> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://techstuffs.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Google Released Android 17 Beta 2 With New Features You Should Know About - URL: https://techstuffs.net/android-17-beta-2-new-features/ - Published: 2026-10-31T09:26:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-31T09:26:00.000Z - Author: Derek Westcott - Tags: Android Google released Android 17 Beta 2 on February 26, 2026, for Pixel 6 and newer phones. It was the second beta on the way to the stable Android 17 release, which began rolling out in June 2026\. Beta 2 is notable because it introduced several features that shipped in the final version, including app bubbles and the Contacts Picker, along with a long list of developer changes. ## What new features did Android 17 Beta 2 include? The biggest user-facing addition was Bubbles for any app. Long-pressing an app icon in the launcher lets you open that app in a floating bubble window, and large screens get a bubble bar in the taskbar. Beta 2 also introduced the Contacts Picker, a system screen that gives an app temporary access to only the specific contacts and fields you choose, instead of your whole address book. Privacy and security changes included a new Local Network Access permission, which protects communication with devices on your home network, and a three-hour delay on programmatic access to SMS one-time passcodes for most apps, which makes it harder for malicious apps to steal login codes. ![Google Released Android 17 Beta 2 With New Features You Should Know About illustrated on an Android phone.](https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Android%20Google%20Released%20Android%2017%20Beta%202%20With%20New%20Features%20You%20Should%20Know%20About&w=624&h=352&c=7) ## What changed for developers? Developers got an EyeDropper API that lets apps read the color of any pixel on screen without screen capture permission, a Handoff API for moving app state between devices such as a phone and tablet, and advanced ranging with UWB DL-TDOA for indoor navigation. Captured touchpads now behave like mice by default, apps can learn the final position of the share sheet, and a new broadcast fires when the time zone offset changes, such as at daylight saving transitions. Apps targeting Android 17 must declare the NPU feature to use the neural processing unit directly, and the ICU 78 update brings Unicode 17 support. ## Which devices could install Android 17 Beta 2? Beta 2 was available through the Android Beta Program on Pixel 6 and newer, including the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 series, Pixel 8 and 9 series, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, and Pixel 10 series. Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 models used a separate build. Other manufacturers ran their own Android 17 beta programs later. ## What known issues did this beta have? As with any beta, some apps had compatibility problems, battery life could be uneven, and some features were still being refined. Many of these issues were addressed in Beta 3, which reached Platform Stability in March 2026, and in the final release. ## Can you still try Android 17 Beta 2? No. Beta 2 has been replaced by later builds and the stable Android 17 release. If you want to test upcoming versions, you can enroll a supported Pixel in the Android Beta Program at g.co/androidbeta. Back up your data first, and remember that leaving the program before a stable build catches up usually requires a full wipe. ## Conclusion Android 17 Beta 2 was an important step in Android 17 development. It brought app bubbles, the Contacts Picker, OTP protection, and a large set of developer APIs, most of which are now part of the stable Android 17 available on Pixel 6 and newer. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Could I install Android 17 Beta 2 on any Android phone? No. The official beta was only for supported Pixel phones, starting with the Pixel 6 series. ### Did my apps work normally on Beta 2? Most did, but some had issues from API and behavior changes, which is why developers used the beta to test their apps. ### Are the Beta 2 features in the final Android 17? Yes. App bubbles, the Contacts Picker, and many of the developer APIs shipped in the stable Android 17 release in June 2026.