A new app called HiLight Studio enhances the Pixel 11 Pro's HiLight notification LED by allowing extensive customization of colors, patterns, and triggers, overcoming the feature's default limitations.
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Google's new HiLight notification LED on the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/981713/google-pixel-11-pro-review">Pixel 11 Pro</a> is nearly useless. Out of the box, the only two things it can glow for are when the phone is face down and you're interacting with Gemini, or when you get a call from a favorite contact. And even then, it can only glow one of five colors!</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This is a massive wasted opportunity for a feature that used to be so beloved on older Android phones, so developers have wasted no time doing what Google won't.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">X user <a href="https://x.com/Davidimel/status/2090430087459991714">Dhananjay_Tech</a> developed a new app called <a href="https://t.co/89mC2VMa48">HiLight Studio</a>, which lets you do practically anything you want with the HiLight LED array. Did you receive a new Slack notification that m …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/982791/this-app-makes-the-pixel-11s-hilight-feature-actually-useful">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
# This app makes the Pixel 11’s HiLight feature actually useful
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/982791/this-app-makes-the-pixel-11s-hilight-feature-actually-useful](https://www.theverge.com/tech/982791/this-app-makes-the-pixel-11s-hilight-feature-actually-useful)
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David Imel
is a technology reporter who has been covering the industry since 2007\. He co\-hosts the Waveform podcast with MKBHD\. A former engineer, he now specializes in topics like computational photography and social media protocols\.
Google’s new HiLight notification LED on the[Pixel 11 Pro](https://www.theverge.com/tech/981713/google-pixel-11-pro-review)is nearly useless\. Out of the box, the only two things it can glow for are when the phone is face down and you’re interacting with Gemini, or when you get a call from a favorite contact\. And even then, it can only glow one of five colors\!
This is a massive wasted opportunity for a feature that used to be so beloved on older Android phones, so developers have wasted no time doing what Google won’t\.
X user[Dhananjay\_Tech](https://x.com/Davidimel/status/2090430087459991714)developed a new app called[HiLight Studio](https://t.co/89mC2VMa48), which lets you do practically anything you want with the HiLight LED array\. Did you receive a new Slack notification that mentions a certain word? Make HiLight pulse in a rainbow array\. Get a new text? Make HiLight spin in a wave of green\. You can even control things like timing per cycle, brightness, intensity, and saturation\.
**1/5**
*The primary interface\.*
Unlike the official feature from Google, you can select any color you want through eight preselected colors, or a classic color slider\. HiLight Studio even lets you import and export presets, so you can share them with your friends\.
The app isn’t on the Play Store quite yet, so you’ll have to grab it from[GitHub](http://github.com/DhananjayBhosale/hilight-studio)and sideload a couple of apps to make it work\. Running it requires unlocking developer settings and tweaking a couple things on your phone\. It’s not as easy as a regular app, but if you’re willing and comfortable, it’s worth it\. I know I’m going to be using the hell out of this\.
*Photos by David Imel / The verge*
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- David Imel
Google's Pixel 11 will feature a back-facing notification light called HiLight, which also ties into Gemini interactions, similar to features on upcoming Googlebook laptops and the Google Home Speaker.
The Google Pixel 11 Pro is a great phone with standout software features like Rambler, but its appeal is diminished by hardware downgrades and limited proactive assistance.
The Pixel 11 introduces a new suite of camera features called Camera Looks, aiming to reduce over-processing in smartphone photography. This is discussed in a podcast episode on The Vergecast.
Google introduces the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, a lighter and thinner foldable with a new HiLight LED camera bar, improved durability, faster charging, and Tensor G6-powered Gemini intelligence features.