Android 16 / API 36 Distribution

Android 16/B | API/SDK 36 | User Distribution: 7.4% | Release Notes

What's New

User Experience and System UI

    Progress-centric notifications
    Richer haptics APIs
    Predictive back updates and default migration/opt-out requirement (targeting 16+)
    Automatic themed app icons
    Edge to edge opt-out removed (targeting 16+)
    Deprecating disruptive accessibility announcements
    Content handling for live wallpapers

Security and Privacy

    Improved security against Intent redirection attacks
    Key sharing API for Android Keystore
    Privacy Sandbox on Android updates
    MediaStore version lockdown (targeting 16+)
    Safer Intent resolution mechanism (targeting 16+)
    GPU syscall filtering (targeting 16+)

Camera and Media

    UltraHDR image enhancements (HEIC)
    Precise color temperature and tint adjustments
    Hybrid auto-exposure modes
    Motion photo capture Intent actions
    Camera night mode scene detection (EXTENSION_NIGHT_MODE_INDICATOR)
    Photo picker improvements (embeddable, cloud search)

Core Functionality

    ART internal changes and performance updates
    JobScheduler quota optimizations and new abandoned job reason (STOP_REASON_TIMEOUT_ABANDONED)
    16 KB page size compatibility mode
    Ordered broadcast priority scope limited to same process
    Fixed rate work scheduling optimization (targeting 16+)

Connectivity

    Generic ranging APIs (RangingManager)
    Ranging with enhanced security (Wi-Fi 6 802.11az)
    Companion device manager device presence APIs
    Improved Bluetooth bond loss handling and new intents/APIs for targeting 16+

Accessibility

    Improved accessibility APIs
    Phone as microphone input for voice calls with LEA hearing aids
    Ambient volume controls for LEA hearing aids

Graphics

    Custom graphical effects with AGSL (RuntimeColorFilter, RuntimeXfermode)

Internationalization

    Vertical text rendering support
    Measurement system customization in regional preferences

Device Form Factors

    Standardized picture and audio quality framework for TVs (MediaQuality package)
    Virtual device owner overrides
    Adaptive layouts (platform ignores screen orientation/aspect ratio restrictions for targeting 16+)

Health and Fitness

    Transition to granular health and fitness permissions (`android.permissions.health` for Health Connect) (targeting 16+)

Build Codes