A new, persistent notification for Google Maps is rolling out to beta testers, promising to make at-a-glance directions easier than ever.
Following navigation directions on your phone often means keeping the screen on or constantly unlocking it to see your next turn. It’s a minor but persistent annoyance that Android 16 aims to solve with one of its most promising new features, Live Updates. Now, it appears Google's flagship navigation app is finally getting on board.
Select users running the latest Android 16 beta software are beginning to see a completely redesigned navigation notification from Google Maps. This isn't just a simple alert; it's a full-fledged Live Update. This feature transforms a standard notification into a dynamic, persistent tile that lives on your lock screen and Always-On Display, and even as a compact "chip" in your status bar.
For Google Maps, this means your navigation progress is always visible. The new notification reportedly features a progress-centric bar, giving you an immediate visual cue of how far along you are on your route. This persistent alert takes priority, ensuring you won't have to swipe through a pile of other notifications just to find out if you need to take the next exit.
This is a significant quality-of-life improvement. Imagine glancing at your phone resting on the passenger seat to see your progress without having to unlock it, or getting a subtle update in your status bar while you're using another app.
The feature was spotted by a handful of Pixel and Samsung users on the Android 16 QPR2 beta, signaling that Google is in the final stages of testing. While the rollout is currently limited, the good news is that we may not have to wait long. The first major update to Android 16, known as the Quarterly Platform Release (QPR1), is expected to launch as early as this week. It's highly likely that this enhanced Maps functionality will be officially released alongside it.
The adoption of Live Updates has been slow since Android 16's launch, with even many of Google's own apps yet to implement it. The integration with a core app like Google Maps is a huge step forward and will likely encourage other developers to follow suit. Soon, you can expect to see similar persistent notifications for tracking food delivery, ride-sharing services, and flight information, making your phone’s lock screen a far more useful hub for real-time information.