TL;DR
- Google’s been working on a new toggle for its At a Glance widget for Pixels, controlling its home screen visibility.
- The option first started working for some testers in last month’s Android Canary release.
- Now we’re also seeing access begin to roll out for users running Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1.
One of Android’s biggest selling points has always been its flexibility. Maybe there’s a downside to that, though, as we start feeling a bit indignant when there’s something we can’t change in the way we’d like. For lots of Pixel users, the At a Glance widget represents a convenient way to keep on top of what’s happening in their lives — but others wish Google gave us more control over where we see it. The good news: That’s starting to change.
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After years of user feedback, Google has finally introduced the most requested customization feature in Pixel history. As of December 18, 2025, the Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 update has officially added a toggle to remove the “At a Glance” widget from the home screen.
Previously, this widget was a permanent fixture that occupied the top row of the primary home screen, even if users preferred a clean aesthetic or wanted to use a third-party widget.
How to Remove “At a Glance” in the Beta
If you are enrolled in the Android Beta Program and have updated to QPR3 Beta 1, you can reclaim your screen real estate with these steps:
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Long-press on the “At a Glance” widget (usually the date/weather area).
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Tap on Settings (the gear icon).
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Look for the new “Show on home screen” toggle.
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Switch it off. > Pro Tip: If you turn this off but keep “Use At a Glance” enabled, the information will still appear on your Lock Screen and Always-On Display (AOD)—giving you the utility where you need it without the home screen clutter.
Other Key Features in QPR3 Beta 1
This beta update is surprisingly packed with “quality of life” features that Pixel users have envied from other brands for years.
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Flashlight Brightness Control: You can now long-press the Flashlight tile in Quick Settings to open a vertical slider, allowing you to dim or brighten the LED.
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Blue Location Indicator: Similar to the green dot for camera/mic access, a new blue chip will appear in the status bar when an app is accessing your location. Tapping it shows exactly which app is tracking you.
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Reversible Navigation Buttons: For those using 3-button navigation, you can finally swap the “Back” and “Recents” buttons—a godsend for users migrating from Samsung devices.
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“Minimal” Icons: The “Themed Icons” feature has been moved out of beta and renamed to “Minimal,” with a more intuitive selection menu in the Wallpaper & Style settings.
Who can get it?
The beta is available for the Pixel 6 through the newly released Pixel 10 series. Keep in mind that QPR betas are generally stable enough for daily use, but installing it means you likely won’t be able to exit the beta program without a full data wipe until the stable version launches in March 2026.