Android 17 QPR1 Achieves Platform Stability with the Launch of Beta 6 Today

Recently, Google unveiled Android 17 QPR1 Beta 5, which included a series of fixes and improvements just two weeks after the rollout of Beta 4. After a brief interval, Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 is now available.

As announced on Reddit, Beta 6 is launching today with the build number CP31.260618.005. This version marks the achievement of Platform Stability, meaning that the API structure for developers has been finalized, allowing them to integrate new APIs into their applications.

This beta brings multiple improvements and fixes, including:

• Inability to select several spell checker languages.
• Pressing volume buttons within the Clock app not yielding the expected results.
• Visual glitches when swiping rapidly through the media carousel, which have now been rectified.
• App crashes linked to an issue in WindowManagerGlobal.
• Wi-Fi hotspot activation displaying a default SSID instead of the custom user-defined name.

Beta 6 will again support the Pixel 6 series, including devices such as Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9a, Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 10 Pro Fold, 10a, and the Pixel Tablet series.

Notably, Beta 6 features a redesigned home screen context menu. The spacing between menu items has been eliminated, and the Wallpaper & style label has been repositioned to the top.

In addition, the Health Connect app in this beta now includes tracking for both distance and calories.

Watch for another change where taskbar icons are now located at the bottom left in desktop windowing, instead of the center. Moreover, picture-in-picture (PiP) windows can now float freely in this mode, a change from their previous confinement to either side of the screen.