Following the Material 3 Expressive redesign earlier this month, Google Wallet will be adopting Android 16’s Live Updates “for key travel journeys.”
Google Wallet already uses notifications to provide timely updates, especially around travel. For example, it will alert you about boarding time changes.
The Wallet app will now use Live Updates for “flights, train trips, and events.” You can imagine one that shows flight duration as a progress bar. They can appear on the always-on display, lockscreen, and as a prominent pill next to the time in the corner.
At I/O 2025 in May, Google said to expect Live Updates from Google Maps, Waymo, and Uber Eats, or ride-share and food delivery apps. The Google Wallet use case expansions feel pretty straightforward.
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This new capability was detailed with version 25.41 of Google Play services. As always, it can take features introduced with Google System Services Release Notes weeks or months to actually become available.
Speaking of alerts, you will now “receive a notification if you’re on Android 12 or earlier and have a loyalty pass imported from Gmail with the Wallet app installed.”
Finally, Google says “you can add cards through supported issuer apps without entering details.” This is presumably a way for bank apps to directly add a credit or debit card to Google Wallet without needing the actual piece of plastic (or metal) in your hand.
[Phone] With this update, you can add cards through supported issuer apps without entering details.
[Phone] You’ll receive a notification if you’re on Android 12 or earlier and have a loyalty pass imported from Gmail with the Wallet app installed.
[Phone] You can now view Live Updates in Google Wallet for key travel journeys that include flights, train trips, and events.
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