Android 12 Developer Preview 2 added a hidden taskbar in the Google Pixel launcher that made it easy to switch between apps on large screen devices like tablets. However, Google didn’t make any major improvements to the functionality in later beta versions. It looks like the company picked it up instead and worked on improving it behind the scenes for Android 12.1.

As discovered by the XDA developers, Google has improved the taskbar to include better support for foldable devices. This makes sense because when unfolded, devices like the Galaxy Z Fold3 essentially become a tablet.

The taskbar will appear at the bottom of the screen, the area that was previously occupied by the navigation bar. It hides automatically when apps switch to full screen mode. The bar can apparently be docked with a simple touch and hold. You should also be able to add your favorite apps to it.

The bar can let you launch two split screen apps by simply dragging the app icon to one side of the screen. A tutorial from Google shows that the taskbar is used to run two instances of Chrome side-by-side on a foldable device.

Image via XDA developers.

Google is also working on other improvements for foldable devices running Android 12.1. There are various AOSP fixes that indicate better handling of SystemUI deployment animation, support for hinge angle sensors, etc.

Google hasn’t released a major Android update for several years now – the latest being Android 8.1 Oreo in 2017. Instead, the company has made a habit of releasing “Pixel Feature Drops” no numbered since late 2019. With the company working on a foldable Pixel and the form factor in general becoming popular, we could see Pixel Fold’s debut with Android 12.1 as early as this year – if the most recent leak turns out to be correct.