✨ How to Turn HiLight On or Off on Pixel 11 Pro

🔥 Where Is the HiLight Setting?

If you have a Pixel 11 Pro and want to control the new HiLight feature, the setting is built directly into Android.

👉 Quick answer:

Go to:

Settings → System → HiLight

From there, you can turn HiLight on or off and choose what it is allowed to show.

🚀 Quick Fix

✔️ Open Settings

✔️ Tap System

✔️ Tap HiLight

✔️ Turn Use HiLight on

✔️ Choose Speaking with Gemini

✔️ Choose Calls from favorites

👉 You can turn either feature on or off separately.

⚡ 10 Things to Know About HiLight Settings

Step 1: ⚙️ Open Settings

Start by opening the Settings app on your Pixel 11 Pro.

👉 You do not need to open the Phone or Gemini app first.

Step 2: 📱 Tap System

Scroll down and tap:

System

This is where Google places the main HiLight controls.

Step 3: ✨ Tap HiLight

Inside System, tap:

HiLight

👉 This opens the main HiLight settings page.

Step 4: 🔘 Turn Use HiLight On

Look for:

Use HiLight

Turn it on.

👉 If this master switch is off, the feature will not work for calls or Gemini.

Step 5: 🤖 Turn On Speaking With Gemini

You can choose whether HiLight responds while you are using Gemini.

When enabled, the lights can show different visual cues while Gemini is:

• Listening
• Thinking
• Responding

👉 This can be useful when your phone is face down and you are using Gemini hands-free.

Step 6: 📞 Turn On Calls From Favorites

You can also enable:

Calls from favorites

👉 When one of your favorite contacts calls, HiLight can glow while the phone is face down.

Google says this works with:

• Phone by Google
• WhatsApp

Step 7: 🎨 Favorite Contacts Can Have Different Colors

You can assign a custom HiLight color to individual favorite contacts.

👉 This lets you recognize certain callers without flipping the phone over.

For example:

Mom = Blue

Partner = Green

Work = Red

Step 8: 📇 Make Sure the Contact Is Actually a Favorite

If the color option is missing, check that the contact is marked as a favorite.

👉 HiLight call colors are designed around favorite contacts.

You should also make sure your Contacts app is fully updated.

Step 9: 🚫 Flash Notifications Can Interfere

This one is important.

Google says HiLight will not display for incoming calls if flash notifications are enabled.

👉 If HiLight is not working:

• Open Settings
• Search for Flash notifications
• Turn flash notifications off
• Test HiLight again

This is one of the easiest things to overlook. (Google Help)

Step 10: 🌙 Check Do Not Disturb and Other Modes

HiLight can still work with certain modes like:

• Do Not Disturb
• Bedtime
• Flip to Shhh

But those modes have their own call controls.

👉 If HiLight is not behaving the way you expect, check:

Settings → Modes → Select Mode → People → Calls

That is where you can control whether favorite calls are allowed.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Where is HiLight on Pixel 11 Pro?

Go to:

Settings → System → HiLight

Is HiLight on by default?

Google’s support documentation indicates HiLight is enabled by default on supported Pixel 11 Pro models. (Google Help)

Can I turn off Gemini HiLight but keep call notifications?

Yes.

The Gemini and favorite-contact options can be controlled separately.

Why is HiLight not showing for my contacts?

Make sure:

• The contact is marked as a favorite
• The Contacts app is updated
• HiLight is enabled
• Flash notifications are disabled

Does HiLight work with WhatsApp calls?

Yes.

Google says favorite-contact HiLight works with both the Phone by Google app and WhatsApp. (Google Help)

Does the phone need to be face down?

HiLight is specifically designed to provide visual cues while the phone is face down.

💡 Final Thoughts

HiLight is one of those features that is simple once you know where it lives.

The main path is:

Settings → System → HiLight

Then choose whether you want it for:

Gemini → Favorite Calls → Both

And if it suddenly does not work?

The first thing I would check is Flash Notifications, because Google specifically says they can prevent HiLight from showing for incoming calls.

📱 Related Pixel 11 Guides

• What Is HiLight on the Google Pixel 11 Pro?
• Can You Change HiLight Colors on Pixel 11 Pro?
• Why Is HiLight Not Working on Pixel 11 Pro?
• Does HiLight Work With Calls, Messages, and Gemini?
• Is the Google Pixel 11 Pro Worth Buying in 2026?