Google is making Wi-Fi use more flexible, secure, and convenient with Android Q, as the first experimental build of the new version of the operating system brings a host of changes to this connectivity option.
Aside from the minor visual differences, Android Q allows sharing Wi-Fi settings via QR codes, which will save you from having to constantly scan the back of your router for the WPA2 key to give to your friends when they come over. Turning Wi-Fi settings into QR codes means that multiple devices, even those that don't run Google's latest operating system, can quickly connect to a particular network. Of course, sharing such sensitive information is tantamount to accessing it, so you'll have to verify your identity with a password or fingerprint. Once Android Q comes to third-party devices, this feature will likely also be able to use iris and facial recognition, depending on the host's hardware configuration.
In case the recipient of the QR code claims they don't have a suitable reader on their device, ask them to use Google Assistant to read the image. The convenience offered by this feature extends beyond Android, as Apple's Siri is equally capable of decoding QR codes on iOS devices, namely iPhones and iPads.
Users of public Wi-Fi may also appreciate the fact that Android Q allows for easy switching between a device’s MAC address and a randomized address, although this probably won’t even be necessary, since the latter is the default option. Google has said that stronger privacy features will be part of the package, and that MAC randomization is now a default setting. The feature itself was technically introduced last year in one of the first Android 9 P builds, before that version of the operating system was officially called “Pie.”
By making randomization the default option, Google is essentially making it harder to track Android devices. While it’s certainly a niche capability, it can be extremely useful in places like shopping malls, where public Wi-Fi is a common option. Shopping malls are increasingly interested in tracking their visitors, which is made possible with a simple MAC filter if visitors are connected to a public Wi-Fi hotspot. MAC address randomization confuses this technology, and while it doesn’t make tracking impossible, it does make it much more difficult and can greatly affect its accuracy.
