The 8 largest options you want to strive ASAP

After 4 months of beta testing, the day has lastly come: Android 17 is now formally rolling out to Pixel telephones. We’ve been protecting a detailed eye on Android 17 ever since Beta 1 launched again in February, and now that the replace is out there for everybody, Pixel customers throughout the globe have a heap of latest options and modifications to sink their enamel into.

Large Android updates like this are thrilling, however they may also be slightly overwhelming. In case you haven’t been monitoring the assorted beta releases, you in all probability don’t know the place to start out after downloading Android 17.

Fortunately, I do. After months of taking part in with the betas and now having downloaded the official construct on my Pixel 10 Professional Fold, listed below are the eight finest options you want to strive when you obtain Android 17.

If there’s one hallmark function of Android 17, it’s app bubbles. What are app bubbles? Exactly what the identify suggests — a approach to run your apps in bubbles. Why would you wish to do that? As a result of it’s a unbelievable boon for multitasking.

Utilizing app bubbles is extraordinarily straightforward: press and maintain on an utility (on your own home display screen or in your app drawer), faucet Bubble, and that app is opened in a brand new bubble UI — taking over most of your telephone show, although you may shortly shut the app by tapping its bubble icon on the prime of your show. While you do that, the app minimizes, although the icon stays on the facet of your display screen for straightforward entry, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing. As you bubble extra apps, you may shortly change between them from the bubble UI, and your entire bubbled apps are at all times current with only a faucet on the sting of your show.

In case you often take display screen recordings in your telephone, Android 17 has fully revamped the interface for the higher and added just a few new settings, too.

For starters, the brand new UI in Android 17 is a giant enchancment. All of the controls are primarily the identical as in Android 16, however they’re laid out a lot better now. Machine audio and microphone toggles are actually displayed collectively, reasonably than hidden behind a dropdown menu. Now you can select which app to display screen report in the identical preliminary display screen recording UI, whereas earlier than it occurred on one other web page. It’s all simply a lot cleaner than in Android 16.

Whereas display screen recording, you may faucet the indicator to customise settings mid-recording, permitting you to indicate/conceal touches or change your audio settings with out having to cease and begin a brand new recording. And whenever you’re completed, Android 17 shows a brand new preview web page that robotically performs again your recording with shortcuts to start out a brand new recording, edit your present one, delete it, or share it.

House display screen customization has at all times been missing on Google’s Pixel telephones in comparison with the opponents. Slowly however absolutely, nonetheless, Google has been taking steps to enhance issues — and Android 17 takes one other step in the precise path.

Press and maintain in your Pixel dwelling display screen, faucet Wallpaper & model, faucet Icons, faucet Names, after which faucet the toggle subsequent to Present app names. This removes the standard app identify from your own home display screen, providing you with a a lot cleaner, extra minimalist look.

Darkish mode is the way in which to go, and in Android 16 QPR2, Google added a brand new “Expanded” darkish theme choice that forces darkish mode on apps that don’t natively assist it. It’s an important function, however generally, that compelled darkish theme causes readability points and different visible glitches.

When the expanded darkish theme was first launched final December, choosing it utilized it to all of your apps. However in Android 17, now you can select which apps you do and don’t need expanded darkish theme to the touch.

From the Settings app, faucet Show & contact, faucet Darkish theme, guarantee Expanded is chosen, after which faucet the settings gear icon subsequent to it. From right here, you may allow/disable expanded darkish theme on a per-app foundation. It’s a very minute degree of management, and I’m very glad to have it.

Granting exact location entry is crucial for sure app features, nevertheless it’s additionally a giant ask you don’t wish to hand out willy-nilly throughout all of your functions. And even for the apps you do belief, you in all probability don’t need them having your exact location 24/7 — however solely once they really need it.

Android 17 has a intelligent answer to this. When you’ve beforehand been capable of grant one-time location entry to an app, there’s by no means been a streamlined method to do that. Android 17 provides a brand new devoted “Use exact location” button that builders can add to their apps to obviously point out options that require your exact location.

For instance, in case you’re utilizing an app on your favourite espresso chain, you can faucet the “Use exact location” button to view areas close to you. The request on your exact location is clearly marked, and when you shut the app, exact location permission is revoked. Enhanced privateness options are at all times welcome, so it is a good change.

This explicit function relies on builders including it to their apps, however as that occurs, it’s completely one thing you must use.

For years, Android has frustratingly lumped Wi-Fi and cellular information settings right into a single fast settings toggle. I’m certain this sounded good on paper, however as you’re possible greater than conscious, it’s simply dangerous UX. To activate Wi-Fi, you must faucet the web tile and then the Wi-Fi toggle. It’s a two-step course of for what needs to be one, and in Android 17, Google has lastly listened to our complaints.

As a substitute of that one web title within the fast settings, you now have separate tiles for Wi-Fi and cellular information. Higher but, tapping the toggle on every tile instantly turns every connection on/off with out having to see a pop-up menu. That is the way it at all times ought to have been, and I’m thrilled Google made this modification in Android 17.

Talking of your fast settings, there’s one other new tile you’ll discover in right here after downloading Android 17: a satellite tv for pc tile! Satellite tv for pc connectivity is changing into more and more widespread on our telephones, and if it’s a function you worth, Android 17 makes accessing your satellite tv for pc settings simpler than ever.

Swipe down twice from the highest of your display screen to view your full fast settings, then faucet the edit icon beneath them (it seems like three squares with a pencil). Beneath the Connectivity web page, you’ll see the brand new Satellite tv for pc choice.

Tapping this toggle opens your satellite tv for pc settings, the place you may view your connection standing and appropriate apps. That is additionally the web page the place you may strive the satellite tv for pc demo in case you want a refresher on the way it works.

In Android 16 and former variations, the quantity for Gemini (or no matter your most popular AI assistant is) is tied to your telephone’s media quantity. As somebody who listens to podcasts and watches YouTube on my telephone, I hold the quantity up for these. Nonetheless, I don’t like Gemini loudly responding to varied questions all through the day, so I’m continuously turning my media quantity right down to accommodate it — after which again up once more when it’s podcast or YouTube time.

In Android 17, that is now not the case. Open the Settings app, faucet Sound & vibration, and also you’ll see a brand new Assistant quantity slider. Now, your media quantity is simply for media quantity, whereas responses from Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT, and so forth., are tied to your assistant quantity. It’s such a easy change, however one I believe you’ll recognize each single day.