It’s only been a few weeks since Google rolled out the Android 16 QPR3 update, which brought changes like the ability to hide the At a Glance widget, customize navigation buttons, and enable Desktop mode for all, but the company isn’t slowing down just yet.
Similar to Android 16, Google kicked off this year’s accelerated Android development cycle, with new features already showing up in Canary builds. These will eventually make their way to the Android 17 beta and, later, the stable release.
With the stable Android 17 release coming around June 2026, Google has already teased some of the features that are expected in the update. Here are some of the features I can’t wait to try.
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Separate Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles
Finally undoing this annoying change
One of the worst changes Google has made to Android in recent years, in my opinion, is the unified internet toggle.
On Pixel devices, if you want to switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data or turn either of them on or off, you have to open Quick Settings, tap the Internet tile, and then choose what you want.
Thankfully, it looks like Google is finally undoing this with the upcoming Android 17 update, as you’ll be able to add separate Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles to Quick Settings again.
Most other Android skins, including Samsung’s One UI, already offer this, but Google moved away from it on Pixel devices. Now, it’s finally giving users the choice to go back.
App lock: Add another layer of privacy to your home screen
Protect sensitive apps with a simple lock
Another feature that’s available on most Android skins is the ability to lock individual apps. It looks like Google is finally bringing this with an upcoming Android update.
You’ll be able to lock apps directly from your Pixel’s home screen using a PIN, pattern, password, or biometrics like fingerprint or face unlock, without relying on third-party apps.
The option to lock an app will appear in the quick actions menu when you long-press an app icon.
Google notes that after an app is locked, its notifications will be hidden, along with any associated shortcuts and widgets.
The company also adds that certain AI features, like Gemini’s screen automation, may still be able to interact with the app depending on permissions.
Google will also notify you if other apps have access to the app you’re locking. For example, if you lock Google Photos, you’ll get a prompt explaining that other apps with access to your photos may still be able to view them.
That said, a native app lock is a welcome addition, especially since users previously had to rely on the Private Space feature.
App bubbles: Make multitasking easier
Quickly switch between different apps
In addition to app lock, Google is also bringing the ability to turn any app into a floating bubble for quicker access.
For example, if you’re researching something in Chrome while taking notes in Google Keep, you’ll be able to convert Keep into a floating bubble.
This lets you continue using Chrome while quickly opening Keep in a small window whenever you need it, instead of constantly switching between apps or relying on the split-screen view (which makes the whole area to work with smaller, in my opinion).
Until now, Android has only allowed conversations to appear as bubbles, but this is the first time Google is extending the feature to full apps natively. Think of this feature somewhat similar to how you can see videos in picture-in-picture (PiP), but for entire apps.
Similar to PiP videos, you’ll be able to close an app bubble by simply dragging it to the bottom of the screen.
This feature should be especially useful on large-screen Android devices like foldables, where there’s more screen space to multitask comfortably, and I can’t wait to try it on my Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Ability to hide app names on the home screen
Make your Pixel’s home screen much cleaner
Building on improving the home screen experience, with the release of Android 17 Beta 3, Google has also introduced a feature that lets users hide app labels on the home screen.
Right now, on Pixel phones, every app icon is paired with its name below it, but this new option helps create a cleaner and more minimal setup.
To disable app names, go to Wallpaper & style, tap Home screen, select Icons, then tap the Names tab at the bottom and turn off the Show app names toggle.
Tweaking this setting will only apply to apps on the home screen and will not affect apps in the app drawer or those inside folders.
Screen recording is getting more powerful
More controls and a preview screen
Right now, when you tap the screen recording tile in Quick Settings, a simple pop-up appears asking if you want to record a single app or the entire screen, along with options for microphone and device audio.
Google is now upgrading this experience with a more refined UI in the upcoming Android update.
Now, when you tap the screen recording tile, a new floating pill interface will show up. From here, you will be able to choose what to record, whether it’s a single app or the full screen, and tweak options like microphone audio and whether to show touches.
When recording starts, you’ll see a status indicator in the status bar. Tapping it brings back the floating pill UI. What’s new is what happens after the recording ends.
Instead of saving directly to the gallery, you’ll now see a preview screen where you can play the clip, edit it, share it, or delete it instantly.
This is similar to how screenshots are handled, but Google is bringing a similar seamless process for screen recordings as well.
Permissions UI is getting a cleaner look
Easier to understand and manage access
As spotted by 9to5Google, Google is also redesigning parts of the permissions UI in Android. Right now, when an app requests access, like location, you see a dialog with options for Precise and Approximate, along with choices like allowing access only while using the app or denying it.
With the next Android update, Google is making this clearer. You’ll see a checkbox-style design for Precise and Approximate options, making it easier to understand which one is selected.
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Not all features may make the final build
Like previous Android betas, not all of these changes may make it to the stable build. But since Google is already testing them, there’s a good chance some of them will make it to the final release.
That said, these features aren’t available in the stable build right now. But if you want to switch things up and make your phone feel faster, there are a few settings you can tweak to improve the overall experience.
