![\"Bubble](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bubble-bar-feature-on-an-Android-tablet-hero-image-scaled.jpg\"\/ "\\"Bubble")
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Mishaal Rahman \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n
Over the past few years, Google has made major changes to the Android OS to better accommodate tablets and other large-screen devices. These include new features like a taskbar, desktop windowing, enhanced drag-and-drop support, improved app adaptability, and more. Despite these improvements, most people would agree that Android tablets<\/a> still have a long way to go before they can replace PCs, largely because of their limited multitasking capabilities.<\/p>\n Thankfully, we know that Google is working to improve Android\u2019s multitasking capabilities. The company is making big changes to the platform in preparation for Android-powered PCs<\/a>, and these changes will benefit not only future Android PCs but also existing Android tablets. One such change Google has been exploring is the ability to launch any Android app in a floating bubble, taking a niche feature currently reserved for messaging apps and turning it into a powerful, general-purpose multitasking feature.<\/p>\n When we first reported on this \u201cbubble anything\u201d feature<\/a> a year ago, we were excited by its potential to transform multitasking on Android, especially when combined with the new bubble bar on tablets<\/a>. This combination of features would allow you to easily multitask with two, three, or more Android apps at once, even on smaller tablets that can\u2019t comfortably fit more than two apps on screen.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Google never ended up releasing this \u201cbubble anything\u201d feature. We assumed this was because the company had scrapped it, as it often does with features that don\u2019t work out or become redundant. However, we\u2019ve discovered new evidence suggesting Google hasn\u2019t scrapped the feature but has instead tweaked it to better fit in with the existing tablet interface.<\/p>\n You\u2019re reading the Authority Insights Newsletter, a weekly newsletter that reveals some new facet of Android that hasn\u2019t been reported on anywhere else. If you\u2019re looking for the latest scoops, the hottest leaks, and breaking news on Google\u2019s Android operating system and other mobile tech topics, then we\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n Subscribe here<\/a> to get this post delivered to your email inbox every Saturday.<\/p>\n Android tablets may soon be able to launch any app in a floating bubble<\/p>\n New code within the latest 2510 Android Canary release<\/a> reveals Google\u2019s plans to add a new way to create a floating bubble: dragging an app\u2019s icon to the bottom corners of the screen. I found new strings within the Pixel Launcher app, which is responsible for both the home screen and the taskbar. These strings suggest that the educational promo appearing when you first interact with the taskbar will add a new tutorial. Here\u2019s what the educational promo currently looks like:<\/p>\n Mishaal Rahman \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n The new tutorial Google\u2019s working on will inform users that they can \u201cdrag [an app] to the bottom corners to make it float.\u201d An accompanying animation will show \u201chow to create a bubble from the taskbar using a drag gesture.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are the relevant strings that I found:<\/p>\n Code<\/p>\n Copy TextDrag to the bottom corners to make it float
And here is the accompanying animation. It shows an app being dragged from the taskbar toward the right half of the screen, which previews the split-screen mode. However, instead of releasing the icon to enter split-screen, the animation shows it being dragged to the bottom right corner, launching the app in a smaller bubble window.<\/p>\n Mishaal Rahman \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n (Note: I didn\u2019t include another variant of this animation that shows the same drag gesture with the \u201ctransient\u201d taskbar.)<\/p>\n While these new strings and animations don\u2019t explicitly confirm you\u2019ll be able to launch any Android app in a floating bubble, they strongly indicate this capability is coming. Android currently only lets you create bubbles from conversation notifications, a feature limited to supported apps. However, since Android already lets you put any app on your taskbar, it wouldn\u2019t make sense for Google to limit this new drag-to-bubble gesture to just messaging apps. We know Google has been working to make the bubble feature compatible with any app, and we believe the company is leveraging that work for this new gesture.<\/p>\n This approach differs from the previous iteration of the \u201cbubble anything\u201d feature, which required tapping a button on the home screen or in the recents menu. In contrast, the new drag gesture is more aligned with how other multitasking features work on tablets. It starts by dragging an app from the taskbar and ends with dropping it onto a specific part of the screen, similar to how you initiate split-screen mode.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t guarantee that Google will launch this feature, but the addition of a tutorial is a good sign. We doubt Google would create a tutorial for a feature it has no intention of releasing, though plans can always change.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t know when Google plans to launch this feature, but I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if we see it in the third quarterly platform release (QPR3) of Android 16<\/a> next March. Google has launched major new tablet and multitasking features in quarterly releases before, so the timing would make sense. Be sure to follow Android Authority to find out what happens!<\/p>\n Want more?<\/p>\n Authority Insights is more than a newsletter \u2014 it\u2019s the hub for all our best content. If you care about Android, you won\u2019t want to miss any of our other exclusive reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t have time to read them all? Subscribe to our Authority Insights Podcast<\/a> to hear me and my co-host, C. Scott Brown, break down our top stories of the week.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s top Authority Insights\n<\/p>\n Android\u2019s version of the iPhone\u2019s Contact Posters feature is getting a big upgrade.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google might finally fix the biggest flaw with Android’s Calling Cards<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Google Photos is preparing to roll out its annual photo recap and\u2026oh. Oh no.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google Photos preps for its annual recap, alongside a long-lost navigation feature<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n This is fine: Google Photos could soon let you turn yourself into a meme<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n The Tensor G5 may have better Linux support than Snapdragon chips, but it has a worse modem\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google\u2019s Pixel 10 can now run Linux apps better than other Android phones<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon chip misses out on one of Android 16’s best features<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Bad battery life on your Pixel 10? This might be the reason why<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Paper cuts \u2705! Google is addressing some big pet peeves with the Gemini app.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google is working to fix one of Gemini’s biggest pet peeves<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Gemini Live could soon get this convenient and overdue audio feature<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Google Gemini could be about to take this idea right out of Circle to Search’s playbook<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Google is testing another home for Nano Banana, and we’re unsure what took it so long<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n How the heck didn\u2019t we have these features already?\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google Home wants to make it much easier to add your next new smart home hardware<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Google’s Android app is finally catching up to the iOS app with one crucial feature<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Google could be making it easier to see which apps are a threat<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n First look: Google’s new ‘EyeDropper’ app will help you pick colors in Android 17<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Pixel phones will get a smarter always-on display that saves battery life<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n The Pixel’s Connected Cameras feature is getting an overdue upgrade<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Dislike Google but love their Pixel phones? We have good and bad news.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It looks like Google just locked out GrapheneOS users from the Pixel Camera app<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n The Pixel Camera app now requires Play Services for the silliest of reasons<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Other top stories\n<\/p>\n Is Samsung\u2019s Galaxy XR headset basically the Nexus of Android XR?\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy XR makes its official and expensive debut<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy XR hands-on: Just the opening act<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Samsung’s new XR headset is secretly a Pixel<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n 5 Samsung gadgets you should buy instead of the $1,800 Galaxy XR headset<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n A bunch of useful new features are coming to Google apps and Pixel phones\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Android Auto users are celebrating a subtle but welcome Google Maps change<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Google Messages is making it easier to share from your Google Photos library<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n From flights to events: Google Wallet now supports Android 16’s Live Updates<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Android now lets you flip your Pixel\u2019s navigation buttons, just like on Samsung Galaxy phones<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Android\u2019s new flashlight brightness slider now has a clever design like a real flashlight<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Samsung\u2019s biggest Android rivals aren\u2019t playing around.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Samsung Galaxy S26 dream is already dead (and why you should be mad)<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n OnePlus reveals OnePlus 15 battery size, and it puts S25 Ultra to shame<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n The OnePlus 15 is crushing Samsung’s 2026 hopes<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n This new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 mid-ranger embarrasses flagships twice its price<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Making changes can be hard, but we\u2019re glad we did these ones.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I tested the new ChatGPT browser, and it makes Chrome feel like a dinosaur<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n It’s been 5 months since I left T-Mobile, and I have no regrets<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n The Pixel Watch 4 has erased all my battery life worries<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Google offers some pretty compelling products already, but it could do better.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I wish Google didn’t make smartphones<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n I’d pay more for YouTube Premium if it added these 5 features<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Miscellaneous top stories\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n GM is dropping Android Auto to make way for Gemini<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Google promises GPU updates for Pixel 10, but what does it really mean?<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Nothing’s $10M MagSafe claim is questionable, says group behind Qi2<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n![\"Android](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Android-taskbar-educational-promo-scaled.png\"\/ "\\"Android")
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\nAnimation showing how to create a bubble from the taskbar using a drag gesture<\/p>\n![\"Animation](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Animation-of-launching-an-Android-app-in-a-bubble-from-the-taskbar.gif\"\/ "\\"Animation")
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<\/a><\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761424225_915_New-flashlight-brightness-control-UI-on-Android-scaled.jpg\"\/ "\\"New")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Samsung](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-series-next-to-each-other.jpg\"\/ "\\"Samsung")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"OnePlus](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/OnePlus-15-sand-dune-colorway-official-image.jpg\"\/ "\\"OnePlus")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/oneplus-15-official-sand-color-hero.jpg\"\/ "\\"oneplus")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Xiaomi](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Xiaomi-Redmi-K90-Pro-Max-Denim-blue-3.jpg\"\/ "\\"Xiaomi")
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<\/a>![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Kobo-Remote-Page-Turner.jpg\"\/ "\\"Kobo")
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