You can plug recent Pixel phones into a monitor to get a desktop-style interface.
For years, the idea of ​​smartphones connected to a monitor providing a desktop experience has fascinated manufacturers, developers, and (to some extent) consumers. But hardware experiments like Asus’ PadFone and the Motorola Atrix Lapdock haven’t won over users the way vendors hoped.
Businesses have relied on software experiences to attempt to deliver office-grade features. Microsoft’s short-lived Continuum feature for Windows 10 Mobile was discontinued in 2017. Samsung’s DeX allows its Galaxy phones to offer a PC-like workspace with a taskbar, optimized apps, and wireless connectivity. And Motorola’s phones continue to offer its Smart Connect experience.
Now, after months of beta, the Android March 16 Pixel Drop update has brought Android desktop mode to the Pixel 8 and up. Let’s go set it up.
How do I put my Android in desktop mode?
Connect your Pixel 8 or newer Google phone to an external monitor with a high-speed USB-C cable and a pop-up will prompt you to switch to Android desktop mode or use it as a mirror. Select the Desktop option. Connect a mouse and keyboard via Bluetooth or a USB hub and you now have a mobile workstation with a desktop-style interface. Google has not yet announced the availability of the feature on non-Pixel devices.
Apps open in windows that can be sized to suit your needs, and a Start menu opens the app drawer. Pulling down from the top brings up your notifications. ZDNet noted that Desktop mode worked smoothly, with no issues when running multiple applications.
If you disconnect your phone from your setup and reconnect it, Desktop mode retains the layout of your active windows to help you pick up where you left off if you haven’t already closed them on your phone. You can’t add apps to the desktop home screen, so open them from the Start menu. If you’re thinking about games, remember that most games designed for phones don’t support keyboard inputs. Content creator leepspvideo has managed to run Steam games natively through Desktop mode using apps like GameNative.
What are the limits of Android desktop mode?
Your mileage with Android’s desktop mode will depend on your use case. While simple document editing and watching cat videos on YouTube run smoothly, you may run into issues with heavier tasks like photo editing. Even though the videos ran smoothly, CommentGeek found that the software currently caps the frame rate at 60Hz. Reddit users have noted its lack of 4K support, which is a big problem when connecting to large monitors.
Right now, your phone won’t run Chrome extensions in desktop mode, even though they can run on Apple Silicon or Windows on ARM devices. This means that editing tools like Grammarly and the OneTab tab manager won’t work as expected.
Running a desktop UI with floating windows on a smartphone pushes its thermal envelope to its limits. Android Police testing found that the phone became warm to the touch after 30 minutes of light use in desktop mode. Prolonged sessions of running Android as a desktop can deplete your battery endurance at a greater rate than regular use would. Despite these issues, Android Desktop Mode is a step in the right direction for mobile productivity, and it’s worth testing if you have a newer Pixel device.
