How to Use App Bubbles for Multitasking on Android 17

Android 17 introduces App Bubbles as a practical way to keep multiple apps accessible without forcing full split-screen or constant app switching. You long-press an app icon, select Bubble, and the app becomes a compact floating window you can expand or collapse as needed. This feature builds on the older messaging bubbles but extends it to any app on supported devices, primarily Pixel phones at launch with broader rollout later.

Unlike split-screen, Bubbles keep the main app full-size while the secondary ones sit as icons along the screen edge. You can stack up to five apps in one bubble group. Official documentation from Google confirms this multitasking model as part of Android 17’s windowing updates for phones, foldables, and tablets.

What App Bubbles Actually Do

App Bubbles let you convert any app into a floating, minimizable window. Once bubbled, the app stays available no matter which full-screen app you use. Tap the bubble icon to expand it into a small interactive window. Tap outside or minimize to collapse it back to the edge.

Google’s Android 17 announcement describes the feature as turning any app into a compact floating window by long-pressing its icon. Users on large screens also get a dedicated taskbar section for bubbles. The system groups multiple bubbled apps automatically, or you add them manually with the plus icon.

This setup works best for quick checks: reply to a message, note a thought, or control media without leaving your primary task. It does not replace full desktop mode on larger devices, but it reduces the friction of the recents screen for short interactions.

Step-by-Step: Create Your First Bubble

1. Update to Android 17 or later. On Pixel devices, check Settings > System > System update. Other manufacturers roll out on their own schedule.

2. Open the app drawer or go to your home screen.

3. Long-press the icon of the app you want to bubble. A context menu appears.

4. Tap Bubble (or the minimize-to-window icon if the label is absent). The app shrinks into a floating bubble and moves to the side of the screen.

5. Drag the bubble to your preferred edge position. It snaps to the left or right side.

6. Tap the bubble to expand it into a usable window. Interact with the app as normal inside that window.

7. Tap outside the window or use the minimize control to collapse it again.

Repeat for additional apps. The system stacks them into one bubble group. You can have one active bubble group on the home screen at a time.

Add More Apps and Switch Between Them

With one bubble open, tap the plus icon in the bubble panel to add another app from your home screen or drawer. Each new app joins the stack. Swipe or tap the icons within the expanded bubble view to switch between them.

You can also long-press a second app and choose Bubble while the first is active; Android adds it to the existing group. Close an individual app by opening the bubble manager and dismissing it, or drag the entire stack off-screen to close everything.

On foldables and tablets, bubbles integrate with the taskbar for quicker access. The feature works across phones first and expands to other form factors as manufacturers update.

Tips for Daily Use

Keep media apps bubbled so you can pause or skip tracks while reading or messaging. Pair notes or a calculator with a browser for research sessions. Limit the stack to three or four apps to avoid visual clutter.

Bubbles respect the app’s own permissions and UI. Some apps may not support every interaction perfectly in the reduced window size. If an app crashes or freezes in bubble mode, close the bubble and relaunch it normally.

Battery impact is minimal for most users because the bubbled apps stay in a low-resource state until expanded. On devices with aggressive battery optimization, exclude frequently used bubble apps from restrictions if you notice delays.

For developers, the feature builds on the existing bubbles API but removes the messaging-only restriction. Apps do not need special code to appear as bubbles; the system handles the windowing.

Limitations and What to Expect Next

At launch, App Bubbles are most polished on Pixel devices. Samsung users already have a similar Smart Pop-up View feature. Other manufacturers will enable the standard Android 17 implementation in their updates.

You cannot currently bubble apps from the recents screen on all builds; the primary method remains the long-press on the launcher icon. Later quarterly updates may expand entry points.

If you run Android 17 beta or QPR builds, the feature is available for testing. Stable users receive it with the official release or subsequent feature drops.

Related Reading

For more on Android 17 windowing changes, see our guide to Android 17 app bubbles overview.

Sources

• Google Android 17 features announcement, blog.google, June 2026
• Android Developers documentation on Android 17 windowing and bubbles
• Android Authority and ZDNET hands-on reports confirming long-press activation and up to five apps per group

App Bubbles give Android 17 users a lightweight multitasking option that fits everyday phone use. Start with one or two apps you check frequently, then expand the stack as the habit forms. The result is fewer trips through the recents menu and more time spent on the task at hand.