What you need to know
- Android 17 is now rolling out to Pixel 6 and newer devices after months of beta testing.
- App Bubbles let you keep full apps in floating windows for faster multitasking on large-screen devices.
- Screen Reactions can record your selfie camera and screen together without needing extra editing apps.
- Android 17 adds stronger security with improved threat detection and a more powerful Mark as Lost mode.
After months of testing, Google has finally released the stable Android 17 update today.
Google has been testing Android 17 for more than three months now, and after numerous beta releases, the company has finally pushed the stable version to Pixel devices.
Android 17 isn't a massive redesign of Android. Instead, Google says the update focuses on improving productivity, entertainment, security, and safety across devices.
Which phones are getting Android 17 today?
Google says eligible Pixel devices will start receiving Android 17 beginning today, with the rollout continuing across supported devices throughout 2026. As for compatibility, Android 17 is available for all Pixel phones starting from the Pixel 6 series and newer.
If you don't see the OTA update yet, don't worry. Google is rolling it out in phases, so it should appear on your device soon. You can manually check Android 17 update on your Pixel smartphone by going to Settings > System > System update.
Now that Android 17 is officially out, we can also expect companies like Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Honor, and others to begin rolling out their own Android 17-based updates in the coming months.
What are the new features in Android 17?
One of the headline additions is a new multitasking feature called App Bubbles. Similar to how Facebook Messenger used chat heads years ago, Android 17 now lets you keep entire apps inside floating windows.
These apps live inside movable bubbles, allowing you to quickly jump in and out of them without fully switching apps. On larger-screen devices, such as foldable phones and tablets, these bubbles sit inside a dedicated bubble bar and float on top of other apps when needed.
This is especially useful when you're frequently switching between apps that both need full-screen space but still want quick access to the other one.
Google is also introducing Screen Reactions, a feature it first showed off during The Android Show. This lets users record their screen and selfie camera simultaneously, making it much easier to create reaction videos without needing a green screen or separate editing software.
Android 17 also improves gaming on foldable devices. Supported games can now use a dedicated 50/50 layout, with gameplay on the top half of the screen and dynamic gamepad-style controls on the bottom half.
There are also several new safety and security improvements. For example, apps can now request temporary location access for one-time use.
Google has also upgraded the Mark as Lost feature inside Find Hub, allowing users to lock a lost device behind biometric authentication for an additional layer of protection. That means even if someone knows your PIN, they still won't be able to access the phone without your fingerprint or face authentication.
Google is also improving Live Threat Detection, helping identify and block suspicious apps and behavior more effectively. Android 17 additionally lets users adjust PIN retry protections, including limiting the number of guesses allowed and increasing wait times between failed attempts.
Alongside Android 17, Google has also announced the rollout of Wear OS 7 starting today, as well as several other features that will arrive on your Android devices with June's Feature Drop.
What's your favorite Android 17 feature so far? For me, App Bubbles and one-time location access are easily two of the additions I've been looking forward to the most.
