Pixel Camera 11 gets new hotkeys and Launch Mode

With the new Pixel 11 series, Google is rolling out its revamped Pixel Camera 11 app, including redesigned quick access sliders. Let’s take a look at what they do and how to access them.

Google has given its quick-access camera controls a major redesign in Pixel Camera 11, but there’s one catch: those controls are hidden by default. The controls aren’t very intuitive to use, even when you explore the menus to enable them.

People first noticed the new controls here 9-5 Google. We’ve tested Pixel 11 devices and can confirm that the redesigned controls are indeed there.

Previously, the same controls appeared as larger slider bars (left). They now appear as clean dial-like controls, as shown above (right). Controls include focus, scene, exposure, shadows, white balance, shutter speed, and ISO.

In Pixel Camera 10.4, quick access controls appear as standalone toggles in app settings. With Pixel Camera 11, quick access gets its own submenu. Here you can customize the placement of the above controls.

Note that if you have a newer Pixel 11 series device, the quick access controls are disabled by default. To enable the feature, go to the settings of the camera app. Don’t expect the controls to suddenly appear on the screen after switching on. Quick access controls remain hidden until you tap the viewfinder. Only then will the controls appear on both sides of the display.

It makes sense to keep the controls off-screen by default, leaving the camera interface clean. However, this also creates a problem of discovery for someone who is not yet familiar with the feature. At the very least, a prompt in the feature’s settings menu explaining that you need to tap the viewfinder to reveal the controls would make the feature easier to find and use.

Elsewhere, as part of the same update, Google is adding a new Launch Mode. It actually allows you to change the app’s default launch mode from Photo to Video or Magic Capture. It’s about launching a standard app and a double-tap shortcut, which removes a step from your workflow if you primarily use the Pixel camera to record video, or if you want to capture both videos and photos with Magic Capture.

Magic Capture is a feature exclusive to the Pixel 11 series, though as we’ve seen with countless other exclusives in the past, it’s likely to make its way to older Pixels in the future. Likewise, the new Quick Access menu and Launch mode will eventually appear on older devices.