Android’s New ‘Min Mode’ Always-On Display Can Run Apps
▼ Summary
– Google is developing “Min Mode,” an upgrade to Android’s always-on display that shows limited versions of supported apps.
– Min Mode allows compatible apps to display in full-screen using the same low-power settings as the standard always-on display.
– Apps must declare “MinModeActivity” support in their Manifest file and will be managed through Android’s System UI with burn-in protection.
– Google Maps appears to be one of the first apps to support this feature, with evidence found in its package name and activation method.
– The feature is expected to arrive in Android 17, though the exact release timeline remains unconfirmed.
Android’s always-on display is poised for a major transformation with the upcoming “Min Mode” feature, which promises to run limited versions of supported applications directly on your lock screen. This innovation moves beyond the current functionality of showing just the time, notifications, or a simplified wallpaper, potentially turning the dormant screen into an interactive tool.
For years, Android’s always-on display has offered basic information without much practical use. The most significant recent change involved mimicking Apple’s approach by displaying a dimmed version of your background image. Now, Google appears ready to take a substantial leap forward.
Discovered within recent Android Canary builds, “Min Mode” would allow compatible apps to present a streamlined interface using the same energy-efficient, low-brightness screen technology that prevents battery drain. The key distinction is that these apps could occupy the entire screen, rather than being confined to a small portion of it.
Technical documentation indicates that for an app to function in Min Mode, developers must declare “MinModeActivity” support within their app’s Manifest file. Android’s System UI would manage the entire process, incorporating burn-in protection measures identical to those safeguarding standard always-on display components.
Google Maps is likely to be among the first applications to leverage this new capability. Recent findings about a supposed “power saving mode” for Maps, which displayed a monochrome interface with essential data, now appear connected to this broader Min Mode development. The feature’s internal package name directly references MinModeActivity, clarifying that its primary purpose aligns with the enhanced always-on display functionality rather than just conserving power. This connection also explains why instructions found in related images guided users to activate the mode using the power button.
While firm release details remain unconfirmed, industry observers anticipate Min Mode will debut with Android 17. The first developer preview for that version could emerge in the coming months, though Google has not provided an official timeline for the feature’s public release.
(Source: 9to5 Google)
