ARTICLE AD BOX
New Delhi: Google’s Android desktop platform has recently reported to be under testing. The reports have suggested that some of the revealed changes, such as a redesigned status bar, desktop-style Chrome extensions support, and UI elements tuned for large screens. It was likely to showcase an internal build of Android 16 running on Chromebook hardware. Google has also confirmed that it is working on Android for PCs as a long-term successor to ChromeOS, with the latest platform expected to start rolling out in 2026.
The visuals are included in the bug reports showing Android running on what Google internally refers to as Aluminium OS, a codename that has previously appeared on job listings and official comments. The build was reported to be running on an HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook with Intel hardware, indicating that Google is using existing ChromeOS devices as testbeds during development. Unlike those slimmer bars seen on phones and tablets, the desktop version uses a taller layout better suited for the large displays. It will show the time with seconds, the full date, battery status, Wi-Fi, notifications, keyboard language, Gemini icon, and screen recording controls.
The taskbar is also expected to remain broadly similar to what Android already offers in its tablet and desktop modes. Application icons sit along the bottom, and multitasking behaves in line with the current large-screen Android. Window controls minimise, maximise, and close appear at the top right of app windows, similar to ChromeOS. While it matches the existing large-screen Android version of Chrome, screenshots shared in the bug report showed a dedicated Extensions button. This has been exclusive to desktop Chrome on Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS. Google has not commented on the visuals shared in the bug report and has not confirmed a release timeline for Android and PC.
English (US) ·