Posted by Matthew McCullough – VP of Product Administration, Android Developer
Right now we’re bringing you Android 16 beta 4, the final scheduled replace in our Android 16 beta program. Make sure that your app or sport is prepared. It is also the final probability to offer us suggestions earlier than Android 16 is launched.
Android 16 Beta 4
That is our second platform stability launch; the developer APIs and all app-facing behaviors are closing. Apps concentrating on Android 16 could be made out there in Google Play. Beta 4 consists of our newest fixes and optimizations, providing you with all the things you might want to full your testing. Head over to our Android 16 abstract web page for an inventory of the options and conduct modifications we have been protecting on this sequence of weblog posts, or learn on for a number of the prime modifications of which you have to be conscious.
Now out there on extra gadgets
The Android 16 Beta is now out there on handset, pill, and foldable kind components from companions together with Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, vivo, and Xiaomi. With extra Android 16 companions and system varieties, many extra customers can run your app on the Android 16 Beta.
Get your apps, libraries, instruments, and sport engines prepared!
For those who develop an SDK, library, device, or sport engine, it is much more vital to arrange any obligatory updates now to stop your downstream app and sport builders from being blocked by compatibility points and permit them to focus on the most recent SDK options. Please let your builders know if updates to your SDK are wanted to totally help Android 16.
Testing includes putting in your manufacturing app or a take a look at app making use of your library or engine utilizing Google Play or different means onto a tool or emulator operating Android 16 Beta 4. Work by means of all of your app’s flows and search for useful or UI points. Assessment the conduct modifications to focus your testing. Every launch of Android comprises platform modifications that enhance privateness, safety, and total person expertise, and these modifications can have an effect on your apps. Listed here are a number of modifications to give attention to that apply, even for those who aren’t but concentrating on Android 16:
- Broadcasts: Ordered broadcasts utilizing priorities solely work inside the similar course of. Use different IPC for those who want cross-process ordering.
- ART: For those who use reflection, JNI, or another means to entry Android internals, your app would possibly break. That is by no means a greatest apply. Take a look at totally.
- 16KB Web page Dimension: In case your app is not 16KB-page-size prepared, you should use the new compatibility mode flag, however we suggest migrating to 16KB for greatest efficiency.
Different modifications that might be impactful as soon as your app targets Android 16:
Get your app prepared for the long run:
- Native community safety: Think about testing your app with the upcoming Native Community Safety characteristic. It is going to give customers extra management over which apps can entry gadgets on their native community in a future Android main launch.
Bear in mind to totally train libraries and SDKs that your app is utilizing throughout your compatibility testing. You might must replace to present SDK variations or attain out to the developer for assist for those who encounter any points.
When you’ve revealed the Android 16-compatible model of your app, you can begin the method to replace your app’s targetSdkVersion. Assessment the conduct modifications that apply when your app targets Android 16 and use the compatibility framework to assist shortly detect points.
Two Android API releases in 2025
This Beta is for the subsequent main launch of Android with a deliberate launch in Q2 of 2025 and we plan to have one other launch with new developer APIs in This fall. This Q2 main launch would be the solely launch in 2025 that features conduct modifications that might have an effect on apps. The This fall minor launch will choose up characteristic updates, optimizations, and bug fixes; like our non-SDK quarterly releases, it is not going to embrace any intentional app-breaking conduct modifications.
We’ll proceed to have quarterly Android releases. The Q1 and Q3 updates present incremental updates to make sure steady high quality. We’re placing further vitality into working with our system companions to carry the Q2 launch to as many gadgets as potential.
There’s no change to the goal API degree necessities and the related dates for apps in Google Play; our plans are for one annual requirement every year, tied to the most important API degree.
Get began with Android 16
You may enroll any supported Pixel system to get this and future Android Beta updates over-the-air. For those who don’t have a Pixel system, you may use the 64-bit system pictures with the Android Emulator in Android Studio. If you’re at the moment on Android 16 Beta 3 or are already within the Android Beta program, you’ll be provided an over-the-air replace to Beta 4.
Whereas the API and behaviors are closing and we’re very near launch, we might nonetheless such as you to report points on the suggestions web page. The sooner we get your suggestions, the higher probability we’ll have the ability to tackle it on this or a future launch.
For one of the best growth expertise with Android 16, we suggest that you simply use the most recent Canary construct of Android Studio Narwhal. When you’re arrange, listed here are a number of the issues you need to do:
- Compile towards the brand new SDK, take a look at in CI environments, and report any points in our tracker on the suggestions web page.
We’ll replace the beta system pictures and SDK often all through the Android 16 launch cycle. When you’ve put in a beta construct, you’ll robotically get future updates over-the-air for all later previews and Betas.
For full data on Android 16 please go to the Android 16 developer website.
