Google is reportedly testing a screen mirroring feature for external displays on the Pixel 8 series.

Google Pixel 8 The series has reportedly received a new feature that will finally allow users to mirror their smartphone screen to a larger external display. The feature was added to the series by Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 update for Pixel devices. The update enabled DisplayPort replacement mode in smartphones by default. According to the report, the changelog did not mention the addition of the feature, leading users to suspect that it was added by accident.

According to one Reports By Android Authority (through Mishal Rehman), some users have started seeing when connecting their Pixel 8 series phones, including the vanilla Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 ProOn an external display via a compatible USB Type-C cable, a pop-up window appears asking to turn off screen mirroring. This feature is currently only available on handsets with Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 update.

The addition of this feature is interesting for a few reasons. First of all, this is the first time Google Enable screen mirroring on any Pixel phone. The DisplayPort Alternate Mode feature was disabled at the hardware level in the Pixel 7 series and older models. Although the feature was hardware-enabled in the current generation, there was no accompanying software that allowed users to trigger screen mirroring.

Second, even when Google added the feature, it wasn’t mentioned in the changelog. This has led many users to wonder if this capability was accidental. The report highlights that if so, the feature could be brought back in the next update. However, it could be that the tech giant added screen mirroring proactively because Android 15, which is expected to be announced later this year, may introduce a new desktop mode that offers a more seamless interface with Pixel devices. As of now, these are all speculations until an official announcement is made. Even if Google permanently enables DisplayPort Alternate Mode, older Pixel phones still won’t be able to use it because the feature is disabled at the hardware level.

However, all is not lost for older Pixel devices. Google recently Extension Circle to search feature for Pixel 7 Series by the latest Pixel feature Drop, which allows users to perform visual searches by simply drawing a circle on the screen.