With the release of Android 11, Google integrated Android Debug Bridge (ADB) wireless debugging as a native feature within the operating system. This major update in ADB introduced a secure pairing mechanism that completely eliminates the need for an initial USB connection. This modern approach, fully integrated into both Android’s Developer Options and Android Studio, uses on-screen pairing codes or QR codes to establish a cryptographically secure connection, representing a significant improvement in both usability and security over the legacy method.

This was not an architectural overhaul, but rather an enhancement to the connection establishment and security protocol built upon the existing transport-agnostic foundation.

Although most developers and many Android users still use USB debugging, wireless debugging may sometimes be the easier solution, for example, when connecting to a Google TV Streamer or Chromecast with Google TV (the only USB port is occupied for power). Some Android TV boxes may not have an additional USB port as well.

This Android 101 guide explains how ADB works, what Android ADB wireless debugging is, the prerequisites for using Android Wireless Debugging, detailed steps for using Android Wireless Debugging, and how to use Android Wireless Debugging on older (pre-Android 11) devices.

This guide applies to almost all Android devices, Android phones, Android tablets, Android TV, Chromecast with Google TV, and Google TV Streamer.

What is Android ADB Wireless Debugging?

First, let’s recall the ADB Architecture.

The ADB system is composed of three distinct components that work in concert to facilitate communication and command execution.

• The Client: This component resides on the host machine (the development workstation) and is invoked by the user through the adb command in a terminal or command prompt. The client is responsible for translating user-issued commands, such as adb install or adb shell, into the ADB protocol and sending them to the ADB server.
• The Server: The server is a background process that runs on the host machine. When an ADB client is started for the first time, it checks for a running server process; if one is not found, it initiates one. The server binds to the local TCP port 5037 and acts as a central hub, managing communication between all running clients and the daemons on all connected devices (physical or emulated). Its role is to multiplex commands and responses, ensuring that requests from various clients are routed to the correct device daemon.
• The Daemon (adbd): The daemon is a background process that runs with elevated permissions within the Android user space on the target device (i.e., Android phones, tablets, Android TV, Google TV Streamer). It is always listening for incoming commands. Upon receiving a command from the server, the adbd process executes it on the device’s operating system and sends the result back to the server, which then relays it to the originating client.

The interaction follows a clear and sequential flow: a command initiated by the user from a client is transmitted to the server via port 5037. The server then identifies the target device and forwards the command to the relevant adbd process. The daemon executes the command and returns the output through the same communication channel.

The core protocol for sending commands and receiving data is layered on top of a transport mechanism, which can be interchanged without altering the fundamental behavior of the client, server, or daemon. This abstraction is what enables both wired and wireless debugging.

• USB Transport: This is the traditional and default transport method. The ADB server on the host communicates with the adbd process on the device via the USB bus. This communication is facilitated by platform-specific USB drivers on the host machine (development workstation) and the Android USB framework on the device.
• TCP/IP Transport: This is the mechanism that underpins all forms of wireless debugging. Instead of communicating over USB, the server and daemon communicate over a standard TCP/IP network socket. The adbd process is configured to listen on a specific network port for incoming connections from the ADB server.

Therefore, Android wireless debugging is simply the act of configuring the server and daemon to utilize the TCP/IP transport layer instead of the USB transport layer.

Google TV Streamer 4K - Fast Streaming Entertainment on Your TV with Voice Search Remote - Watch Movies, Shows, Live TV, and Netflix in 4K HDR - Smart Home Control - 32 GB of Storage - Porcelain

Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm) 2024 Model - Android Smartwatch, Heart Rate Tracking, Fitbit Advanced Running, Fitness Insights, 24-Hour Battery - Polished Silver Aluminum Case - Porcelain Band - Wi-Fi

$79.98

$199.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Google TV Streamer 4K - Fast Streaming Entertainment on Your TV with Voice Search Remote - Watch Movies, Shows, Live TV, and Netflix in 4K HDR - Smart Home Control - 32 GB of Storage - Porcelain

$79.98

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm) 2024 Model - Android Smartwatch, Heart Rate Tracking, Fitbit Advanced Running, Fitness Insights, 24-Hour Battery - Polished Silver Aluminum Case - Porcelain Band - Wi-Fi

$199.99

Buy on Amazon

Prerequisites for Android Wireless Debugging

Before any wireless debugging session can be established, a series of foundational steps must be completed on both the Android device and the development workstation. Failures in wireless debugging frequently originate from an incomplete or incorrect initial setup rather than from issues with the wireless protocol itself. Overlooking these prerequisites is a common source of user frustration and can lead to errors that are mistakenly attributed to the wireless connection.

#1. Enable developer options on your Android device

By default, the Developer options menu is hidden on Android devices. This is a deliberate security measure designed to prevent inexperienced users from accidentally changing important system settings that could affect the device’s functionality. Enabling this menu is a necessary first step for any form of debugging.

The procedure to enable developer options is largely universal across Android devices: navigate to Settings – About phone and then tap the Build number field seven consecutive times. A toast notification will appear, counting down the remaining taps and finally confirming, “You are now a developer!”. While the general method is consistent, the exact path to the “Build number” can vary slightly between manufacturers, for example,

• Google Pixel: Settings > About phone > Build number.
• Samsung: Settings > About phone > Software information > Build number. You may check this detailed guide on how to enable developer options on Galaxy phones.
• Google TV Streamer (Chromecast with Google TV) and most Android TVs: Settings > System > About > Android TV Build. Please check this guide on detailed steps to enable developer options on Google TV Streamer and Chromecast with Google TV>

You should see a new entry of Developer Options under Settings (Samsung Galaxy devices) or Settings > System (for Pixel, Android TV, Google TV Stream, and other stock Android devices).

#2. Enabling USB Debugging and Wireless Debugging on your Android device

Once the Developer Options menu is visible , two key toggles become relevant.

• USB Debugging: This is the master switch that permits the adbd daemon to accept debugging connections on your Android device. It must be enabled. Even when using the cable-free wireless debugging method on Android 11+, enabling USB Debugging is often a necessary prerequisite for the system to properly initialize the debugging framework.
• Wireless Debugging: This toggle, introduced in Android 11, is the specific control for the native wireless debugging feature. Activating it prompts the user to allow debugging on the current Wi-Fi network and makes the pairing options available. This allows adbd to listen for connections over Wi-Fi without requiring a preliminary adb tcpip command via USB.

If you enable wireless debugging for the first time, you will be asked to confirm the operation, as shown in the screenshot below. You may enable “always allow on this network” so that it will not ask you again when the device is connected to this network. Remember to tap Allow to close the pop-up and enable wireless debugging..

#3. Install and configure the SDK Platform-Tools on your workstation

To establish a fully operational ADB environment, you must install the necessary command-line tools on your workstation.

You may follow this guide to install the platform tools on your workstation (Windows, Mac, or Linux). This allows you to use Android Wireless Debugging without installing Android Studio.

For those who prefer not to use command-line tools, installing Android Studio is an option. However, be mindful that it requires a significant amount of disk space. In this guide, we will use the command line interface.

Steps to use Android Wireless Debugging

To use Android Wireless Debugging, you must follow a two-step sequence that employs two distinct ports. This design choice deliberately differentiates between a temporary pairing port and a persistent connection port, enhancing security. The pairing port is transient (temporary), facilitating the initial secure exchange of authentication keys. Following this, the connection port is utilized for all subsequent ADB traffic, which is encrypted. Most user errors arise from a lack of differentiating these two ports.

Sale

Google Pixel 9a with Gemini – Unlocked Android Smartphone with Incredible Camera and AI Photo Editing, All-Day Battery, and Powerful Security – Obsidian – 128 GB

• Google Pixel 9a is engineered by Google with more than you expect, for less than you think; like Gemini, your built-in AI assistant[1], the incredible Pixel Camera, and an all-day battery and durable design[2]
• Take amazing photos and videos with the Pixel Camera, and make them better than you can imagine with Google AI; get great group photos with Add Me and Best Take[4,5]; and use Macro Focus for spectacular images of tiny details like raindrops and flowers
• Google Pixel’s Adaptive Battery can last over 30 hours[2]; turn on Extreme Battery Saver and it can last up to 100 hours, so your phone has power when you need it most[2]
• Get more info quickly with Gemini[1]; instead of typing, use Gemini Live; it follows along even if you change the topic[8]; and save time by asking Gemini to find info across your Google apps, like Maps, Calendar, Gmail, and YouTube Music[7]
• Pixel 9a can handle spills, dust, drops, and dings; and with IP68 water and dust protection and a scratch-resistant display, it’s the most durable Pixel A-Series phone yet[6]

$399.00

Buy on Amazon

Step 1: Pair

1. On the Android device, navigate to Developer options > Wireless debugging and tap Pair device with pairing code, as shown in the screenshot below. Take note of the three pieces of information displayed: the IP address, the pairing port number, and the six-digit pairing code. In the screenshot below, 192.168.50.252 is the IP address of the device (Pixel 9a), and port 34587 is the ADB connection port you will need later. The pairing port will be shown after tapping Pair device with pairing code. Note that pairing with QR code requires Android Studio and is not covered here.

The pairing info you need is on the pop-up screen. For example, in this example, one must use port 36473 with pairing code 236182. The port number and pairing code are transient. It will change whenever you close the pop-up window. The ADB port shown in the previous screen will not change until you reboot the phone.

2. On the workstation, open a terminal or command prompt. If the platform-tools directory is not in the system PATH, navigate into that directory first.
3. Execute the pairing command using the IP address and port number from the device:
   adb pair IP_ADDRESS:PAIRING_PORT
   (Example: adb pair 192.168.50.2520:36473)

4. The terminal will prompt for the pairing code. Enter the six-digit code displayed on the device and press Enter. A confirmation message, “Successfully paired to…”, will appear, as shown in the screenshot above.

Step 2: Connect

1. Important: After successful pairing, return to the main Wireless debugging screen on the Android device. Under the main toggle, the ADB port number should not be changed and will be listed (e.g., 192.168.50.252:34587), as shown in the screenshot below. This is the connection port. You may also notice that the entry for Paired devices is no longer empty.
2. In the workstation terminal, execute the connection command using this new port information:
   adb connect IP_ADDRESS:CONNECTION_PORT
   (Example: adb connect 192.168.50.252:34587)
3. A confirmation message, “connected to…”, will indicate an active debugging session, as shown in the screenshot above.
4. Run adb devices to verify. The device will be listed with its network address (e.g., 192.168.50.252:34587 device), as shown in the screenshot above.

Step 3: Managing Paired Devices and Connections

Paired devices are remembered by the Android devices, allowing for quicker reconnections in the future. To manage these pairings, navigate to the Wireless debugging screen on the device. Under the Paired devices list, tapping on a workstation’s name will present an option to Forget it, revoking its authorization.

For convenience, a Quick Settings developer tile for Wireless Debugging can be enabled in Developer options. As shown in the screenshot below, you can tap Quick settings developer tiles to enable some developer options in the quick settings panel. This adds a toggle to the device’s quick settings panel, allowing the feature to be turned on and off rapidly without navigating through the settings menu.

For example, as shown in the screenshot above, you can enable the quick serttings tile for Wireless debugging.

Once enabled, you can find the wireless debugging icon in the quick settings panel, as shown in the screenshot below. If you cannot find it, you may try to manage the tiles.

How to use Android Wireless Debugging on older (pre-Android 11) devices

On older Android versions, enabling wireless debugging was a functional but cumbersome process.

It requires an initial, trusted connection via USB to “bootstrap” the wireless mode. The developer would issue the command adb tcpip <port> (e.g., adb tcpip 5555) over the USB connection. This command instructed the adbd daemon to restart and begin listening for connections on the specified TCP port instead of the USB bus.

Do you have any questions on Android Wireless Debugging?

Please let us know your questions about Android ADB Wireless Debugging in the comment box below.

The community will help you.

If you are looking for guides for features introduced in other versions of Android (most of the “new” features in old versions of Android should work in newer ones), you may use the search bar to search or navigate to other sections of this site.

Amazon Basics 68W Two-Port GaN Wall Charger with 1 USB-C (60W) & 1 USB-A Ports (18W) with PD for Laptops, Tablets & Phones (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X, iPad, MacPro, Samsung, and more), Non-PPS, Black

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (newest model) built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Ocean

$24.29

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Basics 68W Two-Port GaN Wall Charger with 1 USB-C (60W) & 1 USB-A Ports (18W) with PD for Laptops, Tablets & Phones (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X, iPad, MacPro, Samsung, and more), Non-PPS, Black

$24.29

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (newest model) built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Ocean

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

If your Android phone or tablet is on any of the following Android versions, you may check these guides respectively:

• For Android 16, please check the Android 16 guides page.
• For Android 15, please check the Android 15 guides page.
• For Android 14, please check the Android 14 guides page.
• For Android 13, please check the Android 13 guides page.
• For Android 12, please check the Android 12 guides page.
• For Android 11, please check the Android 11 guides page.
• For Android 10, please check the Android 10 guides page.
• For Android Pie (Android 9), please check the Android Pie guides page.
• For Android Oreo (Android 8.0 and 8.1), please check the Android Oreo guides page.
• For Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check the Android Nougat guides page.
• For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check the Android Marshmallow guide page.
• For Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check the Android Lollipop guide page.
• For other general Android questions or problems, please check the Android 101 page.

You may also reach us through:

• Our Facebook page.
• Contact Us page.

The post A Complete Guide to Android ADB Wireless Debugging appeared first on Android Guides.

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.
2. Minor SDK Release: This is a supplementary SDK update planned for later in the year (Q4 2025 is the first scheduled instance) for Android 16. A minor release is designed to deliver new developer APIs, features, performance optimizations, and bug fixes without introducing breaking behavior changes. Developers can target these new APIs without needing to recompile against a new platform version. To facilitate this, Google has introduced new build constants like SDK_INT_FULL and methods like Build.getMinorSdkVersion(), allowing an app to check for the presence of a specific minor API version at runtime and adapt its behavior accordingly.

Previously, the annual release cycle bundled all changes—both new features and breaking changes—into a single, high-stakes update. This forced a difficult trade-off. If Google wanted to introduce new APIs to support emerging hardware (like foldable displays) or new software paradigms (like generative AI), it had to tie them to a full platform upgrade. This created a high barrier for developers, who had to invest significant resources to adapt their apps to the breaking changes just to access the new tools. Consequently, the adoption of innovative new APIs was often slow, hindering the platform’s ability to react nimbly to market trends.

The new model addresses these concerns. The major release provides a predictable, stable, and annual milestone for developers to manage compatibility and security updates. The minor release, in contrast, acts as a low-friction “feature injection” mechanism. It allows Google to push new Jetpack libraries, AI-powered APIs, and other tools to the ecosystem much more rapidly. This allows the platform to innovate at a faster pace while simultaneously offering the stability and predictability that enterprise and large-scale app developers require. It is a fundamental shift designed to make the Android platform both more agile and more dependable.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 - Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation – Bluetooth Headphones - Peony

Google Pixel Tablet - Android Tablet with 11-Inch Screen and Extra-Long Battery Life - Porcelain - 8 GB RAM - 128 GB

$160.55

$249.00

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 - Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation – Bluetooth Headphones - Peony

$160.55

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel Tablet - Android Tablet with 11-Inch Screen and Extra-Long Battery Life - Porcelain - 8 GB RAM - 128 GB

$249.00

Buy on Amazon

Live Updates: Standardizing Dynamic Notifications

Android 16 introduces “Live Updates,” a new classification of high-prominence, persistent notifications designed for tracking real-time, ongoing activities, similar to iOS’s Live Activities. The primary use cases are for services like ride-sharing, food delivery, and turn-by-turn navigation, where users require at-a-glance status information without repeatedly opening the app.

When an app uses the Live Updates API, its notification is elevated. On the lock screen and always-on display, it appears in a fully expanded, detailed view. While the device is in use, the update manifests as a compact, persistent “chip” in the status bar, providing minimal but crucial information. Tapping this chip reveals the full notification content without interrupting the user’s current task. Users retain control and can disable Live Updates for any app via a long-press on the notification or through the app’s notification settings page.

The feature is built upon a new AOSP API, Notification.ProgressStyle, which allows developers to create notifications centered around progress bars with defined states and milestones. While this foundational API is part of the base Android 16 release, the full user-facing experience—specifically the status bar chip and elevated lock screen placement—is being rolled out first on Pixel devices via a Quarterly Platform Release (QPR). The complete functionality is already active in the Android 16 QPR1 beta, indicating its imminent arrival for Pixel users later in the year.

Live Update in Android 16 is a direct AOSP standardization of “Live Notifications,” a concept Samsung pioneered in One UI 7 with its “Now Bar” interface. However, Samsung’s initial implementation had a critical limitation: it was a proprietary system, largely restricted to Samsung’s own first-party applications. Some other Android vendors also implemented similar features in different ways.

Forced Notification Auto-Grouping

To reduce notification clutter, Android 16 now enforces automatic notification grouping at the system level. The OS will mandatorily bundle all notifications originating from a single app into a collapsible group, preventing applications from overwhelming the user with a long, unmanageable stream of individual alerts.

This represents a significant policy shift in Android’s handling of notifications:

• Android 7.0 (Nougat): First introduced the concept of notification grouping with the setGroup() API. However, its implementation was left to the discretion of individual app developers. It was positioned as a “best practice” rather than a requirement.
• Android 16: Removes developer choice entirely in this matter. The system now enforces grouping as a non-negotiable UX standard for all applications, regardless of whether the developer has explicitly used the grouping API.

Predictive Back Navigation

Android 16 completes the multi-year project of implementing predictive back navigation, a feature designed to make the back gesture more intuitive and less error-prone. It provides users with a visual “peek” of the destination screen as they perform the back gesture, allowing them to either commit to the action or cancel it and remain in the current view.

The key enhancement in Android 16 is that this feature is now enabled by default for all apps that have opted in, and it has been extended to support the traditional 3-button navigation layout. Users with 3-button navigation can now long-press the back button to trigger the same predictive preview that gesture navigation users see.

The journey of this feature illustrates the evolving core UX paradigms:

• Pre-Android 13: Back navigation was primarily handled programmatically via the onBackPressed() function, which has since been deprecated in favor of the more flexible OnBackPressedDispatcher and OnBackPressedCallback APIs.
• Android 13: Officially introduced the concept of predictive back navigation. However, it was an opt-in feature for developers, and its animations were hidden behind a “Predictive back animations” toggle in the system’s Developer Options.
• Android 15: Took the next step by removing the developer option toggle. For apps that had opted in, the back-to-home, cross-task, and cross-activity animations were shown automatically, making the feature more visible to users.
• Android 16: Represents the final stage of integration. By making the behavior a default expectation and, crucially, by achieving feature parity between gesture and 3-button navigation, Google has unified the back navigation experience for all users, completing this long-term transition.

Desktop Windowing

The flagship productivity feature of Android 16 is “Desktop Windowing,” a native, AOSP-supported desktop environment. This feature enables true freeform, resizable multi-windowing, allowing users to open, move, and resize multiple app windows simultaneously, akin to a traditional desktop operating system. This functionality is available natively on tablets and is activated on phones and foldables when connected to an external display.

This development is the most prominent and explicit outcome of the intensified collaboration between Google and Samsung. Google officials have publicly stated that Android 16’s desktop mode is “built on the foundation of Samsung DeX“.

Samsung DeX (Desktop eXperience) was first launched in 2017 with the Galaxy S8 and has been continuously refined over numerous product generations (e.g., DeX Station, Dex Pad, Dex cable), giving the Korean manufacturer unparalleled institutional knowledge and technical expertise in creating a viable phone-powered desktop environment.

The rollout of Desktop Windowing is phased. While the underlying APIs and frameworks are part of the initial Android 16 stable release in June, the full user-facing feature is scheduled to be enabled on compatible devices in a subsequent update later in the year, most likely as part of a Quarterly Platform Release (QPR).

For years, Android’s experience on tablets and other large-screen formats has been a persistent weakness, lagging significantly behind competitors, namely iPadOS. Samsung single-handedly attempted to solve this problem for its own customers with DeX, but its proprietary nature meant that its benefits were confined to the Galaxy ecosystem and did little to improve the baseline experience for other OEMs or incentivize broad developer support.

Sale

Google Pixel 9a with Gemini – Unlocked Android Smartphone with Incredible Camera and AI Photo Editing, All-Day Battery, and Powerful Security – Obsidian – 128 GB

• Google Pixel 9a is engineered by Google with more than you expect, for less than you think; like Gemini, your built-in AI assistant[1], the incredible Pixel Camera, and an all-day battery and durable design[2]
• Take amazing photos and videos with the Pixel Camera, and make them better than you can imagine with Google AI; get great group photos with Add Me and Best Take[4,5]; and use Macro Focus for spectacular images of tiny details like raindrops and flowers
• Google Pixel’s Adaptive Battery can last over 30 hours[2]; turn on Extreme Battery Saver and it can last up to 100 hours, so your phone has power when you need it most[2]
• Get more info quickly with Gemini[1]; instead of typing, use Gemini Live; it follows along even if you change the topic[8]; and save time by asking Gemini to find info across your Google apps, like Maps, Calendar, Gmail, and YouTube Music[7]
• Pixel 9a can handle spills, dust, drops, and dings; and with IP68 water and dust protection and a scratch-resistant display, it’s the most durable Pixel A-Series phone yet[6]

$399.00

Buy on Amazon

App Adaptability Mandates (for developers)

With the introduction of Desktop Windowing, Android 16 imposes strict new rules on app behavior for applications targeting the new platform (API level 36) when running on large-screen devices (defined as having a smallest width of 600dp or greater).

The new mandates include:

• Mandatory Edge-to-Edge Display: Apps can no longer opt out of displaying their content edge-to-edge. The system will ignore flags that attempt to prevent this.
• Mandatory Resizability: The system will ignore manifest attributes and runtime APIs that an app might use to restrict its screen orientation, aspect ratio, or resizability. On large screens, the app will be forced into a fully resizable window, regardless of its original configuration. Developers can test this behavior on older apps using the UNIVERSAL_RESIZABLE_BY_DEFAULT compatibility flag.

The introduction of Desktop Windowing is the new, powerful carrot. But the success of this flagship productivity feature is entirely contingent on the quality and behavior of the apps running within it. A desktop environment populated by non-resizable, fixed-orientation phone apps would be a non-starter and a critical failure. Therefore, the new mandates are not arbitrary; they are a necessary prerequisite for the desktop mode to be viable. Google is now using its platform authority to force the developer ecosystem to adopt the best practices it has long advocated for, ensuring a baseline level of quality and functionality for its new large-screen paradigm.

Advanced Protection Mode

The cornerstone of Android 16’s security upgrades is the new Advanced Protection Mode. It is designed as a single-toggle, high-security state that aggregates and enables multiple critical security features across the operating system simultaneously. This approach is intended to provide robust protection against a wide range of digital and physical threats without requiring the user to navigate numerous sub-menus and technical settings.

When activated, Advanced Protection Mode enforces the following safeguards:

• Blocks App Sideloading: Prevents the installation of applications from sources other than the official Google Play Store.
• Disables USB Data Transfer (When Locked): Restricts the USB port to charging-only functionality unless the device is unlocked, preventing data extraction via physical connection.
• Deactivates 2G Networks: Disables connectivity to legacy 2G cellular networks, which are known to have significant security vulnerabilities.
• Enforces HTTPS: Mandates secure, encrypted connections for web browsing, warning users before connecting to non-HTTPS sites.
• Inactivity Reboot: Automatically reboots the device if it has remained locked for an extended period (e.g., 72 hours), which forces re-authentication and re-secures the device’s encrypted storage.
• Integrates Scam/Spam Protection: Leverages Google’s existing call and message screening technologies to provide real-time threat protection.

On-Device Intelligence and Proactive Defense

Beyond the unified security mode, Android 16 introduces several new features that leverage on-device intelligence to proactively defend against modern threats.

• AI-Powered Scam Detection: A Pixel-first feature that uses on-device AI to monitor phone calls in real-time. If the system detects patterns indicative of a scam (e.g., a caller pressuring the user to install an app or share sensitive information), it will intervene by blocking high-risk actions. For instance, it can prevent the user from installing an APK from a browser, disabling Google Play Protect, or granting sensitive accessibility permissions while the potentially fraudulent call is active. Because the analysis happens locally, the call audio is not sent to the cloud, preserving privacy.
• Identity Check: This feature, which saw a limited rollout previously, is being expanded in Android 16. It acts as a situational biometric safeguard for critical device settings. When the device detects it is outside of a user-defined “Trusted Place” (like home or work), it will require biometric authentication (fingerprint or face) before allowing sensitive actions such as changing the device PIN, disabling theft protection features, or modifying saved passkeys in the Google account.
• Repair Mode / Trade-in Mode: This is a new AOSP feature designed to address the privacy concerns associated with device servicing or trade-ins. When enabled, it creates a secure sandbox environment that wipes all personal user data (accounts, photos, messages) while leaving the core OS and diagnostic tools accessible. This allows technicians or resellers to verify device functionality without gaining access to the previous owner’s private information.

Professional-Grade Video and Imaging

A key focus of the media stack update is to better position Android devices within professional content creation workflows.

• Advanced Professional Video (APV) Codec: Android 16 introduces support for the APV codec, a new AOSP-native format designed specifically for high-quality video recording and post-production. Its primary characteristic is its robustness against generational loss. The codec is engineered to be “perceptually lossless,” meaning it can withstand multiple cycles of decoding and re-encoding—a common process in professional video editing—without suffering from the severe visual quality degradation that affects many consumer-grade codecs. This makes Android devices running the new OS a more viable option for serious videography.
• UltraHDR Enhancements: The platform continues to build upon the UltraHDR image format, which was a major feature of the previous release. UltraHDR was introduced in Android 14 (API level 34). It is a backward-compatible image format that embeds an HDR “gain map” into a standard JPEG file. This allows devices with HDR-capable screens to render the image with a higher dynamic range, while older devices or platforms simply display the standard SDR base image. This solved the problem of sharing HDR photos across a mixed ecosystem of devices. Android 16 extends and matures this technology in two key ways. First, it adds support for embedding UltraHDR gain maps within the High-Efficiency Image Container (HEIC) format, providing a more modern and efficient alternative to JPEG. Second, it incorporates new parameters from the draft ISO 21496-1 standard, signaling a commitment to aligning the format with emerging international standards for HDR imaging.

More Camera2 APIs

For developers who build custom camera applications, Android 16 exposes more granular control over the imaging pipeline through its core Camera2 API. These additions are aimed at enabling more professional-level camera features within third-party apps.

New capabilities include:

• Hybrid Auto-Exposure: New modes that allow an application to manually control certain exposure parameters (e.g., shutter speed) while letting the device’s auto-exposure algorithm manage the remaining variables (e.g., ISO).
• Precise Color Temperature and Tint Adjustments: Fine-grained controls for white balance, allowing for more accurate color reproduction in professional video recording scenarios.
• Standardized Motion Photo Intent: A new set of Intent actions (ACTION_MOTION_PHOTO_CAPTURE and ACTION_MOTION_PHOTO_CAPTURE_SECURE) that provide a standard, system-level way for an app to request that the default camera application capture and return a motion photo.
• Night Mode Scene Detection: An API that allows an app to query whether the camera hardware recommends switching to a dedicated night mode, improving low-light photography.

Enhanced Hearing Device Support (LE Audio)

Android 16 introduces a suite of critical quality-of-life improvements for users of hearing aids that support the Bluetooth LE Audio standard. These features move beyond basic connectivity to provide deep integration with the operating system.

The key enhancements include:

• Microphone Input Switching: A crucial new feature that allows a user in a noisy environment to switch the audio input during a phone call from the hearing aid’s built-in microphones to the smartphone’s microphone. The microphones on hearing aids are typically optimized to pick up ambient sound and the voices of others, not the wearer’s own voice. Using the phone’s mic can result in significantly clearer call quality for the person on the other end of the line.
• Native OS Controls: Android 16 provides native, system-level controls for hearing device settings. This allows users to adjust parameters like volume directly from the phone’s system UI, providing a consistent experience regardless of the hearing aid brand.
• Ambient Volume Control: Users can now adjust the volume of ambient sound being picked up and passed through by their LE Audio hearing aids directly from their Android device.

Android has included support for the basic Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol since version 4.3 (Jelly Bean) in 2013. The full LE Audio specification, which includes the LC3 codec and support for hearing aids, was finalized by the Bluetooth SIG in 2022.

Visual and Text Accessibility

Android 16 also brings improvements to visual and text rendering to aid users with low vision and to better support non-Latin scripts.

• Outline Text: This new feature replaces the previous “high contrast text” option. Instead of simply increasing the contrast, Outline Text draws a thin, sharp, contrasting outline around all text. This technique significantly improves legibility for users with various forms of visual impairment by creating a clearer separation between the text and its background. New APIs in AccessibilityManager allow apps to check if this mode is enabled and listen for changes.
• Vertical Text Support: The platform now includes foundational, low-level support for rendering and measuring text vertically. This is a critical building block for library and app developers who need to properly support languages that use vertical writing systems, such as Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.

Google TV Streamer 4K - Fast Streaming Entertainment on Your TV with Voice Search Remote - Watch Movies, Shows, Live TV, and Netflix in 4K HDR - Smart Home Control - 32 GB of Storage - Porcelain

Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm) 2024 Model - Android Smartwatch, Heart Rate Tracking, Fitbit Advanced Running, Fitness Insights, 24-Hour Battery - Polished Silver Aluminum Case - Porcelain Band - Wi-Fi

$79.98

$199.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Google TV Streamer 4K - Fast Streaming Entertainment on Your TV with Voice Search Remote - Watch Movies, Shows, Live TV, and Netflix in 4K HDR - Smart Home Control - 32 GB of Storage - Porcelain

$79.98

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm) 2024 Model - Android Smartwatch, Heart Rate Tracking, Fitbit Advanced Running, Fitness Insights, 24-Hour Battery - Polished Silver Aluminum Case - Porcelain Band - Wi-Fi

$199.99

Buy on Amazon

Pixel-Exclusive Features

These features are not part of AOSP and are not intended for other OEMs. They typically rely on Google’s proprietary applications, cloud services, and, increasingly, on-device generative AI models that are unique to the Pixel software experience.

The June 2025 Pixel Feature Drop, which coincided with the Android 16 launch, highlights several of these exclusives:

• Pixel VIPs Widget: A highly personalized and interactive widget from the Contacts app that provides at-a-glance information and quick actions for designated “VIP” contacts, including call/message history and shared location data.
• Gboard Custom Stickers: A generative AI feature, powered by “Pixel Studio,” that allows users to create unique stickers directly within Gboard by typing a text prompt or using a photo from their camera roll.
• Advanced App-Specific AI:
  • Recorder App: The ability to generate AI-powered summaries of audio recordings is being expanded to more languages (French and German).
  • Magnifier App: A new “live search” capability that uses the camera to find and highlight text in the real world in real-time, without needing to first capture a photo.

Android 16 Feature Matrix

The table below summarizes the Android 16 features with the feature name, functionality, availability, precedent in Samsung One UI, and the origin of the feature.

Do you have any questions about the new features and changes of Android 16?

Please let us know your questions or comments about the new features and changes in Android 16 in the comment box below.

If you are looking for guides for features introduced in other versions of Android (most of the “new” features in old versions of Android should work in newer ones), you may use the search bar to search or navigate to other sections of this site.

Amazon Basics 68W Two-Port GaN Wall Charger with 1 USB-C (60W) & 1 USB-A Ports (18W) with PD for Laptops, Tablets & Phones (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X, iPad, MacPro, Samsung, and more), Non-PPS, Black

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (newest model) built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Ocean

$24.29

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Basics 68W Two-Port GaN Wall Charger with 1 USB-C (60W) & 1 USB-A Ports (18W) with PD for Laptops, Tablets & Phones (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X, iPad, MacPro, Samsung, and more), Non-PPS, Black

$24.29

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (newest model) built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Ocean

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

If your Android phone or tablet is on any of the following Android versions, you may check these guides respectively:

• For Android 16, please check the Android 16 guides page.
• For Android 15, please check the Android 15 guides page.
• For Android 14, please check the Android 14 guides page.
• For Android 13, please check the Android 13 guides page.
• For Android 12, please check the Android 12 guides page.
• For Android 11, please check the Android 11 guides page.
• For Android 10, please check the Android 10 guides page.
• For Android Pie (Android 9), please check the Android Pie guides page.
• For Android Oreo (Android 8.0 and 8.1), please check the Android Oreo guides page.
• For Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check the Android Nougat guides page.
• For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check the Android Marshmallow guide page.
• For Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check the Android Lollipop guide page.
• For other general Android questions or problems, please check the Android 101 page.

You may also reach us through:

• Our Facebook page.
• Contact Us page.

Enjoy your Android 16.

The post Android 16: the definitive guide on new features and changes appeared first on Android Guides.

The Android 15 Easter egg is an iterative enhancement of the space-themed mini-game introduced in Android 14, a game of exploration now widely referred to as “Landroid.”

This Android 15 guide explains what Android Easter Eggs are, the Android 15 Easter Egg Game (Landroid), how to unlock the Android 15 Easter Egg to claim the Landroid autopilot screensaver, and how to play the Landdroid game. This post also covers some advanced strategies, tips, and tricks for playing the Landroid game.

The Android 15 Easter Egg game is identical on all Android devices with Android 15, regardless of the manufacturer.

What are Easter Eggs in Android 15?

For over a decade, Google has maintained a playful tradition of embedding hidden features, colloquially known as “Easter eggs,” within each major release of the Android operating system. These secrets, ranging from simple animations to full-fledged mini-games (for example, Octopus in Android Oreo and Neko Cat in Android 11), serve as a delightful reward for the platform’s most curious and dedicated users.

With the arrival of Android 15, internally codenamed “Vanilla Ice Cream,” this tradition continues, though not with the revolutionary leap some had anticipated. The Android 15 Easter egg is an iterative enhancement of the space-themed mini-game introduced in Android 14, a game of exploration now widely referred to as “Landroid”.

While the core gameplay remains familiar, the Android 15 version introduces two key differentiators that refine the experience.

• The ability for the player’s spacecraft to plant a yellow flag on any celestial body they successfully land on, providing a tangible marker of their exploratory achievements.
• An unlockable reward: a hidden “Landroid” autopilot screensaver. Once the primary mini-game is activated, this new screensaver becomes available in the system settings, allowing the game to play itself as a dynamic, ambient display while the device is charging or docked.

The Android 15 Easter egg is a two-part discovery. The first is the interactive mini-game itself, and the second is a persistent screensaver that is unlocked only after the game has been found. Accessing both requires a specific sequence of actions within the device’s settings menu.

How to unlock the Android 15 Easter Egg game?

The method for unlocking the main Easter egg has been standardized across recent Android versions, providing a familiar ritual for long-time users. The process is straightforward and consistent on stock Android devices like Google’s Pixel line, though the initial navigation step may vary slightly on devices with manufacturer-specific interfaces like Samsung’s One UI.

You may follow these activation steps for the Android 15 Easter Egg game.

Step 1: Navigate to the phone Settings page.

You can access the Settings page by tapping the Settings app icon.

Alternatively, you may tap the gear icon from the quick settings panel.

Step 2: Scroll down and select the About phone menu.

Once in the Settings page, you can scroll down and look for the About phone entry, as shown below.

Tap on it to reveal detailed information about the phone.

Step 3: Tap on the Android version field

On the subsequent About phone page, tap on the menu item labeled Android version, as shown in the screenshot below.

This will display detailed information about the OS, including the version number 15, as shown in the screenshot below.

Please note that on Samsung’s One UI 7 (for example, Galaxy S25), you can access a similar page from Settings — About phone — Software information.

Step 4: Unlock the Android 15 Easter egg logo

You need to repeatedly and rapidly tap the Android version field, as shown earlier. After several taps, the standard settings interface will be replaced by the Easter egg’s logo screen, as shown in the screenshot above.

Please note that the logo presented for Android 15 is a distinct departure from the circular, Apollo-mission-inspired badge of Android 14. It features an upside-down, triangle-shaped Bugdroid mascot, rendered in green against a backdrop of stars.

Step 5: Unlock the Android 15 Easter Egg Game: Landroid

To proceed from the logo screen to the mini-game, the final step is to press and hold the logo in the center of the screen for a few seconds.

As you hold your finger down, the phone will begin to vibrate with increasing intensity, and the stars in the background will streak past, creating a “warp speed” or “light speed” visual effect that culminates in the launch of the Landroid game.

Enjoy the game.

Sale

Google Pixel 9a with Gemini – Unlocked Android Smartphone with Incredible Camera and AI Photo Editing, All-Day Battery, and Powerful Security – Obsidian – 128 GB

• Google Pixel 9a is engineered by Google with more than you expect, for less than you think; like Gemini, your built-in AI assistant[1], the incredible Pixel Camera, and an all-day battery and durable design[2]
• Take amazing photos and videos with the Pixel Camera, and make them better than you can imagine with Google AI; get great group photos with Add Me and Best Take[4,5]; and use Macro Focus for spectacular images of tiny details like raindrops and flowers
• Google Pixel’s Adaptive Battery can last over 30 hours[2]; turn on Extreme Battery Saver and it can last up to 100 hours, so your phone has power when you need it most[2]
• Get more info quickly with Gemini[1]; instead of typing, use Gemini Live; it follows along even if you change the topic[8]; and save time by asking Gemini to find info across your Google apps, like Maps, Calendar, Gmail, and YouTube Music[7]
• Pixel 9a can handle spills, dust, drops, and dings; and with IP68 water and dust protection and a scratch-resistant display, it’s the most durable Pixel A-Series phone yet[6]

$399.00

Buy on Amazon

How to claim the hidden reward: Landroid autopilot screensaver?

Perhaps the most compelling addition to the Android 15 Easter egg is not part of the initial discovery but is instead an unlockable reward.

A new “Landroid” screensaver, which runs the game in an automated “autopilot” mode, is not available by default. It only appears in the system’s display settings after the user has successfully launched the Landroid mini-game at least once。

The activation process for this screensaver differs slightly between phones and tablets. On the phones (with stock Android, e.g., Pixel 9a), you may follow these steps:

Step 1: Navigate to Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver.

To enjoy the Landroid autopilot screensaver, you need to enable the screensaver on your phone.

On your Android 15 phone, go to the Settings page, then tap Display & touch, as shown in the screenshot below.

Then on the Display & touch page, touch the Screen saver, as shown in the screenshot above.

Step 2: Enable screen saver

On the Screen Saver page, as shown in the screenshot below, use the switch to enable Use screen saver.

Select the newly appeared Landroid option from the list of available screensavers, as shown in the screenshot below.

Step 3: Preview the screen save

After selecting the Landroid screen saver, you can use the preview button to see the screensaver in action before committing.

Step 4: Enjoy the Landroid in autopilot mode

Once activated, the screensaver will automatically engage when the device is charging or docked. It displays the Landroid game running on its own, with the on-screen text “AUTOPILOT ENGAGED” confirming the mode.

The virtual spacecraft will navigate through space, automatically dodge planets, perform landings, and plant flags, as shown in the two screenshots below.

How to play Android 15 Easter Egg Game: Landroid?

The Landroid mini-game is a seemingly simple yet surprisingly nuanced space exploration simulator. Its gameplay is governed by a momentum-based physics engine and a detailed on-screen interface that provides players with all the necessary information to navigate the cosmos.

The Cockpit: Interface and On-Screen Data

Upon entering the game, the player is presented with a clean interface that overlays critical data in two corners of the screen, mimicking a spacecraft’s heads-up display (HUD).

In the bottom-left corner, the player finds their core flight telemetry, essential for controlling the ship:

• THR: This readout displays the current thruster output as a percentage. It directly corresponds to the amount of force the player is applying to the ship.
• VEL: This shows the ship’s current velocity. While the units are not explicitly defined, they are presumed to be a measure like meters per second (m/s).
• (X, Y): These are the ship’s real-time coordinates on a two-dimensional Cartesian plane, allowing for precise navigation within the game’s vast space.

In the top-left corner, the game provides stellar cartography information related to the nearest star system, which changes as the player travels through space:

• Name: Each star system is given a unique, procedurally generated name that often includes an Android-related pun, such as “Snow Cone Alpha”.
• Class: The star’s spectral classification on the Morgan-Keenan scale (e.g., G, K, M) is displayed, adding a touch of astronomical realism.
• Radius and Mass: The star’s physical properties are listed relative to our own sun.
• BODIES: This is arguably the most important piece of information for gameplay. It shows a counter of planets found versus the total number of celestial bodies orbiting that star (e.g., “BODIES 2/9”). This serves as the primary progress tracker and objective meter for each system.

To better understand the strategic importance of this information, the HUD can be deconstructed as follows:

Flight and Physics: Mastering Your Spacecraft

Control of the Landroid spacecraft is intuitive but requires a degree of finesse. The primary control scheme involves a tap-and-drag motion anywhere on the screen. Tapping and dragging your finger applies thrust in the direction opposite to the drag, simultaneously controlling the ship’s acceleration and its trajectory.

What sets the game apart from simpler arcade titles is its use of a realistic, momentum-based physics engine. The ship possesses inertia; it does not change direction or stop instantly. Once it builds up velocity, it will continue to drift in that direction even after the player stops applying thrust. To slow down or change course, the player must actively apply counter-thrust by dragging in the opposite direction of their travel. This mechanic adds a layer of challenge and skill, requiring players to anticipate their movements and plan their maneuvers in advance, much like a real spacecraft.

The game world itself is described as a “nearly Infinite Canvas,” a vast expanse of space to explore. To enhance replayability, the game does not feature a single, static map. Instead, it appears to procedurally generate a new, random solar system periodically. Each new system can have a different number of planets, different orbital configurations, and a unique name, ensuring that each play session offers a fresh exploratory challenge.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 - Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation – Bluetooth Headphones - Peony

Google Pixel Tablet - Android Tablet with 11-Inch Screen and Extra-Long Battery Life - Porcelain - 8 GB RAM - 128 GB

$160.55

$249.00

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 - Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation – Bluetooth Headphones - Peony

$160.55

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel Tablet - Android Tablet with 11-Inch Screen and Extra-Long Battery Life - Porcelain - 8 GB RAM - 128 GB

$249.00

Buy on Amazon

The Mission Objective: Exploration and Flag Planting

The Landroid mini-game is an open-ended experience without a traditional “win” condition, final boss, or concluding cutscene. The sole objective is pure exploration: to navigate the cosmos and successfully find all the celestial bodies orbiting the central star of a given system, as indicated by the “BODIES” counter.

This represents a subtle but significant evolution from its predecessor. In the Android 14 version of the game, discovering a planet would simply increment the “BODIES” counter.

Android 15 rectifies this with its signature new mechanic: flag planting. Upon successfully maneuvering the spacecraft to a gentle landing on a planet’s surface, the ship will now automatically plant a small, bright yellow flag. This action provides a persistent visual marker of achievement, giving players a tangible and gratifying sense of progress and conquest.

Landing itself is a test of skill. It requires the player to carefully manage their velocity, apply reverse thrusters to decelerate, and execute a soft descent onto the planet’s surface. A high-speed impact or “crash” is not punitive; it will simply cause the ship to bounce off the planet and back into space, allowing the player to try again.

Advanced strategy, tips, and tricks for playing the Landroid game

While the Landroid game is simple to learn, mastering its nuances to efficiently explore its vast solar systems requires strategy. Over time, the Android community has collectively developed a set of best practices and tips for aspiring cosmic explorers.

Navigational Strategy: How to Find Planets?

The single greatest challenge in the game is locating the planets, which are small targets in an enormous, empty space. Several key strategies have emerged to make this process less random and more systematic.

• Establish a Navigational Beacon: The most fundamental tip is to first locate the central star of the system. This star is always located at or very near the coordinates (0,0). By flying towards this point, players can orient themselves and use the star as a reliable navigational anchor from which to begin their search.
• Follow the Orbital Hints: The most effective and widely shared community-sourced strategy is to look for faint, blue, curved lines that occasionally appear on the screen. These are “orbital hints” that trace the gravitational paths of the planets around the central star. By aligning the spacecraft with one of these lines and following its trajectory, a player is guaranteed to eventually encounter the planet that created it.
• Employ Perpendicular Traversal: For a more methodical search, players can use a technique derived from the central star method. After reaching the star at (0,0), the player should choose a direction (e.g., straight up, along the Y-axis) and travel perpendicularly away from the star. Because the planets are in roughly concentric orbits, this straight-line path is the most efficient way to cross multiple orbital paths, maximizing the chance of spotting a planet or its blue orbital hint.
• Embrace Patience: It is crucial for players to understand that finding planets can be a time-consuming process. The game world is intentionally large, and the planets are constantly in motion along their orbits, meaning a location that was empty a moment ago might soon be occupied. Some users have expressed frustration at being unable to find any planets at all, highlighting the need for a patient and systematic approach.

Planetary Classification and Landing Protocols

Not all celestial bodies are created equal. Community experimentation has revealed that different types of planets exist, and landing requires a specific technique.

• Solid vs. Gaseous Planets: An important discovery is that not all planets are landable. One user has suggested a potential visual cue: planets with red-colored orbits may indicate a solid surface that is safe to land on. Conversely, it is presumed that other planets are impassable gas giants. Attempting to land on these will result in the spacecraft simply phasing through them without effect.
• Precision Landing Technique: To successfully plant a flag, a soft landing is required. The player must position their ship directly above the target planet’s surface and carefully apply reverse thrust to nullify their velocity and execute a gentle descent. High-velocity impacts will cause the ship to bounce off, requiring another landing attempt.
• An Absence of Collision Physics: An interesting quirk of the game’s engine was discovered by a user who waited nearly half an hour to witness a planetary collision. The finding was that planets do not interact with each other; they simply pass through one another as if they were ghosts. The game’s physics prioritizes only the interaction between the player’s ship and the celestial bodies, not between the bodies themselves.

Understanding the Universe

Setting player expectations is key to enjoying the Landroid experience.

• The Journey is the Reward: It is important to clarify that finding all the planets in a given solar system does not trigger a special ending, unlock a new game mode, or provide any kind of ultimate reward. This has been a source of minor disappointment for some players who completed the objective and found that nothing happened. The true reward of the game is the process of exploration and the satisfaction of planting a flag on a newly discovered world.
• A New Galaxy Awaits: Players should be aware that the game is not static. The solar system is procedurally generated and changes over time, with the refresh occurring almost daily. This means that if a player finds all the planets in one system, they can return the next day to a completely new cosmic layout, offering near-endless replayability.

My Landroid screensaver does not appear on my Pixel phone even after I enabled it. Why?

On Pixel phones, by default, the screen saver is activated by two conditions:

• Docked, and
• Charging.

But for most Pixel users, the phone is not docked.

To activate the screen saver when the Pixel phone is charging, you need to change the condition to When charging, as shown in the following two screenshots.

Do you have any questions about Android 15 Easter Egg Game: Landroid?

Please let us know your questions or comments on Android 15 Easter Egg Game: Landroid in the comment box below.

If you are looking for guides for features introduced in other versions of Android (most of the “new” features in old versions of Android should work in Android 15), you may use the search bar to search or navigate to other sections of this site.

Amazon Basics 68W Two-Port GaN Wall Charger with 1 USB-C (60W) & 1 USB-A Ports (18W) with PD for Laptops, Tablets & Phones (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X, iPad, MacPro, Samsung, and more), Non-PPS, Black

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (newest model) built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Ocean

$24.29

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Basics 68W Two-Port GaN Wall Charger with 1 USB-C (60W) & 1 USB-A Ports (18W) with PD for Laptops, Tablets & Phones (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X, iPad, MacPro, Samsung, and more), Non-PPS, Black

$24.29

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (newest model) built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Ocean

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

If you are still on other versions of Android, you may check these guides:

• For Android 14, please check the Android 14 guides page.
• For Android 13, please check the Android 13 guides page.
• For Android 12, please check the Android 12 guides page.
• For Android 11, please check the Android 11 guides page.
• For Android 10, please check the Android 10 guides page.
• For Android Pie (Android 9), please check the Android Pie guides page.
• For Android Oreo (Android 8.0 and 8.1), please check the Android Oreo guides page.
• For Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check the Android Nougat guides page.
• For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check the Android Marshmallow guide page.
• For Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check the Android Lollipop guide page.
• For other general Android questions or problems, please check the Android 101 page.

You may also reach us through:

• Our Facebook page.
• Contact Us page.

Enjoy your Android 15.

The post Master Android 15 Easter Egg Game: Landroid appeared first on Android Guides.

The annual release of a new Android version has evolved from a spectacle of sweeping visual change to a more nuanced and architecturally significant event. Android 15, codenamed “Vanilla Ice Cream,” epitomizes this evolution. It is not a release defined by a dramatic user interface overhaul but rather by a profound maturation of the underlying platform.

This Android 15 guide provides an exhaustive technical analysis of new features and improvements of Android 15, revealing a strategic focus on three core pillars: fortifying privacy and security with proactive, system-integrated defenses; optimizing foundational performance for next-generation hardware; and refining the user experience for an increasingly diverse array of form factors.

This post will dissect the core AOSP features, clarify the often-confused line between platform and Pixel-specific enhancements, and provide a comparative look at how major OEMs are leveraging this new foundation to forge their unique identities.

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

I. Privacy and Security: Foundational Enhancements of Android 15

Android 15 represents a significant escalation in the platform’s commitment to user privacy and device security. The approach moves beyond reactive measures and user-configured settings to bake proactive, intelligent defenses directly into the operating system’s fabric. These enhancements address modern threats ranging from data snooping to sophisticated physical theft, establishing a new baseline for the entire Android ecosystem.

1. Private Space in Android 15: Standardizing the Digital Safe

For years, users seeking to wall off sensitive applications and data have relied on third-party apps or OEM-specific solutions, most notably Samsung’s popular “Secure Folder” or Dual Messenger. With Android 15, this capability is no longer a manufacturer’s perk but a fundamental platform guarantee.

The introduction of Private Space creates a native, OS-level sandboxed environment where users can install and operate apps in complete isolation from the main user profile.

This private space is protected by an additional layer of authentication—either the device lock or a unique PIN/password—and can even be configured to be completely hidden from the app drawer and settings, leaving no visible trace of its existence. When a user installs an app within Private Space in Android 15, the system creates a fresh copy; no data or accounts are shared with the same app in the main profile. When the space is locked, its underlying profile is paused, rendering the apps within it completely inactive. They cannot run in the background, receive notifications, or be seen in the recent apps view, effectively vanishing from the system until the user authenticates and unlocks the space again.

The decision to build this feature into AOSP is a strategic move to combat fragmentation within the Android security model. Previously, the existence of multiple, proprietary “secure folder” solutions meant that developers, particularly those creating launchers or enterprise management tools, had no consistent way to interact with these secure environments across different brands. Android 15 rectifies this by establishing a universal standard.

Technically, Private Space is built upon Android’s robust multi-user model, introducing a new, specific profile type: android.os.usertype.profile.PRIVATE. This provides a standardized framework that developers can target. For instance, launcher app developers can now reliably detect and manage the Private Space container by requesting the ACCESS_HIDDEN_PROFILES permission and listening for system broadcasts like ACTION_PROFILE_AVAILABLE and ACTION_PROFILE_UNAVAILABLE to update their UI when the space is locked or unlocked. App stores can integrate with the “Install Apps” flow inside Private Space by declaring an intent filter for CATEGORY_APP_MARKET.

This standardization elevates a critical privacy feature from an OEM differentiator to a core platform promise, making Android more manageable and secure for both individual users and corporate environments where data segregation is paramount.

2. Theft Protection and Factory Reset Hardening in Android 15

Responding to an evolving threat landscape where device theft is increasingly common, Android 15 introduces a sophisticated, multi-layered suite of anti-theft measures. This represents a philosophical shift from purely reactive tools, like the remote “Find My Device” or static Device Protection, to proactive, on-device defenses that can act automatically.

The flagship feature is Theft Detection Lock, which leverages on-device AI and motion sensors to identify movements associated with a snatch-and-grab theft, such as someone grabbing the phone and quickly running, biking, or driving away. Upon detecting such a pattern, the device will automatically lock its screen to protect the user’s data. This is complemented by Offline Device Lock, which can lock the device if it remains disconnected from the network for an extended period, and Remote Lock, a new capability that allows a user to lock their stolen device using only their phone number and a simple security challenge from any other device. Demonstrating the high priority of this initiative, Google is backporting some of these key protections to devices running Android 10 and newer.

Beyond these new locks, Android 15 fundamentally hardens the existing Factory Reset Protection (FRP) mechanism. It directly addresses the scenario where a thief has observed and obtained the user’s PIN or password. Now, performing critical actions that a thief would attempt—such as disabling Find My Device, changing the screen lock PIN, adding a new Google account, or turning off theft protection features—requires an additional layer of authentication, typically the user’s biometrics (fingerprint or face). This creates a powerful security bulkhead; even with the PIN, a thief cannot easily wipe the device for resale or access sensitive data protected by passkeys, rendering the stolen hardware far less valuable. This approach acknowledges that the primary lock screen can be breached and builds internal defenses to contain the damage, marking a significant advancement in personal device security.

3. Partial Screen Sharing and Recording: Privacy by Default

Full-screen sharing has long been a privacy liability, risking the accidental exposure of sensitive notifications, private messages, or financial details. Android 15 addresses this by making privacy-preserving sharing the default behavior. The new Partial Screen Sharing feature allows users to share or record a single app window instead of the entire device display. First incubated on Pixel devices with an Android 14 quarterly update, this is now a standard AOSP new feature in Android 15.

By default, all system UI elements, such as the status bar and navigation bar, are excluded from the recording. More importantly, the system now actively works to prevent data leakage. Notifications containing One-Time Passwords (OTPs) are automatically hidden from the remote viewer, as are sensitive input fields for passwords and credit card numbers. This is a prime example of “privacy by design,” shifting the model from “share everything unless specified” to “share only this app unless you explicitly choose more.” It reduces the cognitive load on the user, who no longer has to meticulously manage what is visible on their screen.

For developers, the MediaProjection API has been enhanced with new callbacks like onCapturedContentVisibilityChanged(), which informs the app if its shared window is being obscured by another, allowing it to pause or hide the content on the output surface. To increase user awareness and control, a prominent, persistent chip is now displayed in the status bar during any screen projection session, offering a clear visual indicator and a one-tap method to stop the recording or sharing. This Android 15 feature is a critical improvement for both consumer privacy and enterprise security, making remote support, virtual presentations, and content creation significantly safer.

Google Pixel 9a with Gemini - Unlocked Android Smartphone with Incredible Camera and AI Photo Editing, All-Day Battery, and Powerful Security - Obsidian - 128 GB

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL - Unlocked Android Smartphone with Gemini, Triple Rear Camera System, 24-Hour Battery, and 6.8" Super Actua Display - Porcelain - 128 GB

$399.00

$799.00

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel 9a with Gemini - Unlocked Android Smartphone with Incredible Camera and AI Photo Editing, All-Day Battery, and Powerful Security - Obsidian - 128 GB

$399.00

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL - Unlocked Android Smartphone with Gemini, Triple Rear Camera System, 24-Hour Battery, and 6.8" Super Actua Display - Porcelain - 128 GB

$799.00

Buy on Amazon

II. Performance, Power, and Efficiency: Under-the-Hood Improvements in Android 15

While less visible to the average user, Android 15’s most profound improvements may lie in its deep architectural optimizations. These updates are designed to enhance performance, improve battery efficiency, and provide developers with better tools for resource management, laying a more robust foundation for the future of Android.

1. The 16KB Memory Page Size from Android 15

Historically, Android has been built on a 4KB memory page size, a standard that was optimal for the limited RAM of early smartphones. As modern devices now regularly ship with 8GB, 12GB, 16GB, or even more RAM, this legacy page size has become an architectural bottleneck. Android 15 addresses this by introducing platform support for a 16KB memory page size.

This is a fundamental shift in how the operating system manages memory. For device manufacturers building hardware with large amounts of RAM, adopting 16KB pages can yield significant performance benefits. Google’s initial testing indicates tangible improvements across the board, including faster app launch times (especially when the system is under memory pressure), reduced power consumption during app startup, quicker camera initialization, and faster overall system boot times.

However, this long-term performance gain comes at the cost of a short-term developer mandate. While applications written purely in Java or Kotlin are generally compatible, any app that utilizes native code through the Android Native Development Kit (NDK)—common in games, media processing apps, and high-performance libraries—must be recompiled to support the new 16KB memory alignment. Apps that fail to do so will simply crash on a device configured to use 16KB pages. This is a strategic choice by Google, prioritizing the long-term health and performance of the platform over the avoidance of a necessary, one-time migration effort for developers. To enforce this transition, Google plans to make 16KB compatibility a requirement for app uploads to the Play Store in the near future, cementing this as a non-negotiable architectural evolution for the entire ecosystem.

2. App Archiving at the OS Level

Limited device storage remains a persistent pain point for many users, particularly on entry-level and mid-range devices. Deleting an app to free up space typically means losing all associated user data, a frustrating trade-off. While the Google Play Store previously introduced a form of app archiving, Android 15 elevates this by integrating app archiving support at the core OS level.

This feature allows a user to “archive” an infrequently used app, which removes the bulk of its executable files and cached data, freeing up a significant amount of storage. Crucially, the app’s personal user data is preserved on the device. If the user decides to use the app again later, it can be quickly re-downloaded and restored, allowing them to pick up exactly where they left off.

By building this functionality into AOSP, Google is democratizing this storage-saving technology. It is no longer a proprietary feature of a single app store. Now, any third-party app store or device management tool can hook into the standardized system APIs to implement archiving, rather than having to engineer a custom solution. This fosters a more competitive and feature-rich environment for all app distributors and provides a much-needed quality-of-life improvement for users on storage-constrained devices.

3. SQLite and Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF) Updates

Continuing the trend of giving developers more granular control, Android 15 delivers key updates to foundational performance APIs. The platform introduces new SQLite APIs that expose advanced features from the underlying database engine, allowing developers to target and resolve specific performance bottlenecks in data-intensive applications.

Simultaneously, the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF), critical for games and other performance-heavy apps, receives significant enhancements. ADPF now includes a power-efficiency mode that allows background threads to signal their preference for power savings over raw performance. It also enables hint sessions to report both CPU and GPU work durations, allowing the system to make more intelligent, holistic adjustments to clock frequencies to meet workload demands efficiently. These updates empower developers to move beyond relying on the OS’s general heuristics and instead provide specific, fine-grained information to optimize their apps for a better balance of responsiveness and battery life.

III. Advances in Camera, Media, and Graphics

Android 15 introduces a suite of enhancements aimed at improving the tools for both content creation and consumption. These updates focus on empowering third-party applications with more hardware control, solving practical real-world problems, and future-proofing the platform’s media and graphics pipelines.

1. Low Light Boost in Android 15

A significant and practical improvement comes in the form of Low Light Boost, a new auto-exposure mode available to developers using the Camera2 API. This feature is designed to brighten the live camera preview stream in dimly lit environments.

It is crucial to distinguish this from the “Night Mode” still capture found in many camera apps. Night Mode works via computational photography, capturing a burst of frames and merging them into a single, enhanced final image—a process that is computationally intensive and cannot happen in real-time.

Low Light Boost, in contrast, operates directly on the continuous video stream being fed to the screen. While the final image quality may not match a dedicated Night Mode shot, its real-time nature enables two critical use cases: it allows users to better frame their photos in the dark, and, perhaps more importantly, it makes real-time computer vision tasks like scanning QR codes viable in low-light situations. This directly addresses a common user frustration—the inability to scan a menu or ticket in a dimly lit restaurant or venue—and enhances the camera’s utility as a versatile tool.

2. Advanced Camera, Loudness, and HDR Controls

To close the gap between the capabilities of native camera apps and what third-party developers can access, Android 15 exposes more granular hardware controls. This includes extensions for advanced flash strength adjustments, giving apps precise control over flash intensity in both single-shot (SINGLE) and continuous (TORCH) modes.

On the audio front, the new LoudnessCodecController API, which implements the CTA-2075 loudness standard, helps developers prevent jarring volume shifts when users switch between different types of content or apps. The system uses loudness metadata within AAC audio content, combined with known characteristics of the output device (speakers or headphones), to intelligently normalize volume levels.

For visual media, Android 15 provides better control over High Dynamic Range (HDR) content. When HDR and Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) content are mixed on screen, the intense brightness of the HDR element can sometimes wash out the SDR content. The new setDesiredHdrHeadroom API allows developers to manually adjust this balance, ensuring a more visually pleasing and coherent experience.

3. Graphics Modernization (ANGLE) and Efficient Media Decoding (dav1d)

Android 15 takes important steps to future-proof its graphics and media stacks. The platform now includes ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine) as an optional layer for running OpenGL ES code on top of the modern Vulkan graphics API. The long-term goal is to standardize the Android OpenGL implementation on ANGLE, which promises improved compatibility and, in some cases, better performance for legacy applications. This provides a smoother migration path for the ecosystem as Android continues to prioritize Vulkan for all new high-performance graphics development.

In media playback, Android 15 addresses the growing adoption of the AV1 video codec. AV1 offers superior compression and quality over older codecs but requires significant processing power. For devices that lack dedicated AV1 hardware decoding, Android 15 now bundles dav1d, a high-performance software decoder from VideoLAN. This decoder is significantly more efficient than previous software solutions, enabling smooth HD AV1 playback on a much wider range of older or less powerful devices. This move helps prevent a fragmented media landscape where users on certain devices are unable to view next-generation video content.

IV. System UI and User Experience Evolution in Android 15

While not a complete visual redesign, Android 15 introduces several key changes to the system’s UI and interaction models. These updates focus on refining existing paradigms, managing interruptions more intelligently, and enforcing a more modern and consistent look across the app ecosystem.

1. Predictive Back Gesture in Android 15

First introduced as an optional developer feature, the Predictive Back gesture is now enabled by default in Android 15. This new feature provides users with a visual preview of the screen they will return to when performing a back gesture, such as a glimpse of the home screen or the previous app. The animations have been further refined in this release to be smoother and less jarring.

By making this the default behavior, Google is signaling that this modern navigation paradigm is no longer experimental. This effectively requires developers to adopt the necessary APIs to support predictive back, ensuring their apps provide a consistent and intuitive navigation experience that aligns with the rest of the operating system. It is a firm push toward unifying the feel of navigation across all applications.

2. Notification Cooldown and Adaptive Vibration in Android 15

Android 15 introduces two notable features that showcase a move toward a more context-aware and less intrusive user experience. These features are about the OS making intelligent decisions on the user’s behalf to reduce annoyance.

Notification Cooldown is a new system behavior designed to combat “notification spam.” When the system detects that an app is sending a high volume of successive notifications in a short period, it will automatically and gradually lower the volume of the notification alerts. This cooldown period can last for up to two minutes, giving the user a break from constant buzzing and chiming. Importantly, this does not affect high-priority alerts like incoming phone calls or alarms.

Adaptive Vibration takes a similar intelligent approach to haptics. Using the device’s microphone and other sensors, the system can infer the user’s environment and automatically adjust the intensity of notification vibrations. For example, it can reduce the vibration strength when the phone is placed on a hard, resonant surface like a table, or increase it when it detects it is in a pocket or a noisy environment. Both features are examples of “calm technology,” where the device adapts to the user and their surroundings rather than demanding constant manual configuration.

3. Edge-to-Edge by Default

In a significant and potentially breaking change for some developers, Android 15 enforces a modern UI standard. For all applications targeting the new API level 35, the user interface will be drawn edge-to-edge by default. This means app content will extend beyond the system status and navigation bars, which will now be transparent.

For years, Google has encouraged developers to adopt this immersive design. By now making it the mandatory default, the platform is forcing the hand of any laggards in the app ecosystem. This will result in a more visually consistent and modern look across Android. However, it requires that all developers correctly implement handling for window insets to ensure that interactive UI elements are not obscured by the system bars or device cutouts.

V. Connectivity and Form Factor Adaptations

Android 15 continues to adapt the platform for a world that extends beyond the traditional smartphone, with new connectivity options and refined experiences for the growing market of large-screen and foldable devices.

1. Satellite Connectivity in Android 15

As satellite-to-phone technology moves from niche to mainstream, Android 15 lays the foundational groundwork to support it in a standardized way. The platform now includes extended support for satellite connectivity, complete with UI elements to ensure a consistent user experience across different devices and networks. Crucially, this support extends beyond simple emergency SOS messages; Android 15 provides a framework for standard SMS, MMS, and preloaded RCS applications to send and receive messages via satellite links.

This is a strategic platform play designed to prevent ecosystem fragmentation. Rather than each hardware maker and satellite provider creating their own proprietary APIs and messaging apps, Google is providing the common “plumbing” in AOSP. The key technical component is the ServiceState.isUsingNonTerrestrialNetwork() API, which allows any application to reliably detect when the device is connected to a satellite network. An app can then use this information to intelligently adjust its behavior, for example, by disabling high-bandwidth features or informing the user that service may be limited. This approach enables partners, such as T-Mobile and Starlink, to build their services on top of a standard Android platform, ensuring a baseline of interoperability and a more cohesive experience for the end-user.

2. Large-Screen and Foldable Enhancements in Android 15

To improve productivity on tablets and foldable devices, Android 15 introduces several key multitasking enhancements. The most notable is App Pairs, a feature that allows users to save a frequently used split-screen combination of two apps as a single shortcut on their home screen or taskbar. A single tap on this shortcut will instantly launch both apps in their pre-defined split-screen layout, reducing the friction of setting up common workflows. It is similar to App Pairs found on Samsung Galaxy Phones for years.

Complementing this is a new pinnable taskbar. Users on large-screen devices can now choose to keep the taskbar persistently visible at the bottom of the screen, even when an app is open, providing quick access to favorite apps for faster switching. These features are a clear effort to close the gap with traditional desktop operating systems, making Android tablets and foldables more powerful and viable as primary productivity devices.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 - Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation – Bluetooth Headphones - Peony

Google Pixel Tablet - Android Tablet with 11-Inch Screen and Extra-Long Battery Life - Porcelain - 8 GB RAM - 128 GB

$160.55

$249.00

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 - Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation – Bluetooth Headphones - Peony

$160.55

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel Tablet - Android Tablet with 11-Inch Screen and Extra-Long Battery Life - Porcelain - 8 GB RAM - 128 GB

$249.00

Buy on Amazon

VI. The AOSP/Pixel Dichotomy: Android 15 Features

A common point of confusion with any new Android release is distinguishing between features that are part of the core AOSP platform—and will thus be available to all manufacturers—and those that are implemented first or exclusively on Google’s own Pixel devices. Google frequently uses its Pixel line and its quarterly “Feature Drops” as a real-world incubator for new ideas. Features are often tested and refined on Pixel devices before being considered for graduation into a future AOSP release. This strategy makes Pixel users the earliest adopters of what may become the future of Android, but it blurs the lines for the public.

The following table provides a definitive clarification of the status of Android 15’s key features, separating the core platform implementation from the specific Pixel implementation.

Sale

Google Pixel 9a with Gemini – Unlocked Android Smartphone with Incredible Camera and AI Photo Editing, All-Day Battery, and Powerful Security – Obsidian – 128 GB

• Google Pixel 9a is engineered by Google with more than you expect, for less than you think; like Gemini, your built-in AI assistant[1], the incredible Pixel Camera, and an all-day battery and durable design[2]
• Take amazing photos and videos with the Pixel Camera, and make them better than you can imagine with Google AI; get great group photos with Add Me and Best Take[4,5]; and use Macro Focus for spectacular images of tiny details like raindrops and flowers
• Google Pixel’s Adaptive Battery can last over 30 hours[2]; turn on Extreme Battery Saver and it can last up to 100 hours, so your phone has power when you need it most[2]
• Get more info quickly with Gemini[1]; instead of typing, use Gemini Live; it follows along even if you change the topic[8]; and save time by asking Gemini to find info across your Google apps, like Maps, Calendar, Gmail, and YouTube Music[7]
• Pixel 9a can handle spills, dust, drops, and dings; and with IP68 water and dust protection and a scratch-resistant display, it’s the most durable Pixel A-Series phone yet[6]

$399.00

Buy on Amazon

VII. OEM Android 15 Implementations

With Android 15 AOSP providing a robust and secure foundation, the primary battleground for differentiation among manufacturers has decisively shifted to the user experience layer. The “flavor” of Android a user gets is now defined less by the version number and more by the custom software skin built on top of it. An analysis of the Android 15-based offerings from the three largest global OEMs outside of Apple—Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus—reveals distinct philosophies and strategic priorities.

1. Samsung (One UI 7 on Android 15)

Samsung’s One UI 7, built on Android 15, is a significant evolution focused on polish, feature density, and addressing long-standing user feedback. In a major concession to user demand, One UI 7 finally introduces a native vertically-scrolling app drawer, abandoning Samsung’s stubborn adherence to horizontal pages. It also adopts a UI paradigm popular on other platforms: a new split notification shade that separates the Quick Settings toggles from the notification list, though this implementation is a default change rather than an option.

Customization is deepened, with native settings to change app icon sizes and set custom battery charging limits (e.g., stop at 85% or 90%) without needing separate apps like Good Lock. The core of Samsung’s strategy, however, lies in the deep integration of its Galaxy AI suite. This brings powerful features for writing assistance, live call transcription and summarization, and advanced photo editing tools like Audio Eraser directly into the OS. Samsung’s approach is to provide a comprehensive, feature-rich, and premium-feeling experience that leverages its own powerful ecosystem of services, even if this results in a “heavier” software footprint compared to its rivals.

2. Xiaomi (HyperOS 2 on Android 15)

Xiaomi’s HyperOS 2 is less a simple “skin” and more an ambitious attempt to create a unified operating system for its entire product portfolio, from phones to cars. The Android 15-based version is built around what Xiaomi calls its “Alive Design Philosophy,” emphasizing fluid animations, cinematic lock screen effects, and AI-generated dynamic wallpapers.

The strategy rests on three pillars. First is the Xiaomi HyperCore architecture, which involves low-level optimizations to the scheduler and memory management for improved performance. Second is Xiaomi HyperConnect, a framework designed for seamless connectivity and file sharing across its vast ecosystem of IoT devices. Third, and most visibly, is a broad suite of HyperAI features. This includes generative tools like AI Art and AI Writing, as well as practical utilities like real-time AI Subtitles and an AI-powered system search.

Xiaomi’s goal is to position its devices not just as phones, but as intelligent hubs within a deeply interconnected ecosystem. While powerful, this approach has been criticized by some users for its aggressive background process management and occasional UI inconsistencies inherited from its MIUI predecessor.

3. OnePlus (OxygenOS 15 on Android 15)

OnePlus continues to navigate the fine line between offering a clean, fast experience and providing the powerful features its user base expects. With OxygenOS 15, the company emphasizes a “Lighter Than Air” philosophy, touting a smaller system footprint and a focus on fluidity.

A key differentiator that speaks directly to its power-user roots is user choice. While OxygenOS 15 introduces a new iOS-style split notification shade, it is entirely optional. Users who prefer the traditional, combined notification and Quick Settings panel can select the “Classic UI” in settings, a level of flexibility its main competitors do not offer.

The acclaimed Open Canvas multitasking feature, previously exclusive to its foldable OnePlus Open, is now available on its traditional “slab” phones, enhancing the standard split-screen experience with easier app switching and drag-and-drop capabilities. OnePlus’s AI implementation is more focused and practical than Xiaomi’s, centering on a suite of AI Imaging tools (AI Unblur, AI Reflection Eraser) and productivity aids like AI-powered note summarization, while also integrating Google’s own Circle to Search. The strategy is to deliver speed and practical enhancements while respecting user preferences on major UI changes.

Table: OEM Feature and Philosophy Comparison (Android 15 Implementations)

VIII. Outlook for Android 15

Android 15 solidifies a new strategic direction for the world’s most dominant mobile operating system. The era of revolutionary, yearly visual redesigns at the AOSP level appears to be over. It has been replaced by a more mature focus on iterative refinement and the fortification of the platform’s core architecture. The primary thrust of AOSP development is now geared toward making the underlying system more secure against modern threats, more performant on next-generation hardware, and more adaptable to a diverse and evolving landscape of device form factors.

In this new model, Google’s role with AOSP is increasingly that of a governor and a standards-setter. By building features like Private Space, Partial Screen Sharing, and the foundational plumbing for satellite connectivity into the core OS, Google is creating a more consistent, predictable, and secure platform for all. This reduces fragmentation and provides a stable base upon which the entire ecosystem can build. The enforcement of architectural shifts like the 16KB page size transition and edge-to-edge UI defaults further underscores this commitment to elevating the quality and performance of all Android devices, not just its own.

Consequently, the true battle for innovation and consumer preference has shifted decisively to the OEM layer. With the AOSP “engine” becoming more robust and standardized, manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus are now differentiating almost entirely through their custom user experiences, proprietary AI features, and the strength of their hardware-software ecosystems. The choice for a consumer is no longer just about which phone has the best camera or display, but about whether they prefer the feature-dense polish of One UI, the AI-driven ecosystem of HyperOS, or the fluid, user-centric approach of OxygenOS.

Android’s greatest historical strength has always been its diversity. With Android 15, the platform has found a more sustainable model to manage that diversity’s inherent complexity. It provides a stronger, more secure foundation than ever before, while simultaneously empowering its OEM partners to innovate and compete vigorously in the areas that users touch, see, and experience every day.

Do you have questions about new features of Android 15?

Please share your thoughts or questions about the new features and improvements of Android 15 in the comment box below.

If you are looking for guides for features introduced in other versions of Android (most of the “new” features in old versions of Android should work in Android 15), you may use the search bar to search or navigate to other sections of this site.

Amazon Basics 68W Two-Port GaN Wall Charger with 1 USB-C (60W) & 1 USB-A Ports (18W) with PD for Laptops, Tablets & Phones (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X, iPad, MacPro, Samsung, and more), Non-PPS, Black

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (newest model) built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Ocean

$24.29

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Basics 68W Two-Port GaN Wall Charger with 1 USB-C (60W) & 1 USB-A Ports (18W) with PD for Laptops, Tablets & Phones (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X, iPad, MacPro, Samsung, and more), Non-PPS, Black

$24.29

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (newest model) built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Ocean

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

If you are still on other versions of Android, you may check these guides:

• For Android 14, please check the Android 14 guides page.
• For Android 13, please check the Android 13 guides page.
• For Android 12, please check the Android 12 guides page.
• For Android 11, please check the Android 11 guides page.
• For Android 10, please check the Android 10 guides page.
• For Android Pie (Android 9), please check the Android Pie guides page.
• For Android Oreo (Android 8.0 and 8.1), please check the Android Oreo guides page.
• For Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check the Android Nougat guides page.
• For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check the Android Marshmallow guide page.
• For Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check the Android Lollipop guide page.
• For other general Android questions or problems, please check the Android 101 page.

You may also reach us through:

• Our Facebook page.
• Contact Us page.

Enjoy your Android 15.

The post New Features and Improvements of Android 15 appeared first on Android Guides.

Android 14 is the latest version (2023) of the Android operating system, and it comes with a number of new features and improvements. Some of these new features of Android 14 are focused on improving the user experience, while others are designed to give users more control over their devices.

In this Android 14 guide, we’re going to take a look at the top 14 new features of Android 14 that all users will find most useful. The new features of Android 14 covered in this post include the new photo picker, lock screen customizations, notification flashes, battery life improvement, separate ring and notification volume control, app pair, charging pill (animation), Apollo 14 easter egg, drag and drop text and images to different apps, auto-confirm unlock, phone’s manufacturing year, battery charge cycles count, magic compose, and emoji, generative AI, and cinematic wallpapers. Some detailed how-to guides will be released soon.

Please note the new features of Android 14 discussed in this post apply to the stock Android (e.g., Pixel phones or Motorola phones). Some Android vendors may customize Android 14 with their own implementations and features, and therefore, some of these features may not be available on their Android 14 devices or work differently, for example, in Samsung’s Android 14 update (One UI 6), the new features are substantially different from the features discussed here.

1. New Photo Picker: Restricting Photo and Video Access

The new Photo Picker in Android 14 gives users more control over which photos and videos they share with apps. Users can now select individual photos and videos, or they can select entire albums or folders.

This is a welcome improvement over the previous Photo Picker, which only allowed users to reject or approve access to all photos and videos. In other words, prior to Android 14, you could only either allow or not allow an app to access all photos and videos (all or nothing). If allowed, the app then can access all photos and videos. If not allowed, the app cannot access any photos or videos.

The new Photo Picker in Android 14 allows you to grant access to individual photos, videos, albums, or folders. A similar feature was introduced in iOS14 for iPhone 3 years ago. Now, Google has finally caught up with this new feature of Android 14.

2. Lock Screen Customizations: the most popular new feature of Android 14

Android 14 users can now customize their lock screens with new widgets, wallpapers, and themes.

To customize your lock screen, long-press on an empty area of the lock screen and then tap on Settings. You can then choose to change the lock screen widget, wallpaper, or theme.

This is probably one of the most popular new features of Android 14. Many users have cried for this feature in the stock Android for years. Again, some Android vendors have offered lock screen customization on their devices before. For example, Samsung’s One UI offers some customization for the lock screen.

3. Notification Flashes

Notification Flashes are a new accessibility feature of Android 14 that alerts users to incoming notifications with a brief flash on the screen. This can be helpful for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

To enable Notification Flashes, go to Settings > Accessibility > Notification Flashes. You can then choose to enable Notification Flashes for all notifications or only for specific notifications.

Please note that some Android vendors, e.g., Samsung, have already implemented a similar feature in their devices in the last few years. Google now implemented it in the core of Android 14.

Google Pixel 7a - Unlocked Android Cell Phone - Smartphone with Wide Angle Lens and 24-Hour Battery - 128 GB – Charcoal

Chromecast with Google TV (HD) - Streaming Stick Entertainment on Your TV with Voice Search - Watch Movies, Shows, and Live TV in 1080p HD - Snow

$259.91

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Google Pixel 7a - Unlocked Android Cell Phone - Smartphone with Wide Angle Lens and 24-Hour Battery - 128 GB – Charcoal

$259.91

Buy on Amazon

Chromecast with Google TV (HD) - Streaming Stick Entertainment on Your TV with Voice Search - Watch Movies, Shows, and Live TV in 1080p HD - Snow

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

4. Battery Life Improvements

Android 14 is more efficient in power consumption. For most users, battery life will be noticeably improved after updating to Android 14 (usually after a few days).

Google experimented with various options to improve the power efficiency (as well as speed) for Android. For example, some background tasks are scheduled and prioritized differently.

Android 14 also updated the Battery Saver with more controls and helped improve the battery life further.

5. Separate Ring and Notification Volume Control

Separate ring and notification volume control actually is a feature that was removed by Google previously. Now, it is one of the prominent new features of Android 14.

In a nutshell, with Android 14, you can now adjust the ring and notification volumes independently, again.

To adjust your phone’s ring and notification volumes, go to Settings > Sound. You can then adjust the ring volume and notification volume using the corresponding sliders.

6. App Pair

App Pair is a new feature of Android 14 that allows users to quickly launch two apps at the same time. In Android 13, you can launch two apps in the split-screen view for multitasking. But you have to choose them one by one, not as a pair.

To create an App Pair, go to Settings > System > Gestures > App Pair. You can then select two apps to create an App Pair for.

Please note Samsung introduced the app pair in Galaxy Note 8 (and Galaxy S9). It has been available since then on most Galaxy phones. It seems the implementation in Android 14 is very similar.

7. Charging Pill (animation)

Charging Pill is a new visual feature of Android 14 that provides users with a pill-shaped background behind the battery indicator in the status bar. And it is animated when the battery is being charged, similar to the camera (and microphone) access status icon.

The new design makes it easier to see at a glance that the phone is properly connected to the device and that it’s charging.

At the same time, you can still see the charging status info in the notification shade.

8. Apollo 14 Easter Egg

Just like in all previous Android versions (e.g., Android 11), there is an Easter egg in Android 14. The Android 14 Easter Egg is a NASA Apollo 14-inspired mini-game.

To access the Android 14 Easter egg, you need to tap on the Android version number in the Settings app multiple times until the big Android 14 logo appears.

You can then tap and hold on to the logo to start the game. The game simulates the launch of Apollo 14. and you control the navigation of the spaceship.

Android 15 ships with a refined version of the Easter Egg game: Landroid.

9. Drag and Drop Text and Images to Different Apps

Drag and drop is the quickest way to share content between apps. But in Android 13, it only works in the split-screen view mode, and you are limited to the two active apps. It is a popular feature in foldable devices.

Android 14 now eliminates the restrictions. But it becomes finger gymnastics if it is not in the split-screen view mode.

To drag and drop text or images from one app to another, long-press on the text or image and then drag and drop it to the other app (e.g., in the Recents screen).

10. Auto-confirm Unlock

Auto-confirm unlock in Android 14 allows users to unlock their phones automatically without tapping the enter key when they type the PIN.

This new feature of Android 14 is available only when your PIN code is six digits or more. You can turn auto-confirm on or off as long as your PIN code has more than six digits.

To enable Auto-confirm, go to Settings > Security > Auto-confirm. You can then choose to enable or disable it.

11. Phone’s Manufacturing Year

Android 14 users can now view the manufacturing year of their phone in the Settings app.

To view your phone’s manufacturing date, go to Settings > About phone > Status information > Manufacturing date.

12. Battery Charge Cycles Count

Android 14 users can now view the number of charge cycles their phone has completed in the Settings app. This gives some indication of the remaining battery life.

To view your phone’s battery charge cycle count, go to Settings > Battery > Battery health.

Please note some manufacturers may not implement this feature in their devices with Android 14.

13. Magic Compose

Magic Compose is one of the most practical new features of Android 14. It helps users write emails, messages, and other types of text content more quickly and easily, powered by AI. Magic Compose suggests relevant content based on the context of what the user is writing.

To enable Magic Compose, go to Settings > System > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard > Advanced > Magic Compose. You can then choose to enable Magic Compose for all apps, or only for specific apps.

14. Emoji, Generative AI, and Cinematic Wallpapers

Android 14 includes a new set of emojis, as well as new generative AI and cinematic wallpapers.

To access the new emojis, go to Settings > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard > Emoji.

To access the new generative AI and cinematic wallpapers, go to Settings > Wallpaper & style > Wallpaper.

Do you have any questions about the new features of Android 14?

If you need help with the new features of Android 14, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will help you to understand and use the new features of Android 14.

You may check the Android 14 Guides page if you need some detailed how-to guides on the new features of Android 14.

Amazon Basics 68W Two-Port GaN Wall Charger with 1 USB-C (60W) & 1 USB-A Ports (18W) with PD for Laptops, Tablets & Phones (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X, iPad, MacPro, Samsung, and more), Non-PPS, Black

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (newest model) built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Ocean

$24.29

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Basics 68W Two-Port GaN Wall Charger with 1 USB-C (60W) & 1 USB-A Ports (18W) with PD for Laptops, Tablets & Phones (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X, iPad, MacPro, Samsung, and more), Non-PPS, Black

$24.29

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (newest model) built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Ocean

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

If you are still on other versions of Android, you may check these guides:

• For Android 13, please check the Android 13 guides page.
• For Android 12, please check the Android 12 guides page.
• For Android 11, please check the Android 11 guides page.
• For Android 10, please check the Android 10 guides page.
• For Android Pie (Android 9), please check the Android Pie guides page.
• For Android Oreo (Android 8.0 and 8.1), please check the Android Oreo guides page.
• For Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check the Android Nougat guides page.
• For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check the Android Marshmallow guide page.
• For Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check the Android Lollipop guide page.
• For other general Android questions or problems, please check the Android 101 page.

You may also reach us through:

• Our Facebook page.
• Contact Us page.

Enjoy your Android 14!

The post Top 14 new features of Android 14 appeared first on Android Guides.

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.

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.

You can paste an item in the clipboard by tapping the item in the clipboard manager. The last item also shows on the keyboard directly, as shown in the screenshot below. So, you just need to tap it to paste without opening the clipboard manager (or if you do not want to turn on the clipboard manager).

Notifications opt-in: one of the most welcomed new features of Android 13

Notifications from some apps can be annoying. A few app developers actually abused the notifications with spam. There are many improvements in notifications in previous Android versions, e.g., snooze notifications, notification history, and notification channels.

Android 13 now requires explicit permission to send notifications rather than allowing apps to send notifications by default. In other words, “notification” itself becomes a permission that the user can grant or revoke.

If you were disturbed by some spam notifications in the past, you would surely enjoy this new feature in Android 13.

QR code scanner in the Quick Settings tile

QR code scanner is not new. It has been supported in the Camera app in Android for a long time.

Most Android vendors also offer different implementations on their devices.

Android 13 now adds a dedicated QR scanner button in the Quick Settings tile, as shown in the screenshot below.

This makes QR scanning far faster because the camera app does not need to “recognize” the QR code and then adjust camera settings. So, QR scanning is almost instant in stock Android 13.

A revamped media player

Do not confuse media player apps (which you use daily to play music and videos) with the media player in the Android OS. The latter, to be discussed here, is the backbone (framework) of playing music and video on Android devices. The media player app you use very likely use some functions of the framework.

The media player app in the stock Android is confusing and disappointing. In fact, in recent Pixel phones, there is no dedicated media player app at all. YouTube Music (and Files app) can play your offline music collections saved on the phone with limited features. So, most Android vendors have to develop and ship their own media players for their devices. Of course, there are plenty of excellent third-party media players in the Play Store (e.g., VLC media player).

Android 13 revamped the media player. First, there is a redesigned output picker which was introduced in Android 11. As shown in the screenshot below, you can quickly switch the audio output from the phone to the connected headphones (earbuds or speakers) without leaving the player widget in the notification panel (or lock screen). This is one of the most convenient new features of Android 13. Second, a dancing progress bar offers a better (and cool) way to check the progress of current music or podcast.

A new Photo Picker

When you share photos or videos through an app, previously, you have to grant the media access permission for the app. This means the app can actually access ALL photos and videos (i.e., the whole media library) once permission is granted.

The new Photo Picker in Android 13 now limits the app to access the photos and videos you selected (picked). The app is not allowed to access other photos or videos. This makes media sharing consistent with document/file sharing.

Fast Pair and Bluetooth LE Audio support

The Google Fast Pair Service (GFPS, or Fast Pair) utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to discover nearby Bluetooth devices and facilitate the pairing of Bluetooth and BLE devices, such as speakers, headphones, car kits, mice, and keyboards.

In plain words, Fast Pair detects nearby ready-to-pair Bluetooth devices and prompts a half-page notification, as shown in the screenshot below. You can connect your Android phone or tablet to the Bluetooth device with one tap without navigating through the Bluetooth settings page.

As one of the new features of Android 13, Fast Pair is officially available to all devices with Android 13. Of course, this requires a Bluetooth device that supports GFPS. In the example shown earlier, Sony WF-1000XM4 supports Fast Pair.

Android 13 added support for Bluetooth LE Audio and the Low Complexity Communications Codec (LC3). Paired with supported headphones or earbuds, you will expect noticeable audio quality improvements and a slight decrease in power consumption. However, this requires Bluetooth LE Audio support on Bluetooth devices. Such devices are still scarce in the market. But more and more new earbuds and headphones released in 2023 onwards will support the Bluetooth LE Audio and LC3 codec.

Spatial Audio support

There are many types of “spatial” audio formats in the market. Apple has its own spatial audio with AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2. Sony touts its 360 Reality Audio. Samsung also advertises heavily on the 360 Audio for Galaxy Buds. They are totally different: different audio source requirements and implementations in the headset.

But Samsung’s 360 Audio and Google’s Spatial Audio are similar. They are head-tracking based and do not require special audio formats.

Android 13 includes Spatial Audio support. But currently, it only works with Pixel phones with Pixel Buds Pro. Very likely, more headsets will be supported with more Android phones.

Control home devices without unlocking the phone/tablet

For security reasons, you can access very limited functions of the phone when you are on the lock screen (without unlocking the phone).

Android 13 now supports home device controls on the lock screen if the device controls app allows it. As shown in the screenshot below, you just need to toggle on the Control from locked device.

Expanded Material You options

Google doubles down on Material You. Android 13 adds more options for you to customize the look and feel of the phone.

Besides, Android 13 added Themed icons to let third-party apps icons look consistent when you change the display theme/style. Of course, the app developers need to include proper icon images in the package.

Have you tried the new features of Android 13?

Please let us know in the comment box below if you have any questions about the new features of Android 13 or need help using these new features on your phone or tablet.

The community will help you to understand and use the new features of Android 13.

You may check the Android 13 Guides page if you need some detailed how-to guides on the new features of Android 13.

If you are still on other versions of Android, you may check these guides:

• For Android 12, please check the Android 12 guides page.
• For Android 11, please check the Android 11 guides page.
• For Android 10, please check the Android 10 guides page.
• For Android Pie (Android 9), please check the Android Pie guides page.
• For Android Oreo (Android 8.0 and 8.1), please check the Android Oreo guides page.
• For Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check the Android Nougat guides page.
• For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check the Android Marshmallow guide page.
• For Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check the Android Lollipop guide page.
• For other general Android questions or problems, please check the Android 101 page.

You may also reach us through our Facebook page.

Enjoy your Android 13!

The post Top 10 New Features of Android 13 appeared first on Android Guides.

It is not included in our top 12 new features in Android 12 because Extra Dim is a “niche” feature for very specific scenarios (if you often use the phone in a dark environment), not because it is not important.

Extra Dim is often misunderstood by even many professionals. Therefore, many users are confused the Extra Dim with the brightness control.

This Android 12 guide explains what the Extra Dim in Android 12 is, how it works, how to use it in Android 12, and corrects some common misunderstandings about Extra Dim in Android 12.

What is Extra Dim in Android 12?

Sometimes, you may feel the phone screen is too bright in a dark environment (e.g., in a theatre). However, the brightness level is already set to the minimum level or auto-brightness (adaptive brightness) is already on.

Basically, you are stuck on that uncomfortable brightness level.

Extra Dim, which was introduced in Android 12,  is designed to solve this issue for you. It can further reduce up to 50% of the brightness of the screen for you.

In Android 12, Google implemented Extra Dim as an accessibility feature to further reduce the “brightness” of the screen below the minimum level specified by the hardware vendor.

This may sound ridiculous. How can the brightness be lower than the minimum level specified by the hardware vendor?

So, here is the catch. When Extra Dim is activated,  the colour range will be reduced.

In other words, you get a dimmer screen at the price of the accuracy of the colours. Read on.

As this is a built-in accessibility feature in Android 12, none of the Android vendors has changed this feature.

In addition to the entry in the accessibility settings,  a quick setting button for Extra Dim can be found in most Android 12 phones (e.g., in Galaxy S22).

How does Extra Dim in Android 12 work?

To understand how Extra Dim works, we need to know a bit (just a bit) about the colour and brightness.

Each colour on the screen has a value. For example, if the screen can only display 256 colours (8bit; most smartphone screens actually can display 16,777,216 colours or 24bit), the black colour will have a value of 0, and the white 255. The colour range is then 0-255.

When you change the brightness, the brightness of all pixels will be changed accordingly (maybe not proportionally) so that the colour (and therefore the image) is not altered (distorted). So, it is not easy to set the brightness too high or too low without distorting the colour space.

The minimum brightness level is set by the hardware vendor to make sure that the 256 colours (assume it is just 8bit depth) are still distinguishable at this level.

So, Extra Dim has no way to decrease the brightness directly.

Instead, Extra Dim compresses the colour space to reduce the brightness.

If you are now looking at the screen through your sunglasses,  you will notice the brightness decreases. Of course, the number of distinguishable colours also drops.

Extra Dim does a similar trick.

Instead of filtering your screen with a sunglass, Extra Dim filters the output before sending it to the screen.

You may imagine Extra Dim actually is a black semi-transparent filter applied to the system generated image (for screen output). When the transparency is set to 50%, the 256 colours reduce to 128 (and shift to the black side).

The result is a dimmer screen. This is how Extra Dim in Android 12 works.

Of course, the implementation is not as simple as a black filter. The phone needs to analyse the spectrum of the output image and tweak some settings accordingly to make the screen easy to read.

How to customise Extra Dim in Android 12?

You may check and adjust Extra Dim in Android 12 before using it.

Open the Settings app on your phone, then tap Accessibility, as shown below.

You can open the Settings for your Android device in various ways, for example:

• Tap the Settings app icon on the Home screen or Apps screen.
• Tap the gear icon in the quick settings panel.
• Use voice command.

On the Accessibility settings page, as shown above, you can find many accessibility-related settings for visual or hearing enhancement.

Tap Extra dim, as shown above,  to access its settings.

Now, you should be on the Extra Dim settings page, as shown below.

A few features/aspects of the Extra Dim can be adjusted and customised.

1. Enable/disable Extra Dim

The Make screen extra dim button lets you enable or disable Extra Dim immediately.

Please note, if you just need to enable or disable the Extra Dim, you do not need to navigate to this page. For example, you can find the button one level up (on the Accessibility settings page).

2. Adjust the intensity of Extra Dim

You can adjust the intensity of the “filter”.

Dimmer means lower brightness. The maximum reduction in brightness in Android 12 is limited to 50%.

If you feel the Extra Dim is too aggressive, you can drag the slider to the brighter side.

Some vendors (e.g., Samsung) removed the dimmer and brighter annotation. You need to test whether you should drag the slider to the left or right side. For example, on Galaxy S22, you have to drag the slider to the right side to make it dimmer (opposite to that on the Pixel 6).

3. Keep Extra Dim after the phone restarts

By default, Extra Dim will be disabled after your reboot the phone.

You can use this option to make sure it is turned on after a reboot (if it is on before the reboot).

4. Add/remove an Extra Dim shortcut on the screen

Although there is a quick setting button for the Extra Dim, you can use Extra Dim even faster by using the shortcut.

The shortcut of the Extra Dim will be added as a floating button on all screens except the lock screen. So, you can tap the button even when you are using an app.

You can tap the Extra Dim shortcut to add (or remove) the floating button.

When the shortcut is added, there is a pop-up screen reminding you how to use it, as shown in the screenshot above. At the same time, you can find the floating button.

You can tap Got it to close the pop-up notification.

The floating button can be relocated to desired locations. However, on different Android 12 devices, the possible locations may be slightly different.

For example, on Pixel phones, you can relocate the shortcut (floating button) to any location on the left or right side of the screen. But on Galaxy S22, it will be located in the bottom right of the screen in the navigation bar.

The floating button can be further customized (read on).

3 ways to use Extra Dim in Android 12

On different devices, you may access the Extra Dim feature slightly different. In this guide, we will use Pixel 6 Pro as an example to show you how to use the Extra Dim in 3 different methods.

Method 1:  Use the quick setting button

In the Quick settings panel, you can find the Extra Dim button, as shown in the screenshot below.

You just need to tap it to enable or disable the feature.

On some Android 12 devices, especially those upgraded from Android 11, the Extra Dim button may be not activated by default.

In this case, you can tap the Edit button (pencil icon) in the quick settings panel, as shown above, to add the button.

Method 2: Use the Settings app

As mentioned earlier, you can also enable or disable the Extra Dim in phone settings.

On the phone Settings, navigate to the Accessibility settings page, as shown below.

You can use the switch right to the Extra Dim field to enable or disable the feature.

If you tap the Extra Dim field, you will be directed to the Extra Dim settings page, as discussed earlier.

When the feature is enabled, the switch should be on the right side, as shown in the screenshot above.

Method 3: Use the shortcut (floating button)

Of course, the quickest way to enable or disable the Extra Dim is to use the shortcut (floating button).

The floating button, once added, will be shown on all screens (except the lock screen).

For example, as shown below, on the Home screen, you can just tap the floating button to enable or disable Extra Dim directly.

How to customize the floating button for Extra Dim?

By default, the Extra Dim shortcut is added as a floating button. You can change its size and transparency, or even change it to a gesture.

On the Extra Dim settings page, as shown below, tap the Extra Dim shortcut text to further customize the floating button.

As mentioned earlier, the switch on the right side of the Extra Dim shortcut is only for you to enable or disable the floating button.

Anyway, you need to tap the text field to access the settings for the floating button.

After tapping the text field of the Extra Dim shortcut, you will get a pop-up window, as shown in the screenshot above.

By default, after you enable the floating button, the Tap accessibility button is selected as shown in the picture.

Tap More options to access the settings for the floating accessibility button (Extra Dim shortcut).

On the Accessibility button & gesture page, as shown below, you can now find the options to customize the floating button:

• Use button or gesture. You can choose to use a gesture, instead of the button to enable or disable the Extra Dim.
• Size. On Pixel 6, there are two size options for the floating button.
• Fade when not in use. By default, the button fades when not in use. You can choose to disable it.
• Transparency when not in use. You can choose the transparency of the button if you choose to fade the button when not in use. So, this option is available only when the Fade when not in use is enabled.

For example, you can tap the Use button or gesture to change the floating button to a gesture.

You will see a pop-up window, as shown below, to let you choose whether to use the floating button or gesture.

If you choose Gesture, you will find the illustration of the gesture to be used to enable or disable Extra Dim in Android 12, as shown in the screenshot above.

The gesture to be used is swiping upwards from the bottom of the screen with two fingers as illustrated.

Of course, if you choose to use this gesture, the size and transparency options will be greyed out because they are no longer relevant, as shown in the screenshot.

Remember to save the option if you want to make the change.

If you choose to use the floating button, then you can choose between a small or large button, as shown above.

Top misunderstandings of Extra Dim in Android 12

As a new feature in Android 12, there are some misunderstandings about the Extra Dim in Android 12.

Let me explain some of these misunderstandings.

1. Wrong: Extra Dim adjusts the minimum brightness level

There is no way for you to adjust the minimum brightness level of the screen. It is set by the hardware vendor.

Extra Dim makes your screen dimmer by compressing (and distorting) the colour space of the output image before it is sent to the screen to display

2. Wrong: Extra Dim only adjust the brightness

As mentioned, Extra Dim in Android 12 does NOT adjust the brightness directly. It is a software feature adjusting the image (including text) to be shown on the screen.

So, the output quality actually degrades due to the distorted colour space and reduced colour range.

3. Wrong: Extra Dim can reduce the brightness level by more than 50%

In stock Android 12, the maximum reduction of brightness is up to 50% only.

4. Misleading: You can leave the Extra Dim always on

Extra Dim is an accessibility feature designed for using the phone in a dark environment. It may save a bit (maybe negligible) battery for you.

However, you have to sacrifice colour accuracy to get a dimmer screen. So, it is recommended to turn on the Extra Dim only when you really need it.

In other words, you should adjust the brightness first. Extra Dim is the last resort when the brightness is already set to the minimum.

In almost all Android devices, the adaptive brightness also has a slider for you to adjust the “default” brightness level.

Anyway, it is not recommended to leave the Extra Dim always on unless you need to use the phone in a dark environment most of the time.

Do you have any questions about Extra Dim in Android 12?

If you have any questions on Extra Dim in Android 12, please let us know in the comments section below.

For other Android 12 guides, you may check the Android 12 guides page.

If you are still on other versions of Android, you may check these guides:

• For Android 11, please check the Android 11 guides page.
• For Android 10, please check the Android 10 guides page.
• For Android Pie (Android 9), please check the Android Pie guides page.
• For Android Oreo (Android 8.0 and 8.1), please check the Android Oreo guides page.
• For Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check the Android Nougat guides page.
• For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check the Android Marshmallow guide page.
• For Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check the Android Lollipop guide page.
• For other general Android questions or problems, please check the Android 101 page.

You may also reach us through our Facebook page.

Enjoy your Android 12!

The post Extra Dim in Android 12: The Definite Guide appeared first on Android Guides.

This Android 12 guide explains why some Android devices got the Android 12 update already, some are still waiting for it, and some will never get it. The guide also shows how to check the Android 12 update for your device and how to update your phone (or tablet) to Android 12.

Why am I still waiting for the Android 12 update?

When Android 12 (Snow Cone) was released to the public on October 4, 2021, these were only the “core” of the new Android OS.

Unlike Windows, Android releases the source code, not the executable. The drivers for the components of your Android device, e.g., the touchscreen, the sensors, the modem, are usually not included.

So, before the new Android OS code is compiled with the drivers for the components, the source code of Android 12 is actually useless for your phone.

To make it worse, you have to wait for the manufacturer of your Android device to build the executable because most of these drivers are proprietary. You cannot do it by yourself.

So, it will take the manufacturer some time to test and build the new “firmware” for your phone. In fact, Google released the Android 12 build for Pixel phones on October 19, 2021. These are the first Android phones with Android 12 updates.

Some big manufacturers, like Samsung, are deeply involved in beta testing and usually have more resources to put everything together to roll out the Android 12 update. So, you will get the Android 12 update for your device within 2-3 months. Older devices may also get the Android 12 update, although the update usually comes later than newer devices.

Some middle-tier Android vendors, like Motorola (or its parent company Lenovo), are reluctant to invest resources on sold devices. They care more about getting quick money (sell new devices). They may roll out the Android update on a few latest models.

Smaller Android vendors may not have enough resources to build a new OS for older devices, and therefore, these devices will NEVER get the Android 12 update.

How about the unofficial Android 12 update?

Building the latest Android OS for older devices normally requires even more resources than for newer devices due to some compatibility (with some new features) issues of “a few” old components used in the older devices.

Also, putting too much effort into the “sold” devices does not make economic sense because all competitors are touting “new” hardware and new features in new devices.

Therefore, up to now, none of the Android manufacturers has offered more than 4 more major updates (e.g., from Android 11 to 12 is considered as one major update).

For example, Google usually offers 3-4 major Android updates for Nexus and Pixel phones. Samsung traditionally offers 2-3 major updates for the flagship Galaxy S and Note phones and 1-2 updates for middle-range phones (e.g.,  Galaxy A series).

Other Android vendors usually offer 0-2 major updates only. And you may get the Android 12 update only after Android 13 is already released. For example, Motorola is still slowly rolling out Android 10 or Android 11 updates for a few selected models, while Android 12 was released more than four months ago.

Some other brands may never update their Android phones.

This is the actual gap between Android and iOS in terms of updates.

So, some Android phone owners have to rely on “unofficial” updates from enthusiastic developers. Some of these smart developers can pull and recompile the drivers from the official firmware or other sources, then compile them with the new versions of Android, with some tweaks.

This definitely extends the lifespan of Android phones (saves money and reduces e-waste). For example, the 9-year old Galaxy S4 can still update to Android 11 (to be precise, LineageOS 18, which is a fork of Android 11) and possibly Android 12.

Some of such updates are actually quite stable and reliable.

But, most of these updates are created by some developers in their spare time. Most are working on one or two devices because they need to eat their own dog food first. The quality of the firmware varies sharply from one developer to another.

In the worst scenario,  a few bad guys may inject malicious code and pack the firmware as a new build.

So, when considering the unofficial Android 12 update:

• You should not install it on your productivity phone. As such codes are usually not reviewed thoroughly, some bugs can be detrimental to your data. Most of the developers have very limited time, and to make it work is usually the only goal.
• You should get the firmware from a reliable source and a reputable developer. We tested some of such updates for our old devices. Some work surprisingly well. But some are not reliable.
• Among all Android forks, LineageOS is usually a good choice.

Almost all of these unofficial Android firmwares will void your phone warranty. So, if your phone is still under warranty, you should not install them either.

FYI, LineageOS 19 (which is a fork of Android 12) has not been announced yet. But it should come sometime in 2022.

How to update your phone to Android 12?

Most Android phones check updates automatically when the internet connection is available. You will see the notification if the Android 12 update is available for your device.

You can also manually check whether the Android 12 update is available for your device in the Settings app on the phone. The exact location of the entry depends on the vendor.

For example, in stock Android 11, you can find the System updates entry on the Settings –System page. There is also a button in the quick settings for the system update.

On Samsung Galaxy phones, you can find the Software update entry directly on the Settings page, as shown below.

If the Android 12 update is available, you can then choose to download and install it, as shown in the screenshot above.

The Android 12 update download size is typically 1.5-3GB depending on the device. So, it is better to download the update with WiFi unless you have sufficient mobile data.

After the update is downloaded, you can then install it. This always requires an automatic reboot. The process can take one to two hours. Your phone may be offline (disconnect from mobile and WiFi networks) for about 10-20 mins during this period.

Please note the phone will NOT proceed to the installation stage if the battery is lower than 30%. You need to charge the phone first, in this case.

List of popular Android phones that will get Android 12 update

As mentioned, it is up to the Android vendors to release the Android 12 update for your device. Of course, in a few regions, some carriers may choose to skip the update for the carrier-specific models.

Normally, only devices released in the last 2-3 years may get the Android 12 update.

Here is a list of some popular Android phones that will get the Android 12 update.

Google

The following Google devices already received the Android 12 update:

• Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 XL (released with Android 12).
• Pixel 5 and  Pixel 5a 5G.
• Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G.
• Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL.
• Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL.
• Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

Google has already finished the Android 12 update devices.

Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL and older phones will not get Android 12 update.

Samsung

The following Samsung phones will get Android 12:

• Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra (released with Android 12).
• Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, and Galaxy S21 FE  (finished).
• Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra and Galaxy S20 FE (finished in most regions).
• Galaxy S10, S10e, S10 Lite, and S10+ (on-going).
• Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra (finished).
• Galaxy Note 10 Lite, Note 10, and Note 10+ (ongoing).
• Galaxy Z Fold 3, Flip 3 (finished)
• Galaxy Fold 2, Fold, Flip 5G, and Fold (ongoing).
• Galaxy A72, A71, A52, A51, A90, A42, A32, A22, A12 (ongoing).
• Galaxy M62, M52, M42, M32, M22, and M12 (ongoing).

Please note, in a few regions, the Android 12 may be not available for some Galaxy M and A series.

Motorola

Motorola confirmed that the following devices would receive Android 12 update:

• Razr 5G and Razr 2020.
• Motorola edge 20 Pro,  edge 20, edge 20 lite, and edge 20 fusion.
• Motorola edge (2021), Motorola edge 5G, and Motorola edge plus.
• Motorola one 5G ace, and Motorola one 5G UW ace.
• Moto G200 5G, G71 5G, G51 5G, G41, G31
• Moto G100,  G60s, G60, G50,  G40 fusion, G30
• Moto G power (2022), Moto G pure, and Moto G stylus 5G

Please note Motorola release various devices in different names in different regions. Most of them will not get the Android 12 update.

Do you have any questions about getting the Android 12 update?

If you have any questions on how to update to Android 12, please let us know in the comments section below.

For other Android 12 guides, you may check the Android 12 guides page.

If you are still on other versions of Android, you may check these guides:

• For Android 11, please check the Android 11 guides page.
• For Android 10, please check the Android 10 guides page.
• For Android Pie (Android 9), please check the Android Pie guides page.
• For Android Oreo (Android 8.0 and 8.1), please check the Android Oreo guides page.
• For Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check the Android Nougat guides page.
• For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check the Android Marshmallow guide page.
• For Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check the Android Lollipop guide page.
• For other general Android questions or problems, please check the Android 101 page.

You may also reach us through our Facebook page.

Enjoy your Android 12!

The post How to update to Android 12? appeared first on Android Guides.

This Android 12 guide explains the new functions and features of quickly snoozing notifications and customizing the snoozing period for individual notifications. It shows you step-by-step how to use it to quickly snooze notifications in Android 12.

Please note this guide applies to stock Android 12 (including Android One) or near-stock Android 12 (e.g.,  on Moto phones). However, Android vendors may customize and alter this feature. For example, the notification snoozing works differently on Samsung Galaxy phones with Android 12 (One UI 4).

What’s new on snoozing notifications in Android 12?

Android introduced notification snooze in Android Oreo. The feature was gradually improved and polished in Android Pie, Android 10, and Android 11.

Now, in Android 12, some new features/functions were added:

• A snooze button for each notification was added so that you can tap to snooze the notification for a while.
• A dropdown menu that allows you to customize snoozing period for individual notifications.

So, you will find these two minor updates extremely if you use the notification snooze frequently.

How to quickly snooze notifications in Android 12?

By default, when you expand notifications in the notification panel in Android 12, you will see the additional snoozing button, as shown in the screenshot below.

Each notification has its own snoozing button. And it is not necessary to use any gestures to access the button.

So, you can quickly snooze notifications in Android 12.

For example, as shown in the screenshot above, you can just tap the snooze button to snooze the notification for 1 hour, which is the default snooze duration in Android 12.

You can undo the snooze operation by tapping the Undo button, as shown in the screenshot below. This would cancel the snooze.

The snooze button, by default, also works in the lock screen. In other words, if you choose to show notification contents on the lock screen, you will also have the option to snooze the notifications on the lock screen directly without unlocking the phone to access the notification panel.

How to customize snoozing period for individual notifications in Android 12?

As mentioned, by default, notifications will be snoozed for 1 hour in Android 12 after you tap the snooze button.

You can customize the snooze duration shorter (up to 15 mins) or longer (up to 2 hours) without leaving the notification panel.

As shown in the screenshot above, after tapping the snooze button, left to the Undo button, there is a dropdown menu icon.

You can tap the dropdown menu icon to change the snooze duration to:

• 15 mins.
• 30 mins.
• 2 hours.

Of course, this is similar to the snooze duration in previous versions.

Once a notification is snoozed, you can check it in the notification history.

Why there is no snooze button for notifications on my Android 12 devices?

The notification snoozing feature is enabled by default in Android 12.

However, if you upgrade the device to Android 12, the feature may be disabled in the old settings.

So, if you cannot see the snooze button in the notification panel or lock screen after expanding the notification, you may check whether the feature is disabled.

As shown in the screenshot below, in Android 12 Settings, tap Notifications.

Now, in the notifications settings page, as shown above, you need to make sure Allow notification snoozing is enabled.

If you want to disable notification snoozing for whatever reasons, you can also use this option to disable this feature.

As mentioned, some Android vendors may implement this feature in a different way or with a different icon. For example, in Samsung Galaxy phones with Android 12 (One UI 4.0/4.1), the snooze button looks like a bell, as shown below.

Anyway, you should first check whether Allow notification snoozing is enabled if there is no snooze button.

All notifications in the notification panel, regardless of the notification channel, should have the snooze button in Android 12, if the notification snoozing is enabled.

Do you have any questions about the notification snoozing of Android 12?

If you have any questions on how to quickly snooze notifications in Android 12, please let us know in the comments section below.

For other Android 12 guides, you may check the Android 12 guides page.

If you are still on other versions of Android, you may check these guides:

• For Android 11, please check the Android 11 guides page.
• For Android 10, please check the Android 10 guides page.
• For Android Pie (Android 9), please check the Android Pie guides page.
• For Android Oreo (Android 8.0 and 8.1), please check the Android Oreo guides page.
• For Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check the Android Nougat guides page.
• For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check the Android Marshmallow guide page.
• For Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check the Android Lollipop guide page.
• For other general Android questions or problems, please check the Android 101 page.

You may also reach us through our Facebook page.

Enjoy your Android 12!

The post How to quickly snooze notifications in Android 12? appeared first on Android Guides.

This guide summarizes the top 12 new features of Android 12 that most users will like (or need) to know. A concise explanation of each of these new features is provided to help users, especially those upgraded from Android 11, quickly start to use these new features.

Detailed step-by-step guides for some of these new features of Android 12 will be covered in other posts separately (and listed on the Android 12 Guides page).

Please note, a few big Android vendors (e.g., Samsung)  may implement a few of these features differently in their Android 12 releases. So, if your phone is not running the stock (or near-stock) Android 12, you may find the settings are in different locations or have different options.

If you have questions about getting the Android 12 update for your device, you may check this guide.

Here is our list of the top 12 new features of Android 12.

1. Redesigned UI: one of the most eye-catching new features of Android 12

After you update to Android 12, you will very likely be surprised by the huge digital clock on the lock screen.

This is just an example of dramatic changes in the redesigned UI (user interface).

Based on Google, the redesigned UI in Android 12 lets users feel more comfortable. For example, you will see more space in the notification panel. The quick settings panel is no longer just icons: the name and current status (if applicable) are also shown.

The redesigned UI in Android 12 actually changed the entire user interface, from shapes, light and motion, to customizable system colours.

It is also a lot easier to customize the Android 12 UI.

2. Camera and microphone access indicator: the most practical new features of Android 12

Android 12 now lets you know whenever the camera or microphone is accessed by an app. So, this is an addition to the location access control introduced in Android 10 to protect your privacy.

In the status bar, you will see the camera and microphone icons when they are being accessed.

And if you don’t want any apps to access your microphone or camera, you can completely disable camera and microphone access globally in the quick settings panel in Android 12. By default, these two quick setting buttons are hidden.

You need to tap the pencil icon (bottom left) in the quick settings panel then drag them up to have these toggle switches always available in Quick Settings.

3. Privacy dashboard: one of the most well-polished new features of Android 12

The new privacy dashboard in Android 12 presents both the summary (how many times and who) and history (when and wh0) info of apps that accessed location, camera, and microphone over the past 24 hours.

If an app gains (of course you granted) some permissions (e.g., call history, messages, contacts), it will also be reported similarly. So, you can quickly know which apps are using which permission and how many times the permissions were used in the last 24 hours.

In addition to the aggregated info on privacy, a quick link to manage the corresponding permissions is provided. So, you can quickly revoke some permissions for specific apps.

4. Gaming dashboard (gaming mode)

The gaming mode in Android 12 is a somewhat hidden feature and therefore overlooked by many Android 12 users.

You need to enable Android 12 gaming mode in Settings — Notifications — Do Not Disturb — Schedules — Gaming (in stock Android).

Although the Gaming schedule is enabled by default in stock Android 12, you need to tap the gear icon next to Gaming to enable the Game Dashboard (and possibly enable/disable Do Not Disturb in gaming mode),

After enabling the game dashboard, you will see the game dashboard icon when playing games.

The Game dashboard on Android 12 allows you:

• Optimize the game (if supported).
• Live stream to YouTube Live.
• Take a screenshot.
• Record the gameplay using the native screen recorder.
• Check the screen frame rates.

Of course, some Android vendors have offered similar tools or optimization for a long time. For example, Samsung’s Game launcher offers more options.

5. Quickly snooze notifications

Notification snooze was introduced in Android Oreo. It was gradually improved and polished in Android Pie, Android 10, and Android 11.

Now, in Android 12, a snooze button for each notification was added so that you can tap to snooze the notification for a while.

By default, the notification will snooze for one hour. Of course, you can change the duration to 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 2 hours in the drop-down menu.

Please note, you need to enable “Allow notification snoozing” before you can use these features.

You may follow this guide to learn to use and customize notification snoozing in Android 12.

6. Scrolling screenshots

When taking a screenshot for a multi-screen page, you may want to capture all contents in one picture instead of one screen by one screen with manual scrolling.

Surprisingly, it took a long time for Google to release the scrolling screenshots. Some Android vendors have implemented this feature for a while already (e.g., scroll capture in Samsung Galaxy phones).

Anyway, in Android 12, you can now easily take screenshots for multi-screen pages.

When taking screenshots on Android 12, you now can find a new “Capture more” button to append more screens in the screenshot.

7. Private Compute Core

Some smart features of Android (e.g., Live Caption) rely on machine learning or AI and some sensitive data are involved.

To address the privacy concerns for ML and AI, in the last few years, Google gradually offloaded the processing from the cloud to your phone so that most of the data do not leave the phone at all.

In Android 12, Google created a separated and secured workspace for these data. The raw data (e.g., voice recordings) will be secured in the Private Compute Core. The system can only retrieve the processed results.

Currently, Private Compute Core coves Live Caption, Now Playing, and Smart Reply features, which can be handled locally (i.e., raw data do not leave the phone).

8. Easy switching

Like Smart Switch in Samsung Galaxy phones, Android 12 now makes it easier to migrate from old phones.

You can easily migrate from an old phone to Android 12 through a USB cable or a shared WiFi connection. Most of the data and some settings can be migrated.

9. Extended WiFi Share

Android 10 introduced the WiFi sharing feature through a QR code.

In Android 12, Google makes WiFi share even simpler:

• You can share the WiFi from the Quick Settings (Internet button).
• You can use Nearby to share the WiFi, in addition to a QR code.

10. Improved Quick Settings: the most useful new features of Android 12

Android 12 Quick Settings went beyond the UI redesign. There are a few fundamental (and good) changes.

These changes include:

• Icons are more than bigger icons. The big rectangular buttons with both icons and text are definitely more user-friendly. Of course, these buttons will take more space compared to the old icon buttons.
• Google Pay finds its new home. Google finally finds a location for its payment system in the Quick Settings in Android 12.
• Smart device controls are now in Quick Settings. The power button was relieved from device controls in Android 12. Instead, you can control your smart devices from Quick Settings. It does make sense.
• New buttons. As mentioned earlier, there are a couple of new quick setting buttons in Android 12. For example, camera and microphone access, Extra Dim, and alarms are added to Quick Settings in the stock Android 12.

Of course, some buttons may work slightly different now. But overall, you still use and customize the Android 12 Quick Settings in the same way as before.

11. AppSearch (on-device search)

In Android 12, on-device search for apps, functions/features of apps, and contents of apps are unified in AppSearch.

In the stock Android 12, the search bar in the App Drawer can search all contents on the phone, not just app names or system settings.

Of course, individual app developers can still control how the data are indexed and shared.

12. One-hand mode

Android 12 also introduced the one-hand mode to allow you to use the phone comfortably with one hand only.

Unlike the one-hand mode implemented by some Android vendors previously, the Android 12 one-hand mode is implemented as a system navigation feature, not an accessibility feature. You must use the navigation gestures (not navigation buttons)  to use the one-hand mode in Android 12.

You need to enable the Android 12 one-hand mode in Settings — System — Gestures.

Do you have any questions about the new features of Android 12?

If you have any questions on the new features of Android 12 or using these features, please let us know in the comments section below.

For other Android 12 guides, you may check the Android 12 guides page.

If you are still on other versions of Android, you may check these guides:

• For Android 11, please check the Android 11 guides page.
• For Android 10, please check the Android 10 guides page.
• For Android Pie (Android 9), please check the Android Pie guides page.
• For Android Oreo (Android 8.0 and 8.1), please check the Android Oreo guides page.
• For Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check the Android Nougat guides page.
• For Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check the Android Marshmallow guide page.
• For Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check the Android Lollipop guide page.
• For other general Android questions or problems, please check the Android 101 page.

Enjoy your Android 12!

The post Top 12 new features of Android 12 you should know appeared first on Android Guides.