Sick of the never-ending search for apps on your phone? Google is concocting a neat idea: a taskbar, very much like the Android tablet taskbar! Holding off for a formal release? Why bother! Learn how you can unlock a useful taskbar on your Androidright away.
Google Working on a Taskbar for Android Phones
A neat little beta feature got silently slipped in with Android 15 Beta 4. This was a hint for bigger multitasking refurbs in late stages.In conjugation with the one that existed on tablets, the sleek bar affords users quick access to the six most recently used applications alongside some personal favorites to facilitate easy app switching.
Nope, Android 16 might not have ushered in the taskbar revolution, but it’s definitely bright in the distance. Can’t stay tuned? See the instant unlocking of taskbar experience on your phone, and get a head start on tomorrow’s mobile multitasking.
Add a Taskbar to Android Phone Natively
Unleash a hidden superpower on your Google Pixel! The home screen of your phone now transforms into a multitasking command center with a customizable taskbar. Be warned, since some home screen feng shui might be necessary to achieve peak efficiency.
Will you be making any changes? If you haven’t opened the Developer Options yet, it’s time to explore the secret world of Developer Options. Go toSystem >Developer Options. Inside Developer Options, use the search bar to look for “smallest width” and record any existing values before you make changes. You’ll thank me later.
Tap the option, input 600 as the value, then selectOK.
Go toSettings ->Display & touch ->Display size and text.
Drag the sliders forFont sizeandDisplay sizeto the maximum.
Exit Settings to see your taskbar at the bottom.
Rearrange the apps on your home screen for a better view.
Buttons are so last year; just swipe! Conceal the navigation bar to enjoy a cleaner, more immersive experience, and party with those gestures! Head over to Settings ->System ->Navigation Mode, and prepare to be blown away!
The Smart Taskbar Will Soon Be Yours! Your taskbar now predicts your needs by showing you six most recently-apps used, as well as suggested apps. Want to pin any? You just drag and drop it into that hot last spot! Feeling even more tidy? Create app folders right on the taskbar by dropping one app atop another. Magic? It’s just good engineering!
On the go again? A swift finger flick upward from the bottom edge of the screen triggers the magical app switcher. A single quick swipe reveals apps you have open so you can get back to something, or keep looking for something new.
Tip : learn how to use Android’s palm timer to take selfies and photos hands-free.
Add a Taskbar to Android with Third-Party Apps
If the workaround above seems too troublesome, you can try a ready-made solution by installing one of the following apps.
1. Taskbar
Now, Taskbar will transform your Android device! Unlock a customizable app launcher that brings your favorite apps right up at your fingertips, wherever you decide to put them on the screen. Say goodbye to never-ending scrolling and enjoy swift access to everything you are looking for.
Are you ready for the supercharged taskbar on your gadget? The app will now launch, allowing you to turn the switch on or off at the very top with a single tap. Allow for a few permissions, and BAM! There it is-an elegant smart taskbar at the bottom of your screen having your recent application ready for you to enter at the fastest speed.
You can hide the taskbar by pressing the arrow at the end of the app row.
The taskbar is at the bottom, which is so boring! Unlocking its full potential involves dragging it towards the left, right, or the topthe way your heart desires. Next, go toGeneral settings, find thePositiondropdown, and alter your desktop layout.
Tired of hunting down your favorite app? Keep it front and center! Long press on the app and hit “Pin to recents” to put it down for immediate access from the taskbar. Boom. Done.
Lost in app chaos? Conquer it instantly! Tap the taskbar’s white orb lurking in the corner – your express lane to app nirvana. Best part? It’s always there, a steadfast beacon even when your screen’s maxed out on another app. Find and launch, interruption-free!
2. Microsoft Launcher
Want a taskbar to grace your Android? Well, get away from the trivial notions and pick up a launcher! The Microsoft Launcher, for one, chooses to call its taskbar a dock.
Download and install Microsoft Launcher on your phone. Launch it and set it as your default launcher app.
A neat line up of six chosen apps awaits down at the dock. Customizing your app launch hub? You only need to longpress on the home screen, exposing the hidden portal,Launcher Settings.
SelectDockin the menu.
Fine-tune your dock, tweak the grid with rows and columns, and toggle the background with style!
Want an app to be easy to reach anytime? Throw out the old ones! Just give the dock icon a long press and remove it by a tap atRemove. Make the entrance for the newbie into the old world!
Find the app you want to add in the app drawer, and drag and drop it in the dock.
Swipe up to view additional rows of apps in the dock.
3. Floating Apps
Forget the old, clunky and space-consuming Taskbars! Floating Apps creates a portal right through the Android homescreen, whirling your favorite Apps and tools into separate freely resizable windows.
This simple installation can unlock a world filled with possibilities. After granting all required permissions to the app, you will see a floating icon magically appear on your screen. Drag this versatile orb to the desired location and tap it; you will marvel at the numerous actions that will present themselves.
There are multiple options, such as launching a browser (the app’s proprietary option), adding a note, barcode scanner, or clock.
Each link opens in its own dedicated window, giving you the option to juggle all sorts of tasks with ease. And installed apps are also launched directly from here. Full-screen immersive scenarios wait for you!
Unlocking hidden potential: Your phone is the secret carrier of a very experimental floating feature for regular apps, and some minimal techno-wizardry opens the gates to it.
Shrink windows to playful bubbles and then arrange them on a convenient dock. These bubbles persist, in-your-face reminders, while you juggle several other application windows.
Go ahead and fully unleash the powers of your Android! Avoid rooting and go straight for these customizations that will forever change the way you work on your mobile phone.
Thanks for reading How to Add a Taskbar to Your Android for Better Multitasking
