Google has just released Android 17 QPR3 Beta 3 to all the eligible Pixel devices. It brings a few noticeable improvements to the Google phones, but there's one particular new feature that you are going to absolutely love.
Native app lock
Native app in Pixel. | Image by PhoneArena
As a Pixel user myself, one of the main complaints I have with Google is that it doesn't offer native app lock like iPhone. If you want to restrict access to a particular application like WhatsApp from anyone else accessing your smartphone, you have to rely on a third-party app lock application. Fortunately, the Big G has taken a major step on this front, as it has added native app lock functionality in the Android 17 QPR3 Beta 3 update.
To use the feature, you simply need to tap and hold the app you want to lock and then select "App Lock" from the menu that appears. A pop-up window will appear, briefing you about what will happen once the app is locked. Notifications from that particular application will be hidden, and its widgets and shortcuts will also be removed.
If you agree with these terms, you can tap the "Add app lock" button. After that, you need to verify your identity through fingerprint or PIN, and that's it. From now on, your fingerprint or PIN will be needed to access the locked app. It's worth noting that you can't set up a completely separate pin or fingerprint for app lock as Google relies on the already configured credentials.
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App bubbles and lock screen blur
The latest Android update also adds app bubbles and lock screen blur. To use the former, you simply need to tap and hold an app icon and choose the Bubble button from the menu that appears. The app interface will now appear in a cropped window, and you can switch to full screen by tapping anywhere on the screen.
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You can have bubbles of multiple apps, allowing you to quickly access those apps by simply tapping on their respective bubbles. Various elements of the lock screen UI, like the lock screen shortcut, fingerprint button, and notifications, have been blurred in the Android 17 QPR3 Beta 3 update.
Other small updates
Other small updates in latest Android build. | Images by Image by PhoneArena
In addition to all the above-mentioned changes, the Android build also features a new camera shortcut in the quick settings menu. This is really a helpful addition, as it introduces a new way to launch the camera on your Pixel phone.
When you set the alarm in the 12-hour time format, you will see the AM/PM suffix being displayed on the lock screen. Lastly, when you open the power menu by pressing the power and volume up button together, you will find that a new screenshot button has been added to the list. I, personally, don't see any logic behind this change, as pressing the power and volume down button already takes the screenshot.
Built-in app lock has been one of the most requested features
Almost all the smartphone manufacturers, whether it be Samsung, Xiaomi, or OnePlus, all come with the native app lock support. A user commented under a relevant post that this is one of the features they really miss in Pixel after switching to it from Xiaomi. Another user commented that there is certainly the option of third-party app lockers, but they are often not of the best quality.
Under a post in which the original poster basically called out Google for not offering a built-in app locker on its smartphones, a Redditor mentioned that "Google read this, we want an app locker."
The possibility of app lock coming to a stable Android build seems high
Interestingly, this isn't the first time the Big G is testing app lock support in its smartphones. This functionality was available in the QPR2 beta update as well, but it was later pulled back by the product team to bring some important changes to it. The reintroduction of this feature suggests that the company is serious about it, and chances are high that it will be made available in the upcoming stable Android 17 QPR3 update.
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Aman Kumar is a news writer at PhoneArena covering Google Pixel phones, Android features, AI-powered smartphone tools, and mobile tech news. Before joining PhoneArena, he spent over five years writing about consumer technology for publications like MakeUseOf, How-To Geek, and Guiding Tech. His current daily drivers are the Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, while his red iPhone SE (2nd gen) remains a personal favorite. Aman also appreciates bold smartphone experiments and still considers the Nokia N-Gage one of the industry’s most iconic designs.
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