Posted by Francesco Romano – Developer Relations Engineer on Android, and Fahd Imtiaz – Product Supervisor, Android Developer
As we speak, Android is launching a number of updates throughout the platform! This consists of 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 glorious, adaptive Android apps.
Android has continued to evolve to allow customers to be extra productive on giant screens.
As we speak, we’re excited to share that related shows assist on suitable Android units 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 machine and remodel a small display machine into a robust software with a big display. This evolution provides customers the power to maneuver apps past a single display 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 yr. Desktop windowing is ready to launch later this yr for customers on suitable 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 and different multitasking options customers already love on Android and does not require switching to a particular mode.
Google and Samsung have collaborated to deliver a extra seamless and highly effective desktop windowing expertise to giant display units and telephones with related shows in Android 16 throughout the Android ecosystem. These developments will improve Samsung DeX, and in addition lengthen to different Android units.
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 may check out these options right this moment in your related show with the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 on choose Pixel units.
What’s new in related shows assist?
When a supported Android telephone or foldable is related to an exterior show by way of a DisplayPort connection, a brand new desktop session begins on the related show. The telephone 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 just like the expertise on a desktop, together with a activity bar that reveals operating apps and lets customers pin apps for fast entry. Customers are capable of run a number of apps facet by facet concurrently in freely resizable home windows on the related show.
When a desktop windowing enabled machine (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 secure in Android 16 and is filled with enhancements and new capabilities.
Desktop windowing secure 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 basic 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 facet by facet or in numerous configurations, making it less complicated to work throughout completely different purposes concurrently on a big display.
- A number of desktops: Customers can arrange a number of desktop classes to match their distinct productiveness necessities and change between the desktops utilizing keyboard shortcuts, trackpad gestures, and Overview.
- Enhanced app compatibility therapies: New compatibility therapies be certain 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, Maintain) by way of the app header button or taskbar context menu.
This enables for fast switching between completely different cases of the identical app. - Desktop persistence: Android can now higher keep window sizes, positions, and states throughout completely different desktops. This implies customers can arrange their most well-liked workspace and have it restored throughout classes, 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 atmosphere, listed below are some key growth practices to observe:
Construct apps optimized for desktop
- Design for any window dimension: With telephones now connecting to exterior shows, your cell app can run in a window of virtually any dimension and side ratio. This implies the app window will be as huge because the display of the related show but in addition flex to suit a smaller window. In desktop windowing, the minimal window dimension is 386 x 352 dp, which is smaller than most telephones. This essentially adjustments how it’s worthwhile to take into consideration UI. With orientation and resizability adjustments in Android 16, it turns into much more important 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. Be sure your app helps any window dimension by following the perfect practices on adaptive growth.
Deal with dynamic show adjustments
- Do not assume a relentless 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 slightly than caching them.
- Account for density configuration adjustments: Exterior shows can have vastly completely different pixel densities than the first machine display. Guarantee your layouts and assets adapt appropriately to those adjustments to take care of UI readability and value. Use density-independent pixels (dp) for layouts, present density-specific assets, and guarantee your UI scales appropriately.
Transcend simply the display
- Accurately assist exterior peripherals: When customers hook up with an exterior monitor, they typically create a extra desktop-like atmosphere. This ceaselessly entails utilizing exterior keyboards, mice, trackpads, webcams, microphones, and audio system. In case your app makes use of digicam or microphone enter, the app ought to be capable of detect and make the most of peripherals related by way of the exterior show or a docking station.
- Deal with keyboard actions: Desktop customers rely closely on keyboard shortcuts for effectivity. Implement commonplace shortcuts (for instance, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z) and take into account app-specific shortcuts that make sense in a windowed atmosphere. Be sure 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. Think about implementing customized pointers to point completely 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 machine (Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 sequence) to start out testing your app right this 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 be taught 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 way of our official suggestions channels.
We’re dedicated to creating Android a flexible platform that adapts to the numerous methods customers need to work together with their apps and units. The enhancements to related show assist are one other step in that path, and we won’t wait to see the wonderful experiences you will construct!
