How to Use HiLight with Google Messages on Pixel 11 Pro

Pixel 11 Pro owners can now see a colored glow on the camera bar when a favorite contact texts them in Google Messages, even if the phone is lying face down. The November 2026 Pixel Drop expanded HiLight support beyond calls and Gemini activity.

This guide shows exactly how to turn on the feature, assign colors to contacts, and use it day to day.

What HiLight does with Google Messages

HiLight is the array of LEDs around the camera bar on the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. When the phone rests face down, the light activates for selected events so you can stay focused without constantly checking the screen.

As of the November Pixel Drop, a message from one of your favorite contacts causes the light to glow (typically blinking twice) in the color you assigned to that person. Official support covers Google Messages. Calls from favorites and Gemini interactions continue to work as before.

The feature requires the phone to be face down on a flat surface. Flash notifications must stay off for HiLight to take priority on calls.

Confirm your device and software

HiLight for Messages is available only on the Pixel 11 Pro series (Pro, Pro XL, and Pro Fold). The base Pixel 11 does not have the hardware.

Make sure your phone has received the November 2026 Pixel Drop. Go to Settings > System > System update and install any pending updates. Also update the Google Messages and Contacts apps from the Play Store.

If the Messages option does not appear, wait a few hours after the update or restart the phone. Some users saw the setting arrive after background Play system updates finished.

Enable HiLight for Messages

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap System, then HiLight.
3. Turn on Use HiLight if it is not already enabled.
4. Under Manage Experiences, enable Messages from favorites. The toggle sits below Speaking with Gemini and Calls from favorites.

You can leave the other options on or off according to preference. The Messages setting applies globally to all favorite contacts who have a color assigned.

Mark contacts as favorites and assign colors

HiLight only triggers for contacts you have marked as favorites.

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Select the person you want to prioritize.
3. Tap the star icon to mark them as a favorite (if not already).
4. Scroll to Contact settings and tap HiLight.
5. Enable the Messages switch (you can also toggle Phone calls separately).
6. Pick a color from the available options (blue, cyan, green, orange, pink, purple, teal, white, yellow, or none).
7. Tap Preview to see the glow, then Done.

Repeat for up to a handful of people. Using too many colors makes them harder to distinguish at a glance.

Test the notification

Place the Pixel face down on a flat surface. Have a favorite contact send you a Google Messages text. The camera-bar light should blink twice in the assigned color.

If nothing happens:

• Confirm the contact is starred and has a color set for Messages.
• Verify Messages from favorites is on in Settings > System > HiLight.
• Ensure the phone is fully face down and not tilted.
• Disable any flash-notification accessibility setting.
• Restart the phone and recheck the Contacts and Messages apps for updates.

Tips for daily use

Use distinct colors for the people who matter most so you can decide whether to flip the phone over. Pair HiLight with Do Not Disturb so only priority alerts reach you while the screen stays dark.

The light is brightest in dim rooms. In bright daylight it is less noticeable, so treat it as a secondary cue rather than a primary alert.

If you also use WhatsApp, note that call support already exists; message support for third-party apps remains limited to official integrations at this time.

For more Pixel hardware tips, see our guide on setting up Google Pixel Tag.

Conclusion

HiLight for Google Messages turns the Pixel 11 Pro’s camera-bar LEDs into a quiet, color-coded signal for important texts. Enable the system toggle, star your key contacts, assign colors, and place the phone face down. You stay present in conversations or meetings without missing the messages that matter.

Check for future Pixel Drops, as Google has already expanded HiLight once and may add more apps over time.

Sources

• November Pixel Drop: Gemini Intelligence and Pixel Tag — Google Blog, 10 November 2026
• Android Authority and 9to5Google coverage of the Messages expansion, November 2026