Latest android version running

Android 11

The OS that gets to what’s important.

Go straight to the stuff that matters most. Because Android 11 is optimized for how you use your phone. Giving you powerful device controls. And easier ways to manage conversations, privacy settings and so much more.

Android 11 Highlights

Manage your conversations.

Get all your messages in one place.

See, respond to and control your conversations across multiple messaging apps. All in the same spot. Then select people you always chat with. These priority conversations show up on your lock screen. So you never miss anything important.

Bubbles

Chat while multitasking.

With Android 11, you can pin conversations so they always appear on top of other apps and screens. Bubbles keep the conversation going—while you stay focused on whatever else you’re doing. Access the chat anytime or anywhere. Then carry on doing you.

Capture and share content.

Built-in screen recording. Finally.

Screen recording lets you capture what’s happening on your phone. And it’s built right into Android 11, so you don’t need an extra app. Record with sound from your mic, your device or both.

Select and share just got easier.

Select text from your apps. Grab images too. On Pixel devices 1 , you can easily copy, save and share info between many apps. Like your browser, your delivery app or from the news.

Helpful tools that predict what you want.

A conversation where a user responds to a message that says «hey I’m headed out now» with the words «sounds good!» selected from a toolbar of suggested responses.

Smart reply

Get suggested responses in conversations. Hi there, sounds good or 👋 when you need it. On Pixel devices 1 , replies are intelligently suggested based on what’s been said in the conversation—so the words you need and the perfect emoji are always at your fingertips. 2

App suggestions

Easily get to apps you need most. Pixel devices 1 make app suggestions that change based on your routine. So you can see what you need throughout the day, all on the bottom of your home screen. Making it easy to get to your morning workout app when you wake up. Or to access the TV app you use when it’s time to relax.

Smart folders

Smarter ways to organize your apps. Get intelligent suggestions for folder names on your Pixel device 1 . For a home screen that stays organized. Names are based on theme—like work, photo, fitness and more.

Control your phone with your voice.

With Android 11, Voice Access is faster and easier to use. Intuitive labels on apps help you control and navigate your phone, all by speaking out loud. Even use Voice Access offline, for more support whenever you need it.

Device Controls

Control your connected devices from one place.

Set the temperature to chill, then dim your lights. All from a single spot on your phone. 3 Just long press the power button to see and manage your connected devices. Making life at home that much easier.

Media Controls

Bring your entertainment with you.

Switch from your headphones to your speaker without missing a beat. Tap to hear your tunes or watch video on your TV. With Android 11, you can quickly change the device that your media plays on.

Showing an Android device within a car. When the Android device powers on, an Android app called SpotHero is automatically displayed on the car’s dashboard.

Connect Android to your car. Skip the cable.

Hit the road without plugging in. Android Auto now works wirelessly with devices running Android 11—so you can bring the best of your phone on every drive. 4

You control what apps can access.

Take charge of your data with Android. You choose whether to give or not, permission to access sensitive data, to the apps that you download. So you stay better protected.

One‑time permissions

Give one-time permissions to apps that need your mic, camera or location. The next time the app needs access, it must ask for permission again.

Permissions auto‑reset

If you haven’t used an app in a while, you may not want it to keep accessing your data. So Android will reset permissions for your unused apps. You can always turn permissions back on.

Security updates, right from Google Play.

On Android 11, you get even more security.

With Android 11, you get even more security and privacy fixes sent to your phone from Google Play. The same way all your other apps update. So you get peace of mind. And your device stays armed with the most recent defense.

Phones ready for Android 11.

Experience what Android 11 has to offer on devices made for the latest and greatest.

Samsung

Google

Samsung

OnePlus

And there’s so much more.

From security enhancements to easier ways to get work done, Android 11 has something for everyone.

Accessibility

Voice AccessIntuitive labels on apps help you control and navigate your phone, all by speaking out loud. Even use Voice Access offline, for more support whenever you need it.

Talkback braille keyboardType braille using just your Android device. No additional hardware needed.

LookoutLookout now has two new modes. Scan Document and Food Label help people with low vision or blindness get things done faster and more easily. Opening Lookout also turns on your flashlight, helping users read in low light. And Lookout is now available on all 2GB+ devices running Android 6.0 or later.

Camera

3P performance optimizationsYour camera works even better on photo sharing platforms like Snapchat.

Mute during camera captureDevelopers can use new APIs for apps to mute vibration from ringtones, alarms or notifications.

Bokeh modesDevelopers can now request a bokeh picture via the Android camera2 APIs.

Camera support in EmulatorNow supports a fully functional camera HAL. Making it easier for developers to test apps using the latest Android camera2 APIs.

Digital Wellbeing

Bedtime ModeBedtime Mode quiets your phone when it’s time to go to sleep. Schedule it to run automatically or while your phone charges as you rest. Your screen switches to grayscale and your notifications go silent with Do Not Disturb.

ClockThe new bedtime feature in Clock helps you set a healthy sleep schedule. Track screen time at night and fall asleep to calming sounds. Then wake up to your favorite song. Or use the Sunrise Alarm that slowly brightens your screen to start the day.

Enterprise

Work profile enhancementsGet full privacy from IT on your work profile on company-owned devices. Plus new asset management features for IT to ensure security without visibility into personal usage.

Connected work and personal appsConnect work and personal apps to get a combined view of your information in places like your calendar or your reminders.

Schedule work profileEasily disconnect from work. With Android 11, you can now set a schedule to automatically turn your work profile on and off.

Work tab in more placesUse the work tab in more places to share and take actions across work and personal profiles. See work tabs when sharing, opening apps and in settings.

Location access notificationsGet a new notification if your IT admin has turned on location services on your managed device.

Media

Device controls Easily manage your connected devices all from one spot on your phone. 3

Media controlsWith Android 11, you can quickly change the device that your media plays on.

Android Auto Android Auto now works wirelessly 4 with devices running Android 11.

Context-aware Bluetooth airplane modeIf you have headphones or hearing aids connected to your phone, bluetooth will stay on if you enable Airplane mode.

Messaging & Sharing

ConversationsSee, respond to and control your conversations across multiple messaging apps. All in the same spot. Choose priority conversations that will show up on your lock screen.

BubblesPin conversations so they always appear on top of other apps and screens. So you can access the chat anytime or anywhere.

Smart reply On Pixel devices 1 , replies are intelligently suggested based on what’s been said in the conversation. 2

Keyboard autofillGBoard gives you suggestions to help fill in forms with the info you use most. Like passwords or your home address.

Overview actionsOn Pixel devices 1 , you can easily copy, save and share info between many apps.

Nearby ShareQuickly and securely send files, videos, map locations and more to devices nearby. Works with Android devices, Chromebooks or devices running Chrome browser.

Security & Privacy

One-time permissionsGive one-time permissions to apps that need your mic, camera or location. The next time the app needs access, it must ask for permission again.

Permissions auto-resetIf you haven’t used an app in a while, you may not want it to keep accessing your data. So Android will reset permissions for your unused apps. You can always turn permissions back on.

Google Play system updatesWith Android 11, you get even more security and privacy fixes sent to your phone, right from Google Play. So your device stays armed with the most recent defense.

Scoped storageAndroid limits broad access to shared storage for all apps running Android 11, so your info stays better protected.

Resume on rebootPick up right where you started. Apps run immediately after an update is installed. So you don’t miss any notifications after your phone has rebooted.

Blocked permissionsIf a user denies an app permission multiple times, the app will be blocked from requesting the permission again.

Soft restartGet Google Play system updates when your phone is idle, with no full reboot required.

Background locationGet more control over location sharing with apps that are not in use. So apps don’t get access to more data than they need.

Usability Enhancements

Screen recorderScreen recording is now built in, so you don’t need an extra app. Record with sound from your mic, your device or both.

App suggestions Pixel devices 1 now make app suggestions based on your daily routines. These apps show up on the bottom row of your home screen. So you can get the apps you need when you need them.

Smart folders See intelligent suggestions for folder names on your Pixel device 1 . For a home screen that stays organized.

Call screeningNew APIs to help screening apps better identify spam calls.

Schedule Dark modeSchedule when you want your phone to turn to Dark mode. And when you want it to go back to a standard display.

Picture-in-picturePicture-in-picture windows can be adjusted to fit the size you need.

5G detection APIWith new APIs, apps know if you’re on a 5G connection. So you get better performance.

Hinge angle sensor supportSo apps can better support all kinds of foldable configurations.

Ethernet tetheringShare a tethered internet connection with a USB ethernet dongle.

Gesture sensitivityWhen using gesture nav, you can now fine-tune both Back gestures on the left and right edge independently of one another.

Notification historyYour notification history is now available in settings.

SharesheetPin the apps you use most in the Sharesheet.

Источник

What is the Latest Android Version? And How to Update to the Current Android OS?

Over the last few years, Android OS has come to dominate the mobile OS landscape with over 86% market share as of 2019. The system provides high-performing and secure usage and comes with regular version updates with new features.

Because of this, many Android users want to know how to check their current Android version and update it to the latest one.

So in this article, we will learn how to figure out which version your smartphone is running and how to install an Android OS update. But before that let’s get a quick overview of the history of Android versions.

A Brief History of the Android Operating System

Google first introduced the revolutionary Android operating system as an alternative to Apple’s iOS in late 2008.

Since it’s existed, Android has had 12 versions since its humble beginning with sometimes even more than one release in a year.

The constant support from Google developers made the system the top OS with almost 3 million apps in the Play Store. This helped switch Android app development from Java to Kotlin and ensured that Android developers were highly paid and quite in demand on the market.

Here I’ve gathered an abridged listing to demonstrate how the operating system has been changing and evolving to provide users with advanced functionality. For much of its lifetime, the OS version was designated by a number and a codename.

• Android 1.0 to 1.1 — Google’s original mobile OS offered basic capability with integrated apps like Gmail, Maps, Calendar, and YouTube.
• Android 1.5 or Cupcake — Released in early 2009, this was the first-named version of the OS. It included an on-screen keyboard and introduced the framework for third-party apps to be run on mobile devices.
• Android 2.0-2.1 or Eclair — Version 2.0 added real-time traffic information, voice-guided navigation, and pinch-to-zoom capability to the OS.
• Android 2.3 or Gingerbread — The 2010 release of this OS focused on the black and green interface as Android began to develop a distinctive look.
• Android 3.0-3.2 or Honeycomb — Released in 2011, this version of the operating system was specifically for tablet devices and introduced on-screen buttons.
• Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich — This was a unified OS for phones and tablets all released in 2011 which featured a holographic appearance and made extensive use of swiping when using the system.
• Android 4.4 or Kit-Kat — Late 2013 saw this update which lightened the interface’s color scheme and introduced the world to “OK, Google” support.
• Android 5.0-5.1 or Lollipop — Major changes were made with 2014’s upgrade. Google introduced the card-based Material Design standard employed to unify the appearance of items displayed by the OS.
• Android 6.0 or Marshmallow — This relatively minor update in 2015 was the beginning of Google’s patterns of relaying a new, numbered version every year.
• Android 7.0-7.1 or Nougat — 2016’s entry in the Android OS lexicon added native split-screen mode and launched Google Assistant.
• Android 9 or Pie — Google released this last-named version of Android in August of 2018. The most visible updates of this version for users were the large Home and small Back buttons to the user interface and new security features.
• Android 10 — is the last live version of OS and we will cover it in more detail below.

Main Features of Android 10

Android 10 was released on September 3, 2019. It has many new and improved features that are good reason to upgrade your Android OS if you are still using version 9.

Here are some of the highlights of the current Android version.

• Live Caption gives users the ability to automatically caption media playing on your device.
• Smart Reply helps streamline communication by suggesting responses and recommending actions.
• Sound Amplifier lets you fine-tune the audio settings of your phone to allow you to hear more clearly.
• Gesture Navigation introduces more intuitive ways to swipe and pull and provides added flexibility to the Android interface.
• Dark Theme uses true black to save battery power and give your eyes a rest. Some users may prefer it to Android’s normal look.
• Enhanced security settings let you exert more control over the privacy of your data. You can control how data and location information is shared from the same settings area.
• Digital Well-being is a tool that strives to help users find the right balance between work and the rest of their lives. It has features that can help you be more productive or unplug for some much-needed relaxation.
• Focus mode is designed to help users stay focused on specific tasks by minimizing distractions. It lets you temporarily pause apps that may distract you by simply tapping on them.
• Family Link enables digital ground rules to be set and can help parents guide their children’s online activities. Set limits on screen time, restrict content and manage apps for your family.

If you have recently purchased a new Android comparable device, it probably came with Android 10 installed. If that is not the case, these features might persuade you that you need to update the Android OS on your phone or tablet.

Checking Your Current Android OS and updating to Version 10

When you are preparing to upgrade your mobile device, you need to know what is the latest Android OS version that can run on your machine. Some older devices may be restricted as to the version that they can handle.

Depending on the type of device and its age, the method of obtaining an Android OS download may vary. Newer devices will receive updates more quickly and users of Google devices will get notifications when they are available.

Here’s how to update your Android OS. Some preliminary steps should be taken before performing the actual update.

Check Your Android Version

The exact steps needed to perform a version check will be determined by your type of device. You want to get to the About phone information which is found in the device’s Settings. The model number can also be found here and should be noted before you begin your update.

1. Go to the Settings and scroll down to find out the System category.

2. In the System Settings section click on About device

3. Here scroll down to the end of list until you see Android version which means the version your mobile is running now.

If you decide to update your OS manually, here are a few tips to keep in mind before that:

Back up your data — You should be backing up your data regularly. Before an operating system upgrade is always a good time for a backup. You never know what might happen, so don’t take chances with your important data. Many backup apps are available. Get one and use it.

Verify your available space — The upgrade will detail how much space is necessary for your upgrade. Make sure you have enough space or move some things off of the device to free up enough for the update.

Updating the OS — If you have received an over-the-air (OTA) notification, you can simply open it up and tap the update button. You can also go to Check for Updates in Settings to initiate the upgrade.

Note: Some users may prefer to root their device to obtain updates as soon as they are available as well as being able to have more control over the device and what apps run on it.

What to Expect in Android 11

Even though there are considerable technical advances in version 10, Google plans to release the newest Android OS according to plan sometime in 2020. As you may have noticed, the company does not like to stand still.

Android 11 will focus on changes to privacy and security, application behavior, and new features including APIs. The operating system will provide support for 5G and foldable devices, positioning it to capitalize on the move to faster networks. Some specific features are:

• Biometric authentication capabilities to more securely protect your device;
• Restricts repeatable permission requests to make apps more user-friendly;
• Allows temporary permission to be given to the camera, microphone, and location services;
• Apps can automatically run authentication and connect to an available secure WiFi hotspot;
• Expanded camera support;
• Chat bubbles can be turned on and off for individual apps.

These are just a few of the new Android 11 features that the users will expect. App designers will also enjoy the extended functionality they can bring to their creations.

Wrapping Up

Except in very rare cases, you should upgrade your Android device when new versions are released. Google consistently provided many useful improvements to the functionality and performance of new Android OS versions. If your device can handle it, you just might want to check it out.

Co-Founder and CEO at Softermii. Slava has over 9-years of experience in the web and mobile development industry with focus on MVP, mobile development and design.

If you read this far, tweet to the author to show them you care. Tweet a thanks

Learn to code for free. freeCodeCamp’s open source curriculum has helped more than 40,000 people get jobs as developers. Get started

freeCodeCamp is a donor-supported tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (United States Federal Tax Identification Number: 82-0779546)

Our mission: to help people learn to code for free. We accomplish this by creating thousands of videos, articles, and interactive coding lessons — all freely available to the public. We also have thousands of freeCodeCamp study groups around the world.

Donations to freeCodeCamp go toward our education initiatives and help pay for servers, services, and staff.

Источник