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Android 16 QPR3 Beta Adds Blue Location Indicator on Pixel Phones

Google is extending its privacy indicators to location access, offering clearer insight into which apps are tracking you.

Overview

  • A new blue dot appears when an app uses location services, covering both foreground and background access on Pixel devices in the latest beta.
  • Tapping the indicator opens a 'Microphone, Camera & Location' panel that names the apps involved and provides quick options to close them or adjust permissions.
  • If location, camera, or microphone are active together, the UI consolidates them under the existing green privacy indicator.
  • The feature is part of Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1, with a stable Pixel release expected early next year and broader adoption on other Android devices anticipated over time.
  • Current Samsung phones show a generic location icon without identifying the app, and One UI 8.5 based on Android 16 QPR2 may miss this listing behavior unless Samsung adopts it in a future release.