might be about a pairing bug that resulted in WearOS watches getting disconnected repeatedly. So if you were one of the many affected by the issue, I’d suggest installing the May patch and seeing if the bug has been squashed.

Last but not the least, for those juggling multiple languages, there’s a tweak in the quick settings panel, so your secondary language won’t pop up in the wrong spot anymore.

Here’s the changelog for reference:

Audio
Fix for degraded microphone recording quality in certain apps*[1]

Bluetooth
Fix for Bluetooth pairing issues with certain smartwatches under certain conditions*[1]

Framework
Fix for secondary language displayed in quick settings under certain conditions*[1]

Device Applicability

Fixes are available for all supported Pixel devices unless otherwise indicated below. Some fixes may be carrier/region specific.

*[1] Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a

Under the hood you’ll find this update tied to build numbers BP1A.250505.005 (and its carrier-specific variants). These cover everything from the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro up to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel 9a.

As ever, these bug fixes arrive alongside May’s security patches. If you care about staying up to date on vulnerabilities, the Pixel Security Bulletin spells out all the details. It’s not as headline-grabbing as a zero-day exploit patch, but every update helps keep your phone locked down.

With Android 16 just around the corner and a revamped interface on the horizon, this May update feels like final prep work before the big show. Speaking of which, a recent accidental leak by Google gave us a clear look at the upcoming Material 3 Expressive design language. Something that we might see with Android 16 since earlier evidence behind the scenes did suggest that Google is experimenting with a new UI.