Android is the mobile operating system that is most often used globally. It’s possible that you’re not using the most recent Android version because there are constantly fresh updates available.
Use the most latest version, please? You’ll discover how to upgrade, what improvements are included in the most current Android release, and what’s in store for Android moving forward.
Android has its complexities. There are numerous variations, and many of them are still active on modern hardware. It can be difficult to stay up to date, and you might need a new Android phone to receive the most recent and greatest version of Android.
Although it wasn’t always this way, major updates to Android are typically published once a year, with monthly security updates given in between. Google also occasionally makes point upgrades (.1,.2, etc.), however these typically occur seldom. A point update is frequently necessary for more major updates that aren’t quite as important as complete version releases, such as the upgrade from Android 8.0 to Android 8.1.
Every iteration of Android for many years had a dessert moniker that many users preferred to the version number. With Android 10, Google put an end to such practice in 2019.
The most recent version is Android 12.
The most recent Android OS version, 12, was released on October 4, 2021.
If you don’t own a “stock” Android smartphone, you will obviously have to wait a while to access Android 12. This is due to the fact that every device maker has a propensity to develop and put their particular “skin” on top of Android. The One UI on Samsung Galaxy phones, MIUI on Xiaomi smartphones, OxygenOS on OnePlus devices, and so on all contribute to the delay.
How to Check Your Android Version
The great aspect about Android is that it has many ways to find out even the most basic information, depending not just on the Android version your phone is running but also on who made it.
But we’ll try to keep this as straightforward as we can. Pull down the notification shade (once or twice, depending on the manufacturer) and hit the gear symbol to access the settings menu on your phone.
Next, scroll all the way to the bottom of the menu and select the “About Phone” option (which might also say “About Device”).
Android Version should be listed, albeit it may vary based on the device and Android version.
How to Update Android to the Latest Version
You might not be able to is the unpleasant short answer.
Android upgrades are first managed by the company that made your phone, therefore Samsung is in charge of its updates. Only Pixel device upgrades are handled by Google directly.
Go to Settings > System > System Update to check if an update is available for your device (or similar). Again, depending on your phone, you may find this in a different location. For instance, Samsung places the System Updates option at the top of the Settings menu (Settings > Software Update > Download and Install).
The device will be checked for updates by tapping this option, but there’s a significant possibility it won’t find any. Your phone often alerts you when an update is available for it and asks you to download and install it right away.
Purchasing a device from the Pixel range is the only surefire way to ensure that you’ll receive the most recent version of Android. These phones receive direct updates from Google, and they typically have the most recent major version and security patches installed.
The Consequences of Not Updating
You can continue using your phone as normal if you are unable to (or do not want to) update to a newer version of Android. For a few years, you should continue to get security updates and bug fixes. However, you might discover that over time, Google Play Store Android apps stop supporting your Android version, which reduces the utility of your phone.
When will Android 13 be released?
Although Google has not provided a specific release date for Android 13 “Tiramisu,” it is generally believed that it will be made stable by the end of the third quarter or the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2022. A concrete date will probably be announced at the following Google I/O event. Users can anticipate receiving Android 13 some time in 2023, with the exception of stock Android devices.
Getting Ahead of Future Android Versions
You can test the developer-only preview builds if you don’t want to wait to use the newest Android release. Using the developer tools on your phone and a Google Pixel device, you can install a developer preview build. However, we don’t advise anyone to use their main device for this.
To get a taste of what’s to come, you can also download a preview build from Google’s Developer site and run it in an Android emulator.
Obtaining Updates for Android on Unsupported Devices
You always have the choice to install a custom ROM on your phone if the manufacturer of your phone has stopped supporting Android upgrades for your device. This entails deleting the factory system image and substituting a third-party system image.
This is a great technique to update a phone or tablet that is no longer receiving updates but might still have capable hardware to run newer Android versions. You might have some drawbacks, such as missing device-specific functions provided by the manufacturer. For instance, it’s unlikely that a custom ROM not created for your fancy foldable phone will enable folding features.
It takes courage to flash a custom ROM onto your phone, but if you follow the instructions to root your phone, set up a custom recovery, and then flash a custom ROM, you should be able to do it.
I want to revert to an earlier Android version.
Having the most recent version of Android is nice, but there may be moments when you wish things were still the way they were, or maybe your phone has serious flaws that you can’t live with until a patch is released.
It is possible to revert to an earlier version of Android, but not through authorized channels. Check out our instructions for downgrading to an earlier Android version instead.