Google released the first beta of Android 16 last month, and early testers are already uncovering hidden features that could make their way into the final release. Among them is a new time zone change notification, spotted by Android expert Mishaal Rahman in Android 16 Beta 1.
A New Way to Track Time Zone Changes
Android already has a robust system that automatically adjusts your smartphone’s time zone when you travel. However, Rahman discovered new strings in Android 16 Beta 1’s code, pointing to a dedicated toggle within Settings > System > Date & time. The following strings were found in the system files:
<string name="time_zone_change_notifications_toggle_summary">Receive a notification when your time zone is automatically updated</string>
<string name="time_zone_change_notifications_toggle_title">Time zone change</string>
These suggest that Android 16 may introduce a toggleable notification feature that explicitly informs users whenever their time zone is updated.
How the Feature Might Work
Rahman was able to enable the new toggle in Settings, but he couldn’t trigger an actual notification. However, additional code strings indicate that when a time zone change is detected, a notification titled “Your time zone changed” will appear, with the body message specifying the new time zone (e.g., “You’re now in xyz”).
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For most users, this might seem unnecessary, as smartphones already adjust time zones automatically. However, for frequent travelers or those frequently crossing time zones, this could be a handy addition to keep track of time zone shifts.
Will This Feature Make It to Android 16 Stable?
Even though this toggle is present in Android 16 Beta 1, there’s no guarantee that it will be part of the stable release. Google often experiments with new features in beta versions before deciding whether they should be included in the final software.
Fortunately, the wait for Android 16’s stable release won’t be long. Google is following an accelerated release timeline, and all signs point to Android 16 launching between April and June this year. Until then, we’ll have to wait and see if this time zone notification toggle makes the final cut.