What you need to know
- Google has started rolling out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 for enrolled Pixel testers, bringing huge restrictions for call-forwarding fraud.
- The company is also fixing a couple of reported bugs from testers, while rolling out new features such as Quick Settings layout customization and app options for foldables.
- The Pixel 11 series has now debuted, and in the days ahead of its market launch, there are still pre-order deals users can check out.
Google’s QPR2 beta continued this weekend, and enrolled Pixel testers should start seeing it become available on their devices.
On Reddit, Google detailed the arrival of Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 for Pixel phones and tablets. The company states users with a Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet will download vCP41.260731.005.A2. All others will find vCP41.260731.005.B1. Google keeps Beta 3 pretty light, only detailing two important fixes.
The first involves opening the notification shade and Quick Settings. Users reported “visual corruption” and a strange device restart when attempting to open either option. This should now be fixed. Additionally, Google rolls out a fix for “erroneously displayed false battery capacity degradation warnings” in Device Health and the Support tool.
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What takes center stage in the latest beta is Google’s new “security restrictions” for call-forwarding fraud. Not only has the company rolled out API restrictions, but it’s giving users direct system confirmation when forwarding calls. It states, “To combat social engineering scams, users manually dialing call-forwarding codes in the system dialer will now see a new OS-level confirmation dialog before the command is executed.”
Android Central’s Take
I’m always a fan of little changes like this. Something as small as being able to customize the Quick Settings menu is a breath of fresh air. Not everyone values the same options as others. My music is more important than those tiles I hardly interact with, aside from a few exceptions. Brightness, too. Google always wants to make Android more approachable and user-friendly. This is the way (get it? Star Wars. No?)
Elsewhere, a post by Android Authority shined a spotlight on the new features Google packed into QPR2 Beta 3, as detailed by Mishaal Rahman on X. Among them is a new set of Quick Settings options that lets users alter its layout. The publication discovered three options, which shift around a few major buttons: brightness, tiles, and media. One option places the media card between the tiles and brightness bar, while others place brightness at the very top.
The post mentions a change for foldables, which brings an app handle to apps in a window. The publication states this handle lets users drag the app, capable of switching between full-screen and split-screen viewing.
Another beta & Pixel 11
If you’re wondering, QPR2 will likely be Google’s December 2026 Pixel Feature Drop. It’s been consistent in releasing new versions for its test since the first got underway in mid-July. This update was pretty minimal; however, it did well to solve stability problems across the board (or at least try to). Google was intent on fixing several Gemini-related reboot crashes, touch input bugs, and more.
Another major change was the removal of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro from the Android beta program. Both devices have reached the end of their upgrade cycles, meaning they are now excluded. From here on out, users will see past-gen devices starting from the Pixel 6a and up. On a related note, Google’s Pixel 11 series is here and available for pre-order before the phones begin shipping in a few days.
