Face Active Illumination Arrives in Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2
Google is developing a new “Face Active Illumination” feature designed to brighten the Pixel display and assist face unlock in dark environments, Android Authority reported. Code uncovered in Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 reveals that users will be able to adjust brightness levels and configure the tool to operate during specific situations like bedtime hours or driving.
The feature remains a work in progress with an unfinished user interface, and Google has not yet officially announced a release date. Feature rollouts often vary across different phone models.
Managing illumination with the new brightness slider
Enabling the feature for the first time triggers a one-time confirmation prompt warning users that accessibility settings may temporarily behave differently when the screen brightens. A newly discovered brightness slider ranges from a “Comfort” setting to a “Reliable” setting. The comfort option uses lower illumination to prevent users from being blinded by the phone screen late at night, while the reliable option deploys higher brightness to unlock the device in complete darkness.
By default, the system brightens the screen only when a user’s face is partially visible. Users can toggle a “Complete darkness” setting to force the screen to brighten even when the face cannot be detected at all.
Contextual Toggles for Bedtime and Driving
Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 code shows that Google is building specific situation controls for the illumination tool. Users will find toggles to activate or deactivate screen brightening when Do Not Disturb mode is turned on, during Bedtime hours, or while a car ride is detected. When active, settings such as extra dim, color inversion, or removed animations may temporarily adjust.
Adjusting illumination settings for face unlock brightness
What triggers the Face Active Illumination screen brightening by default?
By default, the screen only brightens when your face is partially visible. Users must manually enable the “Complete darkness” setting if they want the screen to boost brightness when it is too dark to detect a partial face.
Can users control how bright the screen gets during face unlock?
Yes. Code found in the beta software includes a slider ranging from a “Comfort” setting to a “Reliable” setting, letting users choose between lower illumination and higher (or perhaps maximum) brightness.
What accessibility features might be affected when the screen brightens?
According to the configuration prompts, turning on the feature means accessibility settings like extra dim, color inversion, or removed animations may temporarily behave differently while the screen is illuminated.
Related reading