Google’s Android Desktop Mode lets Pixel 8 and newer phones provide a desktop-style experience when connected to an external monitor. The feature, introduced with the Android 16 March Pixel Drop after a beta period, aims to make phones more useful for productivity by supporting resizable windows, a taskbar-like interface and mouse-and-keyboard input.

Users connect their phone with a high-speed USB-C cable and can attach peripherals through Bluetooth or a USB hub. The mode generally handles documents, video and multiple apps smoothly, but currently lacks 4K support, is capped at 60Hz, cannot run Chrome extensions and may struggle with demanding tasks; prolonged use can also cause overheating and faster battery drain. Google has not confirmed availability for non-Pixel phones.