Unlock Faster Shooting with Quick Access Controls on Your Viewfinder

Google Pixel Camera 9.7 Rolls Out "Quick Access Controls" Feature

The December 2024 Feature Drop for the Google Pixel series brings a welcome change to the Camera app. The newly introduced "Quick Access Controls" feature allows users to adjust white balance, brightness, and shadows by tapping on the viewfinder itself.

In the past, users had to navigate to a separate sheet to adjust these settings, which proved inconvenient for some. However, with the latest Pixel Camera 9.7 update, those familiar sliders are now situated on the left (White Balance) and right (Brightness + Shadow) edges of the screen, restoring the previous camera UI.

Take a look at the comparisons below to see the new "Quick Access Controls" feature in action:

Image 1: Pixel Camera 9.6

Image 2: Pixel Camera 9.7 Quick Access Controls

Before vs. after (credit: Over_Firefighter_510)

Notably, the Pixel Fold and Pixel 9 Pro Fold are also receiving significant camera updates. The dual-screen portrait mode, introduced on the foldables, will now allow users to preview the shot before capturing it. Additionally, both devices will gain the popular Made You Look feature for kids, which shows fun characters on the external display. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will also exclusively receive the Joy from Inside Out feature, which is set to expire on December 3, 2025.

Outside of the camera app, the feature drop introduces the ability to capture photos in Ultra HDR using the Instagram viewfinder, courtesy of Version 2.1 of the Pixel Camera Services. Users can also expect to see Snapchat making use of the system Photo Picker.

Google Camera 9.7 is rolling out via the Google Play Store or can be sideloaded.