Android 17 brings expanded bubbles, task continuity, privacy improvements, and more. Expected stable release in June 2026. Learn about new features and updates.
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Google is accelerating Android's development cycle, with Android 17 now in active testing. The company has released two public betas that reveal numerous changes spanning multitasking, privacy, video, and audio. While new Android versions typically arrive in autumn, the stable release is now expected in June 2026.
Internally, Android 17 is codenamed Cinnamon Bun. Although Google officially dropped dessert names after Android 10, the tradition persists among developers.
The Bubbles feature has existed for years but was limited to messenger notifications. In Android 17, Google is expanding its capabilities: floating windows can now be used for any app.
Beta 2 includes a new implementation that lets users launch multiple apps as bubbles without leaving full-screen mode. To activate it, users simply hold an app icon and select "Bubble." On larger screens, a dedicated panel for managing these windows makes multitasking noticeably more convenient.
Android 17 features an updated system Contacts Picker with enhanced privacy. Users can now grant apps access only to specific contacts and selected data fields.
Access is temporary, lasting only for the session, after which the app must request permission again. Apps cannot track changes made to contacts after the session ends. The picker supports selection from both personal and work profiles on the device.
One of the most anticipated additions may be Task Continuity, which allows users to continue working with an app on another Android device. Android 17 includes a new Handoff API that lets developers transfer app states between devices. If a user is using an app on one device, another device will prompt them to continue from the same point. The system displays a relevant hint and initiates the state transfer upon selection. This move strengthens Android's ecosystem integration.
Google has redesigned the visual indicators for camera, microphone, and location access. Instead of a single green oval, separate colored circles are now used. For example, the location indicator is blue. This makes notifications about sensitive data access more visible and distinguishable.
Android 17 Beta 2 introduces the EyeDropper tool, a system feature for selecting the color of any pixel on the screen. Apps can now obtain precise color values without requesting screen capture permissions. This simplifies graphic editor development and reduces app sizes by eliminating third-party libraries.
Additionally, the CTA-2075 volume management API has been introduced, allowing apps to automatically adjust playback volume based on metadata and device characteristics. This ensures more consistent audio levels across different services.
Android 17 strengthens protection for one-time passwords. Apps that are not official message recipients can access OTPs only after three hours. This restriction applies to WebOTP, SMS Retriever format, and standard SMS codes.
The system also permanently prohibits developers from blocking orientation changes and app scaling on large-screen devices. Apps must now properly adapt to different form factors, including foldable smartphones and tablets.
Beta 1 added support for the Versatile Video Coding standard (H.266). This codec delivers the same or better video quality with smaller file sizes, provided hardware decoding support is available. This is an important step for streaming services and high-resolution video recording.
While Google Pixel receives quarterly QPR updates with new features, devices from other brands—Xiaomi, Samsung, OnePlus, OPPO, and vivo—will get many improvements from Android 16 QPR as part of Android 17. These include Material 3 Expressive, automatic icon changes to match themes, Desktop Mode, Secure Lock Device, and Low Light mode. For most manufacturers, the update to Android 17 will be particularly feature-rich.
Google is sticking to last year's schedule. The first beta was released on February 13, 2026, and the second on February 26. Several more test builds are expected before the release. If the company maintains this pace, the stable version of Android 17 will arrive in June 2026. This means users will receive a major update significantly earlier than usual.
Android 17 demonstrates a focus on improving multitasking, ecosystem integration, and privacy. Although there are no revolutionary changes, the combination of new features makes the system more flexible, secure, and adapted to modern devices.