Google’s Pixel 9 has only just gone on sale, and the phone is already receiving a major update that improves data transfer. Paul Dunlop, the product lead for onboarding and transition to Android, created a thread on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) about all the major changes, even going so far as to call it their “biggest release ever.”
Dunlop starts by showing off a new entry in the device’s settings menu called “Back up or copy data.” We’ve known about this for a while, as the name of the section leaked online before its unveiling. Initial reports said users would be able to copy “photos, contacts, messages, and more” from an old Pixel to the Pixel 9.
All of that is still true, but what we didn’t know is that you can perform this process “as many times” as you want, either through a USB cable, Wi-Fi connection, or cloud servers. There is no longer any need to factory reset devices.
Better data transfer
Transferring data can take a while, especially if you have a lot of files, so if you’ve been wishing for a faster method, the Pixel 9 now has the Express tool. Dunlop claims this “massively (reduces)” the time it takes to transfer data. According to a screenshot, the feature only copies files that don’t exist in your Google account.
It’s supposedly “cloud-ready,” which means Express knows what you’ve saved and ignores the backups to speed up the process. Additionally, images sent through the tool retain their original quality. You have the option to choose which files to move and which not to move via “Customize.”
Beyond files, the Pixel 9’s revamped data transfer also transfers “more system settings, permissions, and notification settings.” This can help set up your preferred smartphone setup on the newer device without having to do everything from scratch. It will be similar to how it was with your old phone.
Improvements in quality of life
The patch even introduces several quality of life improvements. Google worked with the best developers around the world to ensure that apps “stay logged in and working” before data migration begins. And then there’s the rather interesting Transport Multiplexing.
Let’s say you’re transferring files over Wi-Fi, but the process takes forever. Dunlop says you can plug in a USB cable while the transfer is in progress to make the transfer easier. The feature uses both methods to quickly transfer media. The Pixel 9 even recommends this to you through an on-screen notification.
Other notable changes include more reliable Wi-Fi migration, “Quick Share & Car Crash Detection can (now) be enabled during setup,” and eSIM transfers are supported for select carriers. The thread doesn’t say exactly which ones these are, but it does say support will expand to other carriers in the future.
Be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best Pixel phones for 2024.
You might also like
