Google Bluetooth 'Fast Pair' Expands to More Android Phones

Google's "Fast Pair" Bluetooth feature—which debuted on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL and offers a quicker way to help you pair Bluetooth devices—is now rolling out to devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow and above.

"Ease of use, speed and security are the design principles driving the Fast Pair specification," Google Product Managers Ritesh Nayak M and Ronald Ho wrote in a Tuesday post on the Android Developers Blog.

The feature "uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) for advertising and discovery and uses classic Bluetooth for pairing," they explained. First, turn on a Fast Pair-enabled peripheral and put it in pairing mode. Then, once Android discovers a Fast Pair packet (you'll need Bluetooth and Location enabled on your device for this to happen), you'll get a notification asking you to "Tap to pair" to the accessory.

That notification will include the name and image of the product to which you're about to connect. Then, just tap the notification, and voila. Once connected, you'll get a success notification with a link to download the device's companion app, if there is one.

At this point, just a few peripherals support Fast Pair, including the upcoming Google Pixel Buds and the Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear headphones. Plantronics Voyager 8200 series wireless headsets will also support Fast Pair in the near future. Bluetooth accessory makers interested in adopting Fast Pair can sign up here.

Google says this new process is a win-win for users and Bluetooth device manufacturers. "Users get a seamless and secure pairing experience and confidence that they're connecting to the right product," Nayak M and Ho wrote. "Manufacturers get their brand, device name, and companion app in front of the users."

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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