Google rolls out Android 17 with Gemini Intelligence, foldable gaming mode, and tighter privacy controls

Android 17 rolls out to Pixel today with Bubbles multitasking, foldable gaming mode, tighter privacy controls, and Gemini Intelligence coming this summer.

Google is rolling out Android 17 to Pixel devices starting today, delivering multitasking tools, a dedicated foldable gaming mode, and a set of privacy changes that limit how much data apps can collect by default. The update reaches Pixel phones first and will expand to devices from Samsung, OnePlus, and other manufacturers throughout 2026. A separate feature called Gemini Intelligence, which embeds Google’s AI more deeply into the operating system, is coming to select flagship devices this summer.

The most visible change is Bubbles, a floating window system that works with any application. Long-pressing an app icon now opens it as a resizable overlay that stays on top of other content, turning any app into a picture-in-picture window rather than limiting the feature to messaging. On foldable devices like the Galaxy Fold and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, a persistent bubble bar sits at the bottom of the screen for quick access.

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Foldable phones get a dedicated gaming layout that splits the inner display into a 50/50 configuration, with the game running on the top half and a virtual gamepad on the bottom. The system supports native controller remapping, letting users customise button placement without relying on the game developer to offer the option. Google says it has also improved memory cleanup for HD gaming, though the company has not published specific benchmarks.

The privacy changes are incremental but meaningful. Apps can now request temporary location access that expires after a single session, replacing the previous binary choice between “always,” “while using,” and “never.” Users can share specific contacts with an app rather than granting access to the entire address book. A new Mark as Lost feature in Find Hub locks a missing device with biometric authentication, and enhanced Live Threat Detection runs continuously in the background to flag suspicious app behaviour.

Google has also reduced the number of PIN guess attempts before the phone enforces progressively longer wait times, making brute-force attacks against a locked device slower. The company did not disclose the new threshold, and the exact wait-time escalation schedule has not been published.

Gemini Intelligence, previewed at Google I/O in May, will arrive on the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Google’s own Pixel 10 line this summer as a se