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Google has been slowly pushing the Android 13 update to its phones, and when our Google Pixel 6a review unit finally made the cut, the first thing we did was start tapping on version numbers. See, for a while now, Google has planted a silly little Easter egg, or sometimes more than one, in new versions of Android. Tap enough times on the number “13” and something should pop up.
Okay, so this Easter egg isn’t a total surprise, since it did show up in the Android 13 Beta. Most people aren’t on the Beta program, so this will be your first chance to see Android 13’s surprising hidden screen. We even have some tips on how to make cool wallpapers from the result.
First, you just need to open the “Android version” settings screen. You can search settings for Android version and the phone will guide you. Once you have this screen open, tap a few times on the number “13” under Android version. A clock will appear.
The clock hands will correspond to your current time, and your wallpaper will appear in the background. The second thing you need to do is to move the minute hand around and around until the clock says one O’clock exactly, or 13:00 hours if you use 24-hour time. Get it, 13?
A number 13 will appear in the center, surrounded by colorful dots. You can stop here and make a wallpaper, but there is one more step that kicks this Easter Egg into high gear. The third thing to do is hold your finger down on the screen until you feel a pulse, then let go. 
Android 13 has two ways to make wallpaper, depending on what you want the end result to look like. First, you can use a swipe-and-hold gesture or the center button to open up the app window cards. Here, there is a button beneath the window that says “Screenshot.”
You can tap that button to take a screenshot, but the results will not be exactly what you see. Android 13 inexplicably removes your own wallpaper and replaces it with a black field. This might be what you’d prefer, in which case you can use this screenshot as wallpaper. 
Wait, we’re not done. Google also provides an imperfect way to remove the number 13 at the center, if you dare. Instead of opening the Wallpaper settings, open the Files app. Screenshots are not saved directly to Google Photos, so you need to open Files, then find your screens under Images. Open the screenshot you want, then choose the Share menu button at the bottom of the image. Share to Google Photos to Upload the image to your gallery.
Once you have the screenshot in Photos, you can use the Magic Eraser tool to remove the big number 13. Select your screen, then choose Edit. Go to Tools and choose the Magic Eraser. Draw a circle around the center.
Phil Berne is a preeminent voice in consumer electronics reviews, having reviewed his first device (the Sony D-EJ01 Discman) more than 20 years ago for eTown.com. He has been writing about phones and mobile technology, since before the iPhone, for a variety of sites including PCMag, infoSync, PhoneScoop, and Slashgear. He holds an M.A. in Cultural Theory from Carnegie Mellon University.
Phil was the internal reviewer for Samsung Mobile, writing opinions and review predictions about top secret new devices months before launch. He worked at an Apple Store near Boston, MA, at the height of iPod popularity. He has been a High School English teacher at Title I schools, and is a certified Lifeguard. His passion is smartphones and wearables, and he is sure that the next big thing will be phones we wear on our faces.
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