Motorola Moto Z is a great smartphone. A lot can be said for the company’s decision to logically adopt modular connectivity. You don’t turn off your Moto Z and take it apart to add new functionality. Simply lock a Moto Mod into place on the back of the phone. Moto Mods aren’t the only thing that makes the Moto Z great. Something like Moto Mods is only possible thanks to Google’s Android operating system and what companies allow them to do. For example, you probably didn’t know that with the Moto Z you can open 2 apps at the same time.
It’s called multitasking, and it’s possible because the Moto Z runs Android 7.0. The software update added the ability to open 2 apps at the same time, as well as other features that Google hopes will keep users connected to their Android smartphones. DayDream, for example, turns certain Android smartphones into virtual reality headsets when attached to the DayDream Viewer accessory, which the company recently started selling. Google collectively calls the new features multitasking. With this feature, for example, you can send a text message and continue watching a television program at the same time.
Here’s how to open 2 apps on the Moto Z and Moto Z Droid, the Verizon-exclusive variant of the device.
How to Open 2 Apps on Moto Z: Before You Begin
Before we get started, it’s important to note a few things about multitasking in Android Nougat on the Moto Z.
The first important thing is that you need to make sure it’s actually installed. Carriers have some say when devices on their networks receive updates like Android Nougat. The Moto Z Droid on Verizon has offered users the opportunity to download the update since the end of last year. Those who bought the unlocked Moto Z directly from Motorola have just started getting Nougat. Your phone may not be installed yet.
Go to the Settings app on your phone and scroll all the way down to all your settings. If you see Android 7.0 under About Phone, you have the software you need. If you don’t, tap About Phone and have your device check for any software updates.
The second thing to keep in mind is that not all of your apps will be capable of multitasking. Developers need to add support for this feature to their apps. Without the necessary code for the feature to work, you can’t multitask with that app. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell which apps support multitasking without you trying to use them. Built-in apps by Google support the feature just fine.
Many of Android’s most popular apps have been updated to support multitasking, but some high-profile stalwarts remain. It’s also worth noting that some apps may never support the feature because they’re no longer updated or because their developers don’t believe it’s necessary.
Note that this feature works whether you use the Google Assistant launcher installed on your Moto Z or a third-party launcher that you can download from the Google Play Store.
How to Open 2 Apps on Moto Z: Let’s Get Started
Turn on your Moto Z and open one of the apps you want to multitask. For the purposes of this demonstration, we use Serit, a television show viewer available on the Google Play Store. Open your first app.
Once in the app, press and hold the square to the right of the Home button along the bottom edge of your screen.
Now you have two options. You can select the other app you want to open from the list of recently opened apps, or you can press the Home button to go to the launcher and select an app you haven’t opened yet. We are doing the latter.
If your phone already has a multitasking app, the status bar at the top of its screen will light up that app’s dominant color. For example, ours glows red because this is the dominant color of Serit. For the second app, we go with Amazon’s Prime Video app.
If the app can be used for multitasking, that’s what you’ll get. If not, you’ll get a notification that you can’t multitask with that app or it may not work properly.
That’s really all. Google has managed to make it super easy to get started. By default, multitasking depends on the orientation of your device. You can leave your device in portrait mode. This aspect makes it easy to see and type at the same time. For example, it’s best for watching a video at the top and texting or browsing at the bottom.
Landscape mode is great for working on both sides of your screen.
Good luck opening 2 apps on the Moto Z.
