New Pixel VIP update addresses some of its biggest flaws

Pixel VIPs has so much potential to be a useful widget, but I wish it looked better.

Credit: Stephen Headrick / Android Authority

TL;DR

Google has released new, expanded Pixel VIPs widget designs in the September 2026 Pixel Feature Drop, introducing quick actions for single-tap calling and texting.
The update adds glanceable notification badges for urgent messages and a sleek floating overlay navigation menu that lets you swipe between VIP profiles easily.
Available through the Google Contacts app, these improvements are rolling out to Pixel 6 phones and newer across all supported regions and languages.

Google rolled out the Pixel VIPs widget last year as part of the June 2025 Pixel Feature Drop, giving users a handy home screen widget that displays key updates like last calls, WhatsApp messages, locations, and birthdays for up to eight chosen contacts. While the feature was certainly useful, its rather bare-bones functionality left much to be desired. With the September 2026 Pixel Feature Drop, Google is making the Pixel VIP widget more useful by making it even easier to reach your favorite people.

With the September 2026 Pixel Feature Drop, Google is introducing newly designed, expanded widget options that directly address some of the criticism from the previous iterations. The new widgets include quick actions that let you call or text your favorite contacts with a single tap from your home screen.

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