Android
Google enhances Android multitasking with floating bubbles for all apps
Google is refining its approach to multitasking by expanding the use of its “bubbles” feature, which could soon allow any app to float on your screen, making Android even more flexible for users. Initially designed for messaging apps, the bubbles feature may evolve into a broader tool, offering more accessibility across different types of applications.
What Are Android Bubbles?
Originally, Google introduced “bubbles” to keep messaging apps readily accessible by allowing them to float over other apps. This means you can view and respond to messages without leaving the app you’re currently using. However, this functionality, while helpful, often gets overlooked. It’s linked to notifications, meaning you’d only see a bubble if a message or notification appeared.
The Next Big Step for Bubbles
A significant upgrade may be on the way. According to reports from Android Authority, Google is working on a feature—likely for Android 16—that will let users run any app in a bubble. This enhancement would allow apps to float on top of other windows, making multitasking easier and more dynamic. You could keep an app like a calculator, music player, or social media feed open while navigating other apps, improving productivity and ease of use.
This advancement was discovered in Android 15 QPR1 (Quarterly Platform Release 1), and the feature appears to be fully functional, suggesting that it could be rolled out sooner than expected. It may arrive in a future update before Android 16 officially launches.
How Would This Work?
For users of Pixel devices, the new feature might involve a “bubble button” on the app’s homescreen icon. By tapping this button, the app would switch to floating mode, placing it within a bubble that can hover over other applications. This transforms the bubbles from a messaging-only feature into a more comprehensive multitasking tool.
Google is also exploring a “bubble bar” for Android tablets, which would further streamline and organize these floating apps. This could make tablets an even more powerful platform for those who rely on multitasking, providing an efficient way to manage various applications simultaneously.
When Will This Feature Be Available?
While the timeline for this feature is not entirely clear, the fact that it’s fully functional behind the scenes hints at a possible earlier release. It could be part of an upcoming QPR update on Android 15, which typically introduces new features and refinements between major Android releases.
This visual upgrade represents Google’s continued push to improve user experience by making Android a more versatile and powerful tool. With the introduction of bubbles for all apps, multitasking on Android could be significantly enhanced, especially for those who rely on multiple apps at once.