The tech world might be caught up in talks about iOS 27 and Siri AI, but Google isn’t taking a backseat. Less than a month after I/O 2026, the company is back with its latest major update, Android 17. If you have a compatible Pixel, you can try the new OS out for yourself right now. When you do, you’ll encounter the following new features.
Android 17 introduces “Bubbles” windows for all apps
Perhaps Android 17’s most prominent new feature is “Bubbles.” Bubbles let you choose an app to display as a floating window, rather than a static window. That makes it easy to check in on the app in question while keeping other windows open—but if you have a larger Pixel device, you can also dismiss Bubbles to its own dock.
Android is no stranger to bubble windows. The feature was previously limited to chat apps, making it easy to launch different conversations from the app’s “bubble.” That same philosophy applies here, but for the rest of your apps. You can have multiple bubbles on the side of your Pixel at once. When you want to check in on one, simply tap the icon to open the floating window, which will launch above whatever app you’re currently using.
To turn an app into a Bubble, long-press the app’s icon on your home screen, then press the button that appears in the top-left. Once the icon “bubbles,” you can move it anywhere you want. To dismiss it, drag the icon to the bottom of the screen.
Android 17 lets you record yourself and your screen at the same time
There’s little doubt that reaction videos are all the rage across social media. That’s the inspiration behind “Screen Reactions.” In Android 17, you can now film yourself as you record your screen, producing a reaction video in real time. Google says there’s no need for a green screen or switching between apps: You simply record your screen and your reactions, all at once.
I could see this being useful for live, off-the-cuff situations, or for videos that require very little editing. But many of the reaction videos I see in my feed include many cuts, and, as impromptu as they seem, do rely on deliberate timing to drive home their points. I imagine some users will still prefer to separate the recording processes for maximum control over the edit, though this new feature may also improve workflows for some creators—especially for those making videos to share exclusively with friends and family.
Android 17 introduces new security and safety features
Google’s new update also comes with safety and security upgrades. With Android 17, you can grant an app temporary permission to access your precise location. The app can then only see your exact coordinates when you have it open. On a similar note, you can share specific contacts with apps when asked, rather than your whole Contacts app. Previously, if an app wanted Contacts permission, it was all or nothing.
After updating, you’ll notice a new “Mark as lost” option in Find Hub. This feature lets you lock your phone when it goes missing. Even if someone has your phone and knows your PIN, Mark as lost ensures it can only be unlocked with biometrics, meaning a face or fingerprint scan. Even without Mark as lost enabled, Android 17 reduces the number of chances someone has to punch in your PIN, and increases wait times between failed guesses. Google says that Android 17 improves Live Threat Detection as well, and should block more malicious apps and scams than before.
Android 17 lets you remove your app icons’ names on the home screen
If you prefer a clean look for your home screen, you have an interesting new toggle with Android 17: The update lets you remove names from your apps on your home screen, putting the focus on the icons themselves. You can toggle the option on or off from Wallpaper & style > Icons > Names.
Android 17 adds a dedicated volume slider for your assistant
Your assistant’s volume no longer needs to be tied to your system’s. Just like iOS 27, Android 17 lets you decouple these volume controls, so your assistant can be louder than your ringer, or vice versa. You’ll find the new option under Sound & vibration in Settings.
What do you think so far?
Android 17 lets you control which apps can use the “Expanded” dark theme
Not all apps support dark theme, which is a bummer for those of us who prefer to avoid bright backgrounds on our devices. “Expanded” dark theme can be a lifesaver, then, as it adds a dark theme to apps that don’t natively support it. This issue, however, is that since it isn’t a native dark theme, not all apps look great with this mode enabled. In Android 17, you can control which apps actually use that Expanded dark theme, giving you greater control over how each app looks.
Android 17 stops apps from using too much RAM
One of the “under the hood” features with this latest Android update attempts to block apps from using up too much system memory. These new app memory limits should reduce slowdowns on your device due to memory hogs. It’s possible some apps may suffer individually if they’re designed to use more memory than Android now allows them, but, with any luck, developers will retune their apps to fit within the new architecture.
Android 17 comes with a foldable gaming mode
If you have a foldable device, Android 17 helps make it more of a capable handheld gaming device. “Foldable gaming mode” places the gameplay on the top screen and emulates a controller on the bottom display. Google says the feature is enabled in Android 17, but will be available “in the coming months,” so you might not see this on your Pixel Fold just yet.
Which phones can run Android 17?
At the moment, Android 17 is limited to Pixel phones, which include the following:
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Pixel 6
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Pixel 6 Pro
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Pixel 6a
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Pixel 7
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Pixel 7 Pro
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Pixel 7a
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Pixel Tablet
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Pixel Fold
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Pixel 8
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Pixel 8 Pro
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Pixel 8a
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Pixel 9
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Pixel 9 Pro
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Pixel 9 Pro XL
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Pixel 9 Pro Fold
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Pixel 9a
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Pixel 10
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Pixel 10 Pro
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Pixel 10 Pro XL
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Pixel 10 Pro Fold
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Pixel 10a
Google says that Android 17 is coming to more devices throughout this year, but, as usual, you’ll need to turn to your device’s manufacturer for more info. Each company is responsible for rolling out its own version of the update: Samsung has One UI, OnePlus has OxygenOS, etc. Newer devices are more likely to get Android 17 than others, but you’ll need to wait for your device’s manufacturer to roll out their update.
