Google Pixel phones are very special not only for the photographic experience they promise, but also for their practically infinite capacity for customization. A way for you to turn your smartphone into a unique device that is worth knowing in depth and in this article we have brought together all the main options for this.
Each major Android update is accompanied by all kinds of new features, including those that are intended to customize the phone’s interface. Wallpapers based on Material You from Android 12, advanced widgets with Android 13 and a series of exclusive functions that only Google Pixels have. All this and more below.
Customize icons and widgets on Google Pixel phones
Since Android 12 we have seen a clear commitment by Google to extreme customization and on its mobile phones it is even more evident. This is seen at a glance with the new options for icons, with a total redesign and offering the user the possibility of modifying them at will with color tones that adjust to the wallpaper to homogenize the interface. To access this feature of the Google Pixel you must do the following:
- Open your phone settings.
- Scroll until you find the ‘Style and Wallpaper’ section.
- Look for the ‘Themed Icons’ option and enable it.
From now on, the icons and widgets will change to a more aesthetic shape and you can even change their color or adjust it automatically according to your wallpaper. This is done through the different options that appear above. ‘Themed Icons’ feature which allows us to modify the color with ‘Background Colors’ or ‘Basic Colors’. From the first option you can obtain a series of tones extracted from your wallpaper to obtain a more minimalist, attractive and homogeneous interface. In this way and with a simple adjustment you can thoroughly customize your Google Pixel: keyboard, control panel, application icons and Google widgets, among other elements.
Create custom wallpapers
Among the main new features of the latest Android updates is the ability to create wallpapers from scratch and give your Google Pixel an exclusive look. For this, the Emoji Workshop emerged, which is available for Pixel 4a and later models. It’s a fun way to get wallpapers that are different from the rest and use some of your favorite emoticons. These are the steps:
- Press and hold on the screen (in an empty space).
- Select ‘Style & Wallpaper’ and then ‘Change Wallpaper’.
- Access the ‘Emoji Workshop’.
- Click on ‘Edit emoji’ and choose up to 14 emojis.
- Now, tap on ‘Patterns’ to customize the wallpaper.
- Press ‘Colors’ to modify the background color.
- Confirm with ‘Set wallpaper’ whether it is lock, main or both.
Use widgets on the home screen
Feel free to use widgets as a tool to personalize your Pixel phone. Google widgets also change color with the ‘Themed Icons’ feature, so they add a touch very visual to your wallpaper, in addition to providing information without having to enter applications. The American brand’s mobile phones have a huge variety of widgets where to choose and to access them you must do this:
- Press and hold on an empty area of the screen.
- Select ‘Widgets’ to access the full collection.
- Find the app for which you want to insert the widget (Maps, Wallet, Clock, YouTube…).
- Hover over the widget in question again and place it wherever you want on the home screen.
To customize the size of the widget on your Google Pixel, you must hover over the widget whose dimensions you want to modify. When you lift your finger, a series of points will appear that you can drag to make this tool larger or smaller. To finish you just have to touch outside the widget.