Latest released android version

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.

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Android versions: A living history from 1.0 to 12

Explore Android’s ongoing evolution with this visual timeline of versions, starting B.C. (Before Cupcake) and going all the way to 2021’s Android 12 release.

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Contributing Editor, Computerworld |

Android Versions

What a long, strange trip it’s been.

From its inaugural release to today, Android has transformed visually, conceptually and functionally — time and time again. Google’s mobile operating system may have started out scrappy, but holy moly, has it ever evolved.

Here’s a fast-paced tour of Android version highlights from the platform’s birth to present. (Feel free to skip ahead if you just want to see what’s new in Android 11 or Android 12.)

Android versions 1.0 to 1.1: The early days

Android made its official public debut in 2008 with Android 1.0 — a release so ancient it didn’t even have a cute codename.

Things were pretty basic back then, but the software did include a suite of early Google apps like Gmail, Maps, Calendar, and YouTube, all of which were integrated into the operating system — a stark contrast to the more easily updatable standalone-app model employed today.

The Android 1.0 home screen and its rudimentary web browser (not yet called Chrome).

Android version 1.5: Cupcake

With early 2009’s Android 1.5 Cupcake release, the tradition of Android version names was born. Cupcake introduced numerous refinements to the Android interface, including the first on-screen keyboard — something that’d be necessary as phones moved away from the once-ubiquitous physical keyboard model.

Cupcake also brought about the framework for third-party app widgets, which would quickly turn into one of Android’s most distinguishing elements, and it provided the platform’s first-ever option for video recording.

Cupcake was all about the widgets.

Android version 1.6: Donut

Android 1.6, Donut, rolled into the world in the fall of 2009. Donut filled in some important holes in Android’s center, including the ability for the OS to operate on a variety of different screen sizes and resolutions — a factor that’d be critical in the years to come. It also added support for CDMA networks like Verizon, which would play a key role in Android’s imminent explosion.

Android’s universal search box made its first appearance in Android 1.6.

Android versions 2.0 to 2.1: Eclair

Keeping up the breakneck release pace of Android’s early years, Android 2.0, Eclair, emerged just six weeks after Donut; its «point-one» update, also called Eclair, came out a couple months later. Eclair was the first Android release to enter mainstream consciousness thanks to the original Motorola Droid phone and the massive Verizon-led marketing campaign surrounding it.

Verizon’s «iDon’t» ad for the Droid.

The release’s most transformative element was the addition of voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic info — something previously unheard of (and still essentially unmatched) in the smartphone world. Navigation aside, Eclair brought live wallpapers to Android as well as the platform’s first speech-to-text function. And it made waves for injecting the once-iOS-exclusive pinch-to-zoom capability into Android — a move often seen as the spark that ignited Apple’s long-lasting «thermonuclear war» against Google.

The first versions of turn-by-turn navigation and speech-to-text, in Eclair.

Android version 2.2: Froyo

Just four months after Android 2.1 arrived, Google served up Android 2.2, Froyo, which revolved largely around under-the-hood performance improvements.

Froyo did deliver some important front-facing features, though, including the addition of the now-standard dock at the bottom of the home screen as well as the first incarnation of Voice Actions, which allowed you to perform basic functions like getting directions and making notes by tapping an icon and then speaking a command.

Google’s first real attempt at voice control, in Froyo.

Notably, Froyo also brought support for Flash to Android’s web browser — an option that was significant both because of the widespread use of Flash at the time and because of Apple’s adamant stance against supporting it on its own mobile devices. Apple would eventually win, of course, and Flash would become far less common. But back when it was still everywhere, being able to access the full web without any black holes was a genuine advantage only Android could offer.

Android version 2.3: Gingerbread

Android’s first true visual identity started coming into focus with 2010’s Gingerbread release. Bright green had long been the color of Android’s robot mascot, and with Gingerbread, it became an integral part of the operating system’s appearance. Black and green seeped all over the UI as Android started its slow march toward distinctive design.

JR Raphael / IDG

It was easy being green back in the Gingerbread days.

Android 3.0 to 3.2: Honeycomb

2011’s Honeycomb period was a weird time for Android. Android 3.0 came into the world as a tablet-only release to accompany the launch of the Motorola Xoom, and through the subsequent 3.1 and 3.2 updates, it remained a tablet-exclusive (and closed-source) entity.

Under the guidance of newly arrived design chief Matias Duarte, Honeycomb introduced a dramatically reimagined UI for Android. It had a space-like «holographic» design that traded the platform’s trademark green for blue and placed an emphasis on making the most of a tablet’s screen space.

Honeycomb: When Android got a case of the holographic blues.

While the concept of a tablet-specific interface didn’t last long, many of Honeycomb’s ideas laid the groundwork for the Android we know today. The software was the first to use on-screen buttons for Android’s main navigational commands; it marked the beginning of the end for the permanent overflow-menu button; and it introduced the concept of a card-like UI with its take on the Recent Apps list.

Android version 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich

With Honeycomb acting as the bridge from old to new, Ice Cream Sandwich — also released in 2011 — served as the platform’s official entry into the era of modern design. The release refined the visual concepts introduced with Honeycomb and reunited tablets and phones with a single, unified UI vision.

ICS dropped much of Honeycomb’s «holographic» appearance but kept its use of blue as a system-wide highlight. And it carried over core system elements like on-screen buttons and a card-like appearance for app-switching.

JR Raphael / IDG

The ICS home screen and app-switching interface.

Android 4.0 also made swiping a more integral method of getting around the operating system, with the then-revolutionary-feeling ability to swipe away things like notifications and recent apps. And it started the slow process of bringing a standardized design framework — known as «Holo» — all throughout the OS and into Android’s app ecosystem.

Android versions 4.1 to 4.3: Jelly Bean

Spread across three impactful Android versions, 2012 and 2013’s Jelly Bean releases took ICS’s fresh foundation and made meaningful strides in fine-tuning and building upon it. The releases added plenty of poise and polish into the operating system and went a long way in making Android more inviting for the average user.

Visuals aside, Jelly Bean brought about our first taste of Google Now — the spectacular predictive-intelligence utility that’s sadly since devolved into a glorified news feed. It gave us expandable and interactive notifications, an expanded voice search system, and a more advanced system for displaying search results in general, with a focus on card-based results that attempted to answer questions directly.

Multiuser support also came into play, albeit on tablets only at this point, and an early version of Android’s Quick Settings panel made its first appearance. Jelly Bean ushered in a heavily hyped system for placing widgets on your lock screen, too — one that, like so many Android features over the years, quietly disappeared a couple years later.

JR Raphael / IDG

Jelly Bean’s Quick Settings panel and short-lived lock screen widget feature.

Android version 4.4: KitKat

Late-2013’s KitKat release marked the end of Android’s dark era, as the blacks of Gingerbread and the blues of Honeycomb finally made their way out of the operating system. Lighter backgrounds and more neutral highlights took their places, with a transparent status bar and white icons giving the OS a more contemporary appearance.

Android 4.4 also saw the first version of «OK, Google» support — but in KitKat, the hands-free activation prompt worked only when your screen was already on and you were either at your home screen or inside the Google app.

The release was Google’s first foray into claiming a full panel of the home screen for its services, too — at least, for users of its own Nexus phones and those who chose to download its first-ever standalone launcher.

JR Raphael / IDG

The lightened KitKat home screen and its dedicated Google Now panel.

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