- Google’s Pixel VPN updates its Quick Settings tile to improve usability
- Users no longer need to open the VPN interface to check the connection status.
- Update makes Google’s free VPN more practical for everyday protection
Google is rolling out a small but useful update to Google’s native Pixel VPN. The update makes it easier to see your connection status at a glance, improving the VPN’s Quick Settings tile and making the app more convenient for everyday use.
Instead of introducing new security features, the update focuses solely on usability. Pixel users can now check if the VPN is connected, paused, or having connection issues directly from the Quick Settings panel, without needing to open the full app interface.
The update applies to supported devices, starting with the Pixel 7 and newer models. Google is rolling out with VPN version 2025.12.19.x, along with a server-side switch that enables the new functionality.
What’s new in the Quick Settings tile
Before the update, the larger 2×1 Quick Settings tile for Pixel VPN wasn’t particularly informative.
As reported by 9to5Google, it showed ‘Google VPN’ twice, and the only indication about the status of your connection was a color change: full when active and lighter when offline. To see the exact status, you had to press and hold the tile to open the full VPN interface.
With this update, the second line of the 2×1 tile now shows the VPN’s live connection status: “Connected”, “Paused”, “Connecting…” or “Unable to connect”.
The shape and color of the tile are also adjusted accordingly, changing between a filled rounded rectangle when the VPN is active and a lighter pill shape when it’s paused. The smaller 1×1 tile still doesn’t show the status, but long-pressing either version of the tile still opens the full VPN interface.
How to use the new functionality
If you haven’t enabled Google VPN for Pixel yet, you can set it up by going to Settings > Network and Internet > VPN > Google VPN and accepting the terms. Once active, the VPN tile will appear in your Quick Settings panel.
To make the most of the new status feature, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the pencil (edit) icon. From there, drag the VPN tile into position and expand it to the larger 2×1 size; This is necessary to show the live connection status.
With just a glance, you can now see if your VPN is connected, paused, or having problems. This speeds up troubleshooting, improves your visibility on public Wi-Fi networks, and reduces the number of taps required to confirm your connection.
Why this is important for Pixel users
Pixel VPN replaced Google One VPN and is now available for free on compatible Pixel devices, making it one of the easiest ways to enable built-in online protection. Its simplicity is a key part of its appeal. However, before this update, checking its status was not very intuitive.
By improving its usability and making connection status more visible, Google has increased the chances of users keeping the VPN on. It also clarifies it and avoids confusion when connections fail.
Despite this, Google VPN is still a fairly basic app compared to the dedicated services featured in our guides to the best VPN for Android and best free VPN options.
The update is not a feature revision; It’s an adjustment to its ease of use. But clearer visibility means more daily VPN use, and shows that Google intends to refine the Pixel VPN experience.
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