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Android 16 QPR3 Beta Adds Blue Location Indicator With App Attribution

The update builds on Android 12’s privacy dots to deliver real-time attribution with tap-to-manage controls.

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Overview

  • A new blue status indicator appears whenever any app accesses location, including background requests, on devices running Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1.
  • Tapping the icon opens a “Microphone, Camera & Location” panel that names the apps involved and lets users force close them or jump to permission settings.
  • If camera or microphone are also in use, the location indicator merges with the existing green privacy dot, and the notification shade shows a pill with the relevant icons.
  • The feature is live now for enrolled Google Pixel phones on the QPR3 Beta 1 build, with installation available via the Android Beta program for Pixel 6 and newer.
  • A wider release is expected with the stable QPR3 update in early 2026 and could reach other Android devices, while Samsung’s current One UI 8.5 (based on QPR2) likely does not include it.