Android floating windows

Dazstoke · 13 Jun 2021 at 09:00

My phone just updated to Android 11 and now has floating windows.
What's the point ? Does anyone use them ?

Orcvader · 13 Jun 2021 at 10:49

Which phone? When you mean floating windows, do you mean the app scaled down and you can move it around, or a floating chat bubble?

Dazstoke · 13 Jun 2021 at 12:40

Orcvader said:
Which phone? When you mean floating windows, do you mean the app scaled down and you can move it around, or a floating chat bubble?

The former, it's a Xiaomi redmi note 9s

chrismscotland · 13 Jun 2021 at 23:34

Dazstoke said:
My phone just updated to Android 11 and now has floating windows.
What's the point ? Does anyone use them ?

Sounds similar to what Samsung have done for a while; never used it on mobile but do tend to use it for stuff on my Android tablet

Orcvader · 14 Jun 2021 at 09:29

Dazstoke said:
The former, it's a Xiaomi redmi note 9s

That would be a MIUI feature then, other phones based on stock Android don't have this feature.

As above other OEMs like Samsung does have it added, but as far as I'm aware, it's only when you use Dex mode for the desktop layout. Much more useful on a bigger screen like a tablet or external display.

james.miller · 14 Jun 2021 at 09:36

Orcvader said:
That would be a MIUI feature then, other phones based on stock Android don't have this feature.

As above other OEMs like Samsung does have it added, but as far as I'm aware, it's only when you use Dex mode for the desktop layout. Much more useful on a bigger screen like a tablet or external display.

Nah they've had pop up windows for a while now. The note 4 had it

Dazstoke · 14 Jun 2021 at 11:24

chrismscotland said:
Sounds similar to what Samsung have done for a while; never used it on mobile but do tend to use it for stuff on my Android tablet

What 'stuff' ?

chrismscotland · 14 Jun 2021 at 11:42

Dazstoke said:
What 'stuff' ?

Well on my tablet I tend to use it for things that I want to have available but isn't neccesarily what I'm working on; for example Teams/Zoom or Spotify.

Orcvader · 14 Jun 2021 at 12:14

james.miller said:
Nah they've had pop up windows for a while now. The note 4 had it

Completely forgot TouchWiz for the Note series had it. Was handy for the large screen and pen if I remember.

But for stock Android itself, while you can enable it in developer settings, it was never officially supported and was limited to OEM skins.