Android 15 could let your Pixel Watch control your phone’s media output

Android 15 allows for watch partner apps to handle the media output of different apps.

This might let users trade the machine their cell is outputting audio to correct from their watch.

Google could introduce this function to the Pixel Watch in a future update, however we don't recognize if or when that'll ensue.

One improvement of pairing your Android mobile to a smartwatch operating Google's put on OS platform is for you to handle your telephone's media playback appropriate out of your wrist. i exploit this performance the entire time once I need to play or pause a video on my television while I'm making meals or after I want to trade tracks in an album on my smart reveal while I'm working. sadly, one button that the wear and tear OS media participant is lacking when it's showing media controls for your mobile is a media output switcher. This ability in case you want to alternate the gadget your mobilephone is outputting audio to, you should opt for up your cell. That might exchange within the upcoming Android 15 replace, despite the fact.

when you go to pair an Android telephone to a smartwatch working wear OS, you typically should installation a accomplice app to your cell. This companion app always now not best means that you can trade a lot of alternatives on your watch from the consolation of your mobilephone's greater monitor but also syncs important information out of your cell like its notifications, cell calls, text messages, and extra. before it might probably compile and send this information, although, the associate app should request a lot of delicate permissions for your mobile.

instead of asking the person to grant each permission for my part, the companion app can utilize Android's accomplice device Profile function to request access to those indispensable permissions in a single go. The companion device profile for smartwatches android.app.role.COMPANION_DEVICE_WATCH, as an example, offers the partner app permissions concerning calendar access, telephone name access, SMS access, contacts access, nearby device scanning, and greater.

Dialog asking for permissions for the watch device profile. supply: Google.

beginning in Android 15, associate apps that goal Android 15 and request to develop into the watch gadget profile holder will also be granted a brand new platform permission named MEDIA_ROUTING_CONTROL.

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority

The MEDIA_ROUTING_CONTROL permission enables the companion app to "entry a listing of attainable instruments and control which one streams or casts audio or video from other apps." The permission description is a little confusing, however the description that'll be shown below Settings > Apps > particular app entry > change media output does an improved job of explaining what this permission does. mainly, it "permits [an] app to choose which connected gadget plays audio or video from other apps. If allowed, this app can access a list of accessible gadgets similar to headphones and speakers and decide which output machine is used to stream or solid audio or video."

Code

copy textual content <!-- Description of alternate media output permission to be granted to the corresponding profile [CHAR LIMIT=NONE] --> <string name="permission_media_routing_control_summary">access a list of obtainable gadgets and control which one streams or casts audio or video from different apps</string> <!-- Label for environment which controls whether app can change media outputs for other apps [CHAR LIMIT=45] --> <string name="allow_media_routing_control">permit app to change media output</string> <!-- Description for enabling alternate media output atmosphere [CHAR LIMIT=NONE] --> <string name="allow_media_routing_description">allow this app to opt for which related gadget performs audio or video from different apps. If allowed, this app can access an inventory of available instruments comparable to headphones and audio system and choose which output machine is used to circulation or forged audio or video.</string>

really, this permission allows the watch partner app to your mobilephone to exchange which gadget to output audio to, even though that audio is coming from a different app. once granted this permission, the watch associate app for your mobilephone can utilize privileged faraway media routing APIs in Android's MediaRouter2 class. as a result of this entry is principally given to the watch partner app, you'll be in a position to make these adjustments to your watch as neatly. This interpretation is tested via the developer description of the permission in AOSP, which states that retaining MEDIA_ROUTING_CONTROL "permits watches (by means of accomplice apps) to handle the routing of applications running on the cell."

So, in essence, this ability that if you delivery media playback on your cellphone however later want to alternate which equipment to output audio to, you received't should whip out your mobile to achieve this. You'll be in a position to change your cell's audio output machine correct from the wear OS smartwatch for your wrist. unfortunately, we don't know precisely which wear OS contraptions this may work on, as we've only viewed code implementing help for this on the mobile aspect of issues. It's possible that your put on OS smartwatch will want an replace as neatly in order to add a reveal that interfaces with the watch associate app in your cell. We haven't seen any evidence of this in Google's newest Pixel Watch 2 equipment, but we'd be shocked if the company isn't working on support for this function behind the scenes.