Android 17 Beta 4 Brings Screen Reactions to Pixel Now
Google's Android 17 QPR1 Beta 4 adds native Screen Reactions recording and fixes several bugs, signaling a stable release is close.
Key Takeaways
- Screen Reactions moves green screen reaction recording into the native Pixel screen recorder, removing third-party editing.
- Beta 4 prioritizes stability, patching display, screenshot, zoom, and graphics regressions.
- The wide rollout and stable QPR1 timing signal Android 17's full release is near.
On this page
Google has started rolling out Android 17 QPR1 Beta 4 to eligible Pixel devices on Thursday (June 11). The build adds the long-teased Screen Reactions feature and fixes several lingering bugs.
The release arrives nearly three weeks after Beta 3, which followed The Android Show I/O Edition 2026. According to GSMArena, the update reaches supported Pixel phones starting with the Pixel 6a.
The headline addition is Screen Reactions, a native way to record yourself alongside your phone screen. According to 9to5Google, the option lives inside the built-in screen recorder as a Show selfie camera control.
This local method removes the external editing or third-party apps that Pixel owners previously needed for green screen clips. The result is a reaction video ready to upload instantly, with no further tweaking required.
Screen Reactions only works when recording the entire screen, not a single app. According to 9to5Google, toggling it shows a live preview so you can frame the shot before recording begins.
A paint swatch tool lets users set a colored background behind the small selfie video. Only six color variants exist right now, including black, purple, red, blue, green, and orange.
Subject isolation impressed reviewers, with crisp cutouts around the face, shoulders, and hands. According to 9to5Google, the quality holds up even on lower-resolution selfie cameras like the Pixel A-series.
Bug fixes dominate the rest of the update
Beyond the new feature, Beta 4 focuses on stability rather than fresh additions. According to Android Police, Google patched a wide list of regressions across the system.
The fixes include a disappearing mouse pointer on external displays and a Settings crash in Private Space. Google also resolved screenshot sounds playing in silent mode and frame jitter when recording at 5x zoom.
Other patches cover Back Tap gestures failing on the lock screen and a graphics driver regression hurting 3D performance. Wireless ADB connection failures and vanishing home screen widgets after reboot were also addressed.
The update reaches all compatible models from the Pixel 6a through the Pixel 10 family. According to Android Police, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are excluded but will get the next beta.
Firmware versions vary slightly across the lineup, per GSMArena's report. The Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro receive build CP31.260522.006.A1, while other devices get build CP31.260522.006.
This is the fourth beta of Android 17's first Quarterly Platform Release, with a stable QPR1 expected around September. According to Android Police, the base Android 17 stable release now appears to be close.
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