Extended Dark Mode: Pick Exactly Which Apps Go Dark
Dark mode has become essential, but not every app supported it by default. Since Android 16, you could force all apps into dark mode, though this often led to awkward bugs or display issues in certain stubborn apps. Android 17 fixes this with a thoughtful customization option called extended dark mode. Now you can pick exactly which apps follow dark mode and which keep their original appearance. It's easier on your eyes, can help save battery on OLED screens, and finally lets you keep forced dark mode off apps where it doesn't work properly.
Declutter Your Home Screen: Hide App Names and the At a Glance Widget
If your home screen feels cluttered, Android 17 has you covered. Previously, every app's name showed beneath its icon, filling up the main screen with extra text you probably don't need. Now, you can hide those names, leaving just the icons for a cleaner, easier-to-read layout. Most folks recognize their key apps by logo alone, so this makes daily navigation simpler.
Android 17 also lets you remove the At a Glance widget from the top of the Pixel home screen—a first for the series. Usually, this area shows things like the date, weather, or your next calendar event. With the widget gone, you have more space for other widgets or apps, or you can just enjoy a more open, less crowded home screen.
Quick Settings: Separate Wi-Fi and Mobile Data Controls Are Back
Since Android 12, Pixel owners have had to manage Wi-Fi and mobile data from the same unified quick settings button—something many users found frustrating. Android 17 brings back separate tiles for Wi-Fi and mobile data. When you open quick settings customization, you'll see distinct controls for each. You can shut off one connection or switch networks easily, just like before. Adding these tiles works the same way as adding any other shortcut tile.
App Lock and Upcoming Customization Features
App locking had been spotted in earlier beta releases, but as of July 2026, it's not available to everyone just yet. According to what we've seen in beta 6 of the next Android 17 update (QPR1), Google is still developing this feature. Once it's finalized and released, you'll be able to lock your apps with a passcode or biometrics, adding a much-needed layer of privacy and security for things like banking, messaging, or social media apps, similar to features iPhone users already enjoy.
Some customization options—such as color pickers, blur effects, transparency controls, and Google search bar changes—were present in previous betas but didn't make it into the final Android 17 release. According to reports, these may arrive soon with the QPR1 update, expected in the coming weeks.
