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Android 16: the definitive guide on new features and changes

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Android 16: the definitive guide on new features and changes

Officially released on June 10, 2025, Android 16 moves beyond incremental feature additions to address long-standing structural challenges within the Android ecosystem, most notably platform fragmentation and the inconsistent user experience on large-screen devices.

The Android 16 release is defined by three core strategic pillars:

  1. The formal standardization of mature OEM innovations, particularly from Samsung.
  2. The establishment of a new, user-accessible baseline for mobile security; and
  3. A concerted effort to refine and unify the core user experience across different device form factors.

This Android 16 guide explains all the new features and improvements in Android 16 for both users and developers. As some of the new features, e.g., Desktop Windowing and Live Updates, have already been presented in Samsung’s Galaxy devices for a long time, this guide also tries to explain the origin of the new features and their possible connection with Samsung.

For developers, Android 16 introduces a dual-pronged approach. On one hand, it imposes stricter mandates for app adaptability on large screens, effectively ending the era of letterboxed phone apps on tablets. On the other hand, it provides a more agile and predictable development cadence through a new Major/Minor SDK release model, decoupling disruptive platform changes from the rapid introduction of new APIs.

From a user perspective, the Android 16 update delivers significant enhancements in productivity, security, and accessibility. The introduction of a native desktop mode, a more organized and actionable notification system, and a comprehensive, one-tap security suite called Advanced Protection Mode are standout features. Concurrently, Google continues to delineate the AOSP platform from its own Pixel experience, reserving its most advanced AI-driven features as exclusive differentiators for its hardware, while contributing the foundational OS improvements to the broader community.

Android 16 Platform Architecture:  New SDK Release Model ( Major and Minor Releases)

The most impactful architectural change for the developer community is the formalization of a new, dual-track Software Development Kit (SDK) release model. This new structure fundamentally alters how the Android platform evolves throughout the year, aiming to balance stability with rapid innovation.

The new model consists of two distinct release types:

  1. Major SDK Release: This is the traditional, annual platform update, exemplified by the June 2025 launch of Android 16. Critically, this is the only release within a year that will introduce planned, app-impacting behavior changes. These are the changes that require developers to update their application’s targetSdkVersion to support, ensuring compatibility with new platform security and privacy enforcements.
… Read the rest

Top 10 New Features of Android 13

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Top 10 New Features of Android 13

Android 13 was released on August 15, 2022, with a plethora of new features and improvements to make your Android devices more personal and secure.

However, many new features of Android 13 are not eye-catching and deep inside the Settings or apps.

This Android 13 guide explains the top 10 new features of Android 13 that almost everyone will benefit from, including per-app language options, clipboard access control, notifications opt-in, a QR code scanner in the Quick Settings tile, a revamped media player, a new Photo Picker, Quick Pair and Bluetooth LE Audio support, control home devices without unlocking the phone/tablet, Spatial Audio support, expanded Material You options.

We now explore these new features of Android 13 one by one.

What are the top 10 new features of Android 13?

There are many new features and underhood improvements in Android 13. For most Android phone users, the following 10 features you definitely should try and know.

  1. Per-app language options.
  2. Clipboard access control.
  3. Notifications opt-in.
  4. QR code scanner in the Quick Settings tile.
  5. A revamped media player.
  6. Anew Photo Picker.
  7. Bluetooth LE Audio and LC3 code support
  8. Spatial Audio support.
  9. Control home devices without unlocking the phone/tablet.
  10. Expanded Material You options

Per-app language options: the most practical new feature of Android 13

In Android 13, you can choose a different language for individual apps regardless of the system language. Of course, if the app developer enables the language you want.

For example, as shown in the screenshot below, all apps that support multi-languages are listed under Settings — System — Languages & input — App Languages.

You can choose your preferred language for these apps individually. Many Android 13 users marked this as one of the most practical new features of Android 13.

new features of Android 13: Per-app language options
Per-app language settings in Android 13

You can also change the language for the apps on the App info page of individual apps.

Clipboard access control

Android 13 makes it easy to copy and paste both text and images.

When you copy any text or an image to the clipboard, you will see immediate feedback (an alert box in the lower-left corner of the screen), as shown in the animation below. The content (text or image) in the clipboard will be available for 1 hour. You can turn on the clipboard manager in Gboard (or Samsung Keyboard if you are using a Samsung phone) and pin any items in the clipboard so that they will not be expired.… Read the rest

How to use notification history and notification logs in Android 11?

You can use notification history in Android 11 and notification log to check dismissed notifications.

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Android 11 Notification iconWith the Android 11 update, a new feature, notification history, has been introduced, allowing users to track the notifications on their devices even after being dismissed.

In addition to the notification history introduced in Android 11, stock Android also allows you to access full notification logs through a Settings widget.  It is a somewhat hidden feature.

This Android 11 guide will explain what the Android 11 notification history is, the difference between notification history and notification log,  how to use it and answer some questions you may have about the notification history.

What is the Android 11 notification history?

Since the feature of snoozing notifications was introduced in Android Oreo(Android 8), it has allowed users to organise their notifications on their devices and prevent notifications from cluttering. However, there are times when you may accidentally dismiss an important notification before checking it out. Therefore you may want to check the notification history or the full notification logs.

The Android 11 notification history is essentially a feature which allows users to track their notifications and view all previously dismissed notifications on their devices.

This feature is useful for decluttering the notification panel under the quick settings menu.

Users can always refer to the notifications history to look up some important notification that may have been missed.

In the notification history, the time and date at which the notification was sent are also recorded so users can view time-limited notifications that may have been missed.

Difference between notification history and notification log

Notification history and the notification logs were designed for different purposes.

  • Notification history is only available in Android 11 (and later). Notification log is available through a Settings widget from at least Android Gingerbread (Android 2.3).
  • Notification history only offers notifications in the past 24 hours.  Notification log includes notifications since the last reboot.
  • Notification history only shows notifications that have been shown in the notification panel. Notification log has all notifications including the hidden (not shown in notification panel) notifications.
  • Tapping any notifications in the notification history will open the corresponding app. Tapping and holding (long tapping) the notification will direct you to notification settings for the corresponding app. But if you tap notifications in notification log, you may get different results in different versions of Android. In Android 11, it directs you to the notification settings for the corresponding app. The long-tapping and tapping gestures work identically in the notification log page.
… Read the rest

How to use the screenshot shortcut to take a screenshot on Android Pie?

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How to use the screenshot shortcut to take a screenshot on Android Pie?Android Pie (Android 9) added a new screenshot shortcut so that it is very easy to take screenshots in smartphones with Android Pie.

This Android Pie guide explains where to find the screenshot shortcut in Android Pie and how to use it to take a screenshot in Android Pie.

Why you may need the screenshot shortcut?

In all Android phones, the default method of taking a screenshot is pressing and holding the power button and volume down button simultaneously.

Using this button combination to take screenshots works on all Android phones and tablets. regardless of the version of Android.  Even on Amazon Fire tablets, you can take a screenshot with the power button and volume down button although Amazon tried very hard to de-Google in the Fire OS (which is based on Android).

The method is simple and easy if you “master” it.

The tricky part is that you need to press and hold the two buttons “simultaneously“. It means

  • If you hold the power button too early, you get the power menu (power button options).
  • If you hold the volume down button too early, you get the volume settings.

For many users who take screenshots only occasionally,  it is hard to control the timing.

So, a shortcut for taking screenshots is one of the most popular features in some Android phones.

Now, Google finally introduced the screenshot shortcut to take a screenshot on Android Pie.

Both new users and experienced users will find it very useful. Even your grandma can easily take a screenshot with the screenshot shortcut.

Where is the screenshot shortcut in Android Pie?

After hearing about this new Android Pie feature, Some Android Pie users tried to find the screenshot shortcut in the quick settings.

Of course, they cannot find it.

The screenshot shortcut is in power menu (aka power button options).

You can hold the power button for about 2 seconds to get the power menu /power button options as shown below.

Where is the screenshot shortcut in Android Pie

By default, the shortcut to screenshot is enabled in the power button options. Stock Android does not offer a standard method to hide/unhide it.

However, some Android manufactures may customize this feature and let you enable or disable the button.

How to use the screenshot shortcut to take a screenshot on Android Pie?

To take a screenshot, you just need to call out the power button options, then tap Screenshot as shown above to take a screenshot for the screen (without the power button options).… Read the rest

How to use smart text selection in Android Oreo?

Smart text selection suggests you the most relevant app to use the highlighted text directly.

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In Android Ore0 8.0 and 8.1, smart text selection was introduced by adding a dynamic (smart) option (based on text highlighted) to the text selection menu.

So, you can get one additional option (in addition to the normal text selection in previous versions of Android) to use the highlighted text directly without going through the copy and paste procedure.

This Android Oreo guide explains to you what smart text selection is, and how to use this feature with examples.

What is smart text selection?

Prior to Android Oreo, selection, copy, and paste are all independent of other operations.

For example, after you finish the text selection, Android simply put the contents in the clipboard and close the pop-out window. Later, you can paste the text in supported apps.

Smart text selection in Android Oreo gives you a suggested shortcut to specific apps, in addition to all other text selection options.

The suggested app shortcut is based on the contents highlighted.

For example, if you highlight a number, Android Oreo may think it is probably a phone number and therefore the phone app is suggested.

If you highlight an email address, smart text selection will think you may want to email this person, and therefore GMail app is suggested.

When you highlight an address, then Google Maps app will be suggested.

In Android Oreo, smart text selection can only suggest apps that can directly operate on the highlighted text.

In Android Pie, smart text selection can be used in the overview screen as explained in this guide.

How to use smart text selection?

Smart text selection is always enabled in Android Oreo.

There are no user-accessible settings for it. This means you even cannot disable it even if you do not like it.

Smart text selection in Android Oreo may suggest various apps such as Google Maps, GMail, Chrome and Phone.

Here are some examples of smart text selection for these apps.

Smart text selection for Google Maps

Android Oreo can detect addresses from highlighted phrases and suggest Google Maps as the following app to use the selected text.

When an address is highlighted, as shown below, Google Maps is placed before the cut/copy options in the copy/paste menu.

You have the option to use cut/copy/paste and other options normally as in text selection in Android Marshmallow/Nougat.

How to use smart text selection

If you tap Google Maps as shown above, your phone will bring you directly to Google Maps and display the address highlighted, as shown below.… Read the rest

How to play Android Oreo Easter egg game?

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Since Android Gingerbread, Google has always hidden an Easter egg in each major version of Android.

In Android Lollipop and Marshmallow, the Easter egg is the flappy bird-like game: dodging lollipops or flying bugdroid (to dodge Marshmallows).

The Easter egg in Android Nougat is even more interesting. The cat-catching game (Android Neko) is somewhat addictive for some users.

Android Oreo is not an exception. It also comes with an Easter egg.

You may also try the Android 15 Easter Egg game: Landroid.

What is Android Oreo Easter Egg?

Android Oreo’s Easter Egg features an octopus (because it is Android O).

It is a simple game: you can watch the octopus moving in the sea. Of course, you can drag it to move faster and change its path.

How to access the Android Oreo Easter egg game?

Google did not change the way to access the Easter egg in Android Oreo.

If you are new to the Android Easter egg, you may follow these steps to access the Android Oreo Easter egg game.

Step 1: Access phone settings

You can access phone settings via the quick settings panel or the settings app in the Home screen or Apps screen.

For example, as shown below, you can tap the settings icon (gear) in the quick settings panel to access phone settings.

Oreo easter game

Step 2: Access Android version

In settings, scroll all the way down until you find system (or about phone in some Android phones).

Then as shown below, tap on System.

Oreo easter game Oreo easter game

In System page, tap on About phone.

Oreo easter game

In the About phone page, you can find the Android version.

For example, as shown below, this Pixel XL is running Android 8.1.0.

Please note, some Android vendors may arrange the Android version in other locations.

Oreo easter game

Step 3: unhide Android Oreo Easter egg

You can unhide the Android Oreo Easter egg by tapping rapidly on Android version for more than 5 times.

An Android Oreo icon should appear as shown below.

 

Oreo easter game

Step 4: Play Android Oreo Easter egg game

Tap on the Android Oreo icon rapidly a few times and hold it to launch the game.

There are also a few other ways to launch the game as well.

The Android Oreo Easter egg- an octopus,  would appear.

You can drag the octopus by its head around the screen to move it.

Oreo easter game

To exit the game, simply press the back icon on the navigation bar.… Read the rest

How to use and manage notification channels in Android Oreo?

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Notification channels (notification categories) in Android Oreo give you granular control of notifications.

You can manage individual channels of notifications from all apps to meet your needs.  You can use notification categories (channels) together with notification dots and notification snooze to get total control of notifications in your Android Oreo phones.

This Android Oreo guide explains what notification channels are, 3 ways to access notification categories and how to manage notification channels in Android Oreo phones.

In addition to notification management, Android 11 has introduced notification history; a feature that allows users to track and access dismissed notifications on their devices. Check out this post to learn more about this new feature.

What are notification channels?

When an app pushes notifications, you may want to only allow a certain type of notifications, for example, important notifications related to certain activities, to appear in the notification panel.

Prior to Android Oreo 8.0, you can enable or disable notifications for individual apps.  You can also silence notification for individual apps.

But you cannot selectively disable or enable some notifications of an app.

In Android Ore0, developers can group notifications of their apps into different notification channels (aka notification categories). You, as a user, can disable or enable individual notification channel (notification category) based on your preferences. For example, you can allow notifications from a specific notification channel to bypass do not disturb.

In a nutshell, notification channels offer granular control of notifications of individual apps. You can manage the notifications of each channel as well as of individual app.

Notification channels are enabled by individual app developers for their apps.  Apps developed for older versions of Android (API level less than 27) will not have notification channels even if your phone was updated to Android Oreo.

How to access notification channels in Android Oreo?

There are at least 3 ways to access the notification channels for individual apps:

Accessing notification channel through the Quick Settings panel or settings app

Step 1: Access the Settings menu

You can tap the settings app icon in the Home screen or Apps screen to enter phone settings.

Alternatively, you can open the quick settings panel by pulling the status bar downwards (swiping down from the status bar).

Then in the quick settings panel, tap the settings icon as shown below to access phone settings.… Read the rest

How to use notification snooze in Android Oreo?

You can snooze important notifications without dismissing them to avoid a cluttered notification panel.

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Notification snooze allows you to temporally snooze a notification and act on it later on. This is similar to snooze an alarm.

When a notification is snoozed, it is not dismissed so that it will remind you again after the snoozing period (which you can customize) expires.

This Android Oreo guide shows you how to use notification snooze in Android Oreo 8.0 and Android Oreo 8.1 to snooze notifications and adjust the snoozing duration.

In addition to notification snooze, Android 11 has introduced notification history; a feature that allows users to track and access dismissed notifications on their devices. Check out this post to learn more about this new feature.

In Android 12, a snooze button is added to each notifications in the notification panel so that you can quikcly snoooze any of the notifications, as explained in this guide.

What is notification snooze?

Once in a while, you may want to snooze a notification, instead of dismissing it, when you cannot handle it at that moment.

If you simply dismiss the notification, you very likely will forget it and you may miss some important events.

Notification snooze is a new feature introduced in Android Oreo 8.0. It allows you to snooze notifications to avoid notifications from cluttering in the notification panel.

At the same time, notification snooze will help you to keep the important ones.

How to use notification snooze in Android Oreo?

Notification snooze settings are integrated into the notification panel and notification channels in Android Oreo.

You can use snooze notifications directly in the notification panel.

You can also manage settings for notification snooze in the notification shade.

Please note, you cannot use notification snooze in notification dots. This means you cannot snooze notifications through notification dots menu in home screen or apps screen.

Access notification snooze icon

Notification snooze is associated with individual notifications or notification channels.

When a new notification arrives, you can then snooze it.

To access the notification snooze icon, partially slide the notification to either the right or left until a clock icon appears as shown below.

The clock icon would be accompanied by a settings (gear) icon which leads to the notifications channels and other settings.

How to access and use notification snooze in Android Oreo How to access and use notification snooze in Android Oreo

Choose duration of snooze time or cancel snooze

When you tap the clock icon, as shown above, the default snooze menu will be shown.

Tap Snoozed for 1 hour (except 1 hour area) to snooze the notification immediately for 1 hour.… Read the rest

How to use notification dots (notification badges) in Android Oreo?

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ow to use notification dots (notification badges) in Android Oreo?Notification dots (aka notification badges), a new feature in Android Oreo 8.0 (and 8.1) quickly alerts you to unattended notifications from supported apps so that you will not miss any important notifications.

In addition to notifications in the notification panel, you can now find notification dots, which represents unread notifications near corresponding app icons, in the home screen and apps screen.

This Android Oreo guide shows you how to use notification dots in Android Oreo 8.0 and Android Oreo 8.1.

In addition to notification dots, Android 11 has introduced notification history; a feature that allows users to track and access dismissed notifications on their devices. Check out this post to learn more about this new feature.

What are notification dots?

When a new notification arrives, it will be automatically shown in the notification panel.

If you clear all notifications in the notification panel, you can then only find the notification/message after you open the app.

Therefore, sometimes, you may miss some important notifications, when you accidentally clear all attended notifications and forget to open the app later.

This problem was addressed in Android Oreo 8.0 with the introduction of notification dots.

If you are a Samsung Galaxy phone users, you probably have used the number badge already. But number badge is Samsung’s proprietary implementation. Only apps that implemented some Samsung libraries will have this number badge feature.

Notification dots in Android Oreo works with all apps. Even the app was developed (targeted) for old versions of Android, Android Oreo is able to show notification dots (notification badges).

You can also customize notification dots in Android Oreo.

For example, you can enable or disable notification dots for individual apps (read on). Notification dots also work with notification channel introduced in Android Oreo.

App developers can further customize notifications to be shown in notification dots.

How to use notification dots in Android Oreo?

Notification badges only appear when you receive notifications in an app.

For example, if you receive a new SMS message, a notification dot would appear at the top right of the messages app icon as shown below.

If it is an app folder, the notification dots indicate the presence of notification badges for one or more of the apps inside the folder. You need open the folder to find out the app having unattended notifications.

How to use notification dots in Android Oreo

To see the notification, press and hold the (long press) app icon.

A pop-up (pop-out) window will appear.… Read the rest

How to use picture-in-picture (PIP) mode in Android Oreo 8.0 and 8.1?

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use picture-in-picture (PIP) mode in Android Oreo 8.0 and 8.1Picture-in-picture (PIP) mode allows you to run two apps simultaneously with one app floating over the other app.

This Android Oreo feature is an addition to the split-screen view mode of multiwindow introduced in Android Nougat. PIP mode is similar to pop-up view mode in some Samsung Galaxy phones.

In this Android Oreo guide, you will learn how to use picture-in-picture (PIP) mode in Android Oreo 8.0 and 8.1. We will show you two examples of using picture-in-picture (PIP) mode in Android Oreo: VLC player and Google Duo.

If you are using a Samsung phones, you should check this guide.

What is picture-in-picture (PIP) mode?

PIP is a multi-window mode which is mainly used for video playback. You can use any app with a video playing (or Google Maps navigation) window floating over it.

As picture-in-picture (PIP) mode is a new feature for Android devices requiring the latest Android API (level 27), the number of supported apps is still very limited.

Currently, PIP mode can be used for apps such as Youtube (only if you have Youtube Red), VLC for Android, Google Duo, voice navigation in Google Maps, video calls in Whatsapp and a few others.

This list will expand when more app developers enable PIP support in their apps.

How to grant permission for picture-in-picture (PIP) mode in Android Oreo?

In order for apps to use picture-in-picture (PIP) mode, you have to grant them the permission first.

Apps that can float over other apps in PIP mode need a special permission. By default, this permission is granted when you install the apps.

This is required only for the floating apps. Apps under the floating app don’t need any special permission.

You may follow these steps to grant app permission for picture-in-picture (PIP) mode so that these apps can float over other apps.

Step 1: Enter the Settings page

You can enter the Settings menu through the Settings app in home screen or apps screen.

Another way to access the Settings menu is through the Quick Settings panel by swiping down from the status bar or top of the screen as shown below.

use picture-in-picture (PIP) mode in Android Oreo

Step 2: Enter Apps and Notifications settings

Tap on Apps & notifications in Settings page as shown below.

use picture-in-picture (PIP) mode in Android Oreo

Step 3: Access Advanced settings

Once in apps and notification page, scroll down until you see advanced as shown below.

How to grant permission for picture-in-picture (PIP) mode in Android Oreo? How to grant permission for picture-in-picture (PIP) mode in Android Oreo?

Step 4: Grant permission for picture-in-picture mode

Tap on Advanced and then select Special App Access.… Read the rest