Google Pixel’s Recent apps screen gets a big downgrade with the latest update

The Recent apps screen on Pixels packs several handy features that you won’t find on other Android phones. One of them is the ability to directly trigger a Google Lens search or save them locally. However, Google appears to have removed this functionality with the March 2026 Feature Drop.

Unlike other Android phones, you can take a screenshot or even select text from within apps directly from the Recent apps screen on Pixels. If an image appears within an app, you can also save it or run a Google Lens search on it from the same interface. While minor, the feature saves a few taps, which quickly adds up over time.

Unfortunately, some Pixel owners on Reddit are noticing that the March 2026 Feature downgrades the Recent apps screen functionality. You can no longer save an image directly to Google Photos or do a Google Lens search (via Android Authority). Instead, the only options now are to copy the image or share it with another app through the share sheet.

Left: Old Recent Apps screen behavior; Right: New, less functional screen

Now, to save an image, you must use the “Upload to Photos” option from the share sheet. While it works, it adds a few extra taps. To trigger a Google Lens search, you can instead use Circle to Search as a workaround.

An intentional change from Google

If anything, Google might just have made this change to encourage users to rely on Circle to Search instead of Google Lens for image search, especially since the March Feature Drop further enhanced the feature.

This same behavior is also a part of the latest Android 17 beta. So, it appears this is an intended move on Google’s part.

Admittedly, most Pixel owners will never notice this downgrade in functionality of the Recent Apps screen. It’s one of those little Pixel features that only power users would know about. Due to this, it’s unlikely that Google will consider restoring this functionality in a future update.

On the bright side, the March 2026 Feature Drop adds several useful new features to Pixels, including Magic Cue improvements, a standalone Now Playing app, and the ability to directly book an Uber.