The Pixel 8 Pro has a built-in thermometer, which until recently could only measure the temperature of objects, i.e., how hot your coffee or pizza is. A recent Pixel Drop update unlocks a new power–it can now check your body temperature and tell if you have a fever. While the feature is currently limited to the US, if you’re using a Pixel 8 Pro outside the US, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to measure body temperature with the Pixel 8 Pro in any country or region.
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What Is Body Temperature on Pixel 8 Pro
The Pixel 8 Pro has a built-in temperature sensor on the rear, below the flashlight. You can use it to check the temperature of your food, drinks, plastics, metal, and various surfaces and objects. But the cool part is that the Pixel Thermometer (the temperature-checking app) can now also measure your skin temperature.
The Pixel 8 Pro is the first smartphone to have an FDA-approved body temperature app. It does things a little differently than those forehead thermometers – it scans your temporal artery (a blood vessel in your forehead). Then a clever software works out your temperature in a flash.
Google even puts the phone’s camera tech to use! The LDAF (laser detection autofocus) sensor onboard checks if the phone’s close enough to your forehead before measuring your temperature. This way, the Pixel 8 Pro gets an accurate temperature reading without even having to touch you.
How to Check Body Temperature with Pixel 8 Pro in Any Region
Unfortunately, Google has only received approval for measuring body temperature with the Pixel 8 Pro in the US. But it’s easy to make it work even if you live outside the country’s borders; all you need to do is make the app believe you’re in the US. Here’s how.
Step 1: Enable Developer Options
To begin with, turn on Developer Options on your phone. This will allow you to enable Wireless Debugging which is required for the process. Follow the steps below:
1. Open Settings and tap on About phone.
2. Scroll down to the bottom and tap seven times on Build number.
3. Enter your lock screen password when prompted.
You shall see a “You are now a developer” toast notification.
Step 2: Set Up Shizuku App
You must now install Shizuku. It allows apps to access system APIs via ADB without rooting the phone. Here’s how to do it:
1. Install the Shizuku app from the Google Play Store on your Pixel 8 Pro.
2. Open it and tap on Pairing.
3. Tap Notification options and toggle on All Shizuku notifications.
4. Return to Shizuku. Tap on Developer Options > Wireless Debugging.
5. Toggle on Use wireless debugging and tap Allow.
6. Next, tap on Pair device with pairing code. You’ll see the pairing code on your screen.
7. Shizuku will automatically send you a notification. Tap on Enter pairing code. Type and send the pairing code shown on the screen.
8. You should see the You can start the service now message.
9. Return to Shizuku’s main screen and tap on Start. This will activate the service.
Step 3: Change Carrier ISO Country Code to USA
The Carrier Vanity Name app lets you change your network carrier’s ISO code. We need it to temporarily change the country code to US, as shown below.
1. Download and install the Carrier Vanity Name app from GitHub.
2. Open it and tap Continue > Allow all the time to grant it the access to Shizuku service.
3. Next, type “us” in the ISO Country Code field. Tap on Set.
4. You can now exit the app.
Note: A SIM card (eSIM or physical) must be present in your Pixel 8 Pro for it to work.
Step 4: Clear Pixel Thermometer App’s Data
Next, clear the data of the Thermometer app to start it afresh. Since you’ve changed the carrier country code, the app will think you’re in the US and therefore allow you to access the Body Temperature option. This is only possible after you reset the app data.
1. Long-press the Thermometer app icon and choose App info.
Alternatively, you can go to Settings > Apps > All Apps and select Thermometer.
2. Here, tap Force stop and hit OK.
3. Then tap on Storage & cache > Clear storage.
4. Tap Delete to reset the app data.
Step 5: Measure Your Body Temperature With Pixel 8 Pro
1. Open the Pixel Thermometer app. Allow it all the necessary permissions including camera access. The body temperature feature should now be available in the app.
2. Tap on Body Temperature, read the information, and tap the Continue button.
3. Tap Next on the Measurement settings page.
4. You’ll see a video tutorial on measuring body temperature with the phone. Tap Next to watch them all.
5. Tap Age range and specify your age range: 3+ years, 3-36 months, or 0-3 months.
6. Tap on Tap to measure.
7. Hold the center of the camera bar near your forehead skin until you feel a vibration.
8. Slowly move the phone across your forehead and temple, as shown below. You’ll receive haptic and audio feedback during the process.
9. Your Pixel 8 Pro will automatically show your current temperature on the screen, followed by haptic feedback. Tap Save to store the result in the app. This data stays for seven days and is automatically deleted thereafter.
Pro Tip: The sensor works best when you hold the phone close to your forehead. Think of it like a little flashlight. The closer you are, the more focused the beam is and the better it works.
The default temperature unit is Fahrenheit. You can change it to Celsius in the Thermometer app settings.
Note: You can now re-open the Carrier Vanity app and tap on Reset to reset the country code. The body temperature feature will keep working until you reset the Thermometer app data.
Is Pixel 8 Pro’s Body Temperature Accurate
As per Google’s clinical trials, the software algorithm can calculate body temperature in the range of 96.9°F – 104°F (36.1°C – 40°C) with an accuracy of ±0.3°C when compared with an FDA-cleared temporal artery thermometer.
As we had a contactless infrared thermometer gun in the office, we decided to compare it to the Pixel’s body temperature readings. In our testing, the Pixel’s readings were quite off (almost 2-3 degrees higher) than the temperature gun.
Surprisingly, measuring body temperature using the Object Temperature option in the app yielded results close to the thermometer. However, when we switched to the Body Temperature mode and performed the full temple scan, the results diverged significantly.
Your Mobile Thermometer
Unlocking the Body Temperature feature is like getting a bonus gift – more features for the same price. And guess what? Global Pixel users don’t have to feel left out anymore. Even though the feature is currently US-exclusive (blame regulations!), the above trick makes it work like a charm in any region.
Now, your Pixel 8 Pro can act as a thermometer to check how warm your coffee, cookies, or even baby milk is. Plus, it can help you monitor the fever of your family members. No more frantic drawer searches for thermometers.
Note: While handy, it cannot replace medical-grade equipment. So, if it comes to serious health issues, always consult a doctor.
