Google adds seasonal Audio Emoji to Pixel Phone app

Ahead of Halloween on Thursday, seasonal Audio Emoji has arrived for Pixel users in the Google Phone app. 

A Pumpkin emoji replaces Party Popper until Halloween with spooky laughter (from the aforementioned pumpkin), lightning (very, very frightening), and even a black cat meowing. You both hear and see this on your call/screen.

There are no changes to Clapping Hands, Face with Tears of Joy, Crying Face, Pile of Poo, or Drum, though Google is teasing more seasonal Audio Emoji: “keep an ear out for more festive sounds coming to your Pixel later this year!”

Version 150 of Phone by Google is widely rolled out to the stable channel. Audio Emoji was announced with the Pixel 8a in May and then became available on all Google phones. It’s a small touch of whimsy that you can disable entirely in Phone by Google Settings > General. That removes the two — rather prominent — Audio Emoji shortcuts from the calling screen. 

This joins a “Halloween” Screen Effect in Google Messages and the traditional Nest Doorbell sounds.

More on Google Phone:

• Google Phone appears to be testing a new incoming call UI
• Google rolling out ‘Lookup’ reverse number search 
• Phone app updated with transparent status bar
• Google Phone app removes Nearby places search