Google Chrome introduced a new feature to Android on Wednesday (May 29) in the form of minimized custom tabs that turn web pages into floating windows. The feature was first seen on smartphones with Google Chrome 122 for Android in March this year, allowing select users to use custom tabs in the browser. The minimized custom tabs feature is now widely implemented for devices with the latest version of Google Chrome.
Minimized custom tabs in Google Chrome
In a blog post, Google announced that the minimized custom tabs feature in Chrome allows users to switch between native apps and web content. As you can see in the screenshot below, the feature appears as a drop-down button in 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
So how does this feature help? Google says, “This seamless integration enables multitasking across surfaces, enhancing the in-app web browsing experience.”
To restore the tab to its original size, users can simply tap on the floating window, which will maximize it. Developers using Chrome's custom tabs will automatically experience this change starting with version 124 of Google Chrome for Android, according to the company.
We were able to access the minimized custom tabs feature in Chrome for Android after updating the app to the latest version. While Android apps have used PiP functionality for video playback via an overlay in other apps in the past, Google has now used it to make in-app navigation accessible.
AI Features in Chrome
Aside from minimized custom tabs, Google is also testing a handful of artificial intelligence (AI) features in Chrome. A 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 posts 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 button for Google Lens in the Chrome toolbar.
