Desktop

The desktop experience—common on Chromebooks and connected displays—enables precise input and advanced multitasking. The desktop environment allows users to work across multiple windows and instances, utilizing keyboard shortcuts and mouse and trackpad interactions. Apps optimized for desktop provide a productive user experience that bridges the gap between mobile convenience and desktop power.

Guidelines

Create an exceptional user experience that takes full advantage of device capabilities.

User experience

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Scrollbar_Display T-Scrollbar_Display App displays a scrollbar while content is being scrolled by a mouse or trackpad.
Hover_Parity T-Hover_Parity

Where applicable, UI elements display additional content such as previews, fly‑out menus, and informative tooltips on mouse or trackpad hover.

App maintains hover state parity with equivalent web or desktop versions of the app whenever possible. App ensures distinct and consistent hover states with visual contrast that supports accessibility standards on all UI elements.
Desktop_Menus T-Desktop_Menus App has non-intrusive UI elements such as desktop-style menus, context menus, and small modals where appropriate to allow users to remain focused on their primary task without constant navigation.
UI_Config T-UI_Config

App has adaptive, user-configurable layouts for large screens and cursor-first devices, including:

  • Adaptive layouts enable users to switch between list, grid, and column presentations. For example, a file or document manager provides a toggle that respects the user's preference to see their files in a list or grid format.
  • Dockable or movable floating toolbars accommodate user preferences and task requirements.
  • UI panels in multi-panel layouts are collapsible and reconfigurable using a mouse or trackpad. Reconfigurable panels enable users to adjust the app layout for increased productivity, for example, by changing the size of the detail panel of a list-detail layout or by rearranging panels on screen.

    Note: This does not apply to navigation bars, rails, and drawers.
Request_Fullscreen_Mode T-Request_Fullscreen_Mode

App implements Activity#requestFullscreenMode() to enable smooth transitions from multi-window states, such as split-screen and desktop windowing, to immersive mode.

Typically, apps provide a UI element such as a button that activates the fullscreen, immersive experience.

Keyboard, mouse, and trackpad

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Keyboard_Navigation T-Keyboard_Navigation

App supports seamless and efficient navigation with a keyboard. The app ensures distinct and consistent focus states with visual contrast that supports accessibility standards for all UI elements.

Initial focus is set for appropriate UI elements; for example, when users draft a message in an email app, focus is initially on the To text field. Users should be able to start typing right away in the first text input field when a page loads.
Keyboard_Parity T-Keyboard_Parity App provides a comprehensive set of keyboard shortcuts while supporting conventional shortcuts such as Ctrl-C for copy and Ctrl-Z for undo. App maintains keyboard shortcut parity with equivalent web and desktop versions of the app whenever possible.
Input_Combinations T-Input_Combinations Keyboard and mouse or trackpad combinations, such as Ctrl+click or Ctrl+tap and Shift+click or Shift+tap, provide enhanced capabilities, including the selection of ranges of adjacent items or multiple separated items.
Triple_Click T-Triple_Click Triple clicking using a mouse or triple tapping with a trackpad selects entire lines or paragraphs of text.

Multitasking and multi-instance

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Multitasking_Scenarios T-Multitasking_PiP,
T-Multitasking_Split-Screen,
T-Multitasking_Attachments

App supports various multitasking scenarios, for example:

  • Picture-in-picture mode: App is able to enter and exit picture-in-picture mode in portrait and landscape orientations and in multi-window mode. Use cases include media playback and video calls. See Picture-in-picture (PiP) support.
  • Multi-window mode: App can open another application in a separate window from a deep link; for example, a contact management app opens a link to an email message which is displayed in an email app in a new window. See FLAG_ACTIVITY_LAUNCH_ADJACENT.
  • Attachments: Messaging apps can open attachments (such as videos) in a separate window.
Multitasking_PiP T-Multitasking_PiP App supports interactive picture‑in‑picture functionality that enables custom controls and user interaction in media and non‑media applications.
Multi-Instance T-Multi-Instance App is able to launch multiple instances of itself in separate windows. Use cases include document editing, web browsing, file management apps, and product comparisons in shopping apps. See Multi-instance in Support multi-window mode.

Drag and drop

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Drag_Drop_Support T-Drag_Drop_Support App supports drag and drop between presentations within the app and, in multi-window mode, to and from other apps using touch input, mouse, trackpad, and stylus. See Enable drag and drop. See also Stylus_Drag_Drop.
T-Drag_Drop_Batch App supports drag and drop of multiple elements into the app to be processed as a group. See DropHelper for simplified drag and drop.

Printing and file management

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Printing_Support T-Printing_Support App supports document printing or exporting to a printable format.
File_Management_Basics T-File_Management_Basics

App implements common file management functionality, including:

  • Naming and saving: File names and locations are prominently visible.
  • Downloading: Users can save files to their preferred location on the local storage device.
  • Uploading: Users can upload files from local storage and prioritize using the OS file picker.
File_Picker T-File_Picker App integrates with the OS file picker, ensuring seamless import and export experiences. Desktop and productivity users rely heavily on file managers for broad content access.
File_Handlers T-File_Handlers App designates itself as a file handler by declaring support for relevant file types. This enables users to open files with specific applications directly from the system's Files app.

Cursors

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Custom_Cursors T-Custom_Cursors

App displays customized cursors to indicate how and when users can interact with UI elements and content, for example:

  • System cursors provided by the Android framework:
    • I-beam for text
    • Resize handles at resizable layer edges
    • Processing spinners
  • Specialty cursors that you provide:
    • Crosshairs when hovering over targets in games
    • A magnifying glass when hovering over zoomable content
    • Tools in drawing or illustration apps
See PointerIcon and Mouse pointer icons.
Cursor_Target_Size T-Cursor_Target_Size App prioritizes precision in cursor interactions by implementing cursor target sizes that match visual target sizes to reduce perceived target.

Cross-device

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Cross_Device_Handoff T-Cross_Device_Handoff Apps that work on multiple types of Android devices allow users to start a task on one Android device and seamlessly transition to another. The app restores a near‑equivalent state for the same task so the user can continue where they left off.

Offline support

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Offline_Support T-Offline_Support App enables offline functionality for the full or partial feature set, allowing users to remain productive. The app provides graceful degradation to notify users of connection requirements.

App-to-web

Guideline ID Test IDs Description
Web_Transition T-Web_Transition App ensures smooth and intelligent transitions between app and web content (and vice versa) where appropriate, avoiding fragmented user experiences.

Tests

To verify that your app provides a premium, differentiated experience, complete the following tests.

User experience

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Scrollbar_Display Scrollbar_Display Scroll app content using a mouse and trackpad. Verify that a scrollbar appears while the content is scrolling.
T-Hover_Parity Hover_Parity Using a mouse and trackpad, hover the pointer over UI elements that contain cascading or pop‑up content. Verify that the additional content is revealed.
T-Desktop_Menus Desktop_Menus On desktop and connected displays, verify that desktop-style menus and context menus are used.
T-UI_Config UI_Config

Verify that the app provides user-configurable layout options:

  • Layout presentation — If the app supports multiple presentation formats (such as list, grid, or column views), verify that users can switch between the formats.
  • Floating toolbars — If the app provides dockable or movable floating toolbars, verify that users can move or dock the toolbars.
  • Panel reconfiguration — On screen layouts that have multiple content panels (such as list‑detail), resize the panels by dragging dividers. Rearrange the panels if the app supports rearrangement.

In all cases, verify that the app correctly reconfigures its layout and the content remains accessible and properly formatted.
T-Request_Fullscreen_Mode Request_Fullscreen_Mode Place the app window in a multi-window state, such as split-screen or desktop windowing mode. Trigger the app's fullscreen UI element. Verify that the app smoothly transitions to immersive fullscreen mode.

Keyboard, mouse, and trackpad

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Keyboard_Navigation Keyboard_Navigation

Using an external keyboard, navigate through the app's UI using the Tab and arrow keys. Verify that focus states are distinct and consistent for all interactive elements.

Also verify that appropriate UI elements, such as text input fields, receive initial focus when a screen is first displayed and users are able to enter data.
T-Keyboard_Parity Keyboard_Parity Verify that the app supports conventional keyboard shortcuts and maintains keyboard shortcut parity with the web and desktop versions of the app whenever possible.
T-Input_Combinations Input_Combinations Using an external keyboard, mouse, and trackpad, select items in the app's UI. Select multiple separated items and ranges of adjacent items using keyboard/mouse/trackpad actions such as Ctrl+click, Ctrl+tap, Shift+click, and Shift+tap.
T-Triple_Click Triple_Click Using a mouse and trackpad, triple click or triple tap to select items in the app, for example, to select full lines of text.

Multitasking and multi-instance

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Multitasking_PiP Multitasking_Scenarios

Enter and exit picture-in-picture mode in portrait and landscape orientations and in multi‑window mode. In multi‑window mode, change the window size while picture‑in‑picture mode is active.

In picture-in-picture mode, interact with any custom controls and verify their functionality.
T-Multitasking_Split-Screen Multitasking_Scenarios In multi-window mode, open another app from within the app and display both apps side by side.
T-Multitasking_Attachments Multitasking_Scenarios Open and close attachments and notifications in portrait and landscape orientations and in multi-window mode.
T-Multi-Instance Multi-Instance Launch multiple instances of the app in separate windows in portrait and landscape orientations and in multi-window mode.

Drag and drop

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Drag_Drop_Support Drag_Drop_Support

Drag and drop images and text on drop targets within the app. In multi-window mode, drag and drop images and text between the app and another app (to and from both apps).

Drag and drop the content using touch input, mouse, trackpad, and stylus (see also T-Stylus_Drag_Drop). Verify the functionality in portrait and landscape orientations.
T-Drag_Drop_Batch Drag_Drop_Support

Drag and drop multiple elements, such as images and text, as a group within the app. In multi-window mode, drag and drop groups of elements between the app and another app (to and from both apps).

Drag and drop the content using touch input, mouse, trackpad, and stylus (see also T-Stylus_Drag_Drop). Verify the functionality in portrait and landscape orientations.

Printing and file management

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Printing_Support Printing_Support Verify that the app can print documents or export them to a printable format such as PDF.
T-File_Management_Basics File_Management_Basics Verify that file names and locations are visible, and that users can choose save locations when downloading or uploading files.
T-File_Picker File_Picker Verify that the app uses the system file picker for importing and exporting files.
T-File_Handlers File_Handlers From the system Files app, verify that the app is listed as an option to open relevant file types.

Cursors

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Custom_Cursors Custom_Cursors

Interact with the app using a mouse and trackpad. Verify that custom cursors appear where appropriate, for example:

  • I-beam for text entry fields
  • Resize handles at resizable layer edges
  • Spinners when app is performing long-running tasks
T-Cursor_Target_Size Cursor_Target_Size Using a mouse and trackpad, interact with small UI elements such as icons, buttons, and handles. Verify that the interactive area of each element accurately reflects its visual boundaries, allowing for precise selection.

Cross-device

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Cross_Device_Handoff Cross_Device_Handoff Start a task on one device, then switch to another device where the app is installed. Verify that you can continue the task from a near‑equivalent state.

Offline support

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Offline_Support Offline_Support Disable network connectivity and verify that core app functionality remains available or that the app provides clear notification of connection requirements.

App-to-web

Test ID Guideline IDs Description
T-Web_Transition Web_Transition Interact with deep links or web content within the app. Verify that transitions between the app and related web content are seamless.