Kerry Wan/ZDNET
Although there were some disappointing absences in Android 16 (Material 3 Expressive being one of the biggest), there are some features that did make it to the release. One of which is called VIPs. Essentially, VIPs are important contacts you add so you can more easily stay connected with them. With VIPs, you can view your last call and message from an added contact, see their location (when shared), receive updates for events like birthdays, and more. VIPs automatically bypass Do Not Disturb, so you don't ever have to worry about missing a call or message.
One important thing to know is that the more information you add to a VIP's contact page (such as birthdays, email, address, company, and notes), the more you'll get out of the feature; so get as detailed as you can with those VIP contacts.
But how do you use it? Let me show you.
Also: I upgraded to Android 16 - here's what I love and what's still missing
Add your VIPs
What you'll need: VIPs is (currently) only available for Pixel phones running Android 16. Hopefully, the feature will trickle down to other devices because it's a very handy option to have. With that in mind, let's dive into the how.
1. Open the VIPs section First, open your Contacts app. Once that's open, tap the Organize tab at the bottom right. Within the resulting page, you'll see the Pixel VIPs entry. Tap Pixel VIPs to access the feature. Show more
You'll find the Pixel VIPs entry in the Organize section of Contacts. Jack Wallen/ZDNET
2. Add contacts On the resulting page, tap Add or tap the + button associated with suggested contacts. When you tap Add, you'll be taken back to the Contacts tab, where you can search through your contacts to find those you want to be added as VIPs. You can add as many contacts as you like. When you're finished, tap Next. Show more
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