Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google’s new Pixel VIPs widget launched with the discharge of Android 16.
- Nevertheless, some Pixel house owners report that the widget is lacking.
- An replace to the Contacts app is probably going wanted earlier than the widget turns into accessible.
We’ve recognized for some time that Google has been engaged on a Pixel VIPs widget. This widget is likely one of the many options included in June’s Pixel Drop, which was launched yesterday. Though the replace is out, the Pixel VIPs widget is nowhere to be seen for some Pixel house owners.
As a refresher, the Pixel VIPs widget is a Contacts app characteristic that permits you to put a 4×1 widget in your homescreen. You may insert as much as eight of your contacts into this widget to remain linked to crucial folks in your life. What makes this characteristic particular is that it serves as a central retailer of assorted details about these folks, populating particulars like birthday reminders, native climate, time info, and even their location if shared. VIPs may bypass Do Not Disturb settings.
When you replace to Android 16, it is best to get a notice from Pixel Ideas explaining how the characteristic works. Though the explainer is there, the precise characteristic seems to be lacking for some customers. One poster on Reddit states that they up to date their Pixel 9 Professional to Android 16, however can’t discover the widget anyplace. One other Redditor claims the identical factor occurred to their telephone after updating to Android 16. I may affirm that the widget is lacking for my Pixel 6 Professional after the replace.
It’s necessary to understand that this isn’t the primary time one thing like this has occurred with Google’s characteristic drops. Sometimes, some options which might be imagined to be a part of the primary replace present up later. For instance, Video Enhance was a promised characteristic for December’s Pixel Drop, nevertheless it wasn’t instantly accessible after the replace was launched.
It’s very doubtless that the Contacts app wants an replace earlier than the widget turns into accessible. You’ll additionally have to have the Pixel VIPs app. So we’re actually simply ready for Google to flip the swap.
