- Pixel VPN by Google is updating its Quick Settings tile to increase ease of use
- Users no longer need to open the VPN interface to check the connection status
- The update makes Google’s free VPN more practical for everyday protection
Google is rolling out a small but useful upgrade to the Pixel’s native Google VPN. The update makes it easier to see your connection status at a glance, improves the VPN’s Quick Settings field, and makes the app more convenient for everyday use.
Instead of introducing any new security features, the update focuses entirely on ease of use. Pixel users can now check if the VPN is connected, paused, or having connection issues directly from the Quick Settings panel without having to open the app’s full interface.
The update applies to supported devices starting from the Pixel 7 and newer models. It is being rolled out with version 2025.12.19.x of VPN by Google along with a server-side switch that enables the new functionality.
What’s new in the Quick settings box
Before the update, the larger 2×1 Quick Settings tile for Pixel VPN wasn’t very informative.
As reported by 9to5Google, it showed ‘VPN by Google’ twice, and the only indication of your connection’s status was a change in color: solid when active and lighter when disconnected. To see the exact status, you had to long press 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 tile’s shape and color also adjust accordingly, switching between either a filled rounded rectangle when the VPN is active and a lighter pill shape when paused. The smaller 1×1 tile still doesn’t show status, but a long press on either version of the tile still opens the full VPN interface.
How to use the new functionality
If you haven’t already enabled Pixels VPN from Google, you can set it up by going to Settings > Network & Internet > VPN > VPN from Google and accept the terms. When active, the VPN tile appears in the Quick Settings panel.
To make the most of the new status feature, swipe down from the top of your screen and tap the pencil icon (edit). From there, drag the VPN tile into place and expand it to the larger 2×1 size – this is required to show live connection status.
With just a glance, you can now see if your VPN is connected, paused or struggling. This makes troubleshooting faster, improves your visibility on public Wi-Fi, and reduces the number of taps needed to confirm your connection.
Why this matters to Pixel users
Pixel VPN replaced Google One VPN and is now available for free on supported 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 wasn’t very intuitive.
By improving its usability and making connection status more visible, Google has increased the chances that users will keep the VPN on. It also makes it clearer and prevents confusion when connections fail.
Despite this, VPN by Google remains a fairly basic app compared to dedicated services in our guides to the best VPN for Android and the best free VPN options.
The update is not a feature overhaul; it’s a tweak to its usability. But clearer visibility means more daily VPN use, and it shows that Google is keen to refine the Pixel VPN experience.
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