Google overlooked the potential of HiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro, but an application has just revealed its capabilities.
Hey, Google, you’re seeing this, right? Right?
One of the standout features of the Pixel 11 smartphone series this year is the new colorful LED notification system known as "HiLight." The main concept behind this vibrant light is that it can be customized. Unfortunately, Google has restricted its functionality significantly. For example, it only activates during interactions with Gemini or when set as a caller identifier for voice calls.
That’s pretty much the extent of it. Shortly after Google revealed it on its latest flagship devices, fans expressed disappointment that it was a missed opportunity. Users should have been given the ability to customize the light colors for different apps or explored more options. Thankfully, there’s now a solution. Tech creator @Dhananjay_Tech (DhananjayBhosale) has developed an app that fully unlocks HiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro.
The app, named HiLight Studio, allows you to choose from five color options and even animate them across all eight built-in LED lights. You can set it up on a per-app basis, import and export lighting rules, and have it respond to features like quiet hours, do not disturb mode, and low battery settings. Additionally, the app extends the ambient lighting duration to five minutes, though a few limitations exist.
If the light is activated for more than 10 seconds, its brightness is slightly reduced. In terms of notifications, it will only flash for a maximum of 60 seconds. However, before getting too excited, remember that this app isn't available on the Google Play Store, meaning it may not fulfill all of Google's safety requirements for apps before they can be offered in its repository.
Moreover, it isn't an easy install. You must download the APK package, access the developer settings on your phone, permit the installation of apps from third-party sources on your Pixel 11 Pro, and enable wireless debugging before you can set it up and get it running. Also, here is a standard disclaimer from the developer on the GitHub repository:
“Long, continuous use of the HiLight LEDs has not been tested. If you build the project yourself, you can change the timing and safety values in your copy. Custom builds are your responsibility.”
Despite this, it’s a fantastic tool, and I hope Google takes notice and creates its own customizable system for HiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro. The smartphones themselves are otherwise quite impressive. I especially liked the speedy Night Sight feature, along with several software functionalities that elevate these devices into an entirely different category, with their advantages stemming more from software conveniences than raw hardware capabilities.
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Google overlooked the potential of HiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro, but an application has just revealed its capabilities.
Google restricted the HiLight feature to a limited number of activities. A tech creator recently developed an app that enables its complete functionality and provides per-app controls for Pixel 11 Pro devices.