What is this ghost window restriction in ChromeOS?Solved

Participant
Discussion
6 months ago

I noticed a setting called ghost window under the Android runtime for chrome section in the Advanced restrictions. What exactly does this do? Is it anything like that ghost window problem on Windows 11 where a small transparent box gets stuck above the taskbar? 

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Participant
6 months ago
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No, that’s a completely different thing. The ghost window restriction on ChromeOS isn’t a bug, it’s a design feature. When this option is enabled, chromeOS shows placeholder windows for android apps that were open before a restart or reconnect. These placeholders are called ghost windows because they appear while the Android runtime (ARC) is still loading the actual apps. It helps users see which apps were open before the system finishes restoring everything. 

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Participant
6 months ago
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It’s really more about making the experience smoother. If you turn it off, ChromeOS won’t show any placeholders, so after a restart you won’t see previews until the apps are fully loaded. 

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Participant
6 months ago
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So, unlike the Windows ghost windows, these are deliberate and meant to make the app loading feel less abrupt. Noted. 

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