Google is set to revolutionize multitasking on Android tablets with a new feature that allows users to freely resize and arrange apps on their screens. This “desktop windowing” feature, currently available as a developer preview, brings a level of customization similar to iPad’s Stage Manager or Samsung’s DeX experience.
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Unlike the traditional full-screen mode, apps in desktop windowing mode appear in resizable windows with controls for repositioning, maximizing, or closing. A taskbar at the bottom of the screen provides easy access to running applications.
To activate desktop windowing, users can simply press and hold the window handle at the top of an app’s screen. Keyboard shortcuts, such as Meta + Ctrl + Down, can also be used to toggle the mode. While the feature initially faces some limitations with portrait-oriented apps, Google plans to address these issues in future updates.
The developer preview of this feature is currently available on Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 for Pixel Tablets. Although a wider rollout timeline remains uncertain, it’s highly anticipated that this feature will enhance productivity and multitasking capabilities for Android tablet users.
