Google pushes Android 16 QPR2 to Pixel phones: How to install, what's new

If you use a Google Pixel, software updates are not just background downloads; they decide how your phone feels every day. From December 2, Google started rolling out Android 16 QPR2 to Pixel phones. It is a mid-cycle release, but there is enough happening here that it does not feel like a small security patch you can ignore.
A lot of the visible change sits on your home screen and lock screen. Android 16 QPR2 brings new app icon options that make the grid look more consistent, instead of the usual mix of shapes and older designs. The lock screen gets some useful changes. You can decide what you want to see before unlocking the phone, whether that is your next calendar event, the weather, or music controls, so the lock screen finally feels more useful and less like a static clock. Dark theme behaviour has also been tightened so more apps follow it properly, which makes late-night scrolling easier on the eyes.
Google has also focused on cleaning up notifications, which is where many of us spend most of our time. With Android 16 QPR2, the phone can group low-priority alerts, keep important messages and app notifications closer to the top, and show short summaries so you do not have to open every app just to understand what changed. The pull-down shade feels more under control and less like a running list of everything that has happened in the last few hours. On the safety side, scam-focused tools tied to Circle to Search can flag suspicious content on screen, adding an extra layer of protection when you are dealing with unknown links or money-related messages. There are also changes in how one-time passwords are handled, which matters when so many services still rely on OTPs for sign-ins and payments.
Beyond that, there are several small changes that quietly make daily use better. Chrome tab pinning is more reliable, so the sites you always keep open are less likely to be closed by mistake. Split-screen layouts are easier to manage when you want to keep two apps side by side. Accessibility features gain clearer captions and improved hearing-aid support, which may not affect every user but makes a big difference for those who need them. Along with the visible changes, Android 16 QPR2 also cleans up a lot in the background. Battery, charging, graphics and general stability get fixes, and the December security patch is included too, so your Pixel stays updated on the safety side.
The next thing most Pixel users will check is whether their phone is on the list. Android 16 QPR2 is rolling out to every Pixel from the Pixel 6 series all the way to the latest Pixel 10 family, including foldables and the tablet. That covers Pixel 6, 6 Pro and 6a; Pixel 7, 7 Pro and 7a; Pixel 8, 8 Pro and 8a; Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold and 9a; Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL and 10 Pro Fold, plus the Pixel Tablet and the original Pixel Fold.
If you have one of these devices, you can check for the update by opening Settings on your Pixel, going to System, then tapping Software updates, System update and finally Check for update. If Android 16 QPR2 has reached your phone, you will see the option to download and install it. The file size is around 744MB on a Pixel 10 Pro, so it is better to use Wi-Fi and keep the phone plugged in or with enough battery. If the update is not visible yet, it is likely because Google is rolling it out in phases and it should appear over the next few days.
Android 16 QPR2 is not a big, showy update, but it improves parts of your Pixel that you use all day long, from the lock screen and notifications to the small fixes you only notice after a while. When it reaches your device, it is the kind of update you install once and then forget about, while the phone quietly becomes a little easier to live with.