Google Says Android 16's New Desktop Mode Builds On 'the Foundation Of Samsung DeX'

Google has been working on a “desktop mode” for Android 16 for a while now and at Google I/O’s developer talks, the company confirmed that these improvements have arrived in part thanks to Samsung DeX.

While discussing adaptive Android apps during its Developer Keynote, Google confirmed that it has been working with Samsung to upgrade Android’s desktop windowing capabilities. The company explains:

…we’ve been collaborating with Samsung, building on the foundation of Samsung DeX, to bring enhanced desktop windowing capabilities in Android 16 for more powerful productivity workflows.

In a subsequent blog post about adaptive Android apps, Google adds that “an app’s ability to seamlessly adapt to different screen sizes is becoming increasingly crucial” amid Android’s expanding form factors and features, such as this new desktop mode.

Leaked builds of Android 16 previously revealed much of Google’s progress on desktop mode, while an early look at Samsung’s One UI 8 update showed that it seems Samsung’s DeX is being redesigned to utilize the improvements that Google and Samsung have been collaborating on.

Android 16’s desktop mode does not appear to be live by default in the current beta release.