Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 removes themed notification icons, brings extra app row on home screen

This week’s Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 rollout has sparked a mix of cheers and groans among Pixel users. On the one hand, Google has squeezed in room for one more row of apps on the home screen. On the other, the Material You-style notification icons have quietly been pulled. Here are some notable changes.

Themed notification icons vanish

With the QPR1 Beta 1 update installed, users have noticed that those little circular icons in the notification shade are now plain and uniform. The custom tinting that matched each icon to your wallpaper’s palette is gone. Comments on the Android Beta subreddit point out that the new look feels more like iOS than Material You. Some say it makes notifications easier to spot at a glance. Others miss the cohesive, “built-in” flair of themed icons.

Check out these screenshots I took to compare the two:

If you ask me, I kinda like it. It makes the notification shade look a lot more colorful and less boring. But I also understand why some others might dislike the change. Some users, however, suspect this change is a bug or an oversight rather than an intentional step back. One reader noted that cleared notifications still show the themed icons in the history view, hinting at a possible glitch. But it’s possible that Google might later refine the UI and probably theme the icons if you have themed icons turned on. At least, I would hope that’s how it’ll work. 

Home screen gains an extra app row

On the brighter side, QPR1 Beta 1 shrinks the At a Glance widget at the top of the home screen. That frees enough vertical space to add a full extra row of apps or widgets. After updating, Pixel owners see a pop-up that reads, “Enjoy more space for apps,” and the home grid adjusts accordingly.

The change is part of Google’s Material 3 Expressive design tweaks. By reducing the forced widget’s height and compressing dead space, you now have five rows of icons instead of four. That matters if you like keeping fewer home screens or fitting more shortcuts at once.

Despite the extra real estate, the At a Glance widget remains mandatory. You can’t turn it off or swap it out. And for those who would rather lose the persistent Google search bar at the bottom, there’s still no option. The tweak offers a compromise rather than full customization.

That said, these are only a few of the many tweaks and changes in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1. I highlighted some of those interesting changes yesterday, too. And in case you prefer more visuals, you can watch this interesting video to see more of what’s lurking in the new beta:

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