Google Pixel Drop update June 2026 is full of new features. It brings AirDrop support to older, budget Pixel phones. The Magic Cuerevealing information about what’s on the screen, extends to other chat applications. And perhaps most importantly, Android 17 it finally has a stable build, with no major bugs or quirks so far.
I put it in mine Pixel 10 Pro this morning and I didn’t expect a feature called Bubbles to become my favorite so quickly. It’s a multitasking development that I didn’t know I needed.
At a time when Google seems to be completely focused on Gemini Intelligence, it’s refreshing to see Android 17 arrive with more quality features and additions. (Last year’s Android 16 launched with many bugs that frustrated Android phone owners.)
The app’s Bubbles feature, true to its name, lets you create a pop-up bubble for any app, so you can use it as an overlay on your home screen. But what’s the use and fun of doing that if you can use the app in full screen mode? Let me tell you.
Bubbles is the multitasking boost Android needs
Bubbles allow you to group multiple apps and run them in a floating window that takes up most of your screen. Simply press and hold the app icon, tap It’s a bubble and the application opens in a new floating window. You can add additional apps to create a floating taskbar at the top of your screen, making multitasking between apps much faster — without swiping from one to another at the bottom of the display.
Bubbles helped me enter invoices faster than my usual process.
For example, I had to test something related to technology on Instagram Reel. So I popped the Instagram app bubble and added Chrome’s Search and Keep to take notes, putting them in an easy-to-reach place. This Android 17 feature works well for multitasking on a native phone. I still prefer this sort of thing to fold, though, as it allows me to keep multiple apps open in full-screen view at once.
But most people don’t have a foldable phone, which makes the Bubbles very clever, especially compared to the Split-Screen, which feels more cramped than usable on a 6.3-inch screen.
Samsung’s One UI has a similar pop-up window, but Bubbles in Android 17 feels more intuitive and thoughtful. I saw it today when I had to send invoices two weeks ago.
My invoicing process involves referring to three Google Sheets, a Google Docs file and a Calculator app. Bubbles let me create separate popups for each Google sheet without having to close my current one to open another one. I was then able to switch between three Sheets, Google Docs and the Calculator app with a tap.
But the best part is that Android remembers which apps you used in Bubbles. So you can have one-tap access to them instead of going through the whole press-and-hold process for each app every time you need it. As you run multiple apps in this mode, the system integrates them together and you can quickly switch between them from the Bubbles UI.
It’s fun to drag bundled apps onto the home screen before closing the bubble.
When you’re done, you can swipe up from the bottom of your screen to minimize apps and group them into a small icon. You can then access these bubble apps by tapping or swiping them to the cross (X) to remove them from your screen.
I love the way Bubbles feel and how quickly apps open when I touch an idle bubble. I wish Google would let me create groups of multiple apps and add them to my home screen as folders for quick access. This way, I can have one Bubble for my research and tools, and one of the apps that helps me invoice every 15 days.
How to use App Bubbles on your Pixel phone
It’s really easy to set up and access Bubbles on Android 17.
The Bubbles feature is currently rolling out with Android 17 on compatible Google Pixel phones. You can set it up by following these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll down to Notices and less Discussionspress on Bubbles.
- You will see conversion to him Allow apps to display bubbles. Open it.
- Now, you can press and hold on any app, on your home screen or app drawer, to create a bubble.
Follow this example to create a bubble.
- Press and hold Chrome.
- A menu will appear. Tap the icon in the upper right corner to create a Chrome bubble. In other applications (including phone), Bubbles it may appear in the list of actions you get after a long press (unlike an icon).
You can add more apps to it by following the same process as above.
Once you’ve used multiple apps in Bubbles, you’ll be able to add them with just a tap “plus” icon (+) in the bubble menu. Then, if you want to close the Bubble:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
- This will create an icon overlay over your screen. Press and hold this icon to get the shutdown menu.
- Drag and drop the icon to the X icon at the bottom of the screen.
I’m still testing Android 17, but I’m glad I can be productive on the phone without pulling my hair out in frustration. The Bubbles feature is fast, intuitive and fun to use. I can’t wait to explore more of Android 17.
