Android Canary 2603 Previews App Lock, Separate Wi-Fi Toggles, and a Slick New Screen Recorder

Google just dropped Android Canary 2603 to its cutting-edge beta testers, and it's one of the meatier releases we've seen in a while. The build, which carries the March 2026 security patch, introduces features that range from long-overdue corrections (separate Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles) to genuinely new capabilities (app lock) to nice quality-of-life improvements (redesigned screen recording).

Separate Wi-Fi and Mobile Data Toggles Are Back

Remember when Android had separate Quick Settings tiles for Wi-Fi and mobile data? And then Google decided to combine them into a single 'Internet' tile that required extra taps to reach the thing you actually wanted? Well, the separate tiles are back.

This might seem like a small change, but it's one of those decisions that affects literally every Android user, multiple times per day. The combined Internet tile was a textbook example of prioritizing visual cleanliness over actual usability — like a kitchen designer who hides the knife drawer because it looks cleaner, even though you need knives every time you cook.

If you had the combined Internet tile set up, it'll automatically become the Wi-Fi toggle, and you can manually add Mobile data back to your Quick Settings. One toggle, one function. As it should be.

App Lock: Biometric Protection for Individual Apps

Android Canary 2603 introduces app-level locking, accessible by long-pressing on any app. When enabled, opening that app will require biometric authentication (fingerprint or face unlock) or your device PIN. It's the kind of feature that third-party apps have provided for years, but having it built into the OS means better integration, more reliable security, and no need to trust a random app from the Play Store with system-level permissions.

The use cases are obvious: lock your banking app, your messaging app, your photos, your email — anything you wouldn't want someone to access if they borrowed your unlocked phone for a minute. It's privacy that works at the app level rather than requiring you to lock the entire device.

Alongside app lock, the long-press menu has been redesigned. Apps with 2-4 shortcuts now tuck them into a 'Shortcuts' submenu to keep the menu clean, with a new expand button to access them. Apps with just one shortcut are spared the extra nesting.

Bubbles Get Official

Chat bubbles — the floating conversation heads that let you keep a chat visible while using other apps — are now fully active in Canary 2603. The feature was announced as part of Android 17 Beta 2, but it's now accessible through the long-press menu on supported apps. It's essentially Facebook Messenger's chat heads, but system-wide and built into Android itself.

Screen Recording Gets a Floating Pill

The screen recording interface has been completely redesigned with a floating pill UI. Instead of the old notification-based approach, tapping the Quick Settings tile now brings up a compact floating pill that lets you start recording immediately or adjust settings. You can choose between recording the entire screen or a single app, toggle device audio and microphone recording, and show touches on screen.

Once recording starts, tapping the status bar indicator brings back the floating UI where you can access settings or stop the recording. When you're done, a new preview interface lets you watch the clip, edit, delete, or share it — all without leaving the context you were in. It's a small but polished improvement that makes screen recording feel like a first-class feature rather than a developer tool someone forgot to dress up.

More Blur Everywhere

Google is also cranking up the blur effects in the system UI, particularly visible in the Widgets pane. It's a subtle visual refinement that gives Android a more polished, layered feel. Not a functional change, but one that signals Google is paying attention to the little details that make an OS feel premium.

Key Takeaways

• Separate Wi-Fi and Mobile data Quick Settings tiles return, replacing the combined Internet toggle
• App Lock lets you protect individual apps with biometric authentication or PIN via the long-press menu
• Chat Bubbles are now fully active for supported messaging apps
• Screen recording gets a redesigned floating pill interface with inline preview, edit, and share options
• Increased blur effects throughout the system UI add visual polish
• Available on Pixel 6 through Pixel 10 Pro Fold via the Android Canary channel

Our Take

Android Canary builds are supposed to be experimental and rough around the edges, but 2603 reads more like a greatest-hits album of features people have been requesting. Bringing back separate Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles is Google admitting the combined tile was a mistake — a rare concession from a company that usually doubles down on unpopular UI decisions. App Lock is overdue but welcome. The fact that millions of Android users have been relying on third-party apps for basic app-level security is slightly embarrassing for a platform that controls the entire OS stack. Building it into Android natively is the right call, even if it's years late. The screen recording redesign is the kind of thoughtful UX work that doesn't get headlines but makes a real difference in daily use. The old notification-based approach felt like an afterthought. The new floating pill feels intentional. These are Canary features, so there's no guarantee they'll all ship with Android 17. But based on what we're seeing, the next version of Android is shaping up to be one of the most user-responsive updates in years.