Enhanced Multitasking on Android 14
Android’s journey towards refining the user experience on large-screen devices such as tablets has seen a significant leap with the introduction of Android 14. This version brought with it a host of enhancements, including a more intuitive taskbar and the flexibility for users to dictate the aspect ratio of their apps. Among these updates, a subtle yet impactful change was made to the Alt+Tab functionality, which has now caught the attention of users and developers alike.
Previously, on Android 13 and earlier versions, the act of pressing Alt+Tab on a keyboard paired with an Android device would summon the full screen of recent applications, lacking any visual indication of the selected app. This led to a somewhat cumbersome multitasking experience, especially when compared to the more streamlined approaches of desktop operating systems.
The latest iteration of Android has addressed this by introducing a new Alt+Tab interface. Now, when users press Alt+Tab on a keyboard connected to an Android 14 device, they are greeted with a compact strip of apps at the top of the screen, showcasing up to six of their most recently used applications. This strip elegantly highlights the currently selected app with a distinct gray outline, making it clear which app is in focus. For those who wish to revert to the previous app quickly, a swift tap of Alt+Tab makes the switch instantaneously—a notable improvement over the previous version. Should one need to access the full array of recent apps, they can simply continue to press Tab while holding down Alt until the option to view more apps is selected.
The discovery of this refined feature was made by developer Huy Minh while experimenting with an Android 14 QPR2-based custom ROM on a Raspberry Pi 5. Further investigation revealed that this enhanced Alt+Tab experience was not only present in the QPR2 release but also in the initial rollout of Android 14. This oversight in the update’s coverage hints at the rarity of physical keyboard usage with Android tablets, such as the Pixel Tablet. However, with Google rumored to be reintroducing its Pixel Tablet complete with new accessories, including a stylus and keyboard, this improvement in multitasking arrives at an opportune moment.
It’s clear that Android 14’s approach to Alt+Tab is a significant step forward from its predecessor, offering a more fluid and desktop-like experience that could entice more users to pair their large-screen devices with physical keyboards.
