Google has finally given Pixel owners the ability to disable the At a Glance widget on the Pixel Launcher, which has been a long-awaited feature for many Pixel device owners. The At a Glance widget is a small text-based bar at the top of the primary home screen of the Pixel launcher that displays information such as the weather, calendar events, and traffic conditions. While the widget can be useful, the inability to disable it has led to complaints about its intrusive nature.

However, Android 14’s latest beta includes a hidden toggle that allows users to completely hide the “At a Glance” widget from the home screen, freeing up space for other app icons and/or widgets. This change is expected to be welcomed by many Pixel phone users who want more control over the appearance of their device’s home screen.

It’s important to note that this feature is still a few months away from being available to the general public. The Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 update is currently only available to developers and beta testers, and the “Add At a Glance to home screen” settings toggle is still not active. The final release of Android 14 QPR beta builds is not expected until next year.

Historically, customization options on the Pixel launcher have been limited, with some users opting for third-party launchers that offer more flexibility. The ability to hide the At a Glance widget will open new possibilities for Pixel phone owners and may encourage them to give the out-of-the-box experience a chance. The hope is that the Pixel launcher will eventually support icon packs as well.

Source: Mishaal Rahman.