Android 17 Beta 3: App Bubbles, separate WLAN tiles and more

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Google released the third beta of Android 17 for Pixel devices on Thursday evening our time. Some innovations had already been integrated by the manufacturer in the experimental Android Canary version from March. In addition, Android 17 has reached platform stability with Beta 3. This is an important milestone for development, as the final SDK/NDK APIs are now available. This means that developers can target their apps to SDK 37 from this point on and publish them in the Google Play Store.

Bubbles

With Android 17 Beta 3, app bubbles are introduced, which Google had previously released to developers in the Canary channel. Each app can now be opened as a bubble in a floating window. A long press on an app opens a revised context menu where you can find the new feature.

The “Bubble” can be moved to any position on the screen, but it always automatically moves to the edge of the screen so as not to be in the way. To close the bubble, simply move it to the bottom of the screen, where a large “X” appears. You can also find the manage field in the bottom left corner – tapping it opens a dialog with which you can close the bubble. Multiple app bubbles can also be used simultaneously.

This feature is available on smartphones, foldable devices, and tablets. On devices with larger screens, such as foldables and tablets, users can also long-press an app icon in the taskbar and then drag and drop the icon into a bottom corner.

Separate WLAN and Mobile Data Tiles

With Beta 3, Google is reversing course in the quick settings and bringing back separate tiles for WLAN and mobile data reception. With Android 12, Google had integrated a single “Internet” tile for both connectivity options into the quick settings, making it more cumbersome to switch off one of the two functions.

In addition, the two tiles have two different touch areas: tapping the icon switches the respective function on or off, while tapping the respective text field opens the full user interface. This change reduces the number of inputs required to turn WLAN and mobile data on and off, while retaining access to the full internet control panel.

Screen Recorder and Location

Google has also revised the screen recording, which now has an improved user interface and new features. Tapping the tile for the screen recording function in the quick settings now brings up a floating toolbar, giving users easier access to recording controls and settings. When you end the recording, you can immediately view, edit, delete, or share the video.

Android 17 Beta 3 also gets a new location button for more privacy, allowing users to grant apps access to their precise location. The update includes a system-rendered location panel that apps can integrate directly into their layout using a Jetpack library. When a user taps the new button, the app only gets access to the precise location for the current session. With subsequent clicks during app usage, the permission is granted immediately without a system dialog. For developers and interested parties, Google explains the new feature in a blog post.

Assistant Volume and Time Change

Other new features include the ability to regulate the volume of the voice assistant independently of the media volume. This allows, for example, Gemini or other chatbots set as default in Android to be quieter or, if necessary, louder than music or other content. Previously, changes to media volume usually affected the assistant volume and vice versa.

In Android 17 Beta 3, Google has also added a new setting that allows users to receive a notification when their smartphone's clock performs a scheduled time change – for example, when winter or summer time ends.

Homescreen, selectively expanded Dark Theme and VPN

Furthermore, users can hide app and folder names on the home screen – a feature that some launcher apps and manufacturer UIs have offered for years. This does not apply to the app drawer or to folders themselves. To access the new setting, open “Wallpaper & Style” in Settings or by long-pressing on the home screen. Tap on “Home screen” and select “Icons.” At the very bottom, you'll find the “Names” tab and toggle the “Show app names” option on or off.

New in Android 17 Beta 3 is the ability to customize the expanded dark theme introduced with Android 16 QPR2, which primarily targets people with visual impairments or light sensitivity. When enabled, the system automatically applies the dark theme to most apps that don't support it by default. Since the feature can cause display errors in some apps, it can be disabled for individual apps in the new beta.

In addition, Google is introducing a standardized method with Android 17 that allows VPN apps to offer features for excluding certain apps (split tunneling). This allows users to select applications that should bypass the VPN tunnel. Data traffic from excluded apps is routed directly through the underlying network, which is useful for services that are incompatible with VPNs, Google explains. Changes made by the user take effect immediately if the VPN is active, or upon the next connection.

What else?

Furthermore, Beta 3 is the first Android version in which Google is introducing a new APK signature scheme v3.2 to support post-quantum cryptography (PQC). According to Google, this scheme uses a hybrid approach, combining a classic signature with an ML-DSA signature. Google recently announced the protection of Android from future attacks with quantum computers.

Primarily for desktop mode and tablets, Google is bringing an interactive Picture-in-Picture mode. This allows windows to be pinned and always displayed above other windows, while remaining operable.

Additionally, Google allows developers to visually adapt the Photo Picker to their app's design. For example, app developers can change the grid from square to a 9:16 portrait format.

For more security: Apps targeting Android 17 will no longer have access to the local network by default. Google offers new permissions for this.

Android 17 also brings support for the RAW14 image format – “the de facto industry standard for high-end digital photography,” according to Google. The format offers advantages in post-processing, among other things. Google also integrates APIs to query which camera is being used – whether it's an internal camera, a USB webcam, or a virtual camera. Manufacturer-specific camera functions (e.g., “Super Resolution” or AI functions from hardware partners) can now also be addressed better via extensions.

Exciting for hearing aid wearers: So that not every incoming message is audible in the hearing aid, users can restrict notification sounds to the smartphone's speaker in the future. Furthermore, users can completely suppress the playback of ringtones and notifications via the phone's speakers as well as their hearing aids or in-ear implants. For this purpose, Pixel devices will display two new buttons on the “Hearing aids” page under Accessibility settings: one for notification sounds and one for ringtones and alarm tones.

A more detailed overview of other features and information for developers can be found in the Android Developers Blog.

(afl)