Sophie Blake
Google has detailed how its open-source Androidify app has been adapted for extended reality (XR) using the newly launched Jetpack XR SDK, highlighting how developers can bring existing Android apps into immersive 3D environments.
The update comes alongside the debut of Samsung Galaxy XR, the first device powered by Android XR. The collaboration marks the official arrival of Android’s spatial computing ecosystem, which allows users to interact with mobile apps in a 3D environment.
Androidify — known for letting users design personalized Android bots — was originally optimized for phones, foldables, and tablets using adaptive layouts built in Jetpack Compose. Those same responsive design principles now make it compatible with Android XR “out of the box,” Google said, requiring no code modifications for baseline functionality.
To create a differentiated XR experience, Google’s developer relations team used Jetpack XR SDK, which introduces new composables like SpatialPanel, Subspace, and Orbiter. These elements allow developers to structure spatial layouts and interactive panels in 3D environments using familiar Android development tools such as Kotlin and Compose.
The XR framework supports two primary modes for apps: Home Space, where users can multitask with multiple apps in resizable windows, and Full Space, which gives developers full access to spatial features for immersive interaction. Androidify now supports both modes, providing a windowed experience and an optional fully spatial version with interactive panels and animations.
Design adaptations for XR focused on “containment” and user orientation, with visual anchors to help users navigate the expanded environment. Google’s team demonstrated how 2D UI components could be restructured for depth, motion, and spatial grouping.
The app’s XR update was published on the Google Play Store with support for XR-specific features through a new manifest flag. Apps that include these capabilities display an XR badge on the Play Store and can feature 3D previews for users browsing on XR devices.
Google said the Jetpack XR SDK is available now for developers to experiment with XR-native design and spatial UI development. The company has also released the Android XR emulator and developer documentation to support app testing and optimization before the broader rollout of XR devices in 2026.
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