Google announced the release of Android 17, making the new operating system available on most supported Pixel devices.
The company said new devices running Android 17 will become available in the coming months. Google also made the Android 17 source code available through the Android Open Source Project, giving developers access to examine the platform’s underlying code.
Android 17 marks a broader shift for Android as Google moves the platform toward what it describes as an intelligence system. The release focuses on deeper AI integration, adaptive app development, large-screen support, privacy and security updates, media and camera improvements, and performance enhancements.
A major part of Android 17 is the expansion of AppFunctions, a platform API with a corresponding Jetpack library. AppFunctions allows developers to expose app capabilities as tools that AI agents and assistants can discover and execute. Google said this creates new opportunities for apps to support AI-driven workflows while giving agents access to the app’s local state.
Google also launched an AppFunctions agent skill designed to help developers analyze key app workflows, generate the required Kotlin code, optimize documentation for large-language-model tool calling, and test or debug AppFunctions using ADB commands. Gemini integration with AppFunctions is currently in private preview with trusted testers.
Android 17 also advances Google’s adaptive-first development standard. With users moving across phones, foldables, tablets, laptops, automotive displays, and XR environments, Google said apps now need to support a broader range of screen sizes and postures.
For apps targeting API level 37, Android 17 removes the developer opt-out for orientation and resizability restrictions on large-screen devices. The system will ignore legacy restrictions such as fixed screen orientation, resizeableActivity=false, and aspect ratio constraints on large screens, with games remaining exempt.
The release also introduces new multitasking features, including App Bubbles, Bubble Bar, and desktop interactive Picture-in-Picture. App Bubbles allow users to turn any app into a floating bubble, while Bubble Bar gives large-screen devices a dedicated place to organize and manage those bubbles. Desktop interactive PiP allows pinned windows to remain interactive while staying on top of other app windows.
Android 17 also adds Continue On, a feature that helps users move tasks between Android devices. For example, users can see a suggestion for a recently opened app from a mobile device in a tablet taskbar and continue the task from where they left off.
Google said Android development is now Compose-first. New Android APIs, libraries, tools, and developer guidance will be built for Jetpack Compose, while legacy View components and View-based Jetpack libraries will move into maintenance mode and receive only critical bug fixes.
On performance, Android 17 introduces stricter app memory limits based on a device’s total RAM. Google said this is designed to improve overall performance, reduce excessive memory usage, and prevent poorly behaved apps from harming multitasking and battery efficiency.
The release also includes generational garbage collection improvements in Android Runtime, a lock-free MessageQueue for apps targeting SDK 37 or higher, restrictions on modifying static final fields, and tighter controls around custom notification views.
Android 17 includes several privacy and security updates, including a system-level contact picker, customizable photo picker aspect ratios, a system-rendered location button for session-based precise location access, and a system EyeDropper API for privacy-preserving color selection.
The platform also adds local network access controls, expanded SMS one-time-password protections, post-quantum cryptography support, safer native dynamic code loading, and improved password protection for physical keyboard inputs.
For media and camera developers, Android 17 introduces support for Eclipsa Video, RAW14 image capture, vendor-defined camera extensions, Extended HE-AAC software encoding, Versatile Video Coding, new camera device-type APIs, and constant-quality video recording.
The release also improves hearing aid support through Bluetooth LE Audio hearing aid categorization and more granular audio routing, allowing users to choose where notifications, ringtones, and alarms are played.
Google said CameraX and Media3 have been updated for Android 17 to simplify camera capture, media playback, editing, and related development workflows. The company also released an agent skill to help migrate legacy Android camera implementations to CameraX.
With Android 17, Google is positioning Android for a new phase of AI-enabled, adaptive, privacy-focused, and high-performance app development across a wider range of devices and form factors.
