Google Removes “Social Share” from Pixel Camera in Version 9.9

With the rollout of Pixel Camera 9.9, a subtle yet useful feature has quietly disappeared: the Social Share shortcut. First introduced in the Pixel 4 series, Social Share let users quickly share newly taken photos to apps like Instagram or WhatsApp directly from the camera preview. It’s still unclear why Google removed it – whether by design or oversight.

What Was Social Share?

After taking a photo, a small circular preview appeared next to the shutter button.
Swiping up on that preview brought a Social Share menu with up to three user-selected apps + Quick Share.
A fast way to share without opening Google Photos or another app.

What Changed in 9.9?

The Social Share toggle has vanished from Camera Settings, and the swipe-up shortcut no longer appears.
Users now need to open the full Gallery or Photos app to share images manually.
Confirmed across multiple sources: Android Police, 9to5Google, Android Authority, PiunikaWeb. All suggest removal was intentional.

Why It Matters

Workflow disruption: Quick sharing added convenience for casual users-it’s now gone.
Frequent complaints: A Reddit thread shows “same thing” reports across Pixel 7 and 9 users, especially with WhatsApp missing.
WhatsApp clipboard issue crops up again: WhatsApp lost its Social Share spot back in version 9.8 and hasn’t returned.

See Also – Android 16 Rolls Out to Pixel Phones: Smarter, Safer, and More Personalized

Users React –

Social share app in camera app disappeared
byu/Electrojam inpixel_phones

Android Authority’s Hadlee Simons:

“Pixel Camera update may have killed this handy sharing feature.” – Here

Android Police notes the feature’s removal is “quiet” and possibly intentional.

What You Can Do

Look out for a fix: This may return in a future update or server-side tweak.
Voice your feedback: Submit feedback via the Camera app or in the Pixel Feedback Hub.
Workaround: Use the Gallery/Photos shortcut immediately after taking a picture.

Final Lines

The removal of Social Share in Pixel Camera 9.9 may seem small—but for users accustomed to instant sharing, it disrupts a helpful workflow. Google hasn’t commented yet, so expect user feedback to guide its return… if users ask enough.