Android 15 Set to Introduce Enhanced Desktop Mode Features

Google is reportedly working on a significantly improved desktop mode that is expected to debut in Android 15. This development comes as a part of Google’s continuous efforts to enhance the Android experience for its users.

When most people think of desktop mode on Android, they often think of Samsung’s DeX or Motorola’s Ready For platforms. These are indeed among the most advanced custom implementations currently available. However, a lesser-known fact is that there is a Desktop mode in Google’s Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

The concept of a desktop mode on Android isn’t new. It was first introduced with Android 10 back in 2019, not for the average user, but primarily for developers who needed to test how their apps behaved in multi-display scenarios. Since then, Google has been steadily improving this feature, albeit slowly.

Over the years, Desktop mode has seen considerable progress. As of Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1, the mode supports features like drag-and-drop, window resizing, and running multiple apps simultaneously. It can now easily handle a side-by-side mode with two apps on screen. More apps can be opened simultaneously using the so-called freeform multi-window experience, albeit with some limitations.

Android Authority recently discovered some interesting new additions to the desktop mode while tinkering with developer flags on the latest Android 14 QPR3 2.1 beta build. There is now a new title bar with a small menu that appears once you tap the small handle on top of a full-screen app. The menu contains options for full-screen, split-screen, or freeform mode. Once in freeform mode, windows can be dragged around and resized freely. A “snap to edge” feature allows you to snap a window to the left or right half of the screen.