Google has introduced a new desktop mode for Pixel phones and tablets, bringing a desktop-style experience to Android devices.
The feature is part of the March Pixel Drop and allows supported Pixel devices to connect to an external monitor and behave more like a computer.
The new desktop mode works with the Pixel 8 and newer models. When the phone is connected to a monitor using a USB-C cable, the interface changes into a desktop-like environment with multiple windows. Users can open and arrange apps in separate windows, making multitasking easier on a larger screen.
Google also allows users to connect accessories such as a mouse and keyboard. This means the phone can function more like a traditional computer while connected to the display. The feature also supports foldable devices like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Pixel Tablet users are also getting improvements. Google says the tablet will gain a desktop-style windowing system that offers a familiar interface where apps can overlap, be resized, and arranged freely across the screen.
Although Google did not include screenshots in the announcement, the company has been teasing a desktop experience for Android for several months. Last year Google revealed that it was working with Samsung to build on Samsung’s DeX technology, which automatically adapts a phone’s interface when connected to a larger display.
Testing for the feature began earlier for Pixel 8 users, and the new desktop mode is now arriving as part of the latest Pixel software update. The move signals Google’s continued push to make Android devices more capable for productivity tasks beyond typical smartphone use.
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