The Pixel 11 Pro’s HiLight feature just got a lot more useful for WhatsApp users. The rear LED can now light up when one of your favourite contacts sends you a WhatsApp message, not just when they call.
Pixel 11 Pro HiLight Gets WhatsApp Message Support
Shenaz Zack, Senior Director of Product Management for Pixel phones, confirmed the change in a short video on X.
She noted that HiLight already worked with WhatsApp calls and now supports WhatsApp messages too, so your favourite contacts get "VIP attention".
Interestingly, Google’s official November 2026 Pixel Drop announcement only mentioned support for Google Messages, so WhatsApp support has arrived somewhat quietly.
The update is part of the Android 17 QPR2 stable update, which is now rolling out to the Google Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
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How Pixel 11 Pro’s HiLight Works
For the uninitiated, Google introduced HiLight with the Pixel 11 Pro series in August 2026. It’s an array of RGB LEDs around the rear camera flash that lights up in different colours.
The idea is to let you stay updated without picking up your phone, which is especially handy if you keep it face down.
At launch, HiLight could only do two things: light up when a favourite contact called you and show Gemini’s status when you’re using the assistant. With the November Pixel Drop, Google expanded HiLight to messages.
You can now pick a contact, assign them a specific colour and choose whether HiLight should glow for their calls, messages or both. Initially, that meant Google Messages, and now WhatsApp messages work too.
To use it, make sure your Pixel 11 Pro is updated to Android 17 QPR2, then set up HiLight for your favourite contacts.
WhatsApp support is a welcome addition, especially since many Pixel owners rely on WhatsApp rather than SMS or RCS to stay in touch. In India, where WhatsApp is the default messaging app for most users, this could finally make HiLight genuinely useful.
That said, HiLight still doesn’t work with other popular messaging apps like Telegram, Signal or Instagram. The pace of updates has also been slow.
The Pixel 11 Pro launched in August, and HiLight is only now getting its first meaningful upgrades three months later. Hopefully, Google opens up HiLight to more apps in future Pixel Drops.
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