Google Maps is the first app we’re seeing adopt Android 16’s new Live Updates feature, according to Android Authority. Users on Android 16 beta 2.1 can now see the time until their next turn and estimated time to arrival on the status bar of their device.
Google introduced the Live Updates feature in its first beta of Android 16 beta release, describing it as a “new class of notifications that help users monitor and quickly access important ongoing activities.” The feature is similar to Live Activities on iOS, which shows real-time notifications on the lock screen and the Dynamic Island, but until now we haven’t seen much of what it looks like with real Android apps.
As shown by Android Authority, there’s also a new option in the Google Maps app that allows you to turn off “live info,” which will appear on the status bar and lockscreen. Live Updates are still only partially supported in Android 16 beta 2.1, as Android Authority says notifications from Google Maps are still “collapsed” on the always-on display.