Android 6.0 is a major Android update which brings a number of changes to the core Android system. Google has focused on improving the security of the software, enhancing its performance and making it more intact. In Lollipop we saw Google focusing on the cosmetics, but this time the system level enhancements have caught much of the attention from the developers. Google has embedded some features in the Android 6.0 Marshmallow system which are not apparently accessible but are lying down in the system. One of those features is the Multi Window feature that allows the users to access multiple applications in one same window. We saw this feature coming in Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, but now Google seems to be making this feature a part of core Android system. While this feature is in experimental stages, Google has locked it down which makes it unaccessible for naive Android users. If you’re an Android power user, there’s a way for you to get your hands on the Multi-Window feature hidden in Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
XDA recognised contributor Quinny899, and XDA senior member xperiacle have come up with two different methods to enable the Multi-Window feature on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The method by Quinny899 requires you to go through a little-longer method. It requires you to have a custom recovery using which we will mount your Android system with your PC and pull the build.prop file to edit it. The method introduced by xperiacle seems to be much easy and much more suitable. It only requires you to have root access on your Android 6.0 Marshmallow powered device, you will only need to add a single line code in your build.prop file which will activate the Mutli-Window feature on your Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
In the succeeding guide we will go through both these methods one by one and enable Multi-Window on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Let’s put a full stop to our conversation here and go ahead now.
How To Enable Multi-Window On Android 6.0 Marshmallow Via Root
- The easiest method to enable multi-window is through root access. Make sure that your Android 6.0 Marshmallow is rooted.
- Now install a file manager like Root Explorer on your phone.
- Now open root explorer, give it root rights and go to “/System”
- Now under “/System” tap the R/W button to activate Read-Write mode. This button should be at the top right.
- Now in the same /System directory, locate “build.prop” file.
- Long press the build.prop file again in order to open it through a text editor.
- Add the following code to the bottom of build.prop file: persist.sys.debug.multi_window=true
- Save the file.
- Reboot your phone.
- That’s all. You’ve the multi-window feature enabled on your phone.
How To Enable Multi-Window On Android 6.0 Marshmallow Using Custom Recovery
Step#1: As mentioned above, to use this method you must have the bootloader of your device unlocked and you must have a custom recovery installed.
Step#2: Also install and setup ADB & Fastboot drivers on your computer. You can also try installing Minimal ADB & Fastboot drivers.
Step#3: Now boot into custom recovery on your phone.
Step#4: Connect your phone to your PC now.
Step#5: In custom recovery select Mounts > Tick system in order to mount your system. Mount option can be hidden under advanced options in CWM recovery.
Step#6: Now click Minimal ADB & Fastboot .exe file from your desktop to open cmd in ADB mode if you have installed Minimal ADB & Fastboot drivers. If you have installed full ADB & Fastboot, then go to drive C > ADB & Fastboot > Platform Tools and now press and hold shift key and then press the right click button of the mouse. Now click on “open command window here”. Once you have the command prompt open either via Minimal ADB or via full ADB, you need to push following commands in the command prompt.
Step#1: adb pull /system/build.prop
Step#7: This command will pull build.prop file to the Minimal ADB & Fastboot folder or the Platform-tools folder under the ADB & Fastboot folder.
Step#8: Now open this build.prop file using a text editor like Notepade++. If you’re on Macbook, you may use Sublime Text.
Step#9: Now find the following text: ro.build.type=user
Step#10: After the “=user”, change the text to “=userdebug“.
Step#11: The new line should look like: “ro.build.type=userdebug”
Step#12: Save the file.
Step#13: Now we need to push the file back. Open the command window once again the same way you did above.
Step#14: Now in the command window issue the following commands.
adb push build.prop /system/
adb shell
cd system
chmod 644 build.prop
Step#15: Reboot your phone now. Now go to settings > developer options > scroll to the bottom and locate multi-window feature in drawing category. Activate it and enjoy running multiple apps in one screen. That’s all.
