Pixel 8 finally supports display output via USB-C

What do you want to know

• Despite the existence of competing options, like Samsung’s DeX, Google Pixel phones lack display output support.
• Not only does Pixel Launcher not have a desktop environment available to end users, Pixel phones do not support DisplayPort Alternate Mode.
• With the release of Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2, Google enables DP Alt mode and allows users to connect their Pixel to external displays.

Pixel users were excited when it was revealed that Google was supporting DisplayPort Alternate Mode at the hardware level on the Pixel 8 series. However, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro owners were quickly disappointed to learn that Google was still blocking external display connections via USB-C with software. Now, months after the launch of the Pixel 8 series, it seems Google has changed its mind and is considering supporting display mirroring via cable.

As Mishaal Rahman revealed to Android Authority, Google added software support for DP Alt mode with the release of Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2. When you connect a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro to an external monitor, a “mirror display” option will appear. If you tap to enable it, your Android operating system will be displayed on the connected monitor or TV. Notably, unless you manually enable desktop mode in Developer Options, you’ll be stuck with the normal Android 14 view.

Even so, Rahman notes that the Android desktop mode that can be enabled in Developer Options is the older built-in version that has been around since Android 10. A revised version is supposedly on the way, but it requires several Android flags. activated before you can access it. Rahman suggests that Google could be preparing to launch a DeX competitor with the Pixel 9 series, but nothing is confirmed at the moment.

For those unfamiliar, USB-C ports that support DP Alt mode can natively support display output via compatible USB-C cables or adapters. Pixel phones previously had USB-C ports with DP Alt mode, but Google only enabled DP Alt mode in hardware this year. Until now, no software support for DP Alt mode was available on the Pixel 8 series. This meant that if you tried to connect a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro to a monitor, nothing would happen.

A few workarounds were available, such as using Google Cast for wireless mirroring or purchasing a DisplayLink adapter. DP Alt mode could also be enabled with root access. However, this meant that Pixels was more limited in terms of display output options than other Android phones and even iPhones.

The addition of native support for display output in Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 could mean it will debut this summer with the release of the public update. Or, it’s possible that Google will roll back the change before a stable version arrives. This seems to indicate that Google is working on better support for display output, which is good news for Pixel owners.