Posted by Francesco Romano – Developer Relations Engineer on Android, and Fahd Imtiaz – Product Supervisor, Android Developer
At present, Android is launching a number of updates throughout the platform! This contains the beginning of Android 16’s rollout, with particulars for each builders and customers, a Developer Preview for enhanced Android desktop experiences with related shows, and updates for Android customers throughout Google apps and extra, plus the June Pixel Drop. We’re additionally recapping all of the Google I/O updates for Android builders centered on constructing wonderful, adaptive Android apps.
Android has continued to evolve to allow customers to be extra productive on massive screens.
At present, we’re excited to share that related shows assist on appropriate Android gadgets is now in developer preview with the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 launch. As proven at Google I/O 2025, related shows allow customers to connect an exterior show to their Android system and rework a small display screen system into a robust device with a big display screen. This evolution provides customers the flexibility to maneuver apps past a single display screen to unlock Android’s full productiveness potential on exterior shows.
The related show replace builds on our desktop windowing expertise, a functionality we previewed final 12 months. Desktop windowing is ready to launch later this 12 months for customers on appropriate tablets operating Android 16. Desktop windowing permits customers to run a number of apps concurrently and resize home windows for optimum multitasking. This new windowing functionality works seamlessly with break up display screen and different multitasking options customers already love on Android and would not require switching to a particular mode.
Google and Samsung have collaborated to deliver a extra seamless and highly effective desktop windowing expertise to massive display screen gadgets and telephones with related shows in Android 16 throughout the Android ecosystem. These developments will improve Samsung DeX, and in addition prolong to different Android gadgets.
For builders, related shows and desktop windowing current new alternatives for constructing extra partaking and extra productive app experiences that seamlessly adapt throughout type elements. You’ll be able to check out these options at the moment in your related show with the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 on choose Pixel gadgets.
What’s new in related shows assist?
When a supported Android cellphone or foldable is related to an exterior show by means of a DisplayPort connection, a brand new desktop session begins on the related show. The cellphone and the exterior show function independently, and apps are particular to the show on which they’re operating.
The expertise on the related show is much like the expertise on a desktop, together with a activity bar that exhibits operating apps and lets customers pin apps for fast entry. Customers are in a position to run a number of apps aspect by aspect concurrently in freely resizable home windows on the related show.
When a desktop windowing enabled system (like a pill) is related to an exterior show, the desktop session is prolonged throughout each shows, unlocking an much more expansive workspace. The 2 shows then perform as one steady system, permitting app home windows, content material, and the cursor to maneuver freely between the shows.
A cornerstone of this effort is the evolution of desktop windowing, which is steady in Android 16 and is filled with enhancements and new capabilities.
Desktop windowing steady launch
We have made substantial enhancements within the stability and efficiency of desktop windowing in Android 16. This implies customers will encounter a smoother, extra dependable expertise when managing app home windows on related shows. Past normal stability enhancements, we’re introducing a number of new options:
- Versatile window tiling: Multitasking will get a lift with extra intuitive window tiling choices. Customers can extra simply prepare a number of app home windows aspect by aspect or in numerous configurations, making it less complicated to work throughout totally different purposes concurrently on a big display screen.
- A number of desktops: Customers can arrange a number of desktop periods to match their distinct productiveness necessities and swap between the desktops utilizing keyboard shortcuts, trackpad gestures, and Overview.
- Enhanced app compatibility therapies: New compatibility therapies be sure that even legacy apps behave extra predictably and look higher on exterior shows by default. This reduces the burden on builders whereas offering a greater out-of-the-box expertise for customers.
- Multi-instance administration: Customers can handle a number of cases of supporting purposes (for instance, Chrome or, Hold) by means of the app header button or taskbar context menu.
This permits for fast switching between totally different cases of the identical app. - Desktop persistence: Android can now higher preserve window sizes, positions, and states throughout totally different desktops. This implies customers can arrange their most well-liked workspace and have it restored throughout periods, providing a extra constant and environment friendly workflow.
Finest practices for optimum app experiences on related shows
With the introduction of related show assist in Android, it is necessary to make sure your apps take full benefit of the brand new show capabilities. That can assist you construct apps that shine on this enhanced surroundings, listed here are some key growth practices to comply with:
Construct apps optimized for desktop
- Design for any window measurement: With telephones now connecting to exterior shows, your cell app can run in a window of just about any measurement and side ratio. This implies the app window might be as large because the display screen of the related show but in addition flex to suit a smaller window. In desktop windowing, the minimal window measurement is 386 x 352 dp, which is smaller than most telephones. This essentially adjustments how it is advisable take into consideration UI. With orientation and resizability adjustments in Android 16, it turns into much more vital so that you can replace your apps to assist resizability and portrait and panorama orientations for an optimum expertise with desktop windowing and related shows. Ensure your app helps any window measurement by following the finest practices on adaptive growth.
Deal with dynamic show adjustments
- Do not assume a continuing Show object: The Show object related together with your app’s context can change when an app window is moved to an exterior show or if the show configuration adjustments. Your app ought to gracefully deal with configuration change occasions and question show metrics dynamically somewhat than caching them.
- Account for density configuration adjustments: Exterior shows can have vastly totally different pixel densities than the first system display screen. Guarantee your layouts and assets adapt appropriately to those adjustments to take care of UI readability and usefulness. Use density-independent pixels (dp) for layouts, present density-specific assets, and guarantee your UI scales appropriately.
Transcend simply the display screen
- Appropriately assist exterior peripherals: When customers hook up with an exterior monitor, they typically create a extra desktop-like surroundings. This steadily entails utilizing exterior keyboards, mice, trackpads, webcams, microphones, and audio system. In case your app makes use of digital camera or microphone enter, the app ought to have the ability to detect and make the most of peripherals related by means of the exterior show or a docking station.
- Deal with keyboard actions: Desktop customers rely closely on keyboard shortcuts for effectivity. Implement customary shortcuts (for instance, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z) and think about app-specific shortcuts that make sense in a windowed surroundings. Ensure your app helps keyboard navigation.
- Help mouse interactions: Past easy clicks, guarantee your app responds appropriately to mouse hover occasions (for instance, for tooltips or visible suggestions), right-clicks (for contextual menus), and exact scrolling. Contemplate implementing customized pointers to point totally different actions.
Getting began
Discover the related shows and enhanced desktop windowing options within the newest Android Beta. Get Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 on a supported Pixel system (Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 collection) to begin testing your app at the moment. Then allow desktop expertise options within the developer settings.
Help for related shows within the Android Emulator is coming quickly, so keep tuned for updates!
Dive into the up to date documentation on multi-display assist and window administration to study extra about implementing these finest practices.
Suggestions
Your suggestions is essential as we proceed to refine these experiences. Please share your ideas and report any points by means of our official suggestions channels.
We’re dedicated to creating Android a flexible platform that adapts to the various methods customers wish to work together with their apps and gadgets. The enhancements to related show assist are one other step in that course, and we won’t wait to see the wonderful experiences you may construct!
