A new ‘live effects’ option has been added to Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2’s wallpaper picker

A few notable improvements to the system’s wallpaper customizing experience are brought about by Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2, which improves both functionality and appearance. Building on the significant visual redesign introduced in Beta 1, where the lock screen and home screen customization menus were overhauled using the Material 3 Expressive design language, Beta 2 further polishes the wallpaper picker with the inclusion of two fresh additions that promise to elevate personalization.

One of the most prominent new features is the expanded rollout of the “Recent Photos” carousel, which serves as a suggested image section. Although a limited version of this function was spotted by some users during the first beta phase, it now appears to be broadly accessible. As the name implies, it operates by pulling in recent images from the user’s gallery, but not indiscriminately. The system uses intelligent filtering to prioritize images featuring people, pets, or subjects likely to serve well as wallpapers, leaving out those that don’t visually align with screen background standards. This carousel appears directly in the wallpaper picker, allowing users to quickly scroll through a visually curated lineup of their latest photo memories.

The second new addition is the debut of a “Live Effects” section. This fresh category introduces dynamic visual elements to static images, adding a layer of animation and depth to the overall wallpaper experience. Presented through an animated preview card showcasing GIF-style demonstrations, users can tap into this section to apply effects such as shape overlays, weather-based animations, and 3D cinematic transformations. Once a photo is selected, the interface guides the user straight to the available effect customization, skipping other redundant steps and providing a streamlined path to personalization. While no brand-new visual styles have been added beyond those already existing, the emphasis seems more on educating users about this underutilized feature rather than unveiling groundbreaking tools.

Google Pixel smartphones running Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 are now formally available. For those looking to test these new features firsthand, a step-by-step installation guide is also accessible to help users get started.