Can't find Pixel VIPs after Android 16 update? Here's what is going on

Google gave us an early treat this year with Android 16, which started rolling out yesterday for all eligible Pixel phones. While there’s a lot to unpack under the hood, there’s not much to see on the surface. The update feels like an iterative upgrade from Android 15, considering the fact that the main Material 3 Expressive UI revamp likely won’t arrive until October.

That said, one new addition that Google highlighted front and center in its Android 16 release announcement is the Pixel VIPs widget, which is part of the Contacts app. Pixel VIPs uses a Contacts app widget to keep you connected with your favorite people by showing recent calls, messages, shared locations, and event updates. Selected VIPs can bypass Do Not Disturb, ensuring that you silence the noise while focusing on the people whom you care about.

While that sounds nice, the problem here is that many users have taken to Reddit and Google’s support forums to note that they can’t find the Pixel VIPs widget anywhere. The main thread on Google’s support forums has a hundred votes from users claiming to be stuck in the same boat.

If you too aren’t able to locate the Pixel VIPs widget, then here’s what you can do. First, go ahead and check the Play Store for any updates. If you spot an update for the Pixel VIPs service and/or for the Contacts app, go ahead and hit the update button. Once done, head to the Contacts app and tap on the ‘Organize’ tab.

Here, you should see the Pixel VIPs option appear under the ‘Google’ section. If you do see this, just follow the on-screen steps to set up the feature.

However, if you’ve installed the latest updates but still do not see then option, like many others, then you might simply have to wait it out. As mentioned by a product expert on the forums, the feature is rolling out it waves. Google often rolls out features in batches, so this isn’t something out of the ordinary. 

Check for App updates via the Play Store, look for the Pixel VIPs app being installed. Once it is, the Contacts widget and menu will be available. It’s possible that the VIPs app is released in waves, be patient.

While there’s no official information about how long it’ll take for a complete release, it’s likely that everyone will get it within the next few days. For now, I’d suggest staying on the lookout for any more updates and even manually checking for a Play System update by going to Settings > About phone > Android version > Google Play system update. If there’s an update available, install it and restart your Pixel.

Doing this won’t guarantee that the Pixel VIPs widget will work for you, but there’s no harm in keeping the latest updates installed. Either way, feel free to drop a comment below to let us know if you can use Pixel VIPs yet or not.