Google has listed a new Desktop Camera app on the Play Store, giving the clearest sign yet that its Android-based PC platform is nearing launch.
The app appears aimed at upcoming devices running Aluminium OS, Google’s new operating system that merges Android and ChromeOS for desktop and laptop hardware.
The listing describes it simply as a “camera app for desktop” and features screenshots that will be familiar to Pixel users.
The interface includes the classic circular shutter button, a photo/video toggle, and a compact settings menu, which is essentially a stripped-down version of the Pixel Camera app.
Unlike smartphones, the app currently lacks advanced features such as Night Sight or Portrait mode, focusing instead on quick photo and video capture, likely using laptop webcams.
Interestingly, the UI shown in the Play Store screenshots differs from previous Aluminium OS leaks. The start button sits in the left-hand corner, and system tray icons lack the expressive styling seen in earlier leaks, suggesting Google may be testing multiple layouts or placeholder assets for now.
It’s suggested that the Desktop Camera app is a key step toward creating a consistent Android experience on PCs, ensuring predictable camera functionality across internal webcams and external USB devices.
ChromeOS already offers stock camera features like document scanning, pan-tilt-zoom support, and QR code recognition, and a dedicated Aluminium OS camera could unify these capabilities under a single interface.
Video calls are likely a core use case, and a first-party app could pave the way for OS-wide enhancements, including hardware-accelerated background blur, face tracking, and integration with Google Meet and other conferencing tools.
At present, the app is incompatible with existing phones, tablets or Chromebooks, indicating it is still in testing stages. More features and refinements are expected when the first Aluminium OS-powered laptops launch later this year.
Google is yet to confirm a release date.