New Pixel VIP update addresses some of its biggest flaws

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.

Pixel VIPs now also bring new glanceable notification badges that ensure you never miss an urgent or unread message from your favorite contacts. This builds on the November 2025 Pixel Feature Drop update, which prioritized notifications from your VIPs, while the original feature shipped with Do Not Disturb bypass for your VIPs.

Google is also making it easier to swipe between your set VIP profiles with a sleek new floating overlay navigation menu at the bottom of your screen.

The new changes to Pixel VIPs will be available on Pixel 6 phones and newer, across all supported regions and languages, through the Google Contacts app.