You can now minimize tabs as floating windows in Google Chrome
Google Chrome on Wednesday (May 29) introduced a new feature to Android in the form of Minimized Custom Tabs, which turns web pages into floating windows. The feature was reportedly first spotted on smartphones running Google Chrome 122 for Android back in March of this year, allowing certain users to enjoy custom tabs in the browser. The Minimized Custom Tabs feature has now rolled out widely to devices running the latest version of Google Chrome.
Minimized Custom Tabs on Google Chrome
In a blog afterGoogle announced that the Minimized Custom Tabs feature on Chrome will allow users to switch between native apps and web content. As seen in the screenshot below, the feature appears as a downward-swipe button on the top banner next to the website name. Tapping the button turns the tab into a floating picture-in-picture (PiP) window.
Google Chrome’s new minimized custom tabs feature
How does this feature help? Google says: “This seamless integration enables multitasking across surfaces, improving the in-app web browsing experience.”
To return the tab to its original size, users can simply tap on the floating window, which will maximize it. Developers using Chrome Custom Tabs will automatically experience this change starting with Google Chrome for Android version 124, the company says.
We were able to use the Minimized Custom Tabs feature on Chrome for Android after updating the app to the latest version. While Android apps have historically used PiP functionality to play video overlayed on other apps, Google has now leveraged it to make in-app browsing accessible.
AI Features on Chrome
In addition to Minimized Custom Tabs, Google is also reportedly testing a handful of artificial intelligence (AI) features for Chrome. One report suggests that it may bring a version of the Circle to Search feature, which launched with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series in January, to the browser.
In a series of to inform On X, user @Leopeva64 revealed that the company is testing a new Google Lens UI element. According to the claims, there will be a dedicated Google Lens button in Chrome’s toolbar.
