Android lets you ‘bubble’ apps for easy access now – how it works

ZDNET’s cardinal takeaways

• Android 17 has introduced app bubbles.
• You tin isolate an app truthful its icon is ever connected top.
• It’s a Pixel exclusive for now, but is coming to different phones.

Several years ago, Android introduced the quality to “bubble” a substance conversation, oregon determination that app to a floating bubble connected your location screen. It’s a convenient mode to support a speech easy accessible.

Now, you tin bubble apps arsenic well.

As portion of the Android 17 rollout, users got the enactment to usage app bubbles. When you bubble an app, it sits connected apical of everything other connected your screen, making it casual to entree erstwhile you request it. You tin spot up to 5 apps successful your bubble.

Also: This hidden Google Messages mounting volition halt you from texting the incorrect person

A bubble lone saves a pat oregon 2 each clip you usage an app, but it’s a fantastic multi-tasking instrumentality if you person a fistful of apps you usage often. You could bash thing akin to this before, but lone for Google Messages and Facebook Messenger chats.

How to bubble an app connected a Google Pixel

The quality to bubble an app connected Android is starting arsenic a Pixel exclusive, but the diagnostic volition travel to different manufacturers implicit time. There is an existing, akin diagnostic for Samsung called Smart Pop Up View, and instructions for that are below.

1. Go to your location surface oregon app drawer

To get started, take the app you privation from either your app surface oregon your location screen. 

2. Long-press the app you privation to bubble

Press and clasp connected the app until a pop-up paper appears.

3. Choose bubble

The paper volition amusement options similar App info, Add app to location screen, oregon Pause app. Select the Bubble option.

4. Find a location

Your selected app volition shrink to an icon that you tin determination astir your location screen. You don’t person the state to spot it anywhere, but it tin spell anyplace on the near oregon close broadside of your screen. The app volition enactment connected apical of everything other connected your screen, and you tin bubble aggregate apps astatine once, but they volition ever determination together.

How to bubble an app connected a Samsung Galaxy

Samsung has a akin diagnostic called Smart Pop-Up View that lets you respond to notifications connected selected apps without leaving the app you’re in. You mightiness request to alteration your “Multi model for each apps” mounting first.

1. Open Settings

Navigate to your settings app, unfastened it, and prime Notification Settings.

2. Choose Advanced settings

Once you’re successful precocious settings, find and take Floating Notifications. Then prime Smart Pop-Up view.

4. Choose which apps you want 

Now conscionable prime which apps you privation to person priority. 

Artie Beaty

Contributing Writer

Artie Beaty is simply a freelance writer, based conscionable extracurricular Charlotte, with a passionateness for astute location tech and tech news. He has a bachelor's successful journalism from UNC Charlotte and has been penning for implicit 15 years. On the weekends you'll find him starring haunted shade tours of uptown Charlotte. See afloat bio