Pixel Launcher Receives Major Update: Android 16 Beta 3 Leaks Custom Icon Shape Feature

Pixel Launcher Receives Major Update: Android 16 Beta 3 Leaks Custom Icon Shape FeatureTech publication AndroidAuthority reported today (March 15th) that Google plans a highly anticipated update to the Pixel Launcher, the native launcher for Pixel phones: customizable home screen icon shapes. This feature is currently hidden within the code of the Android 16 Beta 3 update, but AndroidAuthority successfully activated and verified it

Pixel Launcher Receives Major Update: Android 16 Beta 3 Leaks Custom Icon Shape Feature

Tech publication AndroidAuthority reported today (March 15th) that Google plans a highly anticipated update to the Pixel Launcher, the native launcher for Pixel phones: customizable home screen icon shapes. This feature is currently hidden within the code of the Android 16 Beta 3 update, but AndroidAuthority successfully activated and verified it. This means the long-awaited icon personalization option for Pixel users is finally arriving.

For a long time, the lack of basic custom icon shape functionality in the Pixel's native system has been a point of frustration for many users. This update will completely fill this gap, offering users richer personalization choices. According to AndroidAuthority, users will be able to choose from six preset icon shapes, each designed with a different aesthetic to cater to various preferences.

Let's take a closer look at these six preset icon shapes:

• Circle: This is the current default icon shape in Pixel Launcher, maintaining the existing design style and providing a familiar visual experience for those accustomed to circular icons. Circular icons are simple and elegant, suitable for various app icons without appearing jarring.

• Square: A simple square icon, perfectly fitting a minimalist design style. Square icons have strong, clean lines and a powerful visual impact, ideal for users who prefer simplicity and clarity. Compared to circular icons, square icons offer a more modern feel.

• Four-sided cookie: This shape has four sides but with rounded corners, resembling a cute cookie. It retains a certain geometric feel while adding a softness. This design style combines modernity and warmth, making it widely applicable.

• Seven-sided cookie: Similar to the four-sided cookie, the seven-sided cookie icon also uses rounded corners but has a stronger geometric and more sophisticated design. The seven-sided shape is more unique and better highlights individuality, suitable for users seeking something distinctive.

• Arch: The arched frame design gives the icon a stronger three-dimensional feel. Compared to other shapes, arched icons have more layers and are more eye-catching. This shape is suitable for app icons with specific design styles.

• Complex clover: This is the most complex icon design, using a four-leaf clover pattern that combines artistry and recognizability. The four-leaf clover symbolizes luck, making this shape more symbolic and suitable for users who pursue unique personalities.

It's worth noting that this isn't Google's first attempt at custom icon shapes. Back in Android 11, Google introduced a custom icon feature, but for some unknown reason, it was ultimately removed, disappointing many users eager for personalization. Later, in the second quarter update of Android 15, Google reintroduced a menu called "Shape & Layout," but the function was inactive, preventing users from experiencing custom icon shapes.

Only recently, with the Android 16 Beta 3 update, developers successfully enabled this feature through reverse engineering. The implementation relies on "icon masking" technology, meaning all icons on the home screen, app drawer, and within folders will uniformly adapt to the new shape, ensuring consistent visual effects. This demonstrates that Google's push for custom icon shapes is well-considered and aims to provide users with a more polished and consistent personalized experience.

The custom icon shape feature revealed in Android 16 Beta 3 is undoubtedly a major update for Pixel Launcher. It fills the long-standing gap of missing basic icon customization in the Pixel's native system, offering users more personalized choices. The official launch of this feature will undoubtedly enhance the Pixel phone user experience and boost the Pixel system's competitiveness. AndroidAuthority's report sheds light on Google's efforts in Pixel Launcher personalization, and we look forward to more surprises from Google in the future, making Pixel Launcher more comprehensive and better meeting users' personalized needs. This feature heralds further development in Pixel Launcher's personalization capabilities. We eagerly await the official Android 16 release and the fresh user experience this feature will bring to Pixel users. Google's continuous improvement and optimization of Pixel Launcher, consistently meeting user demands for personalization, deserve commendation. We have reason to believe that Pixel Launcher will have even more powerful personalization features in the future, allowing users a more unique mobile experience. This update shows Google values user feedback, actively responds to user needs, and continually enhances product competitiveness. This update is a positive sign, foreshadowing a bright future for Pixel Launcher development. Through this update, Google demonstrates its commitment to user experience and its dedication to continuous improvement and innovation. We look forward to more similar updates in the future, making Pixel Launcher more comprehensive and user-friendly. This update further solidifies Pixel Launcher's position among Android system launchers. This Android 16 Beta 3 update will undoubtedly attract more attention to Pixel phones and Pixel Launcher. We believe the official launch of this feature will bring more market competitiveness to Pixel phones. This update shows Google's continued optimization and improvement of Pixel Launcher to deliver a better user experience. We believe Google will continue to improve Pixel Launcher and bring more surprises to users in the future. In short, the custom icon shape feature revealed in Android 16 Beta 3 is a significant upgrade for Pixel Launcher, greatly enhancing the user's personalization experience and hinting at the limitless possibilities for Pixel Launcher's future.