You can use Desktop windowing to open and use multiple apps at the same time for better multitasking on large screen devices that support this mode. Additionally, you can connect other supported devices to an external display, like a monitor, to experience Desktop windowing on larger screens.
With Desktop windowing, you can:
- Open multiple apps as separate windows.
- Resize and organize windows to suit your needs.
When your supported device is connected to an external keyboard and trackpad, apps automatically open in Desktop windowing mode.
Access Desktop windowing mode
Important: This feature isn’t available on all devices and the experience may vary. For more information, contact your device manufacturer.
You can open and arrange apps in Desktop windowing mode. You can do this in several ways:
- From a full-screen or split-screen app: You can enter Desktop windowing mode from a full or split-screen app.
- At the top of the app, locate its top app handle.
- Select and hold, then drag the top app handle downwards.
- The app is now in Desktop windowing mode. You can freely move and resize it.
- From the app header bar: You can enter Desktop windowing mode from the app header bar.
- Select the app's header bar.
- From the window options, select Desktop windowing
.
- Through a keyboard shortcut: When you use a physical keyboard, you can enter Desktop windowing mode through a keyboard shortcut. This moves the focused app into Desktop windowing mode.
- Press Action + Ctrl + Down arrow.
Manage & arrange windows
Resize & move windows- To resize a window:
- Select and hold, then drag any corner of a window.
- To drag any edge of a window, use a mouse, pen, or touchpad.
- When the window is your desired size, release.
- Select and hold, then drag any corner of a window.
- To move a window: Select and hold, then drag the app header bar to your preferred location on the screen.
- To maximize or minimize a window:
- At the top right of the app header bar, select Maximize
.
- If you can’t find the button, you may also double tap the app header bar.
- At the top right of the app header bar, select Minimize
.
- This sends the app to the taskbar. To reopen the app, select it from the taskbar.
- At the top right of the app header bar, select Maximize
- To close a window: At the top right of the app header bar, select Close
.
- To switch window states:
- Select the app header bar with the app icon and name on the left.
- Choose a window state:
- Full screen
- Split screen
- Desktop
- Keyboard shortcut:
- To choose from the open windows, press Alt + Tab.
- When you find your desired window, release the keys.
- Overview tile:
- Open the “Recents” overview.
- Tap Recents
.
- Or, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen, hold for a moment, and then let go.
- Tap Recents
- To bring that window into focus, select a specific tile.
- Open the “Recents” overview.
- Resume a session: If you leave a desktop session, you can find a shortcut in your recents view.
- Close all windows: After you close all app windows, the desktop windows session automatically ends.
- Swipe home: To return to the launcher, at the bottom of the screen, swipe home.
- If the 3-button navigation bar is active, select Home
.
- If the 3-button navigation bar is active, select Home
Connect a display
Important: This feature isn’t available on all devices and the experience may vary. For more information, contact your device manufacturer.
When you connect your Android device to an external display, you can create a larger screen environment for improved productivity.
Depending on your device and settings, your Android opens in one of the connected display modes for multi-screen setup:
- Mirrored: On the external monitor, this mode provides an exact copy of your Android device screen. What you get on your Android device is exactly what you get on the larger display.
- Desktop: On the connected monitor, a separate desktop session starts. You can work on both screens.
If your device doesn’t support Desktop windowing, the mouse only moves within the connected display by default.
Navigate & interact on the connected display
When you use connected displays, the external monitor provides a familiar desktop-like interaction:
- 3-button navigation bar: The connected display always features a standard 3-button navigation bar for easy system control.
- Back
- Home
- Recents
- Back
- Taskbar and window controls: Similar to traditional desktop windows, you can manage apps through a taskbar. You can set windows to full-screen, split-screen, display them overtop other windows, or arrange them on the desktop.
- Move and resize windows:
- You can drag app windows seamlessly across both the connected display and your Android device's screen.
- You can’t drag windows to a display that's currently running a full-screen application.