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Google will soon turn Pixel phones into personal PA systems using Auracast
Aug 31, 2026 — 11:04 AM ET
- Google has rebranded “Voicecast” to “Voice Broadcast” in Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4, moving it out of Developer Options, and making its Quick Settings tile easy to access.
- The feature uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Audio and Auracast to stream live microphone input from a Pixel phone to nearby compatible headphones, hearing aids, or speakers.
- When the feature rolls out to the stable branch, practical uses could include tour guiding, assistive listening in noisy rooms, and public announcements.
Google is making it easier than ever to turn your Pixel phone into a personal public address system. First spotted a few weeks ago under the moniker “Voicecast,” Google’s new Voice Broadcast feature now appears directly in the Quick Settings menu on the latest Android 17 QPR2 beta, without requiring users to dive into hidden developer menus, bringing standard users one step closer to seamless Bluetooth Auracast audio sharing.
When the functionality first surfaced in Android 17 QPR2 Beta 2, colleagues at our sister site, Android Authority, discovered that the Voicecast toggle had to be manually enabled via Developer Options. But with the latest Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 release for Pixels, released a few days ago, Google has rebranded the feature as “Voice Broadcast” and made it freely accessible via a new Quick Settings tile.
At its core, Voice Broadcast leverages Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Audio and Auracast broadcast technology to transmit real-time microphone input from your phone to nearby audio receivers. Rather than pairing to a single set of earbuds using traditional point-to-point Bluetooth, Auracast broadcasts an audio stream to an unlimited number of compatible headphones, hearing aids, or wireless speakers within range.
With the Voice Broadcast tile active, tapping the toggle turns your Pixel’s built-in microphone into a live transmitter. This opens up several practical audio applications with Auracast-compatible audio sinks:
- Tour guides and presenters: Speak into your phone while an entire group listens via their own Auracast-compatible earbuds, such as the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
- Assistive listening: Transmit clear voice audio directly to compatible hearing instruments in noisy environments.
- Ad-hoc PA system: Broadcast announcements through Auracast-ready party speakers without disconnecting existing media streams.
To prevent others from eavesdropping, users can set a password for their listening session, though they can also broadcast publicly.
Google has not yet formally announced when Voice Broadcast will roll out to Pixels on the stable software branch, but its promotion from the developer sub-menu suggests its prime-time debut is near.
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