Google is building its own DeX: First look at Android's Desktop Mode

Summary

Mishaal Rahman / Android AuthorityTL;DR Google is developing its own DeX-like desktop mode for Android, and we got an early look at the unfinished feature on a Pixel phone. Android’s upcoming desktop mode includes a taskbar for pinned/recent apps and supports launching multiple apps in freeform, resizable windows. It adapts Android’s tablet windowing for external displays but likely won’t launch with Android 16, possibly arriving in a quarterly release or with Android 17. One of the best features of Samsung Galaxy phones is Samsung DeX, a software feature that emulates a desktop UI. When you connect your Samsung phone to an external display, DeX presents a desktop-like interface allowing you to launch multiple apps in floating windows and control everything with a keyboard and mouse. While DeX remains exclusive to Samsung devices, Google is finally working on its own version. We now have a first look at what Android’s upcoming desktop mode will look like on Pixel phones. You’re reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won’t find anywhere else. Back in March, we spotted evidence that Google is developing a new developer option for Android’s desktop mode. Although I could surface the “enable desktop experience features” developer option, I couldn’t get the feature working on any of my Pixel devices. Recently, however, I successfully enabled Android’s desktop mode on one of my Pixel devices, giving me the opportunity to showcase the current state of Android’s take on a DeX-like experience.Mishaal Rahman / Android AuthorityThe hidden "enable desktop experience features" toggle in Android 16. Note that the previously seen "Desktop View" text in the description was changed to say "desktop windowing" in Beta 4.Before I show you Android’s new desktop mode, keep in mind that what you’re about to see is Google’s unfinished work. Desktop mode almost certainly won’t launch i...