Posted by Fahd Imtiaz – Product Manager, Android Developer

We’re excited to announce that Jetpack WindowManager 1.5.0 is now stable!

This release builds on the strong foundation of adaptability in WindowManager, making it even easier to create polished, adaptive UIs that look great on all screen sizes. As the Android ecosystem continues to grow, users are engaging with apps on a wider variety of devices than ever before: from phones and foldables to tablets, connected displays, Chromebooks, and even car displays in parked mode.

WindowManager 1.5 focuses on providing better tools for this diverse device environment.

What’s new in WindowManager 1.5

This stable release introduces new breakpoints for very large screens, enhances the activity embedding API, and provides more flexibility for calculating window metrics.

New window size classes: Large and Extra-large

The biggest update in 1.5 is the addition of two new width window size classes: Large and Extra-large.

Window size classes are our official, opinionated set of viewport breakpoints that help you design and develop adaptive layouts. With 1.5, we’re extending this guidance for screens that go beyond typical tablets.

Here are the new width breakpoints:

• Large: For widths between 1200dp and 1600dp

• Extra-large: For widths ≥1600dp

The different window size classes based on display width. 

Why are these important?

Starting with Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2, Android supports connected displays, enabling users to attach an external display to their device and transform it into a desktop-like tool with a large screen.

Phone connected to an external display, with a desktop session on the external display. 

With this new feature available, opinionated guidance to include bigger displays is crucial. 

On these very large surfaces, simply scaling up a tablet’s Expanded
layout isn’t always the best user experience. An email client, for example, might comfortably show two panes (a mailbox and a message) in the Expanded window size class. But on an Extra-large desktop monitor, the email client could elegantly display three or even four panes—perhaps a mailbox, a message list, the full message content, and a calendar/tasks panel, all at once.

By providing official breakpoints for very large display sizes, WindowManager 1.5 gives you a clear signal to
introduce layouts specifically designed for a productive, information-dense desktop experience.

The window size classes can be calculated using computeWindowSizeClass(), which is an androidx.window.core.layout library extension function that extends the Set<WindowSizeClass> type. 

To include the new window size classes in your project, simply call the function from the WindowSizeClass.BREAKPOINTS_V2 set instead of WindowSizeClass.BREAKPOINTS_V1:

Then apply the correct layout when you’re sure your app has at least that much space:

Adaptive libraries

The Compose Material 3 Adaptive library helps you create adaptive UIs that adapt themselves automatically according to the current window configurations like window size classes or device postures. 

The good news is that the library is already up to date with the new breakpoints! Starting from version
1.2 (now in Release Candidate stage), the default pane scaffold directive functions support Large and Extra-large window width size classes.

You only need to opt-in by declaring in your Gradle build file that you want to use the new breakpoints:

Additional improvements

• Activity embedding — auto-save and restore: WindowManager can now automatically save and restore the state of your activity embedding splits. This helps preserve the user’s layout across process recreation, leading to a more stable and consistent experience. Developers don’t have to save and restore the state manually anymore, but they can simply opt-in auto by setting the EmbeddingConfiguration#isAutoSaveEmbeddingState property.

• Expanded WindowMetrics:
  You can now calculate WindowMetrics
  from an Application
  context, not just an Activity
  context.
  This provides more flexibility for accessing window information from different parts of your app.

How to get started

To start using the new Large and Extra-large size classes and other 1.5 features in your Android projects, update your app dependencies in build.gradle.kts to the latest stable version:

WindowManager 1.5 is another step forward for creating fully adaptive apps that run across Android form factors. Check out the official release notes for a complete list of changes and bug fixes.

Happy coding!

Posted by Fahd Imtiaz – Senior Product Manager and Kseniia Shumelchyk – Engineering Manager, Developer Relations

This week at Made by Google, we introduced the new suite of Pixel devices, including the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel Watch 4. These devices are more than just an evolution in hardware; they are built to showcase the latest updates in Android, creating new possibilities for you to build experiences that are more helpful, personal, and adaptive than before.

Let’s explore what this moment means for your apps and how you can start building today.

Give your app more room to shine on foldable and large screens

The new Pixel 10 Pro Fold represents the next step in mobile computing, inviting you to think beyond a single screen. With a stunning 8-inch inner display that unfolds to create an immersive, large screen experience and a fully-capable 6.4-inch outer display, your apps have a powerful and flexible stage to shine. Its advanced durability and all-day battery life make this form factor ready for everyday use, raising user expectations for premium app experiences.

Building a truly adaptive app is how you unlock the full potential of this hardware. On the new Pixel 10 Pro Fold, users will multitask with enhanced Split Screen and drag-and-drop, or use hands-free tabletop modes for entertainment. Your app must support resizability and both portrait and landscape orientations to deliver the seamless, dynamic layouts these new experiences demand. Following the best practices on adaptive development is the key to providing an optimal experience on every screen and in every posture.

To help you build these adaptive experiences, we offer a suite of powerful tools. You can use existing tools like Jetpack Window Manager and the Compose Adaptive Layouts Libraries today. And coming soon to beta, Compose Adaptive Layout Library 1.2 will introduce new adaption strategies like Levitate and Reflow, plus support for Large and Extra Large width Window Class Sizes.

The goal is to not be confined to a single screen, but build one app that works great everywhere, from phones and foldables to tablets and other large screens. This is your opportunity to expand your app’s reach and deliver the dynamic experiences users now expect. With the tools at your fingertips, you can start building for every screen today. Learn how you can unlock your app’s full potential with adaptive development at developer.android.com/adaptive-apps.

Bring your most expressive apps to the wrist

The new Pixel Watch 4 is here, and it’s the first smartwatch built to showcase the full power of Material 3 Expressive on Wear OS 6. This is where the vision for the platform truly comes to life, allowing you to build stunning, modern apps and tiles without compromising on performance. With this release, you no longer have to choose between beautiful animations and battery life; with Wear OS 6, you can build experiences that are beautiful, helpful, and powerful, all at once.

To get that modern look, you can use the new Material 3 Expressive libraries for Compose on Wear OS, which provide powerful components like the TransformingLazyColumnuid lists and the EdgeButton to create UIs that feel natively built for the wrist.

This focus on design naturally extends to the centerpiece of the user’s experience, the watch face itself. To give you more creative control, we’ve introduced version 4 of the Watch Face Format, which unlocks possibilities like fluid, animated state transitions and lets users select their own photos for the background. And to help developers create their own watch face marketplaces, we’ve introduced the Watch Face Push API. We’ve partnered with well-known watch face developers – including Facer, TIMEFLIK, WatchMaker, and Pujie – who are bringing their unique watch face experiences to the new devices that users can already get today.

All of this is built on a more reliable and efficient foundation, with watches updating to Wear OS 6 seeing up to a 10% improvement in battery life and quicker app launches. This gives you the confidence to use these new creative tools, knowing your app will perform beautifully. Start building apps for the wrist using the resources and guidance at developer.android.com/wear.

Ready to build for every screen today?

The opportunities for your app are bigger than ever, and you can start today. See how your app performs across screen sizes by using the resizable emulator in Android Studio, and explore our large-screen design gallery for inspiration.

For your wearables, the best way to begin is by upgrading your UI with the new Material 3 Expressive libraries for Compose on Wear OS and exploring the engaging experiences you can build with the Watch Face Push API. Finally, use the Wear OS 6 emulator to test and verify your app’s experience.

You can find all the resources you need, including documentation, samples, and guides at developer.android.com/adaptive-apps and developer.android.com/wear.

We can’t wait to see what you develop next!

Posted by J. Eason – Director, Product Management

The next generation of foldable and wearable devices from Samsung has arrived. Yesterday at Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung introduced the new Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7, and Galaxy Watch8 series. For Android developers, these devices represent an exciting new opportunity to create engaging and adaptive experiences that reach even more users on their favorite screens.

With new advancements in adaptive development and the launch of Wear OS 6, it has never been a better time to build for the expanding Android device ecosystem. Learn more about what these new devices mean for you and how you can get started.

Unfold your app’s adaptive potential on Samsung’s newest Galaxy devices

The launch of the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 on Android 16 means users are about to experience your app in more dynamic and versatile ways than before. This creates an opportunity to captivate them with experiences that adaptively respond to every fold and flip. And preparing your app for these features is easier than you think. Building adaptive apps isn’t just about rewriting your code, but about making strategic enhancements that ensure a seamless experience across screens.

Google and Samsung have collaborated to bring a more seamless and powerful desktop windowing experience to large screen devices and phones with connected displays in Android 16 across the Android ecosystem. These advancements will enhance Samsung DeX, starting with the new Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, and also extend to the wider Android ecosystem.

To help you meet this moment, we’ve built a foundation of development tools to simplify creating compelling adaptive experiences. Create adaptive layouts that reflow automatically with the Compose Adaptive Layouts library and guide users seamlessly across panes with Jetpack Navigation 3. Make smarter top-level layout decisions using the newly expanded Window Size Classes. Then, iterate and validate your design in Android Studio, from visualizing your UI with Compose Previews to generating robust tests with natural language using Journeys with Gemini.

Build for a more personal and expressive era with Wear OS 6

The next chapter for wearables begins with the new Samsung Galaxy Watch8 series becoming the first device to feature Wear OS 6, the most power-efficient version of our wearable platform yet. This update is focused on giving you the tools to create more personal experiences without compromising on battery life. With version 4 of the Watch Face Format, you can unlock new creative possibilities like letting users customize their watch faces by selecting their own photos or adding fluid transitions to the display. And, to give you more flexibility in distribution, the Watch Face Push API allows you to create and manage your own watch face marketplace.

Beyond the watch face, you can provide a streamlined experience to users by embracing an improved always-on display and adding passkey support to your app with the Credential Manager API, which is now available on Wear OS.

Check out the latest changes to get started and test your app for compatibility using the Wear OS 6 emulator.

Get started building across screens, from foldables to wearables

With these new devices from Samsung, there are more reasons than ever to build experiences that excite users on their favorite Android screens. From building fully adaptive apps for foldables to creating more personal experiences on Wear OS, the tools are in your hands to create for the future of Android.

Explore all the resources you’ll need to build adaptive experiences at developer.android.com/adaptive-apps. And, start building for Wear OS today by checking out developer.android.com/wear and visiting the Wear OS gallery for inspiration.

Posted by Fahd Imtiaz – Product Manager, Android Developer

If your app isn’t built to adapt, you’re missing out on the opportunity to reach a giant swath of users across 500 million devices! At Google I/O this year, we are exploring how adaptive development isn’t just a good idea, but essential to building apps that shine across the expanding Android device ecosystem. This is your guide to meeting users wherever they are, with experiences that are perfectly tailored to their needs.

The advantage of building adaptive

In today’s multi-device world, users expect their favorite applications to work flawlessly and intuitively, whether they’re on a smartphone, tablet, or Chromebook. This expectation for seamless experiences isn’t just about convenience; it’s an important factor for user engagement and retention.

For example, entertainment apps (including Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu) users on both phone and tablet spend almost 200% more time in-app (nearly 3x engagement) than phone-only users in the US^*.

Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service has seen a trend of users moving between mobile and large screens and building adaptively enables a single build to work across the different form factors.

“This allows Peacock to have more time to innovate faster and deliver more value to its customers.”

– Diego Valente, Head of Mobile, Peacock and Global Streaming

Adaptive Android development offers the strategic solution, enabling apps to perform effectively across an expanding array of devices and contexts through intelligent design choices that emphasize code reuse and scalability. With Android’s continuous growth into new form factors and upcoming enhancements such as desktop windowing and connected displays in Android 16, an app’s ability to seamlessly adapt to different screen sizes is becoming increasingly crucial for retaining users and staying competitive.

Beyond direct user benefits, designing adaptively also translates to increased visibility. The Google Play Store actively helps promote developers whose apps excel on different form factors. If your application delivers a great experience on tablets or is excellent on ChromeOS, users on those devices will have an easier time discovering your app. This creates a win-win situation: better quality apps for users and a broader audience for you.

Latest in adaptive Android development from Google I/O

To help you more effectively build compelling adaptive experiences, we shared several key updates at I/O this year.

Build for the expanding Android device ecosystem

Your mobile apps can now reach users beyond phones on over 500 million active devices, including foldables, tablets, Chromebooks, and even compatible cars, with minimal changes. Android 16 introduces significant advancements in desktop windowing for a true desktop-like experience on large screens and when devices are connected to external displays. And, Android XR is opening a new dimension, allowing your existing mobile apps to be available in immersive virtual environments.

The mindset shift to Adaptive

With the expanding Android device ecosystem, adaptive app development is a fundamental strategy. It’s about how the same mobile app runs well across phones, foldables, tablets, Chromebooks, connected displays, XR, and cars, laying a strong foundation for future devices and differentiating for specific form factors. You don’t need to rebuild your app for each form factor; but rather make small, iterative changes, as needed, when needed. Embracing this adaptive mindset today isn’t just about keeping pace; it’s about leading the charge in delivering exceptional user experiences across the entire Android ecosystem.

Leverage powerful tools and libraries to build adaptive apps:

• Compose Adaptive Layouts library: This library makes adaptive development easier by allowing your app code to fit into canonical layout patterns like list-detail and supporting pane, that automatically reflow as your app is resized, flipped or folded. In the 1.1 release, we introduced pane expansion, allowing users to resize panes. The Socialite demo app showcased how one codebase using this library can adapt across six form factors. New adaptation strategies like “Levitate” (elevating a pane, e.g., into a dialog or bottom sheet) and “Reflow” (reorganizing panes on the same level) were also announced in 1.2 (alpha). For XR, component overrides can automatically spatialize UI elements.
• Jetpack Navigation 3 (Alpha): This new navigation library simplifies defining user journeys across screens with less boilerplate code, especially for multi-pane layouts in Compose. It helps handle scenarios where list and detail panes might be separate destinations on smaller screens but shown together on larger ones. Check out the new Jetpack Navigation library in alpha.
• Jetpack Compose input enhancements: Compose’s layered architecture, strong input support, and single location for layout logic simplify creating adaptive UIs. Upcoming in Compose 1.9 are right-click context menus and enhanced trackpad/mouse functionality.
• Window Size Classes: Use window size classes for top-level layout decisions. AndroidX.window 1.5 introduces two new width size classes – “large” (1200dp to 1600dp) and “extra-large” (1600dp and larger) – providing more granular breakpoints for large screens. This helps in deciding when to expand navigation rails or show three panes of content. Support for these new breakpoints was also announced in the Compose adaptive layouts library 1.2 alpha, along with design guidance.
• Compose previews: Get quick feedback by visualizing your layouts across a wide variety of screen sizes and aspect ratios. You can also specify different devices by name to preview your UI on their respective sizes and with their inset values.
• Testing adaptive layouts: Validating your adaptive layouts is crucial and Android Studio offers various tools for testing – including previews for different sizes and aspect ratios, a resizable emulator to test across different screen sizes with a single AVD, screenshot tests, and instrumental behavior tests. And with Journeys with Gemini in Android Studio, you can define tests using natural language for even more robust testing across different window sizes.

Ensuring app availability across devices

Avoid unnecessarily declaring required features (like specific cameras or GPS) in your manifest, as this can prevent your app from appearing in the Play Store on devices that lack those specific hardware components but could otherwise run your app perfectly.

Handling different input methods

Remember to handle various input methods like touch, keyboard, and mouse, especially with Chromebook detachables and connected displays.

Prepare for orientation and resizability API changes in Android 16

Beginning in Android 16, for apps targeting SDK 36, manifest and runtime restrictions on orientation, resizability, and aspect ratio will be ignored on displays that are at least 600dp in both dimensions. To meet user expectations, your apps will need layouts that work for both portrait and landscape windows, and support resizing at runtime. There’s a temporary opt-out manifest flag at both the application and activity level to delay these changes until targetSdk 37, and these changes currently do not apply to apps categorized as “Games”. Learn more about these API changes.

Adaptive considerations for games

Games need to be adaptive too and Unity 6 will add enhanced support for configuration handling, including APIs for screenshots, aspect ratio, and density. Success stories like Asphalt Legends Unite show significant user retention increases on foldables after implementing adaptive features.

Start building adaptive today

Now is the time to elevate your Android apps, making them intuitively responsive across form factors. With the latest tools and updates we’re introducing, you have the power to build experiences that seamlessly flow across all devices, from foldables to cars and beyond. Implementing these strategies will allow you to expand your reach and delight users across the Android ecosystem.

Get inspired by the “Adaptive Android development makes your app shine across devices” talk, and explore all the resources you’ll need to start your journey at developer.android.com/adaptive-apps!

Explore this announcement and all Google I/O 2025 updates on io.google starting May 22.

^*Source: internal Google data

Posted by Sa-ryong Kang and Miguel Montemayor – Developer Relations Engineers

Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming service app available in the US, offering culture-defining entertainment including live sports, exclusive original content, TV shows, and blockbuster movies. The app continues to evolve, becoming more than just a platform to watch content, but a hub of entertainment.

Today’s users are consuming entertainment on an increasingly wider array of device sizes and types, and in particular are moving towards mobile devices. Peacock has adopted Jetpack Compose to help with its journey in adapting to more screens and meeting users where they are.

Disclaimer: Peacock is available in the US only. This video will only be viewable to US viewers.

Adapting to more flexible form factors

The Peacock development team is focused on bringing the best experience to users, no matter what device they’re using or when they want to consume content. With an emerging trend from app users to watch more on mobile devices and large screens like foldables, the Peacock app needs to be able to adapt to different screen sizes. As more devices are introduced, the team needed to explore new solutions that make the most out of each unique display permutation.

The goal was to have the Peacock app to adapt to these new displays while continually offering high-quality entertainment without interruptions, like the stream reloading or visual errors. While thinking ahead, they also wanted to prepare and build a solution that was ready for Android XR as the entertainment landscape is shifting towards including more immersive experiences.

Building a future-proof experience with Jetpack Compose

In order to build a scalable solution that would help the Peacock app continue to evolve, the app was migrated to Jetpack Compose, Android’s toolkit for building scalable UI. One of the essential tools they used was the WindowSizeClass API, which helps developers create and test UI layouts for different size ranges. This API then allows the app to seamlessly switch between pre-set layouts as it reaches established viewport breakpoints for different window sizes.

The API was used in conjunction with Kotlin Coroutines and Flows to keep the UI state responsive as the window size changed. To test their work and fine tune edge case devices, Peacock used the Android Studio emulator to simulate a wide range of Android-based devices.

Jetpack Compose allowed the team to build adaptively, so now the Peacock app responds to a wide variety of screens while offering a seamless experience to Android users. “The app feels more native, more fluid, and more intuitive across all form factors,” said Diego Valente, Head of Mobile, Peacock and Global Streaming. “That means users can start watching on a smaller screen and continue instantly on a larger one when they unfold the device—no reloads, no friction. It just works.”

Preparing for immersive entertainment experiences

In building adaptive apps on Android, John Jelley, Senior Vice President, Product & UX, Peacock and Global Streaming, says Peacock has also laid the groundwork to quickly adapt to the Android XR platform: “Android XR builds on the same large screen principles, our investment here naturally extends to those emerging experiences with less developmental work.”

The team is excited about the prospect of features unlocked by Android XR, like Multiview for sports and TV, which enables users to watch multiple games or camera angles at once. By tailoring spatial windows to the user’s environment, the app could offer new ways for users to interact with contextual metadata like sports stats or actor information—all without ever interrupting their experience.

Build adaptive apps

Learn how to unlock your app’s full potential on phones, tablets, foldables, and beyond.

Explore this announcement and all Google I/O 2025 updates on io.google starting May 22.