The Android 17.1 beta is out and it includes a nice feature change to the Pixel Launcher

Rick Aqua February 13, 2026

The Android 17.1 beta is out and it includes a nice feature change to the Pixel Launcher

After a short delay, Google is released Android 17 Beta 1 today. On Pixel handsets, go to Settings > System > Software updates > System update > Check for update. Even if the screen initially says your Pixel is up to date, continue the process anyway. That’s exactly what happened to me Pixel 6 Pro and the update is still coming. The files size is up to 755 MB on my Pixel device.

Despite the release of the Android 17 developer preview, Google cuts straight to the chase and drops Android 17 Beta 1

Since there is no more developer preview, Google has jumped on it Android 17 Beta 1. That’s because there is now an ongoing Canary channel that hosts new features and APIs as long as they pass internal testing. This saves time as new features and APIs no longer have to wait for quarterly releases. The Canary release allows many features to be improved, Beta is ready, and the final stage is near.

Android 17 Beta 1 notification screenshot.

Google releases Android 17 Beta 1 after a two-day delay. | Image via PhoneArena

Android 17 will no longer allow developers to break out of certain limitations related to the shape of the application. For example, apps that used to be locked in portrait mode resulting in ugly black bars on the left or right side of the app may not support landscape mode and multitasking windows. These restrictions are not required for games. With Android 17 Beta 1, camera app users will be able to seamlessly switch between lenses (such as switching from ultrawide to telephoto) without experiencing minor freezes or “viewfinder skipping.”

A screenshot of the home screen showing the Pixel Launcher search bar in Android 17 Beta 1.

Google is changing the look of the Pixel Launcher search bar in Android 17 Beta 1. | Image via PhoneArena

We saw again, in Android 17 Beta 1, a change in the way Android handles memory. By reducing the load on the CPU by around 10%, users may be able to use less battery power while multitasking.

Check out the new look of the Google Search bar on the Pixel launcher

One new feature you can see now, once you’ve installed the beta on your compatible Pixel, a new look for the search bar in Pixel Launcher. The new look is slightly brighter and has a ring around the pill-shaped search tool that uses a bold color theme from your background image. It’s slightly wider than the old Pixel Launcher’s search bar and includes shortcuts for AI Mode, voice search, and Google Lens.

The Pixel Launcher search bar is replaced by the default one Android 17 Beta 1 first seen on Android 16 QPR2. Interestingly, the new look for Pixel Launcher’s search bar does away with a separate AI Mode shortcut tray. Recent changes made to Google apps include adding containers instead of removing them.

The color of the “G” logo in the Pixel Launcher search bar is also getting a change Android 17 Beta 1. Previously the “G” logo used the bright red, yellow, and blue colors commonly seen in the “G” logo. With the update, the “G” is filled with a solid shade or a small gradient based on the theme color of your wallpaper. The idea is to allow the shortcut icons to stand out against the background image of the phone.

What to do if you want to exit the Beta program without wiping your device.

If you don’t like the new look, there’s still a chance that Google plans to tweak it further Android 17 Beta 2. I, for one, like the new Pixel Launcher search bar, especially compared to the different versions Google has tested over the past few years. The next update of the Android 17 Beta testers will be available next month, according to Google. A stable version of the next Android build, codenamed “Cinnamon Bun,” is expected to be released in June.

If you want to exit the Beta program without being forced to wipe your device, you can go to the Android Beta Program website and exit the Beta Program. But if that’s what you want to do, don’t Android 17 Beta 1. Instead, after exiting the Beta program, wait for Google to release a stable version of Android 16 QPR3 and install it.