Google rolled out the third Android 17 beta recently, bringing the OS to Platform Stability. While the new beta packs plenty of changes, there’s one that stands out, as it can radically change how you multitask on your Pixel.

With Android 17 Beta 3, Google is introducing the ability to run any app in a “bubble” mode. If you frequently bubble your Google Messages, Telegram, or WhatsApp conversation, you’ll know exactly what this means. The company officially announced this feature with Beta 2 in late February, but it’s only going live with the third beta.

The feature essentially lets you run any app in a floating window that minimizes into a bubble when tapped. The concept is similar to what Paranoid Android, a popular Android custom ROM from back in the day, first introduced. Several Chinese Android skins, like Vivo’s OriginOS, also offer similar multitasking functionality.

To run an app in bubble mode, simply long-press on its icon and select the bubble icon from the shortcuts. The feature should be especially handy on tablets and foldables, as it should significantly improve the multitasking experience.

Android gets true floating apps

Based on my testing on the Pixel 8 Pro, it appears you can run any application in bubble mode. There also does not appear to be any limitation on how many apps you can bubble — I was able to run six simultaneously. Tapping the + icon next to the bubble displays the recent and dismissed bubbles, letting you quickly relaunch apps in the same mode.

To close a bubbled app, tap its bubble and drag or flick it to the ‘X’ that appears at the bottom of the screen. This works the same way as dismissing bubbled conversations in Google Messages.

A bubbled app won’t appear separately in the Recent Apps screen, though its floating icon will still be visible.

The ability to run apps in a mini-window mode and minimize them to a bubble will add a new layer of flexibility to multitasking on Android. You will no longer have to juggle between multiple full-screen apps or reply on split-screen mode, which limits the amount of content you can view.