Pixel 6a to Pixel 11 phones could get a massive One UI-inspired upgrade

Pixel phones offer a lot of customization options, like the ability to change the color of on-screen elements to match the finish of your current wallpaper. However, the lock screen is one area where things appear to be a bit limited compared to other Android OEMs. Fortunately, this could change very soon, as Google phones are reported to receive a major One UI-inspired lock screen upgrade.

What limitation does the Pixel lock screen currently have?

A big restriction on Pixel phones is that you can only add two icons to their lock screen, one at each bottom corner. For instance, you can add a camera icon to one corner and a flashlight to the other. The important thing to note here is that the options are very limited (eight to be specific), and all are system-related services.

Interestingly, it was only with the release of Android 14 that Google introduced the ability to change the shortcuts on the Pixel lock screen. Before that, the flashlight and wallet app icons had held their permanent seats on the left and right bottom corners, respectively.

Anyway, the gist is that you can currently only change the bottom two icons of the lock screen, and that too with a total of the eight available options. However, that could change very soon.

Launch your favorite apps directly from the lock screen

Google recently released Android 17 QPR2 Beta 2 for Pixel 6a to Pixel 10 phones. In the code of this particular Android build, references related to "App launch shortcut" were reportedly found. This basically means that Google is working on introducing a capability to allow users to launch different apps directly from the lock screen in the same manner it allows accessing system services like flashlight, camera, and more from the lock screen.

More strings were reportedly found in the code, highlighting that Pixel users would be able to add multiple app shortcuts to their lock screen; however, the exact number wasn't mentioned in the found code. It's worth noting that references related to "Quick Affordances" were reportedly spotted as well. According to the definition mentioned on the Google official site, these are "interactive UI elements that appear on the lock screen when the device is locked."

Most likely, it might be referring to the ability to add in-app operations directly to the lock screen. For instance, it could allow you to add the camera capability of Instagram to the lock screen. So, instead of going through the long process of unlocking the phone, opening the Instagram app, and then launching the camera, the new upgrade could allow you to launch the Instagram camera directly from the lock screen.

Which other One UI feature do you really want Pixel to adopt?

Samsung and Apple already have similar feature

Google seems to be playing a catching-up game here, as its closest Android rival, Samsung, already offers this capability. In the Galaxy S26, for instance, you can replace lock screen shortcuts with virtually any installed app, like Instagram, WhatsApp, and more.

Apple also kind of does better in the lock screen customization department compared to Pixel phones. Although its bottom corner icons are dedicated to system services, you can place small widget icons under the clock. For instance, you can add widgets like Gmail, Instagram, Apple Music, and more.

The only limitation in the iOS approach is that only those apps can be added as a widget that support Apple's control API. The capability Google appears to be working on for its Pixel phones resembles One UI very closely, which basically allows adding any app to the lock screen. However, it will be worth seeing whether the Big G simply copies Samsung's approach by allowing the addition of third-party apps to only the bottom corners or follows Apple's idea and lets you add shortcuts anywhere on the screen, like under the clock.

The update is still many days away

As mentioned above, the references have been spotted in the Android 17 QPR2 Beta 2. While the exact date is unknown, the stable build of this Android version could be released sometime in Q4 of this year, meaning we still have plenty of time left. By then, the Pixel 11, which will be unveiled on 12 August, will already be many months old.

If you're interested in the upcoming Pixel 11 family, don't miss the following updates:

55% in 5 minutes: the Pixel 11 could reportedly charge at this blistering speed
Finally, some good Pixel 11 news after weeks of disappointing leaks
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