Google is rolling out the Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 update to compatible Pixel devices, and among the build’s headline features is a new privacy-related feature: a location indicator (via Android Authority).
Similar to how Android devices showcase a pill-shaped icon at the top of the screen when an app or service is using the microphone or the camera, Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 includes a new blue location indicator. It appears in the status bar when an app is using your device’s location services.
Unlike the previous status bar icon, the new location icon shows which apps are accessing your device’s location at any given time. All you have to do is press the icon at the top right of the screen to see the names of apps using the service either in the foreground or the background (in a dialog box).
The dialog box is now titled “Microphone, Camera & Location.” Along with listing the app currently using a privacy permission, it also provides the options to “Close this app” and “Manage access.” You also get buttons to view recent access and return to the quick settings section.
A clearer, more actionable privacy signal
When multiple permissions are accessed (such as camera, microphone, and location), the privacy indicator turns green again (but shows the relevant symbol or icon). However, once you tap the privacy indicator, the operating system will show you the names of the apps and the permissions they’re using at the moment (as shown in the screenshot above).
The addition of a more versatile permission access indicator is crucial for day-to-day use, as location data is among the most sensitive pieces of information an Android device (or any other smartphone, for that matter) handles. While Android has traditionally flagged apps that frequently access location, this update provides real-time, actionable information.
For everyday users, the Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 updates introduce a new way to see precisely which app is tracking their location right when it happens.
If you’ve ever wondered when a weather or a social media app accesses your location or tracks your movements, you should be able to do so when Google releases Android 16 QPR3 as a stable update, sometime in early 2026.
For now, the new location indicator is only available via Google’s beta program on eligible Pixel phones. In the future, Google’s privacy dashboard could also provide a historical summary of permissions granted to apps (especially location permissions).
Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 also includes a new set of Wi-Fi controls that give users more granular control over wireless networking sharing.
