Joe Maring / Android Authority
If you recently updated your Pixel phone to Android 16 QPR2, you’ve probably noticed that there are a lot of new features for you to play with. With improved app icon customization, lock screen widgets, and more, QPR2 is a darn good update.
One of the more interesting changes is actually a reversal of something added in Android 16 QPR1 this past September. As part of the Material 3 Expressive interface added to Pixel phones with that update, one of the bigger UI tweaks was a blur effect in the app drawer and Quick Settings panel. I don’t mind it, but it’s something a lot of Pixel users have wanted Google to get rid of.
Thanks to Google’s latest Android update, you finally can. If you hate the background blur on your Pixel, there’s a new secret setting that lets you fully disable it. Here’s how.
Are you going to disable your Pixel's background blur effects? 11 votes Yes 9 % No 91 %
How to disable all background blur in Android 16 QPR2
To get started, you first need to ensure your Pixel has the Android 16 QPR2 update. Once you’ve confirmed that it does, all you need to do next is open the Settings app and tap a few buttons. Here are the full steps to follow: Open the Settings app. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Accessibility. Tap Color & motion. Tap Reduce blur effects. And that’s it! Once the toggle changes from an X to a check mark, you’ll know that the setting is enabled. You don’t have to restart your phone or wait for these changes to take effect — they happen immediately.
Blur effect on Blur effect off Blur effect on Blur effect off
You can see in the screenshots the difference between having the background blur effect on vs. off. When it’s on, the background of the app drawer and Quick Settings has a glassy effect that lets some of your home screen wallpaper (or the app you’re using) peek through a bit. There’s also a blur transition effect whenever you open the app drawer or Quick Settings.
However, once you disable this with the “Reduce blur effects” setting, that all goes away. The background of your app drawer and Quick Settings becomes a solid, more saturated color, and the blur effect when opening either one is gone, too. You’ll also see a solid color for the recent apps background.
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