Android 17 Beta 3 Brings App Bubbles to All Apps on Pixel Phones

Android 17 Beta 3 rolls out to eligible Pixel phones

Google has shipped Android 17 Beta 3 to eligible Pixel phones, with the new build focused on bug fixes, Pixel UI refinements and a small set of feature changes. The update brings Bubbles support for every app, a redesigned screen recording toolbar and a new option to hide app labels from the homescreen.

The release follows the second Android 17 beta update that Google rolled out a few weeks back. Android 17 Beta 3 now adds changes across multitasking, recording tools, homescreen settings, media, camera and device-level privacy features. It is rolling out over the air to supported Google Pixel devices listed by the company.

What changes in Android 17 Beta 3

One of the main additions in Android 17 Beta 3 is system-wide app Bubbles. The feature now works with every app, including first-party and third-party apps, and is designed for multitasking by opening conversations or tasks in a floating UI. Google has also changed the screen-recording interface. The new toolbar shows three options for recording device audio, recording microphone and showing touches. After recording starts, bottom quick access options now appear for New, Edit and Delete.

Pixel phones also get a new homescreen setting that lets users hide app labels. Inside the homescreen settings page, Google has added a Show app names toggle. It can be turned on or off depending on whether labels should remain visible or the homescreen should look cleaner. The update also includes fixes for several issues already seen in the beta track, including Photo Picker customisation, broken widget support and system images.

Bug fixes, camera work and Pixel UI refinements

Android 17 Beta 3 is not only about visible changes. Google says the release has focused largely on resolving existing bugs and shipping underlying improvements. It includes fixes for media and camera functions such as updated Photo Picker customisation, RAW14 image format support, vendor-defined camera extensions and camera device type APIs. The company also mentions performance and battery improvements on Pixels, along with broader refinements to the Pixel UI experience.

The update introduces privacy and security features as well. These include a system-provided location button and Post Quantum Cryptography Signing. Google has not added a separate product note in the supplied material beyond saying the build is aimed at refining the overall Pixel UI for a smoother experience.

Supported Pixel devices

Android 17 Beta 3 is rolling out over the air to supported Google Pixel devices. The list includes phones, foldables and the Pixel Tablet.

• Pixel 6
• Pixel 6 Pro
• Pixel 6a
• Pixel 7
• Pixel 7 Pro
• Pixel 7a
• Pixel Tablet
• Pixel Fold
• Pixel 8
• Pixel 8 Pro
• Pixel 8a
• Pixel 9
• Pixel 9 Pro
• Pixel 9 Pro XL
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold
• Pixel 9a
• Pixel 10
• Pixel 10 Pro
• Pixel 10 Pro XL
• Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Google’s latest beta comes after the second Android 17 beta update that was released a few weeks earlier. The current build stays centered on stability and refinements, while still adding a few interface changes that Pixel users will notice in day-to-day use. The supplied information does not mention a wider release date for the stable version.