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Android Developers Blog

The Android Developers blog is a platform maintained by Google to provide updates, insights, and guides for Android app developers. It publishes regular posts on various topics, including new features in Android, updates to the Android developer tools, developer success stories, and tips on developer best practices. The blog is targeted towards developers working on Android apps and aims to help them optimize their apps for the Android platform. It also encourages developers to share their experiences, ideas, and achievements in app development.
Android Developers Blog android-developers.googleblog.com
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RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 19, 2024

Thread Of Notes

Bring your Android game to the car screen today

The games category for Android Auto and Android Automotive OS has moved from beta to general availability. Developers can now publish games to these platforms, reaching users during natural downtime in their vehicles. To adapt an existing Android game, developers need to configure their app manifest and ensure the game respects the vehicle's parked state. The manifest must declare the app as a game using the android:appCategory="game" attribute.Support for Android Auto is declared by including the android.intent.category.CAR_LAUNCHER category element in an activity's intent filter. For Android Automotive OS, the android.hardware.automotive element must be included in the manifest. Games are considered parked apps and cannot run while the vehicle is in motion to prevent driver distraction. Developers should ensure their game audio stops when the user starts driving and does not unpause while the vehicle is in motion.Additionally, games must restore their state when relaunched after UX restrictions are active and be responsive without freezing or stuttering. Declaring controller support via the android.hardware.gamepad feature can boost app visibility for users seeking controller-compatible games. Games should also be adaptive to various car screen sizes and aspect ratios, running full screen without letterboxing or pillarboxing.Before submitting to production, developers must opt in to Android Auto and Android Automotive OS form factors in the Google Play Console and test their games against car app quality guidelines. The Desktop Head Unit and Android Automotive OS emulator are available for thorough testing. Games will be reviewed against the car app quality guidelines for the games category before approval.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/09/bring-android-game-to-car-screen.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Yesterday

Introducing the AndroidX Security State Libraries: A Unified View of Device Security

Android is releasing new libraries to improve device security transparency. The AndroidX Security State version 1.1.0 and Security State Provider version 1.0.0 libraries offer a centralized way to understand device security postures and pending updates. These tools allow developers to verify security at a component level, moving beyond the old single Security Patch Level. The libraries introduce three new patch levels: Device SPL (DSPL) for the installed level, Published SPL (PSPL) for the latest bulletin level, and Available SPL (ASPL) for ready downloads. These levels are tracked for the system, system modules, and the kernel. This granular data enables developers and enterprises to make informed security decisions based on actual protection and pending updates. For instance, banking apps can check ASPL before high-value transactions and prompt users to update if needed. The Security State Provider library standardizes how update clients report availability, making ASPL accessible via a unified API. This integration with the Open Source Vulnerabilities database provides a more accurate "effective" security state. Additionally, OEMs can now declare supplemental patch information to receive immediate credit for backported fixes. Developers can explore guides and documentation to begin using these new security libraries. Feedback on the libraries can be provided through the Android Issue Tracker.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/09/introducing-androidx-security-state-libraries.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Sep 17

Android Bench 2.0: Pushing the frontier with challenging long-horizon tasks

Android Bench has been updated to version 2.0, introducing long-horizon tasks (LHTs) that mirror complex, multi-day engineering challenges. This upgrade also includes agentic evaluation, starting with agents from corresponding model providers. The previous benchmark focused on simpler, incremental code changes, but the new LHTs include tasks like app dependency upgrades, feature additions, and building apps from scratch. Traditional binary scoring is being replaced with continuous scoring to better reflect the nuanced progress made on these complex tasks. This new scoring method considers functionality, visual fidelity, and avoids regressions, with penalties for instruction deviations. Currently, the highest pass rate for LHTs is around 28%, a significant drop from the prior benchmark's success rate. AI models demonstrate strength in writing new code over refactoring existing code, excelling at established deterministic transformations. However, they struggle with tasks requiring runtime validation, breaking framework changes, or knowledge gaps in unreleased libraries. Porting cross-platform apps to Android remains a particularly challenging area for AI. The evaluation now incorporates commonly used agents to assess performance in agentic workflows. New models like Gemini 3.8 Flash and OpenAI’s GPT-6 have been added to the leaderboard. Android Bench 2.0 aims to provide transparency and empower developers by offering a more robust environment for evaluating AI for Android development. Feedback on the updated methodology and leaderboard is encouraged for future improvements.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/09/android-bench-2-long-horizon-tasks.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Sep 16

Introducing Fast and Reliable Wireless Debugging with Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Wi-Fi 2.0

Android Studio has significantly improved wireless debugging with the introduction of ADB Wi-Fi 2.0. This update addresses developer feedback by enhancing speed, reliability, and ease of setup. The core components, including the adb server, adbd daemon, and Android Studio, have been re-engineered. A new mDNS stack replaces previous implementations, ensuring more stable connections even with network changes or device power cycles. The adbd daemon now automatically disables ADB Wi-Fi on untrusted networks for enhanced security. Android Studio’s Device Manager now offers improved discoverability for Wi-Fi pairing. These improvements have led to a 32% increase in auto-connection success and a 66% boost in connection speed for most connections. ADB Wi-Fi 2.0 is available on phones, tablets, Wear OS, and TVs. Users need to update their Android version, SDK Platform-Tools, and Android Studio to utilize the new features. Getting started involves enabling wireless debugging on the device and then pairing through Android Studio’s Device Manager.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/09/wireless-debugging-adb-wifi-2.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Sep 9

Leverage Android skills and Gemma 4 in Android Studio Quail 4

Android Studio Quail 4 is now a stable release, offering enhanced AI capabilities for app development. The IDE now bundles curated "Android skills" for AI models, ensuring accurate and up-to-date code assistance for Android-specific tasks. These skills guide large language models through complex workflows, leveraging Google's best practices. Twenty-three pre-loaded skills cover areas like build upgrades, profiling, and UI adaptation. Developers can also create custom skills for specialized team workflows or use them with external command-line tools. Android Studio Quail 4 also integrates Gemma 4, Google's powerful open model, for private, secure, and offline AI coding assistance. This integration requires significant RAM but allows for multi-file refactoring without code leaving the local machine or hitting token limits. User interface enhancements in Quail 4 improve AI interactions with hyperlinked code symbols and real-time notifications for parallel agent tasks. A unified Summary of Changes tab consolidates multi-step task outcomes for easier review. For more advanced AI usage, developers can upgrade their Gemini access through API keys, Google AI plans, or Gemini Enterprise. The Quail series has progressively introduced features like App Quality Insights integration, agentic multitasking, local model support, and simplified planning modes. Android Studio Quail 4 provides users with a more efficient and intelligent development experience, encouraging users to download and provide feedback.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/09/leverage-gemma-4-android-studio-quail.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Sep 1

Emulator control for adaptive app development

Adaptive app development on Android requires thorough testing across various devices and screen configurations. While Android Studio offers a resizable emulator for manual layout checks, a more efficient method exists using terminal commands. The adb emu command allows developers to control emulator form factors directly from the command line, returning control to the shell immediately after execution. This shortcut is particularly useful for testing foldable devices, enabling programmatic folding and unfolding to simulate different screen states. Developers can test foldable-specific user journeys and layout behavior by toggling between folded and unfolded states. Furthermore, the adb emu rotate command facilitates the testing of orientation changes and state restoration within apps. For simulating physical postures like tabletop mode, developers can query available postures using adb emu posture and then set a specific posture. The resizable emulator can also be controlled via the terminal, with presets for different sizes available through adb emu resize-display. These commands streamline the testing process, saving significant time and resources compared to managing multiple emulators. Developers are encouraged to explore these console shortcuts to improve their adaptive app development workflow.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/emulator-adaptive.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 31

How WhatsApp Upgraded to Secure, Seamless Sign-In for 1 Billion Users with Passkeys

WhatsApp, the world's largest messaging platform, adopted passkeys in 2023, enhancing user security and convenience. This initiative aimed to provide a fast, phishing-resistant authentication method that reduces user friction and protects against account takeovers. Mayank Manuja, an Android Engineer on the WhatsApp Registration and Access team, led this design and implementation. Building for billions of users required navigating diverse network conditions, device capabilities, and digital literacy levels. Passkeys offer a streamlined, one-tap login experience, leveraging public-private key cryptography with biometric or screen lock authentication. This significantly improves sign-in speeds and functions reliably even where traditional SMS OTP delivery is inconsistent.From a developer perspective, the Credential Manager API provided a unified interface, simplifying integration despite numerous edge cases across Android versions and device configurations. WhatsApp and Google collaborated to optimize credential lookup flow, improving latency for new passkey users. They also built a comprehensive error-handling layer to manage device-specific hurdles and ensure graceful degradation when passkey flows couldn't complete. Furthermore, they tackled OS-specific exceptions, implementing platform-level improvements for smoother passkey creation flows.WhatsApp refined the user experience through extensive A/B testing, developing a contextual framework for prompting passkey creation. On the backend, WhatsApp's server implements standard WebAuthn/FIDO2 ceremonies using Erlang and a Rust webauthn-rs library for signature verification. The server architecture orchestrates passkey registration by generating options for the client, verifying attestation, and securely persisting credentials. For authentication, it fetches valid credentials, generates a server-side challenge, and verifies the client's assertion.Advanced architectural considerations included migrating to a multi-passkey per account system, which required engineering a bounded list system to evict older credentials once a limit was reached. This significant structural shift was rolled out gradually through rigorous experimentation to ensure stability. Balancing the credential lifecycle also required careful management of credential validity.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/whatsapp-passkeys-secure-sign-in.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 27

Elevating app quality: Reducing memory usage and improving device migration

Google Play is introducing new quality requirements to enhance the Android ecosystem for both developers and users. These changes focus on reducing app memory footprint and simplifying secure device migration. New performance thresholds are being established to address hardware constraints and Android's memory limits. These thresholds will cover dynamic memory usage, bitmap memory usage, and code optimization. Developers will have access to new tools within Play Console to identify and resolve memory bloat issues. These tools include memory metrics in Android vitals, crash filters, and DEX code optimization insights. Proactive performance alerts will also be provided when apps exceed new bad behavior thresholds. Enforcement for these memory-related requirements will begin in February 2027. Apps failing to meet these thresholds may experience reduced visibility and publishing capabilities.Additionally, Google Play is introducing a new onboarding standard for secure and seamless device migration. This standard requires apps supporting user sign-in to implement Zero-Tap Sign-In using the Android Restore Credentials API. This feature will automatically restore a user's sign-in state when they switch to a new Android device. The Zero-Tap Sign-In requirement will also take effect in April 2027. While games are currently exempt, guidance for their authentication is expected in 2027. Meeting these upcoming quality requirements is crucial for maintaining optimal visibility and publishing capabilities on Google Play.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/app-quality-memory-optimization-secure-onboarding.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 26

Ensuring Safety in the Generative AI Ecosystem: Protecting Users from Non-Consensual Intimate Content

Google Play emphasizes that user safety and developer success are intertwined. The platform is seeing growth in apps incorporating AI-generated features, which offer creative possibilities. However, these AI advancements also introduce new safety challenges, particularly the creation and distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII). Google Play strictly prohibits such content and is committed to removing harmful applications. The company is investing heavily in platform protections, technical defenses, and developer resources to combat abuse. Safeguarding the ecosystem involves multi-layered defenses across the app lifecycle, continuous testing for robust controls, and cutting off monetization pathways for bad actors. Google Play also collaborates with third-party organizations and AI safety research groups to identify and address NCII abuse. Developers are encouraged to streamline app reviews by providing clear visibility into their AI features and safety guardrails. Building apps for safety includes stress-testing against adversarial prompts and integrating customized input/output moderation controls. Developers are reminded of their accountability for app advertisements and are urged to leverage user interactions as signals for continuous improvement and safety. Responsible AI innovation, coupled with safety and user trust, is a key focus for Google Play's ongoing support of developers.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/ensuring-safety-genai-preventing-non-consensual-intimate-content.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 25

AAOS SDV - Secure by Design

Android Automotive Operating System for Software Defined Vehicle leverages virtualization for domain isolation, running multiple logical domains like cluster and infotainment systems in parallel virtual machines. It inherits Android's robust security features, including user ID-based process isolation and a deny-by-default posture enforced by SELinux. AAOS SDV integrates Android's mature vulnerability management infrastructure for identifying, remediating, and disclosing security findings through automated scanning and penetration testing. Software integrity is ensured through authenticated software delivery, utilizing read-only partitions and APEX packages with mandatory signature validation. APEX packages enhance security through immutable storage, cryptographic integrity via dm-verity, strict process isolation, and atomic recovery mechanisms for updates. For platform resilience, AAOS SDV prioritizes memory-safe development, primarily using Rust for new components. It establishes distributed trust with a mesh provisioning architecture that cryptographically verifies communication endpoints, binding network identity to execution state. DICE-based authentication and attestation are used for hardware-grounded identity verification and integrity checks, particularly for securing VM-to-VM communication via TLS. Layered access control, consisting of service-level and VM-level permissions, allows OEMs to balance security with updatability for dynamic vehicle updates. Overall, AAOS SDV offers a secure-by-design approach for software-defined vehicles through multi-layered defenses and hardware-rooted verification.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/aaos-sdv-secure-by-design.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 24

Preparing your app for broader memory limits

Android is prioritizing a great user experience by focusing on fast, responsive, and reliable devices. Memory optimization is crucial as devices often have limited physical memory while users expect high performance. Android 17 introduced per-app memory limits, initially on Pixel devices, to prevent apps from causing system-wide slowdowns. This feature will expand to a wider range of devices and RAM configurations from various manufacturers. Apps exceeding their memory limits will be throttled and may be terminated by the system. Understanding how these limits work, including zRAM swapping and process termination, is essential for developers. Developers can identify if their app was impacted by memory limits through specific exit reasons in ApplicationExitInfo. Monitoring memory usage is vital for optimization, and Android Vitals in Google Play Console offers macro-level visibility into memory distribution. Firebase Crashlytics helps track Out-Of-Memory exceptions and memory limiter kills with additional debug data. The ProfilingManager API allows for in-field collection of detailed memory debug artifacts from production devices. Developers are urged to audit their app's memory footprint and implement optimization best practices to avoid performance issues. Prioritizing memory optimization and continuous monitoring are key steps for maintaining a seamless user experience.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/app-broader-memory-limits.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 19

Tinder cuts app cold starts by 47% with new R8 Configuration Analyzer

Tinder's large Android app codebase faced significant optimization challenges, with approximately 70% unoptimized and numerous dex files. Keep rules, enabled by R8, were inadvertently blocking optimization without clear identification of offenders. To address slow startup times and perceived ANR errors, Tinder adopted the R8 Configuration Analyzer. This tool helped them pinpoint and remove unintentional optimization blockers, leading to immediate improvements. Specifically, Tinder reduced app cold starts by 47%, decreased download size by nearly 29%, and lowered user-perceived ANRs by 28%. The Configuration Analyzer identifies areas for refinement by tracking shrinking, optimization, and obfuscation scores. It reveals broad, redundant, or obsolete keep rules, including those from external libraries. Tinder discovered a particularly wide, unscoped keep rule in an in-house library was preventing significant optimization. Refining this rule unlocked substantial performance gains, increasing R8 scores from 28% to 50%. These improvements reduced DEX files, which positively impacted user engagement, especially on resource-constrained devices. Tinder has since integrated optimization monitoring into their CI/CD pipeline to prevent future regressions.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/tinder-app-cold-start-r8-configuration-analyzer.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 18

Jetpack XR SDK core libraries reach beta: The next milestone for Android XR

The Android XR SDK has introduced beta versions of Jetpack SceneCore, ARCore for Jetpack XR, and XR Runtime, signaling API stabilization for production. Jetpack Compose for XR will also be released soon. These tools empower developers to create immersive and augmented reality experiences for Android XR devices using familiar Android development practices. Jetpack SceneCore assists in building and managing 3D scene graphs with entity-component systems. ARCore for Jetpack XR enables digital content integration with the real world through perception capabilities like depth estimation and hit testing. The XR Runtime provides the foundational elements for device lifecycles and session management. Jetpack Compose for XR will allow for the creation of spatial user interfaces using Compose concepts. Recent beta updates include expanded testing support for spatial audio and XR devices, Kotlin coroutine alignment, and updated terminology for more consistent spatial management. Developers can integrate these beta libraries into their projects by adding the Google Maven repository and the specified dependencies to their Gradle files. With the growing Android XR ecosystem, now is an opportune moment to begin developing immersive experiences.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/jetpack-xr-sdk-core-libraries-beta.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 18

Enhance your app for the new Pixel lineup: Unveiled at Made by Google

Google's latest Pixel devices, including the Pixel Fold and Pixel Watch, offer developers significant opportunities to enhance user experiences across diverse form factors. Foldable phones, in particular, present a chance for apps to adapt to larger, dynamic screen real estate. Developers can leverage Jetpack Compose APIs and Window Size Classes to create responsive layouts that intelligently reflow content around folds and hinges. State preservation with ViewModel ensures seamless transitions between folded and unfolded states, as demonstrated by Notability and Flo Health.For wearables, Wear OS 7 on the Pixel Watch 5 introduces one-handed gesture control and Live Updates to provide efficient, glanceable interactions. Spotify is already integrating gesture control for media playback, while Just Eat uses Live Updates for real-time order tracking. Wear Widgets offer expressiveness and consistency across watch surfaces. Gemini Nano 4 on Pixel devices enables powerful on-device AI, allowing for low-latency, real-time intelligent features through the ML Kit GenAI Prompt API. Developers can utilize self-service tools and Gemini models to build smart capabilities directly on the hardware. Android skills further accelerate development by providing AI-optimized instructions for agents and tools, simplifying complex workflows. By exploring adaptive guidance, creating glanceable Wear OS experiences, and integrating on-device AI, developers can shape the future of the Pixel ecosystem.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/pixel-app-experience-made-by-google.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 12

Bring one-handed gestures to your Wear OS app

One-handed gestures offer a convenient, touch-free way to interact with smartwatches. Introduced with Wear OS 6.1 on Pixel Watch, they facilitated actions like controlling timers and calls. Wear OS 7 expands this with a new Gestures framework, empowering OEMs and developers to integrate gesture control. Developers can now incorporate these gestures into their Wear Compose apps using the 1.7 beta release. The framework supports two main interaction patterns: a primary action, like double-pinching to start a timer, and a dismiss action, like a wrist turn to go back. These features are available on Pixel Watch 3 and newer, with the framework open for adoption by all Wear OS manufacturers. Integrating gestures involves defining gesture configurations, initializing indicator states, and applying the Modifier.oneHandedGesture to interactive components. This modifier activates visual hints, called gesture indicators, to guide users. Examples include using a double-pinch for a button press or scrolling through content. Components like OneHandedGestureClickIndicator and OneHandedGestureScrollIndicator help implement these visual cues. Spotify is an early adopter, utilizing one-handed gestures for seamless music playback control without screen interaction. Developers can begin experimenting with these gestures today by updating their Wear Compose dependency and targeting Wear OS 7.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/one-handed-gestures-wear-os.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 12

What's new in the Jetpack Compose August '26 release

The Jetpack Compose August 2026 release, version 1.12, is now stable. This update introduces Mesh Gradients and Wide Color Gamut support for richer visuals. It also brings structural layout features like named areas in Grid and seamless integration with Android's Credential Manager. For developers, the compile SDK is updated to API 37, requiring a minimum AGP 9.2.0, and Modifier.onFirstVisible() is now deprecated in favor of Modifier.onVisibilityChanged(). Graphics capabilities are enhanced with MeshGradientPainter for multi-point gradients and full pipeline support for Wide Color Gamut and HDR rendering. The experimental Styles API continues to be built, focusing on type safety and custom design systems. Runtime optimizations include a Keyed SideEffect overload for more performant one-shot effects. Animation features now include DeferredTargetAnimation graduation and new composables for two-stage transitions with manual control and seamless handoff. Text editing gains new APIs for rich-text formatting in BasicTextField and programmatic control over text selection via SelectionState. Credential Manager integration allows text fields to prompt for passkeys and saved credentials. Layout enhancements include named areas in experimental Grid layouts for easier complex 2D arrangement. Performance improvements focus on startup, aiming for Time to Initial Display comparable to Views. Testing upgrades offer improved test synchronization with new APIs like hasPendingWork and runWithoutImplicitWait.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/jetpack-compose-august-2026-release.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 12

Media3 1.11 - What's new?

Media3 1.11 is now available, introducing significant updates for Android media applications. The release enhances Jetpack Compose UI modules with customizable player layouts, interactive gestures, and efficient short-form video preloading via PlayerPool. A new MiniController Composable offers a compact playback display, and expanded state holders improve metadata and error observation within Compose. Cast integration has been modernized to support the SystemUI Output Switcher for a unified output experience. The release also introduces a Ktor HTTP client network extension, providing a Kotlin-first data source option. New muxing utilities for Ogg and WAV files have been added, alongside improved container parsing capabilities for MP4 and Matroska. Playback enhancements include support for HAGC dynamic HDR metadata on supported devices for a more consistent HDR experience. MediaSession now features asynchronous connection handling and defaults to a more secure configuration for untrusted controllers. These updates aim to provide developers with greater control, richer interactions, and improved performance for media playback and editing.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/media3-1-11-whats-new.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 11

Inside Android Skills - Built for deprecation

The Android Skills project aims to address knowledge gaps in state-of-the-art language models. Official skills are intentionally developed for highly specific, rapidly evolving areas like new API versions or advanced tooling. General skills are generally discouraged as they consume valuable tokens without significant benefit for well-informed models. Each skill undergoes rigorous evaluation to ensure it provides demonstrable value before release, akin to integration tests in software development. These evaluations are performed using various language models and agents, with access to official documentation. The Android Knowledge Base, accessible via Android Studio or CLI, is recommended as a single, efficient tool for accessing official documentation. Pull requests for new skills are disabled due to reliance on internal, non-open-source evaluation infrastructure, though community feedback is actively sought through issue filing. Basic or core skills can be beneficial when prompts are vague, when using smaller, less capable models, when refactoring legacy code, or when deviating from standard architectural patterns. The community provides numerous valuable skills for Compose and Kotlin, but developers should prioritize reputable sources. The ultimate goal is for the knowledge contained in skills to be integrated into future models, rendering them obsolete over time.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/android-skills-philosophy.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Aug 6

Delivering safer, age-appropriate experiences on Google Play

Google Play's top priority is providing a safe online experience and protecting users from harm, and to achieve this, they have been investing in baseline protections and empowering parents with tools to make decisions for their families. Google Play also aims to empower developers to deliver age-appropriate experiences based on their app's content. The Google Play Age Signals API is a privacy-preserving tool that allows parents to share their child's age range with apps, enabling developers to tailor their in-app safety experiences and content. This API is being expanded to all Play developers globally, with the experience first being rolled out to users in Australia and Canada by mid-August, and a full global rollout later this year. The Play Age Signals API puts parents in control, allowing them to share their child's age range directly with apps, and also enables adults to easily share their age when prompted by the app developer. Developers receive the signals they need to tailor their own in-app safety experiences and content for users in an age-appropriate way, and they have the flexibility to choose how they integrate safety signals. The API simplifies safety settings for parents, putting age-sharing controls in one place, directly inside the Google Family Link app, and parents have a choice to share their child's age range, which can be updated or turned off at any time. The Play Age Signals API builds upon a strong foundation of established safety features and strict policies enforced on Google Play, including rigorous safety standards for apps designed for families and built-in tools for developers to manage who can discover their apps. The expansion of the Play Age Signals API globally adds a powerful new tool to Google Play's existing safety suite, helping parents and developers work together to make Google Play a safer and more trustworthy place for families. By providing a reliable signal, Google Play enables developers to retain complete agency to tailor their app's content, features, and settings to match their audience, and this helps to create a safer online experience for all users.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/google-play-age-signals-api-safer-experiences.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 29

How R8 made Kotlin Coroutines on Android 2x faster

The Android team has been working on optimizing the performance of coroutines in Android apps, particularly those using Kotlin. The kotlinx.atomicfu library, which is used by kotlinx.coroutines, was found to be a bottleneck due to its use of AtomicReferenceFieldUpdater, which has a significant overhead due to reflection checks. To address this issue, the R8 compiler has been updated to optimize most AtomicFieldUpdater calls into Unsafe variants, resulting in a 2x to 4x performance improvement. This optimization is available in AGP 9.2.0 and later versions, and it has a significant impact on the performance of Jetpack Compose, which uses coroutines extensively. The optimization works by replacing AtomicFieldUpdater calls with calls to Unsafe, which eliminates the need for reflection checks. The R8 compiler can optimize these calls statically, resulting in a significant performance improvement. The optimization has been tested and verified through benchmarks, which show a 2x improvement in coroutine performance. Additionally, the ART team is working on implementing similar optimizations natively at the VM level, which will provide further performance improvements. The optimization is available by default when using AGP 9.2.0 or later, and it can also be used directly with R8 9.2.0. The performance improvement is significant, with some benchmarks showing a 2x improvement in coroutine performance. Overall, the optimization is an important step in improving the performance of Android apps that use coroutines and Kotlin. The optimization has been successfully tested and implemented, and it is now available for use in Android apps. The Android team continues to work on optimizing the performance of Android apps, and this optimization is an important part of those efforts.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/how-r8-made-kotlin-coroutines-2x-faster.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 27

Optimize your apps for the next generation of Samsung Galaxy devices

Samsung's recent Galaxy Unpacked event introduced new foldable and wearable devices, expanding the variety of form factors and screen sizes developers must support. The Galaxy Z Fold8, with its landscape-first orientation and wider aspect ratio, presents new challenges for app layouts. Developers are encouraged to rethink their layout architecture to accommodate these dynamic displays, moving away from fixed assumptions about orientation and size. Key guidance includes building fluid, adaptive layouts that prioritize window class width and utilize flexible containers for content reflowing. Tracking actual app space using Jetpack Window Manager's Window Size Classes is crucial, especially in multitasking scenarios. The latest Jetpack Compose release offers new structural layout tools like Grid and FlexBox APIs for managing complex architectures and adapting UIs. Making apps fold-aware by using the Jetpack WindowManager library helps avoid placing crucial content over hinges and uses them as separators. Maintaining app continuity through ViewModel ensures seamless UI state retention during folding and unfolding. Camera implementations on foldables require migration to CameraX or integration with CameraViewfinder to handle sensor orientation and device rotation. Wear OS 7 introduces Wear Widgets, built with Jetpack Glance and RemoteCompose, allowing developers to create glanceable experiences for users' wrists. Finally, developers can leverage Gemini Nano 4 on Samsung devices and ML Kit's Prompt API to build intelligent, on-device features.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/optimize-galaxy-screen-sizes.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 22

Celebrating 5 years of Jetpack Compose

The Android team is celebrating the fifth anniversary of Jetpack Compose 1.0, which was released on July 28th, 2021. Since its release, Compose has evolved significantly and has become the standard for building native interfaces on Android. Today, more than 68% of the top 1,000 apps use Compose in production, and it has completely changed the Android ecosystem. Over the years, Compose has expanded to work on various form factors, including TV, WearOS, and display glasses. The team has also recorded an episode of Android Developers Backstage, where they discuss the history of Compose and its early days of development. Compose has come a long way since its beginnings, and the community has played a significant role in its success, with many developers contributing to its growth and creating innovative examples of its use. The latest version of Compose, 1.11, offers many new features, including adaptive APIs, and the team is now focusing on Compose-first development, with all future UI development happening only in Compose. The community has been instrumental in shaping Compose, and the team is grateful for the contributions of many developers who have created libraries, filed bugs, and pushed the boundaries of what declarative UI can do. The team is celebrating this milestone with in-person birthday parties and a live event on the Android Developers YouTube channel, where they will discuss Compose and answer questions. The future of Compose looks bright, and the team is excited to see what the next five years will bring.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/five-years-of-jetpack-compose.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 21

Build intelligent Android apps: Integrate into Android's intelligence system using AppFunctions

This article discusses how to integrate app features into the Android intelligence system using AppFunctions, enhancing user experience with background, agent-driven actions. Traditional UIs are complemented by AppFunctions, which allow privileged agents on the device to access app features without user intervention. The authors adapted their travel planning app, JetPacker, by exposing key functionalities like expense tracking, itinerary management, and voice note capturing as AppFunctions. They identified tasks where voice or text commands are faster than manual UI interactions. For instance, logging an expense or asking about the next itinerary item can be done instantly in the background. Hands-free note capturing is also simplified, allowing users to dictate notes. The system operates on Android MCP, where the app acts as a local server exposing features via AppFunctions. These functions are compiled into sandboxed tool definitions discoverable by the agent. Development was accelerated using the AppFunctions development skill, which assists with data modeling, code generation, and testing. Custom data types are annotated with @AppFunctionSerializable, and features are exposed using @AppFunction. KDoc comments are crucial for LLM understanding of parameters and execution accuracy. Service entry points are created by extending AppFunctionService and annotated with @AppFunctionServiceEntryPoint. Verification of AppFunctions can be done through ADB commands or the AppFunctions Testing Agent. AppFunctions enable a new interaction model for apps, allowing agents to access features securely, with apps maintaining control over private data.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/build-intelligent-android-apps-appfunctions.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 21

Build intelligent Android apps: Cloud and hybrid inference

This post explores building intelligent Android apps using Firebase AI Logic for cloud-hosted and hybrid AI features. It details how to ground AI answers in real-world context using URL, Google Search, and Maps grounding. The article also explains hybrid inference, allowing dynamic routing between cloud and local execution for features like restaurant review drafting. A museum assistant example demonstrates using web context and search for up-to-date information. The hotel support chat feature showcases custom hybrid routing for translations, utilizing ML Kit for language identification and both on-device and cloud models for translation. Firebase App Check is introduced to secure AI pipelines against API key abuse and unauthorized billing. The combination of cloud and on-device capabilities results in a smart, secure, and offline-available travel app. The Jetpacker app's full source code is available on GitHub. This is the third part of a series on building intelligent Android apps.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/build-intelligent-android-apps-cloud-hybrid-inference.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 21

Build intelligent Android apps: On-device inference

This blog post series focuses on building intelligent Android applications using on-device AI. The demo app, Jetpacker, will be enhanced with personalized features. This installment explores the use of Gemini Nano via ML Kit's Prompt API for on-device functionalities.On-device processing offers advantages like enhanced user privacy, offline reliability, and cost savings. Three features were identified for Jetpacker: summarizing trip itineraries, managing expenses, and capturing voice notes. Itinerary summarization helps users by transforming detailed schedules into concise overviews with preparation tips. This is ideal for on-device models due to short text inputs/outputs and scalability.Gemini Nano, Google's efficient mobile-optimized model, powers these features. ML Kit's Prompt API allows easy integration and prototyping. Expense management is another key area where on-device processing ensures sensitive receipt data remains private. Gemini Nano's multimodal capabilities aid in extracting information from receipt images.The Structured Output API further streamlines parsing receipt data into defined Kotlin objects. Finally, a voice notes feature uses ML Kit's Speech Recognition API for on-device transcription. This transcribed text is then processed by the Prompt API to identify relevant trip activities. This approach enables efficient, private, and reliable intelligent features within the Android app.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/android-on-device-inference.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 21

Build intelligent Android apps: Introduction to Jetpacker

This blog post series introduces Jetpacker, an open-source Android demo app showcasing how to build GenAI features. The series will guide developers through choices regarding execution location, complexity, and integration of AI models. Jetpacker demonstrates on-device intelligence for features like itinerary summarization, expense tracking from receipts, and voice note transcription. These on-device features offer privacy benefits and work offline, leveraging Gemini Nano and ML Kit. Cloud and hybrid inference are utilized for features requiring greater world knowledge or complex tasks, such as a museum assistant or review drafting. Hybrid inference dynamically selects between on-device and cloud models to optimize performance and cost. Android system integration allows app capabilities to be accessed by the operating system via the AppFunctions API. Agentic workflows, which enable models to act with autonomy, are also explored, with a booking assistant example running in the cloud. The series offers detailed implementation steps and architectural insights for creating intelligent Android applications.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/build-intelligent-android-apps-introduction-jetpack.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 21

Upcoming Changes to the Nearby Connections API

User privacy and transparency are core to the Android experience, and to better align with these principles, the default behavior of the Nearby Connections API is being updated. The update affects how the API interacts with device radios, specifically Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Previously, the Nearby Connections API could automatically toggle these radios on to facilitate connections without explicit user intervention. However, moving forward, the API will no longer automatically enable these radios for first-party and third-party applications. This change requires developers to update their implementation to account for the new behavior. Developers must ensure that the necessary radios are enabled before initiating Nearby Connections tasks, which is now referred to as manual radio management. If the required radios are disabled, the app must inform the user and request that they enable them manually. The Nearby Connections API will no longer programmatically turn on the radios for the app. The changes are scheduled to take effect in late 2026, and developers are recommended to review their connection workflows now to ensure a seamless transition for users. By making these changes, Android aims to provide a more transparent and user-centric experience for its users.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/upcoming-changes-nearby-connections-api.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 20

Android Studio Quail 2 is Stable: Multi-task with the Android Studio AI agent

Android Studio Quail 2 is now stable and available for production use, offering a range of new features to improve the development experience. The update introduces concurrent agentic workflows, allowing developers to work on multiple tasks simultaneously without manual friction. The new architecture provides better performance and flexibility, enabling developers to decompose complex tasks and switch between multiple agent chats. Memory leak detection has been improved with the native integration of LeakCanary, a popular open-source leak detector, which can identify memory leaks and provide interactive leak traces. The Profiler can now render color-coded leak traces, allowing developers to jump to the exact line of code and fix the leak with the help of the Gemini agent. App Quality Insights has also been integrated with Agent Mode, enabling developers to track down the root cause of app crashes and resolve issues quickly. The agent can analyze the issue, propose a step-by-step fix plan, and apply the necessary code changes directly to the project. In addition to new features, the update includes quality and stability improvements, addressing numerous bugs and incorporating the latest performance enhancements. The new features and improvements aim to accelerate development and reduce manual friction, making it easier for developers to create high-quality apps. Overall, Android Studio Quail 2 offers a range of exciting new features and improvements that can help developers streamline their workflow and improve their overall development experience.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/android-studio-quail-2-stable-features.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 14

Evolving how LLMs are measured for Android: the next era of Android Bench

Android Bench, an LLM leaderboard for Android development tasks, was introduced in March to promote transparency and model improvements. Based on feedback, the benchmark now evaluates open-weight models and includes cost and efficiency dimensions. The July release adopts the Harbor framework, an updated benchmarking agent, for more rigorous model evaluations. This update necessitated re-running all models, causing a minor shift in scores, though historical data remains accessible. Eight new models, including Claude Fable 5, Claude Sonnet 5, and GLM 5.2, have been added to the leaderboard. Claude Fable 5 currently leads with an 84.5 score, while GLM 5.2 tops the open-weight models. The Android developer community can now contribute to Android Bench by submitting new development tasks or running and sharing benchmark evaluations. This initiative aims to create a benchmark that truly reflects the diverse challenges faced by global Android developers. The goal is to continuously update Android Bench to ensure AI assistance remains cutting-edge, smarter, and more effective. Developers are encouraged to engage with the GitHub repository and Harbor Hub for contributions and to review the updated leaderboard and methodology.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/android-bench-llm-measurement.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 8

Google Play launches the first Indie Games Fund in Africa

Google Play is launching its Indie Games Fund in Sub-Saharan Africa to support the region's vibrant game development scene. This initiative aims to address the persistent hurdle of access to capital for local studios. The fund commits $1 million USD to empower indie game developers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ten selected studios will receive individual investments ranging from $50,000 to $200,000. In addition to financial backing, recipients will benefit from dedicated mentorship and hands-on technical support. This support is designed to help studios scale their businesses and reach a global audience. The program is open to indie game developers based in eligible Sub-Saharan African countries. Applicants must have already launched a game on any platform, including Google Play, PC, or console. Detailed eligibility criteria and application instructions are available online. The application deadline is July 31, 2026, at 12 noon UTC.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/07/Indie-Games-Fund-Africa.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jul 6

Eclipsa Video: HDR That Looks Right on Every Screen

Android's Product Managers introduced Eclipsa Video to address inconsistencies in HDR video playback across different screens. Currently, the same HDR video can appear jarringly bright or dull depending on the display. Eclipsa Video is a new standard, building on SMPTE ST 2094-50, designed for consistent and comfortable video rendering. It eliminates guesswork by providing precise guidelines for displays on how to render image brightness. Eclipsa Video offers a consistent baseline brightness for readability and avoids uncomfortable glare. It also provides adaptive headroom, intelligently scaling highlights on mobile screens to prevent blinding transitions. The format preserves creative intent by carrying frame-by-frame instructions for color, contrast, and mood. Starting with Android 17, Eclipsa Video support is integrated directly into the platform for phones, tablets, and TVs. Developers and creators are invited to implement Eclipsa Video playback and capture using provided guides and open-source tools. As an open standard, Eclipsa Video is expected to gain wider adoption by app developers and hardware manufacturers over time.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/eclipsa-video-hdr-review.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jun 29

Expanded billing choice and lower fees on Google Play

Google Play is updating its business model to offer developers more flexibility and support their growth. A new billing choice program will allow developers globally to use alternative billing systems or link to their own websites for purchases within the UK and EEA, with expansion planned for other markets. This program offers more options for handling digital commerce alongside Google Play's existing billing. Starting June 30, 2026, service fees will be separated from billing fees in the US, EEA, and UK. The initial service fee will be 10% on the first $1 million in annual earnings for all transactions, including auto-renewing subscriptions. For other transactions, fees will vary based on whether the user's app install is new or existing in a region. An additional 5% billing fee will apply for transactions using Google Play's billing system in the US, UK, and EEA. Developers using alternative billing or external links will not incur this billing fee. Google is also introducing revamped Games Level Up and a new Apps Experience program. Developers whose apps and games meet specific requirements for these programs can qualify for reduced service fee rates. Detailed guidelines for these programs are available, with program rate cards becoming active on September 30, 2026. These updates will roll out on a staggered timeline across all markets. Developers are encouraged to review the program details and guidelines to prepare for the upcoming changes.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/play-expanded-billing.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jun 24

Android developer verification: Building a safer ecosystem together

Android is strengthening its ecosystem security with developer verification, a program launched last year to deter malicious actors by requiring developer registration. Millions of apps have already been registered, covering a significant portion of app installations. New verification protections will go into effect on September 30, 2026, initially in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, across seven major app stores. This initiative aims to create a safer app environment across the industry. To streamline the process, new APIs are being introduced to enable bulk app registration and direct integration into CI/CD pipelines. The Android Developer ID Status API will check existing registrations, while the Android Developer Console API will allow direct management of package names. These APIs will support OAuth delegation for third-party platforms. A new system service will be installed on most Android devices starting in June 2026 to facilitate developer verification. Limited distribution accounts for students and hobbyists will be available globally in August 2026. An advanced flow for installing apps from unverified developers will also launch in August, including security checkpoints. Following a phased rollout and feedback, the Android verification requirement will expand globally in 2027. Developers distributing in the initial four countries are urged to complete verification by the September deadline.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/android-developer-verification.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jun 18

Building a Mixed-Reality Tour Guide with Android XR, the Geospatial API, and Gemini

Google announced the preview of the Geospatial API in ARCore for Jetpack XR, bringing its Visual Positioning System (VPS) to Android XR. This technology enables digital content to anchor to the physical world with high accuracy and orientation in supported regions. To demonstrate its potential, a team developed the XR Geospatial Tour, an immersive, hands-free walking tour experience. This demo combines the Geospatial API, Gemini API with Firebase AI Logic, Google Maps Grounding, and the Jetpack XR SDK.The Geospatial API leverages computer vision to provide more accurate location and heading than GPS. The application monitors accuracy thresholds, prompting users to move to recognized outdoor areas if indoors or in unsupported locations. To create the tour itinerary, the Gemini API is prompted with user coordinates to generate structured JSON responses detailing nearby walking tours. Google Maps Grounding is used to anchor the AI's generated locations, preventing inaccuracies.Dynamic voiceovers are implemented using the gemini-2.5-flash-tts model, which can directly return audio data. This adds a present and engaging element to the virtual tour guide. Jetpack Compose for XR is used to render spatial components and bring the tour to life in 3D. The team built custom composables like InfoSphere to display points of interest interactively.By combining Jetpack Compose for XR with the Geospatial API and Gemini, developers can create spatial experiences that understand both user location and context. The availability of the Geospatial API lowers the barrier for building world-scale spatial applications on Android. Developers can apply for the Android XR Developer Catalyst Program to gain access to XREAL Project Aura devkits. This initiative aims to foster innovation in Android XR development.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/android-xr-geospatial-api-gemini.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jun 17

Android 17 is here

Android 17 has been released, transitioning the operating system into an intelligence system centered around apps. It emphasizes adaptive-first development with mandatory large-screen resizability and enhances privacy, security, media, camera, and performance. The source code is now available on AOSP for developers to examine. Android 17 integrates hardware, software, and AI to anticipate user needs and offers new opportunities for app engagement. AppFunctions, a platform API, allows apps to contribute capabilities as orchestratable "tools" for AI agents. The Jetpack library simplifies the implementation of AppFunctions through class annotations and KDoc comments.With over 580 million large-screen devices, adaptive development is crucial, hence the shift to an adaptive-first standard. Android 17 removes orientation and resizability restrictions on large screens for apps targeting API level 37, requiring them to adapt to any window size. New multitasking features include App Bubbles for floating apps, a Bubble Bar on large screens to manage these bubbles, and interactive Picture-in-Picture for desktop environments. Activity recreation defaults have been updated to prevent disruptive state loss during configuration changes.The "Continue On" feature allows seamless task transitions between Android devices. Jetpack Compose is now the primary way to build adaptive apps, with all new Android APIs and libraries exclusively for Compose. Legacy View components are now in maintenance mode. Android 17 includes performance improvements, such as stricter app memory limits that will terminate offending processes. Generational garbage collection and a lock-free MessageQueue further enhance performance by reducing CPU usage and UI stutter.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/Android-17.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jun 16

What’s New in Android XR: Tooling, Engine Support, and Ecosystem Updates

The Android XR ecosystem is experiencing rapid growth with new tooling and expanded engine support. Developer Preview 4 of the Android XR SDK is now available, allowing developers to build and iterate on both immersive and augmented experiences from their laptops. This preview includes libraries for targeting different XR experiences and an emulator in Android Studio for hardware-free testing. The Jetpack Projected library enables developers to extend existing mobile apps for intelligent eyewear, adapting behavior based on device availability. Specialized tools and updated Jetpack Compose Glimmer components facilitate UI building and optimize legibility on optical see-through displays. For immersive experiences, Developer Preview 4 offers Kotlin-first architectural upgrades and an early preview of the Geospatial API for wired XR glasses. This API, combined with ARCore and Google's Visual Positioning System, allows digital content to be anchored to precise real-world locations. Official support has been added for Unreal Engine and Godot, alongside existing Unity support, to ease the transition of existing XR experiences. The Android XR Engine Hub, a desktop tool for Windows, further shortens iteration cycles by enabling real-time testing within engine viewports. The Android XR Developer Catalyst Program is open for applications, offering pre-release hardware and support to selected developers. Developers can begin building now with the Samsung Galaxy XR available and Developer Preview 4 of the SDK. Comprehensive technical sessions are also available on the Android XR YouTube Playlist.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/what-is-new-android-xr.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jun 15

Top 3 updates for Android developer productivity

Google I/O has introduced new announcements and resources for Android development, including the expansion of AI and agent-assisted tooling. The Android CLI is now stable at version 1.0, with new features and integrations that enable more efficient navigation and precise output. This version of Android CLI introduces programmatic version lookup, support for Journeys, and bridging capability to allow agents to integrate directly with Android Studio. The Android CLI now integrates seamlessly with Android Studio, providing access to unique tooling such as performance profilers and Compose Previews. Google Antigravity now officially supports Android development with the Android resources bundle, which includes the Android CLI and skills. The Android resources bundle can be installed during onboarding or later from the Settings menu, providing Antigravity with powerful tools and knowledge to perform core tasks. The repository of Android skills is also expanding, with over 17 skills available for areas such as Adaptive UI and Jetpack Compose. Android Bench, a leaderboard for testing LLMs on real-world Android development challenges, has added new models, including Gemma 4 and Gemini 3.5 Flash, to evaluate their performance. The goal of these updates is to support Android developers wherever they choose to build, providing more helpful options for AI assistance and accelerating model improvements. By expanding its AI-assisted Android development offerings, Google is supporting developers in bringing their ideas to life faster and easier than ever before.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/android-developer-productivity-updates.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jun 9

Datadog delivers millions of in-depth performance insights with ProfilingManager

Performance regressions in mobile apps are difficult to pinpoint, causing significant developer frustration. Datadog collaborated with Google to integrate the new ProfilingManager API from Android 15 into its platforms to address this issue. This API allows programmatic collection of performance data directly from production environments. Datadog now processes millions of production profiles weekly, offering detailed visibility into real-world app performance with low overhead. ProfilingManager enables developers to move from reactive manual reproduction to proactive field analysis of performance bottlenecks. For instance, field traces helped Google identify a background service slowing down app startup. Previously, Datadog's RUM focused on high-level signals, lacking the granular code-level insights needed for root cause analysis. ProfilingManager provides CPU traces, call stack sampling, and memory analysis capabilities. The API offers granular session diagnostics, automated telemetry triggers, and proactive trace snapshots of anomalies. It also enables bottleneck detection at scale across diverse hardware and network conditions. System-enforced resource stability and on-device data controls ensure efficient and relevant data collection. Datadog built a robust infrastructure to process these detailed traces and plans to expand automated bottleneck resolution in the future.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/datadog-profilingmanager-performance-insights.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jun 8

Prioritizing Memory Efficiency: Essential Steps for Android 17

Android 17 introduces stricter app memory limits to ensure device stability and a better user experience. Apps exceeding these limits will be terminated without a stack trace. Unoptimized memory usage leads to frequent garbage collection, UI stutters, CPU strain, and battery drain, potentially causing abrupt process termination by the Low Memory Killer (LMK). To prevent this, developers should maximize bytecode optimization with R8, optimize image loading, detect and fix memory leaks using Android Studio, trim memory when apps leave the visible state, and utilize advanced memory observability tools. R8 optimization significantly reduces an app's memory footprint by shrinking code and removing unused resources, leading to improved performance metrics. Image loading is a common source of memory bloat, and optimizing bitmaps through downsampling, proper configuration, and using vector drawables is crucial. Android Studio provides powerful tools for detecting duplicate bitmaps and memory leaks, streamlining the debugging process. By adopting these strategies, developers can build more performant and stable Android applications.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/prioritizing-memory-efficiency-steps-for-android-17.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jun 2

Building Premium Android Experiences at Google I/O ‘26

Android is focusing on delivering a premium user experience across all devices, enhancing both app quality and development efficiency. Key updates aim to optimize app performance, expand app presence to other surfaces, and streamline media handling. The R8 Configuration Analyzer in Android Studio helps developers identify optimization opportunities, leading to faster app starts and fewer crashes.Memory limits in Android 17 make app optimization crucial, and R8 assists in reducing app footprint. Jetpack Glance unifies widget development for phones, watches, and cars, allowing for consistent and engaging user interactions. RemoteCompose enhances widgets with expressive capabilities and native rendering on Wear OS.CameraX and Media3 are simplifying the media lifecycle, from capture to playback. CameraXViewfinder ensures responsive previews on various form factors, while Media3 AI Effects offers a unified interface for advanced editing tools. Tools like CodecDB and Media3 Transformer facilitate professional-grade video export and editing.ExoPlayer's Scrubbing Mode provides smooth seeking, and the new CastPlayer API improves casting experiences. By leveraging these unified tools, developers can create cohesive, high-performance media journeys. These advancements aim to delight users and provide a strong return on development investment.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/building-premium-android-experiences-google-io-26.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • Jun 2

Top AI on Android updates for building intelligent experiences from Google I/O ‘26

At Google I/O 2026, Android was presented as evolving into an intelligence system, with a focus on integrating AI into apps. AppFunctions, a new platform API and Jetpack library, lets apps act as on-device servers, enabling them to share tools and data with system agents. Developers can generate AppFunctions easily and test them in a simulated environment using a new test agent. The early access program welcomes developers to deploy AppFunctions in production. Google also previewed Gemini Nano 4, offering features within ML Kit GenAI APIs. These include a transition to production, structured output capabilities, and prefix caching for improved performance. Firebase AI Logic Hybrid Inference lets developers choose between on-device and cloud model execution. The A2UI Jetpack Compose Renderer enables agents to display results as native UI components. The ADK for Android allows the creation of multi-agent workflows across different models. Developers are encouraged to explore code snippets, samples, and developer guides on the Android AI hub.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/android-ai-intelligence-system.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • May 26

17 Things to know for Android developers at Google I/O

Google announced advancements in Android development at Google I/O, focusing on agentic workflows and expanding the Android ecosystem. Android CLI is now stable, allowing agents to perform tasks and aiding Android Studio integration. Developers can build native Android apps with simple prompts using Google AI Studio, which supports iteration and deployment. Android Bench offers an LLM leaderboard to accelerate AI coding assistance for Android. The Migration Assistant in Android Studio assists in converting iOS apps to Android.Generative AI features are integrated for intelligent apps with advancements in on-device intelligence and cloud capabilities. AppFunctions simplifies incorporating Android MCP integrations. Compose-first UI development is emphasized, with Views moving into maintenance mode. Android is adapting across various device form factors, with Jetpack Compose at its core. New tools for Googlebook and unified widget development with Jetpack Glance were presented.Android for Cars is enhanced with Car App Library updates. Android XR is progressing with Developer Preview 4 and hardware access programs. The media lifecycle is streamlined with a production-ready toolkit, improving capture and post-production. App discovery and engagement on Google TV are boosted with pointer remote support and the Engage SDK. Optimization tools are being launched in Android 17 to help developers reduce app size.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/17-things-android-developers-google-io.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • May 19

Build native Android apps in Google AI Studio

Google AI Studio now enables users to create native Android apps quickly from simple prompts. This innovative tool requires no software installation or library configuration, making it accessible to all users. Users can generate high-quality, Kotlin-based Android apps using Jetpack Compose directly in their browser. These apps can be easily installed on devices, shared for testing, or transferred to Android Studio. The streamlined process improves the entire development lifecycle, emphasizing the user's ideas with its built-in Android emulator. Users can install apps via USB, and publish it to Google Play for testing directly from AI Studio. Furthermore, projects can seamlessly transition to Android Studio or GitHub for advanced development. Initial releases focus on personal utilities, social apps, hardware integration, and AI-powered experiences. Upcoming features include Google Play Test Track management and Firebase integrations for enhanced functionality. Several prompt examples demonstrate the capacity of the AI Studio to build practical applications. Users are encouraged to start building and inspired to discover new ways to utilize the tool. Google is actively expanding the capabilities of AI Studio for all creators.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/build-android-apps-google-ai-studio.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • May 19

Increasing app discovery and engagement on Google TV

Google is updating Google TV and Android TV with developer tools to enhance content discoverability and future-proof apps. Gemini, an AI voice assistant, now provides tailored content recommendations using app metadata. To prepare for pointer remotes, developers must support hover states, scrollable containers, and cursor clicks within their app UI. Testing with a mouse simulates pointer interaction for developers. Developers should declare pointer support in the AndroidManifest.xml file using the android.software.leanback.supports_touch metadata tag. Jetpack Compose is recommended for building adaptable and reusable UI components. The Engage SDK, formerly Video Discovery API, optimizes Resumption, Entitlements and Recommendations. The Engage SDK offers features like resuming paused videos in the 'Continue Watching' row and personalized recommendations. The Engage SDK is replacing the Watch Next API, with support ending in 2027. Developers are encouraged to begin onboarding with the Engage SDK.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/increase-google-tv-app-discovery.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • May 19

Android CLI Now Stable 1.0: Accelerate developing for Android using any agent

Android developers have various choices for agents, tools, and LLMs in app development, including Android CLI. The Android CLI, now stable at version 1.0, is designed to enhance agentic development for all Android developers. Google Antigravity now integrates Android CLI and related tools, streamlining core development tasks. Android CLI allows agents to access powerful Android Studio features for a more efficient workflow. Developers can use the "android studio" command to interact with projects, accessing tools like code analysis and previews. New commands within the "android studio" feature enable actions like file analysis and dependency management. Android CLI is now available through more package managers for easier integration. The CLI also supports "Journeys," enabling natural language testing and data collection. New Android skills are available within the CLI to improve the development process. Developers can easily initialize environments and discover/install skills via the command line. The stable release of Android CLI 1.0 is available, along with comprehensive documentation. Developers are encouraged to update Android Studio to the latest preview version.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/android-cli-stable-1-0-agent-development.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • May 19

Build for the future with the Android XR Developer Catalyst Program — Apply now!

The Android XR team announced the Android XR Developer Catalyst Program to foster innovation in the XR ecosystem. This program aims to support developers in creating new XR experiences for wired glasses and intelligent eyewear. The program targets applications in media, gaming, productivity, and health, encouraging diverse use cases. Developers accepted into the program will receive valuable resources including hardware development kits. The program offers technical support through dedicated forums and access to specialized resources. Participants can also apply for non-recoupable grants to accelerate their project development. Developers can build with Kotlin, the Jetpack XR SDK, Unity, Unreal Engine, or Godot. Existing XR Experiments and Samples provide inspiration for potential projects. Applications for the program are open to developers planning to publish within the next 6-12 months. The application deadline for the program is June 30th at 11:59 PM PDT. The Android XR team looks forward to seeing the innovative apps developed through this program.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/apply-android-xr-developer-catalyst.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • May 19

Adaptive development for the expanding Android ecosystem

Android's focus shifts to an adaptive-first development standard to cater to users across phones, foldables, tablets, and more. This shift is essential because of the growing number of large-screen devices, representing a significant market opportunity. Adaptive apps will be resilient, responsive, and ready for various surfaces to succeed. Multi-device users spend significantly more, presenting a revenue driver for developers. Google offers an "Optimized for large screens" badge in Google Play to highlight adaptive apps. Android 17 mandates adaptability for apps, removing developer opt-outs for orientation and resizability on large screens. Developers are encouraged to use new tools like the Desktop Emulator and Compose for adaptive UI development. Enhancements include new layout primitives, navigation improvements, and the MediaQuery & Styles APIs. Adaptive quality also involves non-touch input handling, with improved trackpad support and focus indicators. AI-powered tools in Android Studio and the CLI streamline adaptive app creation. Developers are encouraged to create apps that offer seamless, high-quality experiences, and Google also supports cross-platform frameworks.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/android-adaptive-development-ecosystem.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • May 19

Updates to the Android XR SDK: Introducing Developer Preview 4

Android has launched Developer Preview 4 of its XR SDK, focusing on cross-device development for various XR form factors. The platform is renaming form factors for clarity, such as "audio glasses" and "display glasses." This release includes updates to enhance immersive experiences on headsets and streamline augmented reality creation for glasses. Core libraries like XR Runtime are moving to Beta soon. The Android XR Developer Catalyst Program offers early hardware access for display/audio glasses and XREAL's Project Aura. New APIs are available for creating and testing augmented reality apps for audio and display glasses. Jetpack Compose Glimmer gets improvements like Google Sans Flex and new interactive components. Beta transitions are underway for XR Runtime and SceneCore, featuring a modern Kotlin architecture. The update introduces native glTF support in Compose for XR and a Geospatial API preview for wired XR glasses. Developers are encouraged to explore documentation, samples, and experiments to build XR experiences. The Android XR Engine Hub is introduced. The Android XR Developer Catalyst Program is open for applications to provide access to pre-release hardware.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/android-xr-sdk-developer-preview-4-updates.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • May 19

Android XR Updates for Unity, Unreal, and Godot

Android XR now officially supports Unreal Engine and Godot, alongside Unity, for XR development. The Android XR Engine Hub, currently for Windows, streams device data directly to game engines for faster iteration in "Play Mode". The Hub supports hand tracking, eye gaze, and other extensions for efficient testing without full builds. Unreal Engine support, in developer preview, uses an Android XR plugin for platform-specific features like hand tracking. Godot support, in partnership with W4 Games, is available for Godot 4.6.2 and higher, with a plugin to access vendor extensions. Unity has updated Android XR packages, including Spatial API support and Direct Preview within the editor. The Android XR Interaction Framework (AXRIF) for Unity is in developer preview and offers a toolkit for consistent Android XR interactions. AXRIF handles multimodal input transitions, gaze-assisted gesture interaction, and physics-based 2D UI interaction. Developers can now utilize the platform's native interaction model, ensuring a consistent user experience.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/android-xr-updates-unity-unreal-godot.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • May 19

Introducing Android Performance Analyzer : The Next Evolution in Profiling for Android

Android Performance Analyzer (APA) is a new Android profiling tool designed to help developers optimize app and game performance. It is suitable for all Android developers, especially those using Vulkan, focusing on speed and efficiency. APA offers a simple interface for analyzing CPU, GPU, memory, and power usage alongside system behaviors. It leverages Perfetto for system tracing and GFXReconstruct technology for graphics capture. APA is available as a standalone desktop app and integrated into Android Studio's System Trace viewer. Key features include capture control, in-depth system analysis, a tabbed interface, and project-based workflows for managing traces. It uses Vulkan debug markers and AI-assisted SQL query building for custom analysis. FPS and frame duration tracking are readily available, and significant improvements have been made to speed and stability. Case studies from The Forge, NetMarble, and Google showcase APA's effectiveness in optimizing Vulkan applications. Users are encouraged to try the beta version and report any issues.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/introducing-android-performance-analyzer.html android-developers.googleblog.com
RSS Hunter RSS Hunter • May 19