Multitask between apps with bubbles

You can quickly open an app in a small, floating window without leaving your current app. You can use the bubbles to multitask and switch between apps more easily.

Important:

• The bubbles feature is available on all Pixel phones, including Fold with Android 17.
• On a Pixel Fold or Tablet, you can use the bubble bar to manage your bubbles.

Create & use bubbles

You can create an app bubble from its icon:

1. On your home screen or all apps screen, touch and hold the app icon you want to use.
2. In the menu, tap Bubble .
3. The app opens in a floating bubble window.
   • When you have more than one bubble, they’re grouped together.

Tip: To find recent bubbles, tap More .

On Pixel Fold, you can also create bubbles from the taskbar:

1. From the bottom of the screen, open the taskbar by slowly swiping up.
2. In your taskbar, touch and hold an app.
3. Drag the app icon to the left or right side of the screen and release it.
   • The app opens in a floating bubble window.
4. To add more apps as bubbles, repeat steps 2 and 3. Bubbles will group together.
5. To close a bubble:
   1. Touch and hold the bubble.
   2. Drag it onto Close at the bottom of the screen.

Tips:

• You can access bubble options from the bubble stack.
• You can have up to 5 bubbles at one time.

Expand, collapse, or close bubbles

• To expand a bubble, tap the floating bubble icon.
• To minimize a bubble back to its icon, tap it again or tap anywhere outside the bubble window.
• To close a bubble:
  1. Touch and hold the bubble.
  2. Drag it onto Close at the bottom of the screen.
• To dismiss the entire bubble bar, touch and hold, then drag it onto Close at the bottom of the screen.

Switch between bubbles

• To find all your open bubbles, tap on the bubble bar.
• To switch between multiple open bubbles, tap their icons in the bubble bar.

Tip: On your Pixel Fold, to multitask with 3 apps, you can open a bubble over a split-screen view.

Move your bubbles

1. Touch and hold the bubble bar.
2. Drag the bubble bar to another location on your screen.

Pin the taskbar (Pixel Fold)

You can pin the taskbar so it always shows at the bottom of the screen.

1. To open the taskbar, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
2. In the taskbar, touch and hold on the divider line.
3. In the popup menu, turn on Always show Taskbar.

Tips:

• You can only navigate the taskbar with your gestures.
• To unpin the taskbar, follow the same steps and turn off Always show Taskbar.
• Learn how to edit your taskbar on your Pixel Fold with our step-by-step tutorial.

Related resources

• Get the most out of tabletop mode on your Pixel Fold
• Use full screen mode on your Pixel Fold
• Use Split Screen on your Pixel Fold
• Find, open & close apps on a Pixel phone
• Get around on your Pixel phone