Android 17 Beta 1 hits Pixels, Pixel 9 gains Quick Share upgrade, and Now Playing gets its own app

It was a busy weekend for the Google Pixel ecosystem. After a brief delay that left enthusiasts refreshing their update screens, Android 17 Beta 1 finally landed, bringing significant changes to the home screen and cross-device continuity. Meanwhile, Pixel 9 owners are finally getting a taste of the “AirDrop”- style interoperability that debuted on the Pixel 10.

Here is the crux of everything that happened this weekend.

Android 17 Beta 1 arrives for Pixel users

After missing its original Wednesday window, Android 17 Beta 1 began rolling out on Friday, February 13. The update is available for the Pixel 6 series through the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Android 17 Beta 1 is available for the following Google Pixel devices:

• Pixel 10 series
• Pixel 9 series
• Pixel 8 series
• Pixel 7 series
• Pixel 6 series
• Pixel Fold
• Pixel Tablet

Older devices like the Pixel 5 and Pixel 5a are not eligible, marking a continued shift toward newer hardware in the beta program. While the initial changelog pointed to under-the-hood improvements, a deep dive into the build reveals several user-facing shifts.

Finally, you can remove ‘At a Glance’

Perhaps the most requested feature in Pixel Launcher history is finally here. Android 17 Beta 1 includes a toggle to remove the At a Glance widget from the home screen.

• How it works: Long-press the widget > Settings > Toggle off “Show on home screen.”
• Note: The widget remains visible on the Lock Screen and Always-on Display, allowing you to reclaim that top row of home screen real estate for standard apps or widgets without losing the utility entirely.

Pixel Launcher Search Bar Redesign

Google is once again tweaking the persistent search bar. The new beta reverts to a pill design reminiscent of older versions but packs it with new functionality. The bar now supports customizable shortcuts directly within the pill, giving users one-tap access to actions like Gemini Live, Google Translate, Song Search, and more.

‘Handoff’ Connectivity

Deep in the system settings, Android 17 introduces a new “Handoff” feature. Similar to Apple’s implementation, this allows users to start a task, such as composing an email or browsing a webpage, on one Android device and instantly pick it up on another (e.g., moving from a Pixel 10 to a Pixel Tablet).

New APIs allow apps to define “Handoff” activities, with a fallback to web URLs if the app isn’t installed on the target device.

Under the Hood

• H.266/VVC support: Native support for the high-efficiency video codec.
• Loudness management: A new API to normalize audio volume across different apps.
• Mandatory Tablet UI: Apps targeting Android 17 are now required to support adaptive layouts for large screens, removing the ability for developers to opt-out of orientation and resizing requirements.

Google has confirmed the timeline for Android 17, aiming for Platform Stability in March 2026, with a final stable public release expected in Q2 2026 (likely June).

Pixel feature updates

Outside of the core OS update, two major stories broke regarding Pixel-exclusive features.

Pixel 9 series gains Quick Share ‘AirDrop’ support

One of the Pixel 10’s headline features is the ability to use Quick Share to send files directly to AirDrop-enabled Apple devices. Over the weekend, this feature began appearing on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold units via a server-side update.

The “Everyone” visibility setting in Quick Share has been replaced with “Everyone for 10 minutes” to align with Apple’s privacy protocols. This appears to be rolling out now; if you don’t see it, check for a Google Play System update.

‘Now Playing’ to become a standalone app

Code analysis from the weekend suggests Google is preparing to unbundle the popular Now Playing song recognition feature from Android System Intelligence.

New strings reference a standalone “Now Playing” app in the Google Play Store (package: com.google.android.apps.pixel.nowplaying). This would allow Google to update the feature’s database and UI, including the long-overdue history revamp, independent of full system updates. While the app listing isn’t live yet, the groundwork is clearly laid for a launch soon, possibly with the next Feature Drop.

If you’ve installed Android 17 Beta 1, let us know what changes you’ve noticed beyond the headline features.

We stand out from the tech-media crowd because we break news stories; we mainly bring you stuff that you won’t find anywhere in the mainstream tech media. Our stories have been picked up by some of the world’s most popular websites and media outlets—more info is available here.