Google released a set of disco ball-themed app icons for Pixel phones on May 22, 2026, after the style went viral following Spotify’s short-lived redesign of its own app icon.
Android ecosystem head Sameer Samat announced the icons on X, posting a screenshot of a Pixel homescreen covered in sparkly, disco-ball-inspired icons alongside the caption: “Your wish is our command. Disco icons available on Pixel as of today… Are y’all sure you still want this?”
The release was a direct response to online chatter — including a joking post from Samat earlier in the week asking, “Should we make this icon pack happen on Android?” alongside a Chrome icon styled as a disco ball. Google followed through within days.
The disco ball trend originated with Spotify, which temporarily updated its app icon to a glittery disco ball design to mark the company’s 20th anniversary. The change drew widespread criticism online, with many users calling it ugly. Spotify reminded users the icon was temporary, writing, “Alright, we know glitter is not for everyone.”
The new Google icons are available through Pixel’s custom icons feature, which rolled out in March 2026 as part of a Pixel Drop update. The feature lets users apply AI-generated styles to their app icons. Previous icon options introduced at that time included a hand-drawn style called “Scribbles,” a gold look called “Treasure,” and a painted style called “Easel,” among others. Before the feature launched, Pixel users could only adjust icon colors to match their wallpaper and theme.
Reaction on X was mixed but playful. Former Pixly co-founder Race Johnson wrote, “When your home screen gets bottle service,” while another user responded, “Omg it’s awful. I’ll take it!”
Source: TechCrunch