Android 17 adds ‘location button’ for apps and more private ‘Approximate’ algorithm

Android 17 Beta 3 adds a location button that provides one-time or session-based location access until the app is closed, granting access at the moment of action and eliminating repeated prompts.

Developers can customize the button’s background, icon color, outline style, size and shape, but the location icon itself is mandatory and non-customizable; text labels come from a predefined list and font size follows system accessibility settings.

The runtime permission dialog is improved with explicit checkboxes for Precise and Approximate location.

When a non-system app accesses location a persistent blue dot appears (replacing the status bar icon), and tapping notifications or Quick Settings reveals which apps recently accessed location.

A new approximate-location algorithm replaces the fixed 2 km grid with dynamically-sized areas based on local population density.