Google Pixel Launcher finally learns a trick that Samsung was a master of years ago

Google is on a mission to make the Pixel Launcher feel less static, too Android 17 is where it really starts to show. The latest beta just shed some light on something that Pixel fans have been quietly hoping for, and if it pans out, it could change the way you set up your home screen for the better.

A new “editor” tool is hidden inside Android 17 Beta 3

A new report reveals an evolving “editor” feature on the home screen Android 17 Beta 3. This app isn’t officially live yet, but it would allow Pixel users to create, delete, and rearrange home screen panels from a single interface. Here’s where it gets interesting: when you create a new home screen, your Pixel can automatically populate it with apps and widgets based on categories like Most Used, Sports, Health & Fitness, Productivity, Travel, and Community. Those categories appear to be pulled directly from Google Play Store data, which is a very good move by Google. You will also get to choose from different ways of how the tools and widgets sit on the page. At the moment, the version seen in the teardown code is very clear and still ugly around (screenshots show images of the icon with blue circles and pink corners where the images should be), so don’t expect this on your Pixel tomorrow. Even the name “editor” may not stick. But the underlying process looks promising, and there’s a chance it could come to fruition. Android 17 later this year.

Why Pixel owners need something like this for a while

Here’s the thing about Pixel Launcher: it’s always been one of the best home screen experiences out of the big ones. Android phone. Samsung’s One UI has had solid home screen control tools for years now. Even iOS has brought meaningful customization to the table iOS 18. Meanwhile, Pixel owners are dragging images at once, with no way to rearrange or remove entire pages without deleting them first. Android 17. Beta 3 has introduced the ability to hide app names on the home screen, and earlier updates finally let users remove the “At A Glance” widget from the top of the page. These are welcome changes, but the right page editor can be the biggest step forward for those of us who are particular about how our home screens look and flow.

Real progress, but Google still has some work to do

I’ll say it up front: I’m really glad to see Google paying attention to your side of the Pixel Launcher. Being able to remove app labels and ditch the At A Glance widget were changes I noticed and appreciated right away on my end. A home screen editor that lets you flip through an entire page of, say, your productivity tools in a selective way? That’s a solid quality improvement that many Pixel users will appreciate. That said, let’s not pretend Google is breaking new ground here. Samsung and third-party products like Nova have offered this type of control for years. And if I’m being honest, the next thing on my wish list is an option to remove that search bar stuck at the bottom of the Pixel Launcher. If Google is really willing to give users control over their home screen, the widget should be optional too. For anyone who likes the clean Android vibe, but has felt there because of the inconvenience of the Pixel Launcher, this editor feature is a clear sign that Google is paying attention. Whether it stays stable Android 17 or pushed to a future update, the way forward here is the right one, and for Pixel fans, it’s something to keep an eye on.