TechTrending
Google's November 2026 Play services update adds Windows photo backups via Quick Share, Family Hub in Settings, and new Password Manager options. Samsung Galaxy phones are also receiving a Google Play system update.
Google is rolling out new Android features through Play services, including Windows photo and video backups via Quick Share, according to heise online. The Nov. 2, 2026, update includes new features for device connectivity, account management, and security, among other areas.
With Google Play services version 26.43, Windows users can automatically back up photos and videos using Quick Share. Google offers few specifics about how it works in its release notes. Google also says higher-quality device connection protocols are coming to the device connectivity section, though it offers few details.
Family Hub is coming to Settings, bringing centralized management of family accounts. The “Family” section now appears in System settings, directly below Google settings. It shows an overview of family members and, if applicable, a Google One plan subscription and its storage usage. Users can also see an overview of shared services here. The Family Hub may have already been available to some users; Google apparently rolled out this setting server-side a few days ago without a Play system update.
The Google Password Manager has a new option: users can now manually choose which credentials to keep when importing conflicting passwords and passkeys. Google has also updated its system management services. Among other things, the new version is intended to “improve Battery Life, Device Connectivity, Device Performance, Privacy, Security, Stability, and Updatability.”
Other new features in Play services include developer tools for Google and third-party app developers to support location- and context-based processes in their apps. The update also includes bug fixes for security- and emergency-related services, updates to Wallet loyalty cards, and bug fixes for Google Wallet.
With its first November update, Google has also made a few changes to the Play Store. Play Store version 53.9 reminds users if “Play Protect” has been turned off for an extended period.
A new overview is also coming to game detail pages: before installing a game, users can view its play style, review summaries, and gaming community activity, Google says.
Samsung Galaxy phones started receiving a new Google Play system update dated October 1, 2026, a 19MB package, this week. Google published no changelog for it, so the exact list of fixes and features inside remains unknown, SamMobile reported. The update is rolling out in phases: some Galaxy owners already see it, others don’t yet, according to SamMobile.
On a Galaxy phone, the path is Settings > Security and privacy > Updates > Google Play System update, a separate menu from the Software update screen that handles One UI versions and Samsung’s monthly security patches, per SamMobile. If an update is listed, users tap Download and install, then tap Restart now once installation finishes.
An empty Google Play System update menu doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong. SamMobile reports the October rollout is staggered, so a phone showing nothing pending may simply not have been offered the package yet.
Unlike full Android updates and security patches, Google can distribute Play services updates directly to tens of millions of devices without going through device manufacturers. The updates include new features and bug fixes for smartphones and other products in Google’s ecosystem, including tablets, watches, smart TVs, Android Auto, and Chromebooks. Updates to the two services are generally rolled out in stages. At the time the heise article was published, a newsroom device already had the new Play services version, while the Play Store was still running an older version. Even manually triggering an update in the Play Store settings did not install the new version.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
TechTrending
Anthropic released Claude Sheets and Claude Whiteboards in beta and made Claude Data generally available. Microsoft shares dropped 2.2% on Tuesday, to roughly $533.
TechTrending
Microsoft says it is investigating widespread issues with Exchange Online mailbox access in the Americas, with more than 129,000 error reports logged on Downdetector as of 1:09 p.m. ET.
