Google releases Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 with new security and customization features

Google has begun rolling out the third beta of Android 17 QPR2 to participants in its public preview program. The update addresses several bugs and introduces new security measures aimed at preventing fraudulent call-forwarding operations. The sendUssdRequest() API will no longer accept call-forwarding codes with only the CALLPHONE permission, causing background attempts to fail with a USSDERRORNOTALLOWED response. Users who manually enter such codes in the system dialer will now see an OS-level confirmation dialog before the command proceeds, while non-call-forwarding USSD functions remain unchanged.

Developers whose apps rely on the affected API are advised to handle the failure callback gracefully or switch to using the ACTION_DIAL intent to let users confirm the action manually.

In addition to security changes, the beta adds a Quick Settings layout editor that lets users reposition tiles, including moving the brightness slider and media player to the bottom of the panel. A new hue-adjustment slider expands theming options, allowing finer control over the four primary color styles. Blur effects have also been extended to lock-screen shortcuts, the fingerprint button, and notifications.

The beta is being distributed over-the-air to eligible devices, with image files available for manual download from Google’s website. The final Android 17 QPR2 release is scheduled for December.