Android is one of the biggest mobile operating systems out there, running on the majority of smartphones that aren't iPhones (which run iOS). Keeping your Android-powered phone up to date is primal to ensuring that you go the latest features and that your device remains secure.

Security patches for Android are delivered on a monthly, basis while full-blown Android updates are released annually - typically around August or September (boosted, incremental Android Bone updates do sometimes seed likewise, although there's no set frequency).

Devices that run close-to-stock Android (such every bit Google Pixel, Motorola and Nokia phones) typically get these OS and security updates first, while handsets from other manufacturers - with more heavily modified Android experiences - may have to wait weeks or even months for their equivalent updates to arrive.

How long updates take to go far on a device can vary by manufacturer, the class of device (i.e. budget, mid-range or flagship) and in some cases, carrier involvement.

Manufacturers volition typically support college-end Android devices for longer (at least a couple of years afterwards release but some manufacturers are now committing to longer-term support) than cheaper models. Information technology's for this reason that in that location's so much fragmentation in the Android market, as we'll outline beneath.

What is the latest version of Android?

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The latest publicly available version of Google's mobile Bone is Android 11, which was released in autumn 2020. Google has ditched the dessert names on its latest software, so just wait a numerical format from now on.

Previous versions of Android are equally follows:

  • Android Donut (v1.six)
  • Android Eclair (v2.0)
  • Android Froyo (v2.2)
  • Android Gingerbread (v2.iii)
  • Android Honeycomb (v3.0)
  • Android Ice Foam Sandwich (v4.0)
  • Android Jelly Bean (v4.i)
  • Android KitKat (v4.4)
  • Android Lollipop (v5.0)
  • Android Marshmallow (v6.0)
  • Android Nougat (v7.0)
  • Android Oreo (v8.0)
  • Android Pie (v9.0)
  • Android 10

Android 12 is on track for an August/September 2021 release and nosotros already have details on everything it's bringing to the tabular array, too every bit how to download the beta version and effort information technology out for yourself, early.

Manually update one time available

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Virtually phones automatically notify you lot of new updates by default, merely will only download them when connected to WiFi and when they have over 50% of battery.

If you'd like to bank check if there are any updates for your device manually, the procedure is incredibly simple. Caput to Settings and choose Arrangement. Under the 'Advanced' drop-downwardly menu you'll see an option for 'System updates'. Tapping on this will initiate a check to see if there are any updates available, and prompt you to download anything more recent than what your device currently has installed.

The above steps will piece of work on a Pixel telephone, but information technology may differ slightly depending on which device y'all employ. For example, using Samsung's One UI user experience, in that location's a 'Software update' option straight from the primary Settings bill of fare screen.

If your device'due south settings card has a search function, only searching for the word 'update' and looking for a consequence called something along the lines of 'System Updates' should indicate you in the correct direction.

Android Device Fragmentation

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Despite a glowing report from StatCounter in early on 2021 claiming that adoption of Android 11 has been faster than whatsoever previous release (at least in markets like the Us), the Os still suffers from a sizeable fragmentation result.

While Google no longer publicly shares fragmentation data like this to the public (although developers tin can still become optics on it), based on StatCounter's unofficial figures, Android 10 still runs on the bulk of Android devices, despite Android 12's release looming.

Fifty-fifty if you lot're running software that is no longer supported, missing some features and or finding your device is increasingly buggy, it makes little sense to bin an otherwise working smartphone. This is especially true if you're on a budget, although our chart proves y'all don't take to spend much these days to get a slap-up Android phone.