Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google’s new Pixel VIPs widget launched with the discharge of Android 16.
- Nevertheless, some Pixel homeowners report that the widget is lacking.
- An replace to the Contacts app is probably going wanted earlier than the widget turns into out there.
Replace, June 12, 2025 (07:05 AM ET): Customers report that the Pixel VIPs widget now reveals up accurately on their machine. For those who nonetheless don’t see it with the June Pixel Characteristic Drop put in, guarantee your Google Contacts app is updated by means of the Play Retailer. You possibly can then drive shut the Contacts app and relaunch it. It’s best to then see the Pixel VIPs widget seem as a widget possibility if you place a widget in your display. Inserting down the widget will redirect you to obtain the companion app, after which it ought to all work collectively seamlessly.
Authentic article, June 11, 2025 (11:45 AM ET): We’ve identified for some time that Google has been engaged on a Pixel VIPs widget. This widget is among 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 homeowners.
As a refresher, the Pixel VIPs widget is a Contacts app characteristic that means that you can put a 4×1 widget in your homescreen. You possibly can insert as much as eight of your contacts into this widget to remain related to a very powerful 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, you must get a be aware 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 wherever. 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 can be presupposed to be a part of the primary replace present up later. For instance, Video Enhance was a promised characteristic for December’s Pixel Drop, but it surely wasn’t instantly out there after the replace was launched.
It’s very probably that the Contacts app wants an replace earlier than the widget turns into out there. You’ll additionally have to have the Pixel VIPs app. So we’re actually simply ready for Google to flip the swap.
