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Android 13 DP1 opens up dynamic icon theming to third-party apps
Just be ready for a big mix of themed and un-themed icons
Google has confirmed that Material You is set to grow beyond the bounds of the Pixel family, but that doesn’t mean it’s done evolving and growing in new ways. An experiment in Android 12 Beta 3 expands the reach of the dynamic theming system to home screen icons, but only for Google's own apps. Now with Android 13, third-party apps are free to create their own theming-friendly icons so you can have the two-tone icon packs you’ve always wanted without installing a custom launcher.
Weekend poll: How do you feel about Material You?
Android 12 is the platform's first big refresh in years — but is it any good?
It's been a while since Android received a visual overhaul, but that's just what's on the menu this year. Google's new Material You design strategy is a bold shift from its previous look, pulling colors from your phone's wallpaper to create a dynamic theme across all of your support apps. As we draw closer to the official launch of Android 12, it's worth finding out just how Android users are feeling about the change.
The closer we get to the official launch of Android 12, the more apps are starting to pick up Material You. Gmail is next on the list, finally giving one of Google's most prominent services some long-awaited dynamic theming.
Google's Pixel live wallpapers now support Material You theming
Just make sure you've updated to the most recent beta
Android 12 brings a fresh look to your smartphone, thanks in large part to Material You. Google's new dynamic themes add a splash of color to your home screen, your browser, and even your keyboard. We're quickly approaching Android 12's stable release, with some of the last bugs getting ironed out. Material You finally supports Google's assortment of live wallpapers with a new update to the Pixel Live Wallpaper app.
Most of Android 12's visual changes have been pretty well-received overall, but a few of the tweaks have gone just a step too far. With the more prominent focus on widgets, the ability to resize how they appear on your home screen is essential, but if you're struggling to see an outline on the grid, that's not doing you any favors. Luckily, the latest Android 12 beta makes the widget resizer much easier to use, though you'll lose out on some color as a result.