# Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 lets you lock Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Airplane Mode tiles

*Published:* 2026-10-21
*Author:* Farzan Hussain

![](https://bestforandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Stolen-Pixels-get-harder-to-hide-as-Android-17-beta-locks-connectivity-tiles_featured.jpg)Your [Pixel’s lock screen](https://bestforandroid.com/radar/pixel-drop-march-update-breaks-lock-screen-aod/) has quietly been handing thieves a way to make your phone untraceable. One swipe down, one tap, and the connection is gone.

Google has started [rolling out Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2](https://developer.android.com/about/versions/17/qpr3/release-notes#fixed-beta2) to supported Pixel phones, adding a “Lock Quick Settings connectivity” toggle. When it is on, the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, and Mobile Data tiles require an unlock before they can be changed.

**Where to find the Lock Quick Settings connectivity toggle**
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The setting lives under Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock. You can also reach it through Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen.

![](https://bestforandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pixel-Android-17-QPR3-Beta-2-lock-screen-settings.png)

Android expert Mishaal Rahman flagged it in a [Threads post](https://www.threads.com/@mishaal_rahman/post/DeusDTbEinx/you-can-now-lock-quick-settings-connectivity-in-this-latest-android-beta-with/), noting it was previously seen in an Android Canary build with slightly different wording. Earlier sightings never reached regular users, so this is the first time beta testers can actually switch it on.

**Why thieves switch off Airplane Mode and Mobile Data first**
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Cutting a stolen phone’s connection is a common way to stop the owner from tracking it. If the tiles are locked, the phone stays online longer, which gives you a real shot at finding it. I like that Google is closing this gap, though it’s opt-in, so it only protects people who know to turn it on.

There’s a trade-off too. If you flip this on, you’ll need to unlock your phone before enabling Airplane Mode on a flight.

**Which Quick Settings tiles still work without unlocking**
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Only the four connectivity tiles get locked. The flashlight, auto-rotate, and battery saver tiles stay available from the lock screen. That’s a sensible split, because nobody needs a PIN to turn on a torch, and these are the tiles that matter for tracking.

**What else Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 fixes and who can install it**
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The update includes 21 bug fixes. Among them are a fix for devices crashing intermittently, one for screen recording crashes, and one for paired smartwatches that keep ringing after you answer a call on the phone. There’s also a small visual change that puts theme packs in the [Wallpaper & Style](https://bestforandroid.com/set-gif-as-wallpaper-android/) screen into a scrollable carousel. The [previous beta](https://bestforandroid.com/radar/google-pixel-android-17-qpr2-beta-1/) was a smaller release that only fixed UI stuttering.

Supported devices run from the Pixel 6a all the way to the [Pixel 11 Pro Fold](https://bestforandroid.com/radar/google-pixel-11-pro-fold-leaked-images-confirm-pixel-glow/). To try it, sign up on the Android Beta for Pixel website, log in, pick your device, and the update should arrive over the air. It’s still a beta, so expect some rough edges.

A lock screen should lock the things a thief reaches for first, and for years Android’s didn’t.