Google is making it easier for developers to adapt Android apps for laptops, foldable smartphones, tablets and other devices, introducing new AI-powered tools designed to reduce the work involved in creating apps for different screen sizes.

The company has updated its Compose adaptive skill, allowing AI coding agents to analyse existing Android apps and recommend changes that make them better suited to larger displays, alternative input methods and emerging platforms, including Google’s upcoming Googlebook.

Rather than requiring developers to maintain separate versions of their apps for smartphones, tablets and laptops, the updated skill aims to automate much of the adaptation process within a single codebase.

The changes go beyond simply resizing an app to fit a larger screen.

Google’s updated skill can help AI agents introduce desktop-style features such as keyboard shortcuts, custom mouse cursors, hover effects and tooltips, bringing Android apps closer to the experience users expect from traditional laptop software.

AI agents can also examine an app’s existing navigation structure and suggest improvements, including more flexible layouts, better use of screen space and more consistent application state management.

The goal is to prevent Android apps from looking like oversized smartphone interfaces when running on laptops or tablets.

Foldable smartphones are another major focus of the update.

Google has introduced posture-aware optimisations that allow AI agents to modify camera and media interfaces for different folding positions.

For example, an app could automatically adjust its controls when a foldable phone is partially opened in tabletop mode, making better use of the available screen space rather than treating the device like a conventional smartphone.

The technology is designed to support a growing range of Android-powered devices, including smartphones, foldables, tablets, Googlebook laptops, parked cars and extended reality (XR) headsets.

For developers, the changes could significantly reduce the time needed to optimise existing apps for different hardware configurations.

Google is also preparing to place greater emphasis on foldable app experiences through the Google Play Store.

From next year, the company plans to pay closer attention to how apps and games perform on foldable devices, potentially giving developers more opportunities to showcase software designed specifically for these screens.

The move suggests that foldable optimisation could become an increasingly important consideration for developers looking to improve their apps’ visibility on Google Play.

However, Google has yet to reveal the specific requirements developers will need to meet or how foldable performance will influence app discovery.

More details are expected before the end of 2026.

The update also highlights Google’s broader ambition to make Android a more versatile platform as the boundaries between smartphones, tablets and laptops continue to blur.

With Googlebook on the horizon, ensuring existing Android apps can deliver a convincing desktop experience will be particularly important.

The updated Compose adaptive skill is available now, with developers encouraged to use Google’s adaptive app quality guidelines to prepare their software for different device categories.

Separate adaptive game guidelines are also available for developers looking to optimise gaming experiences across Android’s expanding hardware ecosystem.