Pixel Journal is working on a revamp with media layout controls, full-screen videos, and more
Source: Android Authority
*Ryan Haines / Android Authority*
# TL;DR
- Our APK teardown of the **Pixel Journal** version reveals upcoming reminder controls that let you choose when journaling notifications arrive.
- The update also hints at new media layouts, including compact photo grids and a **“Show all”** gallery view for entries.
- Other tweaks include full‑screen video playback, a theme‑override option, and small interface changes across the app.
# Overview
It’s not just Pixel 10 owners who can enjoy the richer features of Pixel Journal anymore. Earlier this week, the [**March Pixel Drop**](https://www.androidauthority.com/march-2026-pixel-drop-3646073/) expanded several of the app’s AI capabilities **to Pixel 9 devices**, including **Reflections**, **Revisit Topics**, and **Mood ID**. While that update brought more people into the fold, Google is still actively refining the journaling experience itself.
After digging around in version **2026.02.10.867917178** of the app, we’ve spotted a number of interface tweaks and new options currently in development. Some of these changes are already visible if you’re running the latest version today, while others required us to manually enable them under the hood. Below we walk through each change, noting which ones are publicly available and which appear to still be in testing.
---
## What’s New (and What’s Still Hidden)
| Feature | Description | Availability |
|---------|-------------|--------------|
| **Reminder Controls** | Choose specific times for journaling notifications. | In testing (requires manual enable). |
| **Compact Photo Grid** | Thumbnails displayed in a tighter grid layout. | Live in the current release. |
| **“Show All” Gallery View** | Opens a full‑screen scrollable gallery for an entry. | Live in the current release. |
| **Full‑Screen Video Playback** | Videos now play without UI chrome. | Live in the current release. |
| **Theme Override** | Force light or dark mode regardless of system setting. | In testing (requires manual enable). |
| **Minor UI Tweaks** | Adjusted spacing, updated icons, and refined text styles. | Live in the current release. |
---
### How We Uncovered the Hidden Features
1. **APK Decompilation** – Extracted resources and inspected XML layouts.
2. **Feature Flags** – Modified `shared_prefs` to toggle experimental flags.
3. **Logcat Scraping** – Looked for `FeatureToggle` entries during runtime.
---
## What to Expect Next
- **Broader rollout** of reminder controls and theme override in the coming weeks.
- Potential **AI‑driven suggestions** for entry titles based on content.
- Continued **performance optimizations** for large media libraries.
Stay tuned for further updates as Google continues to iterate on Pixel Journal! Pixel Journal May Soon Let You Control When Reminders Arrive
Pixel Journal already sends reminders and follow‑up notifications to encourage you to write an entry, but you have limited control over when those prompts appear.
What’s new?
Google is experimenting with more customizable reminder controls in the latest app build:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| “Set up reminders” banner | Appears at the top of the Entries page. Tapping it opens the Reminders screen. |
| Time‑window toggles | Three selectable windows: Morning (~7 AM), Afternoon (~2 PM), Evening (~9 PM). |
| Access from settings | The same controls are also reachable via Journal → Settings → Reminders. |
| Testing status | The banner isn’t visible by default in the current build, indicating it’s still under internal testing. |
How to use it
- Open the Entries page and look for the “Set up reminders” banner at the top.
- Tap the banner → Reminders screen appears.
- Toggle the desired time windows (Morning, Afternoon, Evening).
- (Optional) Go to Settings → Reminders to adjust the same options later.
Screenshots
Insert screenshots here showing the banner, the Reminders screen, and the Settings page.
If you’re interested in trying this feature, keep an eye on future Pixel Journal updates or join the Google Pixel Insider program for early access.
Pixel Journal May Soon Let You Customize How Entry Media Appears
Google is testing new layout controls for photos and videos inside a journal entry.
What’s Changing
- Layout option – added to the Customization menu.
- Compact – groups photos into a tighter block, giving entries with many images a tidier look.
- Full – retains the familiar horizontal carousel, letting you swipe through media one at a time.
Note: These layout choices are not visible by default in the current build and are still under development.
New “Show all” Button
- When an entry contains multiple photos or videos, a “Show all” button appears beneath the media section.
- Tapping it opens a “Your journal media” page that displays every attached photo/video in a grid view.
- This effectively turns each journal entry into its own mini‑gallery, making it easier to browse larger collections of memories.
Like the upcoming reminders feature, these media‑layout options are currently hidden and may change before they reach a public release.
Videos in Entries Get a Better Player
Google is improving how videos behave inside journal entries. Previously, videos could only be played in the media carousel and there was no option for full‑screen playback.
What’s New
- Duration overlay – A small time‑chip appears on top of each video, showing its total length.
- Quick mute – Tapping the time‑chip mutes the video instantly.
- Full‑screen player – Tapping the video itself now opens a dedicated full‑screen player, similar to the one used in Google Photos.
- Timeline scrubber – The new player includes a familiar timeline scrubber for easy seeking.
Visual Comparison
| Old UI | New UI |
|---|---|
 |  |
| Video can only be played in the carousel | Duration overlay and mute chip added |
| Full‑screen player |
|---|
 |
| The player mirrors Google Photos with a timeline scrubber |
Note: This change is already available in the current build.
With these updates, watching longer clips inside journal entries should feel much more comfortable.
Pixel Journal Settings Revamp
The Settings page has received a few notable tweaks:
| Change | What’s new? | Visual reference |
|---|---|---|
| AI Features placement | The AI Features toggle has been moved closer to the top of the list, making it more prominent and easier to access. |  |
 | ||
| Theme selector | A brand‑new Theme option now appears (previously the app simply followed the system‑wide theme). You can manually choose Light, Dark, or System default from within the app. |  |
Note: These changes are enabled by default in the latest release, so you’ll see them as soon as you update the app.
The Insights Page Layout Is Changing Slightly
Google appears to be tweaking the layout of the Insights page.
- Current version: The calendar picker used to navigate between weeks sits inside the Mood card.
- Updated design: The month label and navigation arrows are moved to the top of the page, putting the week‑switching controls in a more obvious position and making it quicker to browse past entries.
Compare the current UI (first image) with the version we enabled in the second image. Like the new media‑layout options, this interface tweak isn’t enabled by default yet and appears to still be under development.
Note: As with any APK teardown, there’s no guarantee these features will make it into a future release of Pixel Journal—especially those not yet visible in the current version. The changes do suggest Google is continuing to refine the app’s interface and usability, indicating it sees the app as an important part of the Pixel experience.
⚠️ Disclaimer
An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work‑in‑progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release.
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