Here in the land o’ Android, things are always evolving — and it isn’t only because of big operating system updates. Thanks to the way Google’s for years now been deconstructing Android and pulling OS-level pieces out of the operating system itself — so they exist as regular ol’ apps and can consequently be updated quickly, frequently, and in a way that reaches everyone instantly, regardless of what phone or carrier they’re using — even Android phones from eight years ago get updates numerous times a year that are all virtually equivalent to an entire iOS operating system rollout. It’s a massive advantage of being on the Android side of things, and it doesn’t get nearly enough appreciation or attention. Anyhoo, I bring this up because — as is often the case — we’ve got a few interesting new features in the fryer and sizzlin’ up nice right now, and all but one of ’em is connected not to a full-fledged new Android version but to some manner of app-associated update in the works and on the way into the world soon. And, as is also often the case with Android, you don’t have to wait to give yourself a similar set of superpowers. With a teensy touch of creative thinking and a friendly pinch of crafty tinkering, you can enjoy all the same upcoming upgrades this instant — on any device in front of you, no matter who made it or how old it might be. Lemme show ya what’s coming and how you can get ahead of the pack and start putting the same concepts to use today. [Don’t stop here: Come check out my free Android Intelligence newsletter for three new things to try in your inbox every Friday — and my Android Notification Power-Pack as a special welcome bonus!] Android feature #1: Smarter message selecting For all the handy options Google’s Android Messages app gives us , one thing that’s awkwardly absent is the ability to select specific parts of a message for copying or sharing. You know what I mean, right? When you want to copy something that someone sent you, the only choice you’ve got is to select the entire message — all of its text, in other words — and then copy that. If you want a more limited selection, you’re out of luck. Or so it’d seem. Some recently uncovered code suggests Google’s working on a way to let you select and copy part of a message. But why wait? You’ve actually got three different ways you can make this happen now, if you know how to go about it: First, on any phone recent enough to have Google’s Circle to Search system available, summon Circle to Search — by pressing and holding your finger on the very bottom-center area of your screen — and then simply use your finger to select the specific text you want to copy. srcset="https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/android-google-messages-select-text-circle-to-search.webp?quality=50&strip=all 800w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/android-google-messages-select-text-circle-to-search.webp?resize=286%2C300&quality=50&strip=all 286w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/android-google-messages-select-text-circle-to-search.webp?resize=768%2C804&quality=50&strip=all 768w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/android-google-messages-select-text-circle-to-search.webp?resize=665%2C697&quality=50&strip=all 665w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/android-google-messages-select-text-circle-to-search.webp?resize=160%2C168&quality=50&strip=all 160w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/android-google-messages-select-text-circle-to-search.webp?resize=80%2C84&quality=50&strip=all 80w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/android-google-messages-select-text-circle-to-search.webp?resize=458%2C480&quality=50&strip=all 458w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/android-google-messages-select-text-circle-to-search.webp?resize=344%2C360&quality=50&strip=all 344w, https://b2b-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/android-google-messages-select-text-circle-to-search.webp?resize=239%2C250&quality=50&strip=all 239w" width="800" height="838" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"> Circle to Search is a quick ‘n’ simple way to select any text, anytime. JR Raphael, Foundry If you’re using a Pixel, specifically, you can also head into your Overview area — by swiping your finger up about an inch from the bottom of your screen and then stopping — and then look for the “Select” option there to easily select any text you want. It’s easy to forget, but the Pixel Overview interface has its own built-in text selection tool. JR Raphael, Foundry And no matter what type of Android device you’re using, you can also always take a screenshot and then share it immediately into Google Lens (which is free and available to install as a shortcut for anyone) and then use the text selection tool that pops up there, in that interface. Google Lens is a great way to select specific text from Messages — or anything else in front of you. JR Raphael, Foundry Whichever way you choose, you’ve got options — and none of ’em requires you to wait for an under-development update. Android feature #2: Download backups Android’s built-in backup system has come an impressively long way over the years, but one curious omission to this day is the fact that your phone won’t automatically back up files you’ve downloaded to your device. El Googaloo appears in be ready to remedy this. The under-the-hood (and, yes, universally updated for everyone outside of any formal Android release) Google Play Services app is in the midst of gaining an option to automatically save anything you download to Google Drive so it’ll be easily accessible from any other device, anytime. But hey, you’re here! You’re a smart and sophisticated Android Intelligence reader. (You’re also looking quite nice today, if I may be so to bold to say.) You don’t have to wait. All you’ve gotta do is grab the excellent (and free for these purposes) Autosync for Google Drive app and set it up to sync your Android device’s “Downloads” folder with a matching folder you make in your Google Drive storage. AutoSync can automatically back up your downloads to Google Drive anytime. JR Raphael, Foundry It’ll take you less than five minutes of one-time setup — and it’ll just work, without any further thought or effort, from that moment onward. Android feature #3: A better search bar Our final upcoming Android feature — and the only one in this list that is connected to an actual Android operating system update — is the overdue ability to customize and control your home screen search bar with your own self-selected shortcuts . This is most directly relevant for the Pixel owners among us, as that’s where the currently less customizable search bar exists — but the advantage of moving to a better home screen search setup is something anyone on any Android device would absolutely benefit from and appreciate. And the answer is a simple and completely free little app I introduced you to last month called Pixel Search . (Despite what its name implies, it’s every bit as valid and useful on any Android device — Pixel or otherwise.) Pixel Search empowers you to create your own completely customized home screen search widget that gives you a one-tap spot to: Search Gemini, Perplexity, or any other LLM chatbot-style service Search through your own previous web searches, as made through the app Search through your contacts, then call or text any of ’em with one more tap Search through files you’ve downloaded or otherwise transferred to your device’s local storage and perform a variety of actions on any file you find Search for and then quickly open apps you’ve installed Search for and then quickly open specific app shortcuts — to jump directly to actual actions within apps you use Search inside Google Maps, YouTube, the Google Play Store, and other available services Search inside your system calculator and see instant answers to problems and equations Pixel Search provides a massively upgraded and supremely useful search bar for any Android home screen. JR Raphael, Foundry And you can do it all from a search bar that looks whatever way you like. The Pixel Search search bar is completely customizable to your personal preferences. JR Raphael, Foundry It’s an even better version of what Google’s about to give us, in other words — and, once more, you can give it to yourself without any waiting, once you know where to look. That’s all just another day in the life here in the Android arena. Sure is nice to have the power to do what you want with the device you purchased — and to have the tools to do it on your own schedule — ain’t it?! Keep the Googley goodies coming with my free Android Intelligence newsletter — three things to try every Friday and my Android Notification Power-Pack as a special welcome bonus.