Google Launches Android 17 with Bubble Multitasking and Foldable Gaming Mode
Android 17 rolls out to Pixel devices first, introducing Bubbles for multitasking, a foldable gaming mode, and enhanced safety features.
Google has started rolling out Android 17 today, beginning with Pixel devices. Other Android phones will receive the update over the coming months. The new OS brings several key features.
One of the highlights is Bubbles, which can turn any app into a floating window, allowing users to view information from two apps simultaneously. By long-pressing an app icon, it becomes a bubble that floats over other apps. On larger-screen devices like the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, a dedicated bubble bar at the bottom houses the bubble and enables quick app switching, resizing, or maximizing.
Android 17 also introduces an updated screen recording tool with “Screen Reactions,” which records the front camera and screen simultaneously, making it easy to capture reaction videos for social media.
For foldable phones, the new foldable gaming mode provides an optimized 50/50 layout with the game on the top half and a virtual gamepad on the bottom. External controller users can remap buttons natively. Google has also improved memory cleanup for HD gaming to reduce lag and frame drops.
On the safety front, Android 17 lets users grant apps temporary location access and share only specific contacts. The enhanced “Mark as lost” feature in Find Hub allows remote phone locking with biometrics, preventing thieves from unlocking it even if they have the passcode. Live Threat Detection has been upgraded to block more suspicious apps, and the number of PIN guesses is reduced with longer intervals between attempts.
Pixel devices get additional tools. Conversational editing for Google Photos is now available on Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and Pixel 10a in Germany, the UK, France, Spain, and Italy, allowing voice-based photo edits. Voice Translate comes to Pixel 10a, enabling voice translation of callers. Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a now have AirDrop compatibility and can use Android Quick Share to transfer files with iPhones. Magic Cue gains broader access to pull important information from more messaging apps.
For the Pixel Watch, Emergency Sharing is integrated into core detection features like Car Crash, Fall, and Loss of Pulse Detection. In severe events, the watch will call emergency services and notify chosen contacts.
