Just Unboxed a Pixel 11? Discover These 10 Essential Settings to Customize!

The Google Pixel 11 series has officially been launched, following in the footsteps of its predecessors, yet it may not provide the best experience straight out of the box.

Many beneficial features and settings are either turned off by default or require manual adjustments. With the latest Pixel 11 series introducing an array of new software capabilities, there’s even more worth customizing this year.

If you’ve just acquired a Pixel 11, here are ten settings and features you should modify immediately.

What new Pixel 11 feature excites you the most?

210 votes

Pixel phones have built a reputation for their exceptional cameras, and the Pixel 11 series gives users even more control over their photos with a new feature known as Camera Looks.

Rather than applying filters post-shot, Camera Looks allows users to select the overall tone and color settings prior to capturing the image. For the standard ‘Default Look,’ there are four levels of HDR processing to choose from. Additionally, various stylized Looks provide a more significant impact on colors and contrast.

The default setting is the familiar “standard” style, so you’ll need to adjust it manually:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Tap the Settings icon located at the bottom right.
3. Select Looks.
4. Swipe through the styles and set your preferred one as the default.

Google is focusing heavily on social media creators with the Pixel 11 camera. It now includes a built-in teleprompter that allows users to read scripts while recording, and social media grid lines indicating where posts like usernames and captions will be displayed after uploading. This feature isn’t even available natively on some competing devices.

However, these tools aren’t enabled by default. To access these features:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Switch to Video.
3. Access Settings.
4. Navigate to the Creator tab.
5. Enable the desired creator features.

While the battery capacity hasn’t seen a dramatic increase this year, Google has introduced an efficient charging feature termed Extreme Charging. Similar to options offered by other brands, this feature allows the Pixel to prioritize faster charging when you’re pressed for time. However, it comes with some limitations.

Extreme Charging activates only when your battery drops below 50%, and you must manually enable it each time you wish to benefit from faster charging speeds.

To switch it on, plug in your Pixel when the battery is under 50%, go to Settings > Battery & charging > Extreme Charging, and tap Turn on now.

While in the battery settings, consider turning on the battery percentage display, as Pixel phones do not show the precise battery level in the status bar by default. It’s often easier to see an exact battery percentage than interpret a small icon.

To enable this feature, navigate to Settings > Battery & charging and toggle the Battery Percentage option.

A new addition to the Pixel 11 Pro models is HiLight, a multicolor LED located on the back. This light can activate when using the phone face down and lights up in different colors depending on the caller. Users will need to assign these colors manually.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Select the contact you wish to customize.
3. Locate HiLight Color in the Contact settings.
4. Pick a color and tap Done.

HiLight functions only for contacts you have marked as favorites. To favor a contact, select it and tap the star icon at the top of the page. Once this is done, the HiLight option will become available.

When connected to a weak Wi-Fi network, the Pixel can automatically switch to cellular data, ensuring a faster connection instead of struggling with slow Wi-Fi. This is particularly useful when moving through areas with unreliable Wi-Fi coverage.

Go to Settings > Network & internet > Adaptive Connectivity, then enable Auto switch to mobile network.

If you constantly receive notifications, it’s likely that you’ve dismissed some important ones unintentionally.

Fortunately, Android offers a Notification History feature that records all notifications received, even the dismissed ones. This feature is off by default, and to enable it:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Notifications.
3. Go to Notification History.
4. Enable the toggle next to Use notification history.

The Pixel 11 also supports AI-driven notification summaries, which utilize the device’s processing capability to simplify lengthy notifications for quick reading.

With Android 16, Google reintroduced lock screen widgets to Pixel phones, yet they remain disabled by default on the Pixel 11.

To configure lock screen widgets:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Wallpaper & style.
3. Scroll down to More lock screen settings.
4. Enable Widgets on lock screen.

Once activated, you can swipe right on the lock screen to access your favorite widgets without needing to unlock. For instance, you can add widgets for tasks, stocks, and weather for immediate access.

While in the lock screen settings, it’s also advisable to customize the lock screen shortcuts by heading over to Shortcuts, where you can decide what appears on the left and right sides of the lock screen.

Now Playing remains one of the most underrated features on the Pixel. It automatically identifies songs playing nearby and displays the song title on your lock screen. It keeps a history of songs as well, which is particularly handy when you hear something you like in a café or restaurant.

On the Pixel 11, Now Playing is more accessible than ever due to its dedicated app. To set it up:

1. Open your app drawer and find the Now Playing app.
2. Tap the settings icon in the upper right corner.
3. Tap Use Now Playing if it’s not already enabled.

One essential setting you hopefully never need, but should configure, is the emergency features on your Pixel 11, such as Car Crash Detection.

Should your Pixel detect a severe car crash, it will vibrate, sound an alarm, and ask if you need help. If you respond affirmatively or don’t respond at all, it can contact emergency services and share your location.

To enable this, navigate to Settings > Safety & emergency > Car Crash Detection and toggle it on. You can also enable the Emergency Sharing option, which automatically shares your location with your emergency contacts.

This feature can be set up today and largely forgotten, but if the need arises, having it configured could be crucial.

Which feature will you adjust first? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Thank you for taking part in our community. Please familiarize yourself with our Comment Policy before posting.