With the new version of Android 13, the so-called Developers Preview 2, Google introduced a notable amount of cosmetic changes, new features, and API overhauls. And one of those changes is the new taskbar: mainly aimed at tablets, with Android 13 you can have shortcuts and also the app drawer at your fingertips; regardless of the open application.
Big screens are getting a second life in Android, both in foldable devices and in tablets themselves. Android 12L was aimed precisely at this type of screen; an intention that Google has built into the near-term future of the system. Android being universal, why not further improve usability on large panels? The new taskbar is the key.
The most important applications always present
The idea behind the new taskbar is to keep the user’s most important applications always accessible; while Android gives you access to the app drawer and everything you’re using right now. Not only that: the new taskbar has widespread uses.
As shown in the getting started tutorial, the Android 13 taskbar allows easily start an application in a split window. To do this, just drag the icon to the screen: the interface detects the gesture and automatically splits it, leaving the application used at the top and the one that the user drags from the bar at the bottom; or to the left and to the right if the mobile is in a horizontal position.
Android 13 allows switching to any taskbar app, said bar can be hidden (hold down in an area devoid of icons) and also exit if necessary (hold down in the lower part of the screen). Its operation adapts to both directions of the screen: both vertical and horizontal (it is more practical in this second case).
The taskbar is oriented towards folding screens and tablets, although it can also be used on “normal” mobiles. We tested it on our Google Pixel 6 with Android 13 DP2 with very good sensations. Even despite the fact that the interface offers inconsistencies with the side effects of the bar (some areas at the beginning are left bare because the interface is not designed for mobile).
How to enable taskbar in Android 13
The interface better adapted to tablets has a side effect: user switching in the area of quick connectors
It must be said that Android 13 is not even in beta yet, a sign that we cannot currently find anything in DP2 is guaranteed to survive until the stable version is released. Still, you might have a Pixel with this version installed and you don’t know how to activate the new taskbar. It does not appear directly on mobile.
The process involves increase screen density, a process that will make everything on the phone smaller. It is done as follows:
- Go to phone information, in Android settings.
- Click the build number ten times until Developer Settings is enabled.
- Go back to Android settings and navigate to the “Developer Options“.
- Locate the “Smallest width” function and memorize the number that appears (we recommend that you write it down).
- Change that number to something greater than 600. In our case, that left us with only 600.
- Accept and you will see that your mobile will adapt to the new screen density. The new Android 13 taskbar should appear.
On cellphones it’s not so useful, it provides greater comfort on tablets (and probably on foldable phones). We tested it for several hours and the truth is that dramatically improves multitasking because it makes it much easier and faster to switch between applications: you don’t have to go to the beginning to do it, nor browse the last applications opened. We will see how Google will finish implementing it in the future stable version.
