Android Canary 2611 brings back app locking and adds quick shortcuts on Pixel

App locking is back in Android Canary 2611, along with a handful of changes designed for everyday tasks: opening the camera, checking an alarm or keeping an app handy while you do something else. There’s an important catch: Canary is an experimental release, not a stable update you should install as a matter of routine.

Google has released the new build for compatible Pixel devices. Models with installation images include the Pixel 6a, the Pixel 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 families, plus the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. That doesn’t mean every model in each family is compatible, so it’s worth checking your specific device before you start.

Locked apps, bubbles and a camera close at hand

One of the most eye-catching changes is the return of App Lock, the app-locking feature. There’s also a new shortcut in the recent apps screen for opening apps in bubbles: small floating windows that let you keep an app in view while you use another part of your phone.

The release adds a button in Quick Settings to open the camera. That’s the panel that appears when you swipe down from the top of the screen, where you’ll already find controls for things like connectivity and brightness.

There’s also a detail for people who use the 12-hour clock: the lock screen’s At a Glance widget shows an AM or PM indicator next to alarms. It may seem minor, but it helps you tell at a glance whether that alarm is set for the morning or the evening.

Not everything here is entirely new to Android: some of these features have already appeared in a beta release. And seeing them in Canary doesn’t guarantee they’ll reach a stable release, or that they’ll look exactly the same if they do.

An early taste of Android, with risks attached

Canary is the channel Google uses to offer early Android releases alongside the beta program. It is aimed primarily at developers who want to test features and check how their apps behave when the system changes.

The beta offers more polished features; Canary lets you take a look earlier, but it can also bring bugs or changes that affect the device’s normal operation. That’s why Google doesn’t recommend using it on your main or only phone. Trying out new features is fun; being left without a reliable phone for work, not so much.

Before installing, think about the way out too

You can perform the initial installation with Android Flash Tool on a compatible Pixel. After that, the device is enrolled in the channel and receives new Canary releases wirelessly, approximately once a month.

Here’s a detail worth knowing before you hit install: leaving Canary requires wiping the device’s data and installing a beta or public release. Back up your data before you begin and check that you can recover what you need.

If you have a spare device and enjoy experimenting, Canary can be a good way to explore. If you just want a look without touching your phone, Google also offers Android Canary in the Android Studio emulator.