Google’s Android 12 security patch for the month of May is here. If you have a Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, and Pixel 6 Pro (including any XL variants), you should see this update hit your device shortly. While it’s called the security patch, the update doesn’t just fix security flaws; it also solves these three bugs you might have run into.
Let’s start with the squashed bugs (may they rest in peace). The May security patch includes fixes for just three of them this time around, affecting your Pixel’s display and graphics, sensors, and UI:
- Display / Graphics: Fix for issue occasionally causing display to wake without user interaction.
- Sensors: Improvements for haptic feedback under certain conditions and use cases (Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro only).
- User Interface: Fix for issue causing launcher crash after restarting device in certain conditions.
That’s it for the bug department. Before you run to Google, complaining about the other bugs on your Pixel this update doesn’t solve, don’t worry: According to 9to5Google, next month’s update, Android 12 QPR3 should come with an array of bug fixes.
However, you should still install the May security patch, even if you don’t care about fixing any of the three bugs listed here. According to patches dated May 1, 2022 and May 5, 2022, Google patched 37 vulnerabilities in total. Notably, the security patch features a fix for the “Dirty Pipe” flaw, which could potentially allow hackers to control your phone by running malicious code through apps that ask for access to your phone’s files.
Luckily, it doesn’t seem as if any of these vulnerabilities have been actively exploited yet, even Dirty Pipe, so there isn’t the same immediacy to installing the patch as there would be if hackers knew how to exploit the vulnerabilities. That said, there have been examples of how Dirty Pipe could be exploited, so it’s likely only a matter of time before hackers decide to go after the flaw.
Regardless, it’s always good practice to keep your device up-to-date with the latest security patches; you don’t want to compromise your data or privacy because you didn’t bother to update. To check for the new update, go to Settings > System > System update.