Google to Add Native Color Picker Tool in Android 17 Update

Closing the Creative Tool Gap

Android may finally be getting a feature that creative professionals have wanted for years. Reports indicate Google is developing a native color selection tool, currently dubbed ‘EyeDropper,’ that would debut with next year’s Android 17 release. This would bring Android in line with desktop operating systems and professional creative software that have long included such utilities.

For designers, photographers, and video editors working on mobile devices, the absence of a system-level color picker has been a notable limitation. “When you’re working with brand colors or trying to match exact shades, eyeballing just doesn’t cut it,” explains one designer who frequently works across platforms. The ability to capture precise hexadecimal codes directly from the screen would eliminate the need for workarounds and third-party apps.

Universal Input Support

What makes this development particularly interesting is its reported flexibility across different usage scenarios. Sources familiar with the development suggest the tool is being engineered to work seamlessly with both touchscreen interfaces and desktop-style setups. When Android detects a connected mouse and keyboard, the color picker apparently adapts its interface accordingly.

This dual-approach design reflects Google’s broader strategy with Android, which has been gradually evolving beyond smartphones to support tablets, foldables, and desktop-style experiences. The multi-display logic mentioned in reports could prove particularly valuable for users who connect their Android devices to external monitors for more intensive creative work.

Why Hexadecimal Matters

For those outside design fields, the focus on hexadecimal codes might seem overly technical. But in professional creative work, these six-digit codes serve as a universal language for color reproduction. Whether you’re working in a web browser, photo editing software, or video application, #FF5733 will always represent the exact same shade of orange-red.

Industry analysts note that while third-party color picker apps exist in Google Play Store, having this functionality built directly into the operating system offers significant advantages. “Native tools typically have better performance and deeper system integration,” observes a mobile software analyst. “They can access colors from secure areas of the screen where third-party apps might be restricted.”

If these reports prove accurate, Android 17’s color picker could arrive as early as next year, though Google’s development timelines sometimes shift. The move would represent another step in Android’s maturation from a primarily consumption-focused platform to one that better serves creative professionals who increasingly work across multiple devices and form factors.