Pixel 11 Pro HiLight now lights up WhatsApp messages too

WhatsApp messages join HiLight

Google has quietly widened the HiLight feature on the Pixel 11 Pro to cover WhatsApp messages. According to 9to5Google, the change arrived alongside the November 2026 Pixel Drop released this week, which also brought HiLight support to Google Messages.

The WhatsApp addition was not part of Google's official announcement. Shenaz Zack, Senior Director of Product Management for Pixel, confirmed it in a short video posted on X, showing that a message on WhatsApp can now trigger the light effect.

How HiLight works

HiLight lets a Pixel 11 Pro owner pick a contact and assign a specific colour of light to that person's phone calls, messages, or both. The idea is that the phone signals when someone important is trying to get in touch, even when the screen is face down or the device is across the room.

The feature launched in a fairly basic form, and Google has been building it out since. Beta testing of message support began in September 2026, as 9to5Google reported at the time.

Why WhatsApp support matters

WhatsApp calls have worked with HiLight since the feature first appeared, so message support closes an obvious gap. Many users rely on WhatsApp rather than SMS or RCS for everyday chats, and the light now reacts to those conversations as well.

Google's own announcement only mentioned Google Messages, so the WhatsApp coverage is a bonus rather than a headline feature. It is not yet clear whether other messaging apps will follow.

Availability and what to do next

The change is enabled by Android 17 QPR2, the November update for Pixel devices. According to 9to5Google, it is rolling out now to all Pixel 11 Pro models.

Owners who want to use it should install the latest update, then choose a contact and set a colour for calls or messages in the HiLight settings. The November Pixel Drop also includes other additions, such as Create My Widget and a wider set of fixes for Pixel phones.