Google Android 7.0 is the first version of Google’s mobile operating system to feature native multi-window support. That means you can view more than one app at a time thanks to a split-screen mode that’s enabled by default.
But Android 7.0 also includes support for a freeform window mode that lets you view more than tow apps at a time in resizable windows that can be positioned anywhere on the screen. Basically freeform mode makes Android act a bit more like Windows, macOS, or other desktop operating systems.
If you install Android 7.0 on any existing phone or tablet you won’t automatically get access to freeform mode, but you can enable it by installing a custom recovery and running some commands from a PC.
Or you could use a free Android app called Taskbar.
The developer of Taskbar notes that the app makes it possible to use a sort of freeform window mode without rooting your device or connecting it to a PC and running ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands.
All you need to do is:
- Enable developer options on your device (open the settings menu, go to the “About device” section, and then tab the Android build number 7 times until a message pops up telling you that you’re now a developer. A new menu should now be available in Settings)
- Check the toggle for “Force activities to be resizable.”
- Reboot your device.
- Install Taskbar from the Google Play Store.
- Run Taskbar.
After that you’ll want to clear your recent apps so that they’ll show up in Taskbar when you run them. Then just go to your home screen and tap Taskbar’s app drawer icon until it opens and shows you a freeform window view.
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While this method is a little simpler (and less risky) than using ADB to enable freeform window mode, it’s not quite as easy to use since there’s no button in the recents view that lets you switch between freeform apps.
On the other hand, the TaskBar app has something Android 7.0’s native freeform windows view does not: a taskbar and start menu/app launcher.
