logo
Google finally lets you customize icon shapes on your Pixel's home screen

Google finally lets you customize icon shapes on your Pixel's home screen

Android Authority20 hours ago
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
TL;DR You can now customize icon shapes on your Pixel Launcher's home screen.
Android will give you five options. Including the default circle, there's square, four-sided cookie, seven-sided cookie, and arch.
These options are currently only available in the August 2025 Android Canary release, but we expect it won't be long before they make their way into the QPR2 track.
Hot off the heels of the Pixel 10 launch, Google unveiled a new Android Canary release. The August 2025 Android Canary update rolled out today to users enrolled in the Canary program, and it finally brings a long-awaited personalization option: the ability to customize icon shapes on the home screen. While the new version doesn't let you create your own icon shape, it does let you choose from five delightful presets, one of which will definitely suit your fancy.
Don't want to miss the best from Android Authority? Set us as a preferred source in Google Search to support us and make sure you never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more.
After installing the latest Canary release and opening the Wallpaper & Style app, developer Kieron Quinn noticed that the 'Icons' menu had changed. Instead of only having a toggle to enable icon theming, the 'Icons' menu now has several icon shape options. These include the default circle shape as well as new square, four-sided cookie, seven-sided cookie, and arch options.
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
Interestingly, the sixth 'complex clover' shape that we spotted back in March is missing from this page. We're not sure why that shape was removed, but perhaps it clashed too heavily with certain icons.
Another thing missing from this build is the new forced icon theming feature that Google added in Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1. It's not clear why, but we suspect this is merely a quirk of the build date and release structure of the latest Canary versus the latest QPR beta. The next Canary release may add the forced theming feature, while the next QPR2 beta is likely to gain these new icon shape options, though nothing is guaranteed. We'll keep an eye out on both release tracks to see what happens with this feature as well as Google's other upcoming icon customization options.
Follow
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Google reveals it isn't making tablets, smart rings, flip phones, or glasses (yet)
Google reveals it isn't making tablets, smart rings, flip phones, or glasses (yet)

The Verge

timea few seconds ago

  • The Verge

Google reveals it isn't making tablets, smart rings, flip phones, or glasses (yet)

Google's new Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel Watch 4 may compete with Samsung, but it's happy to let Samsung explore other parts of the Galaxy on its own. In interviews with Bloomberg, Google just revealed a lot of devices it isn't currently working on. Here's Bloomberg: Despite its partners Samsung and Motorola getting into flip-style phones where the screens opens up vertically like an old school Motorola Razr, Google says it intends to sit out that race. It's also not currently working on a smart ring and has paused development on a tablet overhaul until it figures out a meaningful future for the category, executives said. Pretty sure that's the first true confirmation that the Pixel Tablet 2 was canceled! Remember when Google was done with tablets in 2019? And though Google has repeatedly teased its own prototype glasses and even let us try them on, it appears that Google devices boss Rick Osterloh isn't sure it'll actually manufacture any glasses for sale: Osterloh says it's still 'TBD' whether Google itself will release glasses again, but he's intent on the category being part of the company's future. To be fair, Google has almost always shown off those glasses prototypes alongside the XR headsets it's co-developing with Samsung, and — like Meta — it seems more interested in making Android XR a platform for other glasses partners too. If Google were to release glasses again, though, Bloomberg did get one interesting hint about how they might work. Osterloh and his deputy Shakil Barkat suggested in the interview that display-free glasses might pair nicely with a smaller phone, one that could unfold for your entertainment needs as well. But, again, it sounds like Google wants to 'sit out' Razr-style folding flip phones for now. Google would hesitate before announcing glasses, I bet, because of its infamous fails with the original Google Glass. We ranked it near the very top of the list in our 84 biggest flops of the past decade in tech, though I imagine a modern version would get a less frosty reception in the post Meta Ray-Ban world. Lastly, if you're curious when Pixel phone design might change again, perhaps away from big camera bumps, design chief Ivy Ross told Bloomberg that the company tries on new design languages 'every two to three years.' That means it's due. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Sean Hollister Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gadgets Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Google Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Google Pixel Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Mobile Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Samsung Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Wearable

How To Pair Beats Earbuds 2025
How To Pair Beats Earbuds 2025

Forbes

timea few seconds ago

  • Forbes

How To Pair Beats Earbuds 2025

If you recently invested in a new pair of Powerbeats Pro 2 or Beats Studio Buds wireless earbuds, to use them for your next work out, commute and more, you first need to pair them with your phone or tablet. And, if you're unsure how to pair Beats earbuds to your device of choice, you have a few options. Some feel fairly seamless, while other options might take a couple of more steps. In this guide, you'll learn how to pair your next pair of Beats earbuds to your iPhone, Android phone and more. Once your Beats earbuds are paired with your iPhone or Android phone, they will automatically connect via Bluetooth whenever both devices are powered on and are in range. And you can pair with multiple devices at once, switching between connected devices automatically based on proximity or by manual switching controlled via your phone. Here's how to pair your Beats earbuds to your iPhone, Android phone and more. And, if you're still deciding whether Beats earbuds are for you, be sure to check out our guides for AirPods Pro versus Beats Studio Buds and the best wireless earbuds we've tested. How To Pair Beats Earbuds To An iPhone Because the brand is owned by parent company Apple, Beats earbuds were designed with an iPhone in mind. Therefore, if you're using an iPhone device like the iPhone 16 Pro, these steps are by far the quickest and easiest. Here's how to pair Beats earbuds with your iPhone. If your iPhone does not already have Bluetooth turned on and ready, you can do so in the Settings app. Open the Apple Settings app, and find the Bluetooth settings. It should be located near the top of the settings menu. Check to make sure the Bluetooth settings are on ap Bluetooth and make sure it is toggled to 'On,' then leave open the list of devices on display. Next, turn on your Beats earbuds. For slightly older models, that involves a one-second hold of the power button on the left earbud; for newer models, you turn them on simply by opening the charging case. With a charge established, leave the case open. Hold down the 'system' button on the Beats earbuds charging case, pressing it until the LED indicator light flashes white. The white flashing LED indicates the earbuds are actively in pairing mode. There are two menus in the Bluetooth settings menu, My Devices and Other Devices. You should see your new Beats earbuds appear on your iPhone's Bluetooth menu, usually in the Other Devices list. Tap on the earbuds and they should automatically connect. Once connected, they're paired with your iPhone and ready to use. How To Pair Beats Earbuds To An Android Phone The steps to pairing a set of Beats earbuds to an Android phone are similar to those of connecting it to an iPhone via Bluetooth, but let's take things step-by-step again. First, make sure you download the Beats app. On Android phones, you can find it in the Google Play Store. Make sure you go through the steps to register your account. Press and hold the 'system' button on your Beats earbuds case (or the power button on one of the earbuds itself for older models) and wait until the LED indicator flashes white. Depending on the type of Android phone you use (and its generation), sometimes, a pairing notification will automatically pop up on your phone, asking you whether you want to pair and save your Beats earbuds to your device. Tap yes, and the should automatically pair. If they don't automatically pair, follow the instructions below. You see to your Bluetooth device connections two ways, but first, you'll want to make sure your Bluetooth is enabled and on. At the top right-hand corner of your screen, slowly drag your finger down. In the top right-hand corner, a small cog represents the Settings Menu. Open the Settings Menu on your Android phone; at the top of the list of settings, you'll see Connections. Tap Connections and then find and tap Bluetooth. At the top right-hand corner of your screen, tap the display and slowly drag your finger down to pull up a quick-access panel. In the top right-hand corner, you should see a small cog. That symbol represents the Settings Menu. Open the Settings Menu on your Android phone; at the top of the list of settings, you'll see Connections. Tap Connections and then find and tap Bluetooth. Here, you should see a menu showing all of your paired devices. At the top right corner, there's a Scan button. Press the Scan button and scroll down past your paired devices to a section called Available Devices. You should see your Beats earbuds listed there. Tap their name on this list. A pop-up window will appear and ask you whether you want to pair these earbuds. Tap yes, and the software will pair your Beats earbuds to your Android phone. At the top right-hand corner of your screen, tap the display and slowly drag your finger down to pull up a quick-access panel. The quick-access panel at the top right-hand corner of this drag-down menu shows a large button labeled Bluetooth. Press and hold this button, and the software shows a list of paired devices first, followed by unpaired devices your Android phone has scanned that are nearby and available to pair. Here's a good point to pause and double-check that your Beats earbuds are in pairing mode. Scroll down to find all available devices the Bluetooth technology is currently scanning. You should see your Beats earbuds on this list. Tap their name on this list. A pop-up window will appear and ask you whether you want to pair these earbuds. Tap yes, and the software will pair your Beats earbuds to your Android phone. How To Connect Beats Earbuds To A Computer While it may sound a little confusing, connecting Beats earbuds you can also pair your Beats earbuds to your laptop of choice, whether you're using a MacBook or a Windows laptop. Here's how to connect your Beats earbuds to your computer. To pair Beats earbuds with a Windows laptop, first put the earbuds in pairing mode, as covered before. Then, in the Windows search bar, search 'Bluetooth.' You should see at the top a tag that says, 'Bluetooth And Other Devices Settings.' Click on that. A new window will appear showing all of your Bluetooth settings. Toggle Bluetooth to on (if it's not), then click the button that says, 'Add device.' A pop-up window will open and ask you what kind of device you're pairing. Click 'Bluetooth,' as wireless earbuds are listed under this specific category. The Bluetooth technology will scan nearby and available Bluetooth devices. Here is where the Beats earbuds should register as available. If they aren't registering, double-check to make sure your earbuds are still in pairing mode. To pair Beats earbuds with a Mac, again, first put the earbuds in pairing mode. Then, on your MacBook of choice, click the Apple Menu. It's shaped like the signature Apple logo, and from there, you'll see a section called 'System Settings.' Click that button. A sidebar will open. Find and select 'Bluetooth.' Because your Beats earbuds are already in pairing mode, they should register with your MacBook on this screen. Find the Beats earbuds and click the 'connect' button to complete the pairing. Why Trust Forbes Vetted The staff writers and editors on the tech team at Forbes Vetted have dozens of years of combined experience testing, reviewing and writing about tech hardware (and software) of all types, from home printers to GPS dog trackers to bluetooth speakers. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Are All Beats Earbuds Compatible With PCs And Macs? Yes, all versions of Beats earbuds can connect to both PCs and computers running MacOS via Bluetooth. The same goes for all recent iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets. What Is The Bluetooth Range For Beats Earbuds? Newer Beats earbuds have a stated range of up to 300 feet. These 'Class 1 Bluetooth' devices can have that range curtailed by physical obstacles and lots of frequency interference, so count on much shorter effective distances. Slightly older 'Class 2' Bluetooth devices typically have a maximum range of 33 feet from their transmitting device. Why Did My Beats Earbuds Unpair? Beats earbuds can unpair for a few reasons, including physical distance from a device or the device (phone, e.g. being put in Airplane Mode or powered down. Outdated firmware or software on your devices ca also cause a loss of pairing, and can frequency interference from other nearby Bluetooth devices. If you are having trouble pairing, it's best to turn them on and off again. To turn them off, place the earbuds in the case and close the case lid. Wait about 15 seconds, and then open the case and remove them to turn the earbuds back on. Try the connection again. If that doesn't work, check the app for any updates.

Google to provide Gemini AI tools to US government
Google to provide Gemini AI tools to US government

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Google to provide Gemini AI tools to US government

Google will provide its Gemini artificial intelligence tools to US federal agencies practically free, the government announced Thursday. A suite of AI and cloud computing services called "Gemini for Government" from Google is intended to speed the adoption of the technology across the US government, the General Services Administration (GSA) said in a joint statement. "Gemini for Government gives federal agencies access to our full stack approach to AI innovation," added Google chief executive Sundar Pichai. "So they can deliver on their important missions." AI tools being provided include generation of video, images, or ideas as well as digital "agents" capable of independently tending to complex tasks. US agencies will pay a scant fee of less than a dollar for the AI tools, building on a previous agreement that saw Google Workspace software provided to the government at a major price discount, according to the GSA. "Federal agencies can now significantly transform their operations by using the tools in Gemini for Government," said GSA acting administrator Michael Rigas. The deal comes just weeks after Google rival OpenAI said it was letting the US government use a version of ChatGPT designed for businesses for a year for just $1. "By giving government employees access to powerful, secure AI tools, we can help them solve problems for more people, faster," OpenAI said in a blog post announcing the alliance. Earlier this year, the US Department of Defense awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract to put generative AI to work for the military. OpenAI planned to show how cutting-edge AI can improve administrative operations, such as how service members get health care, and also has cyber defense applications, the startup said in a post. gc/md

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store