Android 17 bubbles are the best thing to happen to multitasking on a phone

Google Pixel Drop update June 2026 is full of new features. It offers AirDrop support for older budget Pixel phones. Magic braidwhich displays information about what is on the screen, and extends to more chat applications. And perhaps more importantly, Android 17 It finally has a stable build, with no major bugs or quirks so far.

I installed it on my country Pixel 10 Pro This morning and I did not expect the feature called Bubbles to become my favorite so quickly. It’s the multitasking upgrade I didn’t know I needed.

At a time when Google seems completely focused on… Gemini intelligenceIt’s refreshing to see Android 17 It arrives with many high-quality features and add-ons. (last year Android 16 launched with a number of bugs Which frustrated Android phone owners.)

True to its name, App Bubbles lets you create a popup bubble for any app, so you can launch it as an overlay on your home screen. But what’s the point and fun in doing that when you can simply run the app in full screen mode? Let me tell you.

Bubbles is the multitasking boost Android needs

Bubbles lets you group multiple apps and run them in a floating window that takes up most of your screen space. Simply press and hold the app icon, then tap bubble The application opens in a new floating window. You can also add more apps to create a floating taskbar at the top of your screen, which makes multitasking between apps much faster — without having to scroll from one app to another at the bottom of the screen.

For example, I had to validate something technology-related in my Instagram Reel. So I fired up the Instagram app bubble and added Chrome for search and Keep for note-taking, keeping them handy. This Android 17 feature works well for multitasking on a traditional phone. I still prefer a foldable device for this kind of thing, because it lets me keep multiple apps open in full-screen view at once.

But most people don’t have a flip phone, which makes Bubbles even more awesome, especially compared to the split screen, which feels more cramped than useful on a 6.3-inch screen.

Samsung’s One UI has a similar popup, but Android 17’s Bubbles app feels more intuitive and in-depth. I realized this today when I had to send out bills for the past two weeks.

My billing process involves consulting three Google Sheets, a Google Doc, and a calculator app. Bubbles allows me to create separate popups for each Google Sheet without closing the current window to open another. I can then switch between three spreadsheets, a Google Doc, and the calculator app with one click.

But the best part is that Android remembers which apps you used in Bubbles. So you can access them with a single tap instead of going through the entire tap-and-hold process for each app every time you need it. When you use more apps in this mode, the system groups them together and you can quickly switch between them through the Bubbles UI.

When you’re done, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to minimize the apps and group them into a small icon. You can then access these bubbly apps with a single tap or swipe them away with an X to delete them from your screen.

I love how easy Bubbles is to use and how quickly apps open when I tap an inactive bubble. I wish Google would let me create multiple app groups and add them to my home screen like folders for quick access. This way, I can have one bubble for my research and work stuff, and another for apps that help me with invoices every 15 days.

How to use App Bubbles on your Pixel phone

The Bubbles feature is currently rolling out with Android 17 compatible operating system Google Pixel phones. You can set it up by following these steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down to Notifications And under Conversationshandle Bubbles.
3. You will see Switch to Allow apps to show bubbles. Turn it on.
4. Now, you can press and hold any app, whether on your home screen or in the app drawer, to create a bubble.

Follow this example to create a bubble.

1. Press and hold chrome.
2. A list will appear. Tap the icon in the top right corner to create a Chrome bubble. In some applications (including phone), Bubbles It may appear in the action menu you get after a long press (unlike an icon).

You can add more apps to it by following the same process as above.

Once you use multiple apps in Bubbles, you’ll be able to add them by simply clicking a button “Plus” icon. (+) in the bubble list. Then, if you want to close the bubble:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
2. This will create an icon overlaid on top of your screen. Press and hold this icon to close menu.
3. Drag and drop the icon to X icon At the bottom of the screen.

I’m still testing Android 17, but I’m glad I can be productive on the phone without pulling my hair out of frustration. The bubble feature is fast, intuitive and fun to use. I can’t wait to explore more about Android 17.