The Google Pixel 11 Pro’s HiLight LED gets an interesting new feature

One of the features that sets the Google Pixel 11 Pro apart from previous generation models is a notification LED called HiLight located in the camera island. Its purpose is to notify you when there is an important notification, such as a call from a specific favorite contact. You can also turn it on to confirm that the phone has heard your “Hey Google” command, even when the phone is face down. Both features worked out of the box, but Google is also working on making HiLight activate when you receive messages from specific contacts.

Our Google Pixel 11 Pro XL review found the HiLight feature disappointing because it does very little without loading a third-party app to use it for other app notifications. But there are still uses for HiLight without doing this, since the goal is for this feature to help reduce distractions. Instead of reaching for your phone every time there’s a vibration or ping, you can see the color-coded light and pick it up only if the call or message is from an important contact you’ve assigned. You can avoid picking up the phone for yet another marketing message from your favorite store or a message from that long friend group thread that you can check out later.

With the upcoming Android 17 Quarterly Platform Release 2 (QPR2) update, you’ll be able to add messages to the list of triggers for the HiLight LED, an Android feature we haven’t seen in years. This update is currently only available to users enrolled in the Android Beta for Pixel program. The official launch of this version of Android 17 should arrive sometime in December so that everyone can use it outside of the beta version. Once you have updated the device to the latest operating system, go to Settings, System, HelloLight. Make sure Using HiLight is on. With options for Talking with Gemini And Calls from favoritesyou will also see now Favorites Posts. As its name suggests, the HiLight LED will light up when your favorite contacts send you messages.

From there, go to your Contacts and select a person you want to set up a HiLight notification for. Tap the star at the top right, and Set HiLight (contact name) will appear as an option allowing you to assign a custom glow when they call or, with Android 17 QPR2, when they send a message. There are five colors to choose from. You can also preview to see what it looks like, which is useful for those who are color blind or sensitive to color and light and want to make sure it is distinctive and comfortable to look at. It works with both Google Messages and WhatsApp and flashes twice when a message arrives from either of those people.

HiLight is a cool feature of the Google Pixel 11 series phones, available on the Google Pixel 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and 11 Pro Fold. It’s not on the base Pixel 11. But it’s a polarizing feature; some think it’s brilliant, others think it’s absurd. Our Pixel 11 Pro XL review finds the Gemini wake-up feature to be something a Nest Mini has done better for years. But what happens if you’re not at home? You can summon Gemini without instinctively picking up the phone and talking to the screen. Imagine yourself in a coffee shop with the phone facing down and headphones plugged in. Say “Hey Google,” monitor the light to confirm it heard you, then continue your query.

When it comes to incoming calls and now also messages, a companion smartwatch like the Google Pixel Watch 5 can already show you this information, distraction-free. Plus, you can glance and see the caller’s name and number, or even the entire message, on the small screen without having to grab your phone. But not everyone has a Pixel Watch. HiLight can also be useful if you’re in a meeting, on a date, or out for brunch with friends and need some encouragement not to pick up your phone every time a notification sound goes off. See the color, and if it’s your child, spouse, parent or client, collect it. No color, you can ignore it and call them back later. The feature isn’t revolutionary, but at least HiLight can now do more than before.