September 2026 Pixel Drop: VIPs widget redesign, more Pixel Watch gestures

Google today is rolling out the September 2026 Pixel Drop. This is a smaller update, with Android 17 QPR1 bringing the bulk of new features and changes. That said, recent weeks have seen updates for Pixel Journal, Now Playing, Recorder, Screenshots, and Weather. Phones Google has redesigned the Pixel VIPs widget to let you quickly call and text contacts with a single tap from your homescreen instead of having to first open the bottom sheet. A new floating navigation overlay lets you swipe the bottom of your screen to switch between your favorite people. Finally, Pixel VIPs will show glanceable notification badges on the widget. This redesign is rolling out for the Pixel 6+ in all regions and languages with version 2.0 of the Pixel VIPs app/service and Google Contacts 4.77+. On the safety front, Scam Detection in Google Messages is expanding to new languages and regions. It’s available in: Languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. Regions: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, UK, and the US. Google is also expanding In-App Scam Detection for third-party chat apps, with warnings now appearing in the Gboard suggestions row. You can tap “Likely scam” for more details. This is available on Pixel 6+ in the US for Arabic, English, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. To mark the release of Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions, there are three new Pixel Themes. This covers wallpapers, icons, and sounds, with eligible Pixel users also getting a two-month Audible free trial. Pixel Watch Owners of the Pixel Watch 3 and 4 can now scroll through their notification tray using the one-handed pinch gesture. This has been quite convenient on the PW5. Meanwhile, the Pixel Watch 4 receives an updated raise-to-talk model that improves accuracy and performance when activating Gemini. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.