Google is testing a new feature for Android tablets that will let users freely resize apps and arrange them on the screen however they want, making it easier to multitask. The "Desktop Windowing" feature is currently available as a developer preview, and multiple instances of applications that support this feature can even be opened.
Currently, apps on Android tablets open in full screen by default. When the new mode is enabled, each application will be displayed in a window with control buttons that allow you to adjust the position, maximize or close the application. Users will also see a taskbar at the bottom of the screen showing running applications.
This sounds a lot like the iPad's "StageManager" feature, which also lets users resize and move windows around the screen or virtually any desktop operating system. Samsung has also offered a DeX experience for years, bringing desktop-like window management capabilities to Android apps on Galaxy phones and tablets.
Once the feature rolls out to everyone, users will be able to open it by long-pressing the window handle at the top of the app's screen. If you have a keyboard at hand, you can also use the shortcut meta key (Windows, Command or Search) + Ctrl + Down to activate desktop mode. (Exit desktop mode by closing all active applications or dragging a window to the top of the screen).
Google notes that apps locked into portrait orientation can still be resized, which can make some apps look a little weird if they're not optimized. However, Google plans to address this issue in a future update by scaling the UI of non-resizable apps while maintaining the aspect ratio.
Currently, users can access the developer preview version in the latest Android15QPR1Beta2forPixelTablets. We don't yet know when this feature will be rolled out to everyone, or if it will appear on the Google Pixel 9 Pro foldable phone.