Android 16 might bring desktop-style screen features: Here’s a Sneak Peek

Google is working hard to make Android feel more like a full desktop system. To do that, it needs to play nicely with things like keyboards, mice, and bigger screens—stuff you’d expect from a regular computer. Last year, Google added a simple External Display settings menu to Android. It let users tweak the resolution and tilt of an external monitor. That was a good start, but it didn’t make Android a serious rival to Windows, macOS, or even Google’s Chrome OS. Now, with Android 16, Google is testing new tools to manage external screens, bringing it closer to what desktop systems offer.

When you plug a newer Google Pixel phone into a monitor, you can choose to copy your phone’s screen onto it. But if you dig into some hidden developer settings, you can stretch the display instead. This turns the monitor into a basic desktop-like space, different from what’s on your phone. It’s not perfect yet, though. For example, the mouse stays stuck on one screen and can’t move between them. Also, switching from copying the screen to stretching it isn’t easy—you have to mess with settings and replug the phone.

Google’s fixing these headaches. Soon, you’ll be able to slide the mouse smoothly between screens and rearrange them however you like. Plus, a simple switch will let you flip between copying the phone’s screen or stretching it out—no more fiddling required. These tricks aren’t fully ready in Android 16 Beta 2.1, but I got them working with a little effort.

In a video, I hooked my Pixel 8 Pro to a NexDock XL monitor and opened the External Display settings. At first, Android thought my phone was below the monitor, even though it was off to the right. Moving the mouse meant swiping up and down on the touchpad. After dragging the phone’s screen icon next to the monitor’s in the settings, I could swipe side to side instead. You can line up the screens exactly how they sit in real life, just like on a computer. There’s also a toggle to copy or stretch the display, and you can tweak text and icon sizes on the monitor separately. Refresh rate control isn’t here yet, but it seems Google’s on it.

These features popped up in Android 16 Beta 2.1, but they might not hit the first stable version. I’d bet they’ll show up in a later update, like the quarterly one. It’s small stuff, but it’s a big deal for turning Android into a desktop champ. Google’s aiming to blend Chrome OS into Android, so these upgrades are a must. It’ll take time, but it’s looking promising!