Google is preparing to optimize the taskbar for smaller screens with Android 15. In this way, the company will pave the way for the multitasking interface to come to phones for the first time. So how will the revamped taskbar work?

Mini taskbar on the way with Android 15

The taskbar was first introduced with Android 12 to switch between apps on tablets and foldable devices. Google has recently been making changes to better adapt to different screen styles. While the taskbar is optimized for larger screens, it was not possible to access it on phones until now.

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That looks set to change with a new “mini” taskbar feature discovered by developers in the Android 15 beta. When activated, the mini taskbar will serve the same function, but will be resized to fit within the confines of the phone screen.

According to the leak, the small taskbar appears at the bottom of the screen, just like on tablets. An upward swipe brings up thumbnails of recent apps and can be toggled with a single tap. It also supports standard taskbar interactions.

Although it’s still a work in progress, the mini taskbar will make multitasking easier on smartphones. With its integration into small screen devices, it could become the standard for managing all Android apps.

Android 15 is scheduled for release later this year, so it’s possible that the taskbar will be distributed with that update. However, Google is still developing the small taskbar.