- Android 16 will introduce Auracast support for Pixel devices, but it’s hidden in the current beta and requires a developer options toggle to enable.
- This Bluetooth LE Audio feature allows broadcasting or listening to nearby audio streams, benefiting hearing aid users and other compatible devices.
- Interestingly, this Auracast toggle is also present in the latest Android 15 stable release for capable Pixels, meaning a beta isn’t strictly necessary.
The upcoming Android 16 update for Pixel devices may not bring any major UI changes, but it will finally introduce a long-awaited feature: Auracast support. Auracast, the marketing name for broadcast audio, is a feature of the Bluetooth LE Audio standard that allows devices to start or listen to nearby audio streams. Although Google announced that Android 16 will bring Auracast support to its latest Pixel devices, the feature is currently missing if you install the beta. Here’s how to enable Auracast on your Pixel device running the Android 16 beta.
To provide some context, Google announced back in March that Pixel 9 owners could stream Auracast broadcasts directly to their hearing aids. This capability requires the Pixel 9 to be running the Android 16 beta and paired with LE Audio compatible hearing aids. Although Google highlighted Auracast’s accessibility benefits, the feature extends beyond hearing aids, supporting any audio device compatible with LE Audio broadcasts.