Google has expanded HiLight — the Pixel 11 Pro’s rear LED light, to support WhatsApp messages, not just calls. The update rolled out globally with Android 17 QPR2 and is live as of November 14, 2026. It lets users assign a custom glow for incoming messages from VIP contacts in WhatsApp, useful if your phone spends most of its time face-down on a desk or table.
But that’s it. No Telegram. No Signal. No Instagram DMs.
Just WhatsApp messages, three months after the Pixel 11 Pro launched in August 2026. The feature remains opt-in and requires manual setup in Settings > Notifications > HiLight. You’ll need Android 17 QPR2 installed first. Google confirmed the change via a post from Shenaz Zack, Pixel’s Senior Director of Product Management, on X. She did not say whether more apps are coming, or when.
So far, HiLight only works natively with Messages and WhatsApp. Android Police notes the pace of expansion is “painfully slow.” Third-party workarounds exist: HiLight Studio, a vibe-coded app, bypasses Google’s limits entirely. It lets you trigger the rear LED from any app, including Telegram, Signal, Snapchat, and assign unique colors or blink patterns per app or group.
Presets cut initial setup time. No root required. The Pixel 11 Pro starts at $999 in the US and Rs 89,999 in India. HiLight itself remains exclusive to the Pro model, no Pixel 11 base variant has the hardware.
Next up? Nothing official. Google hasn’t announced further HiLight updates, and no regulatory filing, leak, or analyst note hints at broader messaging app support in QPR3.
MDFiled by The Mobile Desk
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