This is the second time Google has adjusted how privacy icons appear in the status bar recently. This time, Android 17 Beta 2 simplifies the privacy icons with more instantly recognizable designs.
Android 17 Beta 2 is official, and it comes no later than two weeks after the first beta release of Google’s new OS version. This build is focused heavily on security, according to the official announcement. Beyond that, there are a couple of small stylistic changes you might immediately notice.
The second beta for Android 17 has adjusted what the location, camera, and microphone activity indicators look like. These icons act as indications that your Pixel is using one of those features. This is a privacy tool to make it obvious that apps are actively using personal information.
The icons have changed from a pill or chip shape to a smaller circle. The icon within them is bolder and fills up most of that circle. Compared to the previous look, the mic, location, and camera icons appear to be easier to spot at a glance.
The new privacy icons in Android 17 Beta 2 are bold, especially paired with the change to the location indicator introduced in Android 16 QPR3. When more than one is active, they sit next to each other in a pill icon, effectively allowing the icons to take up less space in the status bar. The camera and microphone indicator will always use the same chip, while the blue location tag remains separate.
When the notification shade is up, the privacy icons still take the form of a dot, seemingly unchanged from before.
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