🔥 Can You Customize Pixel HiLight Colors?
Yes.
On supported Pixel 11 Pro models, you can assign different HiLight colors to your favorite contacts.
That means when one of those people calls and your phone is face down, HiLight can glow in the color you picked for them.
👉 Quick answer: Open the Contacts app, choose a favorite contact, tap HiLight under Contact Settings, pick a color, preview it, and tap Done.
🚀 Quick Answer
✔️ You can customize HiLight colors
✔️ Colors can be assigned per favorite contact
✔️ You can preview the color before saving
✔️ Works with calls from favorite contacts
✔️ Works with Phone by Google and WhatsApp calls
❌ The contact must be marked as a favorite
❌ Flash Notifications can stop HiLight from appearing for incoming calls
👉 This is one of the coolest parts of HiLight because the color can tell you who is calling without flipping the phone over.
⚡ 10 Things to Know About HiLight Colors
Step 1: ⭐ Make Sure the Contact Is a Favorite
HiLight color customization is built around favorite contacts.
👉 Before doing anything else:
- Open Contacts
- Select the person
- Make sure they are marked as a favorite
If they are not a favorite, the HiLight option may not appear.
Step 2: 📱 Open the Contacts App
Do not look for the color picker inside the main HiLight settings.
Google puts the individual color setting inside each contact.
👉 Open:
Contacts → Select Favorite Contact
Step 3: ⚙️ Find Contact Settings
Scroll through the selected contact until you find:
Contact Settings
Under that section, look for:
HiLight
👉 Tap it to open the color picker. (Google Help)
Step 4: 🎨 Choose a HiLight Color
Pick the color you want for that contact.
You might choose something easy to remember.
👉 Example:
Mom = Blue
Partner = Green
Boss = Red
Best Friend = Purple
The goal is to recognize the caller without looking at the screen.
Step 5: 👀 Preview the Color
Google gives you a Preview option.
👉 Use it before saving.
That lets you see how the HiLight glow actually looks around the camera flash.
This is helpful because a color may look different on the phone than it does inside the picker.
Step 6: ✅ Tap Done
Once you are happy with the color, tap:
Done
That saves the custom HiLight color for that favorite contact.
👉 Repeat the same process for other favorite contacts if you want different colors.
Step 7: 📞 HiLight Works With Favorite Calls
Google says custom HiLight colors can appear for incoming calls from favorite contacts.
The feature currently works with:
- Phone by Google
👉 So your custom color can show for supported incoming calls while the phone is face down. (Google Help)
Step 8: 📲 Update the Contacts App if the Option Is Missing
Google specifically says to make sure you are using the latest version of the Contacts app.
👉 If you do not see HiLight:
- Update Google Contacts
- Restart the phone
- Check the contact again
This is especially important on a newly set-up Pixel 11 Pro.
Step 9: 🚫 Turn Off Flash Notifications
This is easy to miss.
Google says HiLight will not show for incoming calls if Flash Notifications are enabled.
👉 If your custom color is not appearing:
- Open Settings
- Search for Flash Notifications
- Turn them off
- Test HiLight again
That one setting can make it look like your custom HiLight color is broken. (Google Help)
Step 10: 🧠 Keep the Colors Simple
You could assign a different color to every favorite contact.
But that can get confusing fast. 😂
👉 I would use HiLight colors mainly for the people you most want to recognize quickly.
For example:
- Family
- Partner
- Work
- Emergency contacts
That keeps the feature useful instead of turning it into a memory test.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can you change the HiLight color on Pixel 11 Pro?
Yes.
Google lets you assign a custom HiLight color to individual favorite contacts.
Where is the HiLight color setting?
Open:
Contacts → Favorite Contact → Contact Settings → HiLight
Then choose your preferred color. (Google Help)
Can every contact have a different HiLight color?
Favorite contacts can be customized individually.
Can I preview a HiLight color before saving it?
Yes.
Google includes a Preview option in the color picker.
Why do I not see the HiLight option on a contact?
Make sure:
- The contact is marked as a favorite
- Google Contacts is updated
- HiLight is enabled on the phone
Why is my custom HiLight color not showing when someone calls?
Check whether Flash Notifications are enabled.
Google says HiLight will not display for incoming calls when Flash Notifications are turned on. (Google Help)
Does HiLight work with WhatsApp calls?
Yes.
Google currently supports favorite-contact HiLight with Phone by Google and WhatsApp calls. (Google Help)
💡 Final Thoughts
Custom HiLight colors are one of those small Pixel features that could actually become really useful.
Instead of:
phone rings → flip it over → check caller
you can get:
blue glow → Mom
green glow → Partner
red glow → Work
without touching the phone.
And because Google lets you preview each color before saving it, the setup is pretty simple.
Just remember:
favorite contact → Contacts app → HiLight → choose color → Preview → Done
That’s it. 😎🎨📱
📱 Related Pixel 11 Guides
- What Is HiLight on the Google Pixel 11 Pro?
- How to Turn HiLight On or Off 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?
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