Google is about to make Android bubbles significantly more useful. For those unfamiliar, chat bubbles are floating icons that allow you to access conversations without switching apps, similar to Facebook Messenger’s chat heads. Until now, these bubbles have mostly been limited to messaging apps, but that is about to change.
Since introducing chat bubbles in Android 11, Google has been relatively quiet about expanding the feature, keeping it limited to messaging apps. But now, thanks to multiple beta versions and APK teardowns conducted by people at Android Authority, we have insight into Google’s plans for a major upgrade, with not one but two significant improvements on the way.
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Bubble Anything Feature
The new “bubble anything” feature will allow you to put any app in a floating bubble. This means that, apart from using apps in split-screen mode or picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, you will now have another multitasking option on Android.
Discovered by developers within Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2, this feature adds a “bubble” button to the app context menu. Once enabled, it will let you open any app you choose in a floating bubble, whether it’s Firefox, YouTube, or anything else. Imagine browsing on Chrome while your calendar and notes apps float neatly in bubbles.
This feature could be a huge boost to productivity on Android phones, making multitasking more fluid and allowing users to quickly access key apps without leaving their current activity.
Bubble Bar Feature for Tablets
For larger screen devices like tablets, Google is introducing a new Bubble Bar feature. If you’ve tried using chat bubbles on a big Android tablet, you know it’s not the most ergonomic experience. Currently, bubbles are anchored to the side of the screen, making them a stretch to reach on larger displays.
To address this, Google is testing a new “bubble bar” anchored at the bottom right corner. Bubbles will be pinned to this bar when created, and you can swipe up to reveal the active ones, making them much easier to manage. This feature has been in development since early 2023, and it was uncovered by enthusiasts exploring Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1. Though not yet enabled by default, there is hope that it could make it to the stable release of Android 14 QPR3 or even Android 15 later this year.
When Will These Features Be Available?
While “bubble anything” might seem like an Android 16 feature, given its significant impact on multitasking, Google has a history of rolling out substantial updates in quarterly platform releases. So there is a possibility we could see it sooner with Android 15 or even in late Android 14 QPR updates.
A More Fluid and Practical Multitasking Experience
Both of these features represent Google’s attempt to make Android’s multitasking more fluid, intuitive, and practical. By letting users pop any app into a bubble or manage bubbles more easily with the bubble bar, the system is set to become more versatile for both casual and power users.
Whether you’re using your Android phone or a larger tablet, these bubbles could soon become a must-use feature, turning Android into a more multitasking-friendly platform overall.
