Recording your phone screen to walk a friend through tricky settings is handy, but pointing out exactly what to tap isn’t always easy. Samsung Galaxy users have had a built-in pen tool for years that lets them draw on their screen while recording video. Now, evidence in recent Android software shows Google is finally working on bringing a similar drawing tool to Pixel devices.
Hidden code hints at live screen drawing
The Android Authority team spotted references to the upcoming feature inside the Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 release. A new background app called “com.android.systemui.screenrecord.markup” shows up in the system files. While the app is currently just a placeholder without a working menu, the code underneath clearly points to on-screen drawing tools.
The system code includes references to a markup overlay that users can toggle on or off while a screen recording is active. Another code snippet mentions a “brush family” setting, which suggests users will be able to pick different stroke sizes and pen colors. That design closely mirrors the floating pencil toolbar in Samsung’s One UI, allowing quick sketches over open apps during video capture.
Making screen tutorials much easier to make
Pixel phones already let you record your face through the front camera while capturing the screen. However, missing a native drawing tool has been a constant frustration. Right now, if you want to highlight a tiny menu button or circle an icon during a tutorial, you have to edit the video afterward using a third-party app. Adding built-in markup controls directly into the stock recorder will make creating quick walkthroughs far less painful.
Google hasn’t officially mentioned the feature or shared when it might launch. Since the code is still sitting hidden inside early test software, Google developers could spend time tuning the interface before releasing it in an upcoming Pixel Feature Drop or a future Android update.
A welcome fix for Pixel screen recording
Bringing live drawing controls to Pixel phones fills a long-standing gap in stock Android. While third-party apps can handle screen annotations, having a clean, built-in tool right in the native screen recorder gives Pixel owners a much smoother experience. It is a simple addition, but one that will make sharing helpful screen captures much easier for everyday users.
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