Google is testing a new Desktop Windowing feature on Android tablets, aimed at enhancing multitasking by allowing users to run and resize multiple apps simultaneously. Currently available in developer preview and on the Pixel Tablet with the Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 release, this feature is designed to provide a more desktop-like experience.
The new functionality includes:
- Multitasking: Run and interact with multiple apps side by side, with drag-and-drop support between them.
- Freeform Resizing: Resize app windows freely, with app developers encouraged to optimize for various layouts.
- Locked Orientation Resizing: Resize apps regardless of their locked portrait or landscape orientation.
- Multi-Instance Support: Open multiple instances of the same app, such as different web pages in a browser.
- Enhanced Input Support: Use keyboards, mice, and trackpads, with support for app shortcuts.
Android tablets will feature a fixed taskbar for managing running apps and quick access to pinned applications. Apps will default to full-screen mode but can be dragged into a desktop space with a new header bar for window controls.
This development follows similar desktop-like features seen in Samsung DeX and ChromeOS, marking Google’s first native support for desktop-style multitasking on Android tablets.
