How to use Pixel desktop mode with AR glasses
Pixel 8 and newer phones have a real desktop mode now. Plug in AR glasses for windows, a taskbar and a huge screen. Here's how to set it up and what to expect.
Samsung phones have had DeX for years. Now Pixels have a desktop mode of their own. Plug in a monitor, or a pair of AR glasses, and your phone shows a desktop with a taskbar and windows you can move around. Here's how to set it up with glasses, and what to expect.
Note
We haven't tried desktop mode with glasses on our own Pixel yet. These steps come from Google's help page and hands-on reports from Techlicious, Android Authority and Chrome Unboxed.
Which Pixels work
Desktop mode arrived with the March 2026 Pixel Drop, on Android 16. It works on the Pixel 8 and newer, including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Google's own help page confirms that the Pixel 8 and later can connect to a display over USB-C.
It doesn't work on:
- The Pixel Tablet. It gets a different feature, for arranging windows on its own screen.
- The first Pixel Fold. It can't send video out.
- Older phones, like the Pixel 7. Google's display support starts at the Pixel 8.
Glasses that work with Pixel phones
| Glasses | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| VITURE The Beast | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| VITURE Luma Ultra | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| VITURE Luma Pro | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| VITURE Luma | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| VITURE Pro 2 | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
Every row comes from the glasses maker. VITURE lists the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 families for its current glasses. RayNeo lists the Pixel 9 series for the Air 4 Pro, but says its app doesn't run on Pixel phones. You still get the screen, just not the app.
How to set it up
- Update your phone. Desktop mode came with the March 2026 Pixel Drop, so install the latest system update first.
- Pair a keyboard and mouse. Pair Bluetooth ones with your phone before you plug in. You'll want both, since your phone's screen can't act as a trackpad.
- Plug in your glasses. Use the USB-C cable that came with them.
- Choose Desktop. When the "Connect to external display" notification pops up, tap Desktop.
- Adjust the size. Go to Settings > Connected devices > External displays and pick your glasses. You can change the display size and resolution there.
- Keep the phone awake. Raise your screen timeout in Settings, so the phone doesn't lock in the middle of a task.
What you get
- A taskbar and real windows. Run several apps at once and arrange them like you would on a computer.
- Up to four desktops. Tap the square-with-plus icon in Recents to add one.
- Keyboard shortcuts. Press the Windows key and / on your keyboard to see them all.
- The apps you already have. Android Authority notes these are the same apps on your phone, just scaled up for the big screen.
What it can't do yet
These limits come from Techlicious's testing in March 2026:
- There's no wireless mode. You need the cable.
- You can't customize the wallpaper or widgets.
- Text size and scaling can look uneven from app to app.
- Heavy apps feel slow. Techlicious found web browsing and photo editing in Lightroom sluggish.
Techlicious sums it up as good for occasional use, not a replacement for your main computer.
Tips for AR glasses
- Want the desktop to stay put? The VITURE Beast runs its 3DoF tracking on the glasses, so you can pin the screen in place without an app. On the Luma, Luma Pro and Pro 2, tracking runs in VITURE's SpaceWalker app instead.
- Don't count on ultrawide. An ultrawide screen needs your phone to send an ultrawide picture, and nobody has confirmed that for Pixel desktop mode yet. XREAL's UltraWide guide names Samsung DeX and Huawei's desktop mode for Android, not Pixel.
- Watch your battery. Your glasses run off your phone. In Android Authority's testing, the RayNeo Air 4 Pro used 20% of a Pixel 9 Pro's battery in under an hour. For long sessions, use a charging adapter or dock that lets you charge while you work.
- HDR might not kick in. Android Authority found the Air 4 Pro's HDR10 didn't work from a Pixel 9 Pro. The glasses fell back to an SDR-to-HDR filter.
- Got a Galaxy phone instead? Samsung's DeX works a little differently. Here's which Galaxy phones work with AR glasses.
How to undo it
Unplug the glasses to end desktop mode. If you raised your screen timeout, set it back to save battery.
Check your phone
Compatibility checkerPixel 10 / 10 Pro / 10 Pro XL + VITURE Luma ProWorksMore help:
- Choosing between VITURE's mid-range pairs? Our Luma vs Luma Pro comparison breaks it down.
- Going big with the Beast? Here are the VITURE Beast accessories worth adding.
- Want ultrawide on a laptop? Here's how to get it on Windows.
- Waiting for Google's own glasses? Our Android XR glasses tracker has the timeline.