Something exciting is missing from Google’s June Pixel Feature Drop

Google’s June Pixel Drop is now available for download for all eligible Pixel smartphones. The update packs some exciting new features and minor improvements, though it looks like it’s currently missing a much-anticipated feature that allows you to organize your favourite contacts, at least for some users.

The Pixel VIPs, which is a new widget for Pixel phones, was supposed to arrive with the June Pixel Drop. The update did arrive on time for everyone, but some users are reporting that it’s missing the Pixel VIPs widget, even though the Pixel Tips app shows a demo of how the feature works. Interestingly, some lucky users got early access to the widget a few hours before the June Feature Drop rolled out.

Pixel VIPs widget may not show up on your Pixel after updating to Android 16

As spotted by Android Authority, users on Reddit (1,2) first complained about the missing Pixel VIPs feature after updating to Android 16, which came alongside the June Feature Drop. Folks over at Android Authority also reported the same issue after updating their Pixel 6 Pro to Android 16. The problem doesn’t seem to be related to specific Pixel devices, as users of various latest as well as older Pixel models have reported the missing Pixel VIPs widgets and a few other functionalities on Reddit.

The Pixel VIPs isn’t a separate app and is part of the Contacts app. You can pin it to your home screen to get quick access to up to eight of your favourite contacts. These are people you’ve marked as VIPs in your Contacts app. In addition to those contacts, the widget will also show you key communication details, such as last call, message, and more, directly on your home screen. Apart from the Pixel VIPs widgets, they can also be found at the top of the Favourites section in the Contacts app.

There is no official explanation from Google regarding why the widget doesn’t show up for some users even after updating their Pixels to Android 16. The Pixel VIPs widget may become available in a future update to the Contacts app. However, as many users commented on those Reddit threads, it seems that Google hasn’t pushed the necessary update to the Contacts app yet.

If an app update is all that it takes for the Pixel VIPs widget to become available, we hope it won’t be the only new feature. It’ll be interesting to see if the Contacts app update brings recently leaked chats and calls information in the contacts cards alongside the widget.