Android 17 beta introduces notification badge options

The latest beta version of Android 17 includes a new feature that allows users to customize how notifications appear on their home screens, addressing a long-standing user preference divide.

Notification customization for Pixel devices

Google is reportedly working on a feature that would let users of Pixel devices choose how unread notifications are displayed, offering more flexibility than the current default settings.

Current notification display limitations

Since Android 8, most devices without a custom skin have shown unread notifications as a simple dot on app icons, a design choice that some users find minimal but others find limiting.

Three notification badge options in beta

In the Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 version, developers found a new menu in the Launcher settings titled "Notification Badges," which offers three options: a numerical counter, a traditional dot, or no indicator at all.

Feature still in development

Although the feature is available in the beta, it is not yet officially released, and users will have to wait for future Android beta versions to test it fully.