Google Maps Becomes First App to Support Android 16 Live Updates

Sea. 07, 2025 – Google ​Maps officially became the first application to support the new Android 16 Live Updates feature, providing users with real-time and visual notifications during browsing. This marks an important step in the Android ​16 release, ​as it shows one of the most expected additions to the operating system in real ​applications.

What are the live updates on Android 16?

Live updates are a new type of persistent notification introduced with Android 16. These notifications are designed to provide real-time and progress-oriented information directly in the status bar, report panel, lock screen ​and even the still available screen. ​According to Android Authority, Live Updates works as iOS live activities, offering users continuous updates, from the point of view of time-sensitive events such as navigation, walking services or fitness tracking.

When Google first announced this ​feature in January, it was not ready ​for generalized ​development tests. However, with Android version 16 Beta 2.1, Google Maps has now integrated this feature, allowing users to see the navigation details without ​opening ​the application.

How does ​Google Maps ​implement live ​updates?

According ​to 9to5 ​Google, ​Google ​Live card updates appear as a small pill-shaped notification at ​the top of the screen when browsing is underway. The notification ​shall provide essential details, such as:

• ETA and Time Until ​Next Turn: Users can quickly check how much time remains until their next maneuver.
• Sticky Notifications: These updates remain visible even while ​switching between apps, ensuring navigation remains accessible.
• Status Bar Integration: The live ​update appears as a compact chip in the status bar, eliminating the need to open the full app.

Android Central noted that ​typing in notification extends to ​show additional details, such as estimated time of arrival and next turn information. However, this feature is currently limited to Android 16 Beta 2.1 and does not work on Android 16 Beta ​2.

How does this compare to iOS Live Activities?

The Apple Live Activities feature, introduced with iOS 16, created a precedent ​for real-time notifications that dynamically update in ​the background. Android live updates ​work the same way, but with some key differences:

• Placement: Unlike Live Activities, which integrate deeply ​with the Dynamic Island ​and Lock Screen, Android’s Live Updates appear in the ​status bar, notification panel, and ​lock screen.
• Persistence: ​Android 16’s implementation allows these updates to ​remain visible even when interacting with other apps, while iOS collapses Live Activities when users ​switch contexts.
• Customization: Google Maps users can toggle Live Info on or off within ​the app settings, giving ​them greater ​control over how navigation updates appear.

Constraints and improvements ​expected

While live updates on Google The cards mark an ​important leap forward, the feature is not yet fully polished. According to The Verge, the ​current application has some limitations:

• Always-On Display Support: Live Updates are currently collapsed on ​the always-on display, limiting their visibility.
• Text Truncation: The status bar chip only displays limited information due to space constraints, ​meaning users might need to open the ​full notification ​for more details.
• Limited App Adoption: As of now, Google Maps is the only app ​taking advantage of ​Live Updates, though more apps are expected to ​support it once Android 16 is fully released.

These problems will probably be addressed in the ​next beta versions, with Google refining the function ​before ​the public launch of Android 16.

When will online updates ​be available for everyone?

Google still has to announce an official release date for Android 16, but according to Android Authority, ​the full version is expected in the coming months. Until then, Live Updates will remain available only for users running ​Android 16 beta on Pixel devices.

As more apps integrate live updates, users can expect to see this feature used to track delivery services, fitness applications, rideshare updates and more. Google’s decision to start this feature with Maps highlights its potential to improve Android browsing and experience.

With Android 16 on the horizon, it’s just a matter of time before Live Updates becomes a major feature of the Android ecosystem.