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Android lets you ‘bubble’ apps for easy access now – how it works
Tech > Services & Software > Operating Systems > Mobile OS > Android
Keep your most-used apps accessible with this new feature.
Several years ago, Android introduced the ability to “bubble” a text conversation, or move that app to a floating bubble on your home screen. It’s a convenient way to keep a conversation easily accessible.
As part of the Android 17 rollout, users got the option to use app bubbles. When you bubble an app, it sits on top of everything else on your screen, making it easy to access when you need it. You can place up to five apps in your bubble.
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A bubble only saves a tap or two each time you use an app, but it’s a fantastic multi-tasking tool if you have a handful of apps you use often. You could do something similar to this before, but only for Google Messages and Facebook Messenger chats.
The ability to bubble an app on Android is starting as a Pixel exclusive, but the feature will come to other manufacturers over time. There is an existing, similar feature for Samsung called Smart Pop Up View, and instructions for that are below.
To get started, choose the app you want from either your app screen or your home screen.
Press and hold on the app until a pop-up menu appears.
The menu will show options like App info, Add app to home screen, or Pause app. Select the Bubble option.