Now Playing

Google LLC

About this app

Now Playing automatically identifies music playing around you from your lock screen.

See all the music you've discovered in one place, listen on your preferred music service, and more.

Note: this app is compatible with Pixel6+ phones with the March '26 Pixel Drop update or later.
Please check for the latest system update first if the download option is unavailable.

Ratings and reviews

I used to really enjoy how seamless it was. Whatever the latest update did really messed things up. The current detected song does not show up on the drop-down notifications bar anymore. On the lock screen, it doesn't automatically detect the song any more, and it now takes two taps to add a detected song to favorites, it's just unneeded friction that wasn't there before. Just numerous questionable decisions across the board. If I could roll back updates for apps on here I would.

Everything works great - except one thing. When you recognize the music you don't allow me to like it in my music service of choice. you allow me to connect YouTube music as a service but when I like something it goes into Now Playing's liked list. This does me no good. Imagine I'm driving in the car. I don't want to click through a whole bunch of menu items to add this to my YouTube music's liked list.

The new app looks great. However, there is now no shortcut to identify an unrecognised song on the lock screen, as there used to be. I'd rate higher if that functionality could be reintroduced. Also, there should be an API for third party apps to access the Now Playing song history. Several great third party apps don't work anymore because of the shift from a system service to this app.

What’s new

Initial launch.

Note: this app is compatible with Pixel6+ phones with the March '26 Pixel Drop update or later.
Please check for the latest system update first if the download option is unavailable.