Google just concluded its Android 17 QPR1 testing and rolled out the September 2026 Pixel Feature Drop. However, the brand has shifted its focus to experimental updates, releasing Android Canary 2609 to eligible Pixel smartphones.
Carrying build number ZP11.260821.010, Canary 2609 introduces one of the decade's most requested Android features. The new feature allows users to restrict access to the Quick Settings tiles directly from the lock screen.
This way, unauthorised users cannot easily toggle important connectivity settings without first unlocking the phone using a fingerprint or PIN. To give users flexibility, the "Require Unlock for Quick Settings" toggle can be switched on or off by going to Settings -> Display & touch -> Lock screen.
This should give users who end up losing their Google Pixel phones a huge sigh of relief and should complement Google's Find My network as well. In case of phone theft, bad actors can no longer cut off internet access or turn off the phone without a PIN, making it much easier for users to track down their phones.
Additionally, Android Canary 2609 also integrates features from Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5. For starters, it adds the Audio Streams tile to Quick Settings and moves the Voice broadcast tile to the Connectivity section. Notification Cooldown and other upcoming Notification features will be housed inside Notification Intelligence.
Considering the importance of the Require Unlock toggle, it should roll out in the upcoming Android 17 QPR2 Beta updates fairly soon. When Google deems it fit, functionality-wise, it should roll it out in the upcoming December 2026 Pixel Feature Drop. Until then, stay tuned.
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