Android 15 will let you track the Pixel 9's location even when it's switched off

The new version of Android 15 will include a feature that will allow you to track your device's location even when it is switched off. This feature will be available on devices with compatible hardware, including most likely the Google Pixel 9 series.

Here's What We Know

According to the report, Android 15 includes a new API called Powered Off Finding, which allows devices to be tracked even when they are switched off. This API allows devices to continue sending Bluetooth signals after the Android system is switched off. This makes it possible to locate devices when they are switched off or discharged.

However, this feature requires some reserved energy to send signals from the Bluetooth chip. It is expected that compatible hardware will also be required to keep the Bluetooth chip running after the phone is switched off.

It's important to note that this feature will likely rely on the updated Find My Device network, which was announced back at Google I/O 2023 but has yet to launch. So while Android 15 will presumably bring this API, and the Pixel 9 series may include the necessary hardware, the feature still requires widespread adoption of the updated Find My Device network to work in a useful way.

The Powered Off Finding feature will likely be announced during the launch of the upcoming Google Pixel 9 later this year (assuming, of course, that the Find My Device network launches before then). Considering that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro firmware code also found mention of the feature, it's very likely that the Pixel 8a too will be able to support Powered Off Finding.

Source: Android Police