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'''Android''' is an [[operating system]] based on a modified version of the [[Linux kernel]] and other [[open-source software]], designed primarily for [[touchscreen]]-based mobile devices such as [[smartphone]]s and [[tablet computer]]s. Android has historically been developed by a [[consortium]] of [[
<!--Brief info about the OS and structure.-->At its core, the operating system is known as the '''Android Open Source Project''' ('''AOSP''')<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=July 21, 2018 |title=Google's iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/07/googles-iron-grip-on-android-controlling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/ |access-date=December 31, 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> and is [[free and open-source software]] (FOSS) primarily licensed under the [[Apache License]]. However, most devices run the [[proprietary software|proprietary]] Android version developed by Google, which ships with additional proprietary closed-source software pre-installed,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/android-really-open-source-matter/|title=Is Android Really Open Source? And Does It Even Matter?|website=MakeUseOf|date=March 28, 2016}}</ref> most notably [[Google Mobile Services]] (GMS),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.android.com/gms/|title=Android – Google Mobile Services|website=Android|quote=While the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) provides common, device-level functionalities such as email and calling, GMS is not part of AOSP. GMS is only available through a license with Google [..] We ask GMS partners to pass a simple compatibility test and adhere to our compatibility requirements for their Android devices.|access-date=October 21, 2018}}</ref> which includes core apps such as [[Google Chrome]], the [[digital distribution]] platform [[Google Play]], and the associated [[Google Play Services]] development platform. [[Firebase Cloud Messaging]] is used for push notifications. While AOSP is free, the "Android" name and logo are [[Trademark|trademarks]] of Google, who restrict the use of Android branding on "uncertified" products.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://source.android.com/setup/start/faqs |access-date=January 4, 2021 |publisher=Android Open Source Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Simon |first=Michael |date=December 26, 2016 |title=With Cyanogen dead, Google's control over Android is tighter than ever |url=https://www.greenbot.com/article/3153485/with-cyanogen-dead-googles-control-over-android-is-tighter-than-ever.html |access-date=January 4, 2021 |website=www.greenbot.com}}</ref> The majority of smartphones based on AOSP run Google's ecosystem—which is known simply as Android—some with [[vendor]]-customized user interfaces and software suites,<ref>{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Terry |date=July 28, 2014 |title=Google and Android Are Not the Same... and That's a Good Thing |url=https://appdevelopermagazine.com/google-and-android-are-not-the-same...-and-that's-a-good-thing/ |access-date=July 29, 2020 |work=App Developer Magazine}}</ref> for example [[One UI]]. Numerous [[List of custom Android distributions|modified distributions]] exist, which include competing [[Fire OS|Amazon Fire OS]], community-developed [[LineageOS]]; the source code has also been used to develop a variety of Android distributions on a range of other devices, such as [[Android TV]] for televisions, [[Wear OS]] for [[Wearable computer|wearables]], and [[Meta Horizon OS]] for [[
<!--Brief description Beyond smartphones and current status-->Software packages on Android, which use the [[apk (file format)|APK]] format, are generally distributed through a proprietary [[application store]]; non-Google platforms include vendor-specific [[Amazon Appstore]], [[Samsung Galaxy Store]], [[Huawei AppGallery]], and third-party companies [[Aptoide]], [[Cafe Bazaar]], [[GetJar]] or open source [[F-Droid]]. Since 2011 Android has been the most used operating system worldwide on smartphones. It has the largest [[installed base]] of any operating system in the world<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cranz |first=Alex |date=May 18, 2021 |title=There are over 3 billion active Android devices |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/18/22440813/android-devices-active-number-smartphones-google-2021 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> with over three billion [[monthly active users]]{{Efn|As of May 2021}} and accounting for 46% of the global operating system market.{{Efn|As of November 2024.}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-02 |title=Desktop, Mobile & Tablet Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop-mobile-tablet/worldwide/#monthly-202411-202411-bar |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}</ref><!--END Brief desc. beyond smartphones and current status--><!--Do not add additional paragraphs; keep the introduction simple and concise.-->
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== History<!--Android Inc and Android Inc. redirect here--> ==
{{See also|Android version history}}
=== 2000s ===
'''Android Inc.'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> was founded in [[Palo Alto, California]], in October 2003 by [[Andy Rubin]] and Chris White, with [[Rich Miner]] and Nick Sears<ref>{{cite web |title=Google's Android OS: Past, Present, and Future |url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Googles-Android-OS-Past-Present-and-Future_id21273 |website=PhoneArena |date=August 18, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313044444/http://www.phonearena.com/news/Googles-Android-OS-Past-Present-and-Future_id21273 |archive-date=March 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Google Buys Android">{{cite web |first=Ben |last=Elgin |title=Google Buys Android for Its Mobile Arsenal |url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2005/tc20050817_0949_tc024.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205190729/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2005/tc20050817_0949_tc024.htm |website=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]] |date=August 17, 2005 |archive-date=February 5, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref> joining later. Rubin had previously been the creator of the [[T-Mobile Sidekick]] under his previous company [[Danger, Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ganapati |first=Priya |title=T-Mobile's G1 Android Phone: Neither Open nor Exciting |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/09/g1-android-phon/ |access-date=2025-05-30 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |date=2007-11-04 |title=I, Robot: The Man Behind the Google Phone |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/technology/04google.html |access-date=2025-05-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Rubin and White started out to build an operating system for [[digital camera]]s viz ''FotoFrame''. The company name was changed to ''Android'' as Rubin already owned the [[___domain name]] <code>android.com</code>. After having built a prototype internally known as the "Fadden demo" predominantly by purchasing licensing agreements for most of the software components built around a custom [[JavaScript]] front-end, the company failed to convince investors, and so in April 2004 they pivoted to building an operating system for phones at the suggestion of Nick Sears,<ref name=hasse1>{{cite book |title=Androids: The Team that Built Android Operating System |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qyc9EAAAQBAJ |last=Haase |first=Chet |chapter=Android the... Camera OS? |date=August 13, 2021 |isbn=978-1-7373548-2-6 | publisher=Chet Haase}}</ref><ref name="pcworld-camera-os">{{cite web |first=Jay |last=Alabaster |title=Android founder: We aimed to make a camera OS |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2034723/android-founder-we-aimed-to-make-a-camera-os.html |website=[[PC World]] |publisher=[[International Data Group]] |date=April 16, 2013 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510103305/http://www.pcworld.com/article/2034723/android-founder-we-aimed-to-make-a-camera-os.html |archive-date=May 10, 2017 }}</ref> as a rival to [[Symbian]] and Microsoft [[Windows Mobile]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Welch |title=Before it took over smartphones, Android was originally destined for cameras |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/4/16/4230468/android-originally-designed-for-cameras-before-smartphones |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=April 16, 2013 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429062213/http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/16/4230468/android-originally-designed-for-cameras-before-smartphones |archive-date=April 29, 2017 }}</ref> Rubin pitched the Android project as having "tremendous potential in developing smarter mobile devices that are more aware of its owner's ___location and preferences".<ref name="Google Buys Android" /> Due to difficulty attracting investors early on, Android faced potential eviction from its office space. [[Steve Perlman (entrepreneur)|Steve Perlman]], a close friend of Rubin, brought him $10,000 in cash in an envelope, and shortly thereafter wired an undisclosed amount as seed funding. Perlman refused a stake in the company, and has stated "I did it because I believed in the thing, and I wanted to help Andy."<ref>{{cite web |first=Lisa |last=Eadicicco |title=THE RISE OF ANDROID: How a flailing startup became the world's biggest computing platform |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-android-was-created-2015-3 |website=[[Business Insider]] |publisher=[[Axel Springer SE]] |date=March 27, 2015 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520025143/http://www.businessinsider.com/how-android-was-created-2015-3 |archive-date=May 20, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Ashlee |last=Vance |author-link=Ashlee Vance |title=Steve Perlman's Wireless Fix |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-07-27/steve-perlmans-wireless-fix |url-access=subscription |website=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]] |date=July 29, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319032000/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-07-27/steve-perlmans-wireless-fix |archive-date=March 19, 2017 }}</ref>
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Since 2008, Android has seen [[Android version history|numerous updates]] which have incrementally improved the operating system, adding new features and fixing [[Software bug|bugs]] in previous releases. The first two Android versions were internally codenamed [[Astro Boy]] and [[Bender (Futurama)|Bender]] but licensing issues meant subsequent releases were named after dessert or sugary treat in an alphabetical order, with the first few Android versions being called "[[Petit Four]]", "[[Cupcake]]", "[[Donut]]", "[[Eclair]]",<ref name=hasse27>{{cite book |title=Androids: The Team that Built Android Operating System |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qyc9EAAAQBAJ |last=Haase |first=Chet |chapter=Managing All the Things |date=August 13, 2021 |isbn=978-1-7373548-2-6 | publisher=Chet Haase}}</ref> and "[[Frozen yogurt|Froyo]]", in that order. During its announcement of [[Android KitKat]] in 2013, Google explained that "Since these devices make our lives so sweet, each Android version is named after a dessert", although a Google spokesperson told [[CNN]] in an interview that "It's kind of like an internal team thing, and we prefer to be a little bit—how should I say—a bit inscrutable in the matter, I'll say".<ref>{{cite web |first=Murali K. |last=Menon |title=Android Nougat: Here's why Google names the OS after sweets |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/from-donut-to-nougat-why-are-android-versions-named-after-sweets-2887237/ |website=[[The Indian Express]] |publisher=[[Indian Express Limited]] |date=July 3, 2016 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313044156/http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/from-donut-to-nougat-why-are-android-versions-named-after-sweets-2887237/ |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref>
=== 2010s ===
In 2010, Google launched its [[Google Nexus|Nexus]] series of devices, a lineup in which Google partnered with different device manufacturers to produce new devices and introduce new Android versions. The series was described as having "played a pivotal role in Android's history by introducing new software iterations and hardware standards across the board", and became known for its "[[Software bloat|bloat-free]]" software with "timely ... updates".<ref>{{cite web |first=Florence |last=Ion |title=From Nexus One to Nexus 10: a brief history of Google's flagship devices |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/05/from-the-nexus-one-to-the-nexus-10-a-brief-history-of-nexus-devices/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624004245/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/05/from-the-nexus-one-to-the-nexus-10-a-brief-history-of-nexus-devices/ |archive-date=June 24, 2017 }}</ref> At its [[Google I/O|developer conference]] in May 2013, Google announced a special version of the [[Samsung Galaxy S4]], where, instead of using Samsung's own Android customization, the phone ran "stock Android" and was promised to receive new system updates fast.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sean |last=Hollister |title=Google turns the Samsung Galaxy S4 into a Nexus phone, coming June 26th for $649 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/15/4333716/galaxy-s4-stock-android-google-io-2013 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226220255/http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/15/4333716/galaxy-s4-stock-android-google-io-2013 |archive-date=December 26, 2016 }}</ref> The device would become the start of the [[List of Google Play edition devices|Google Play edition]] program, and was followed by other devices, including the [[HTC One (M7)|HTC One]] Google Play edition,<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Cunningham |title=Review: The HTC One Google Play edition offers the best of both worlds |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/07/review-the-htc-one-google-play-edition-offers-the-best-of-both-worlds/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=July 4, 2013 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313043321/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/07/review-the-htc-one-google-play-edition-offers-the-best-of-both-worlds/ |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref> and [[Moto G (1st generation)|Moto G]] Google Play edition.<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Cunningham |title=Moto G Google Play edition replaces near-stock Android with stock Android |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/01/moto-g-google-play-edition-replaces-near-stock-android-with-stock-android/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=January 14, 2014 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313042911/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/01/moto-g-google-play-edition-replaces-near-stock-android-with-stock-android/ |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref> In 2015, ''[[Ars Technica]]'' wrote that "Earlier this week, the last of the Google Play edition Android phones in Google's online storefront were listed as "no longer available for sale" and that "Now they're all gone, and it looks a whole lot like the program has wrapped up".<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Cunningham |title=Don't cry for the Google Play edition program; it was already dead |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/01/dont-cry-for-the-google-play-edition-program-it-was-already-dead/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=January 25, 2015 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313124209/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/01/dont-cry-for-the-google-play-edition-program-it-was-already-dead/ |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Chavez |title=Google kills off the last remaining Google Play Edition device in the Play Store |url=http://phandroid.com/2015/01/21/google-kills-htc-one-m8-google-play-edition/ |website=Phandroid |date=January 21, 2015 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129102958/http://phandroid.com/2015/01/21/google-kills-htc-one-m8-google-play-edition/ |archive-date=November 29, 2016 }}</ref>
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On August 22, 2019, it was announced that Android "Q" would officially be branded as Android 10, ending the historic practice of naming major versions after desserts. Google stated that these names were not "inclusive" to international users (due either to the aforementioned foods not being internationally known, or being difficult to pronounce in some languages).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/22/20827231/android-10-q-google-name-officially-announced-new-logo-wordmark-desserts|title=Google deserts desserts: Android 10 is the official name for Android Q|last=Bohn|first=Dieter|date=August 22, 2019|website=The Verge|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/08/unsweetened-android-swaps-sugary-codenames-for-boring-numbers/|title=Unsweetened: Android swaps sugary codenames for boring numbers|last=Amadeo|first=Ron|date=August 22, 2019|website=Ars Technica|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> On the same day, ''Android Police'' reported that Google had commissioned a statue of a giant number "10" to be installed in the lobby of the developers' new office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/08/22/androids-iconic-dessert-names-are-going-away-starting-with-android-10/|title=Android's iconic dessert names are going away, starting with Android 10|date=August 22, 2019|website=Android Police|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> Android 10 was released on September 3, 2019, to [[Google Pixel]] phones first.
=== 2020s ===
In late 2021, some users reported that they were unable to dial emergency services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=December 10, 2021 |title=Go read this story explaining in detail the scary Teams bug that blocked a 911 call |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/10/22828234/microsoft-teams-android-bug-blocked-911-call-go-read-this |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=This important Microsoft Teams for Android update fixes the strange 911 calling bug |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-important-microsoft-teams-for-android-update-fixes-the-strange-911-calling-bug/ |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}</ref> The problem was caused by a combination of bugs in Android and in the [[Microsoft Teams]] app; both companies released updates addressing the issue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=January 5, 2022 |title=Google fixes nightmare Android bug that stopped user from calling 911 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/01/google-fixes-nightmare-android-bug-that-stopped-user-from-calling-911/ |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref>
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The storage of Android devices can be expanded using secondary devices such as [[SD card]]s. Android recognizes two types of secondary storage: ''portable'' storage (which is used by default), and ''adoptable'' storage. Portable storage is treated as an external storage device. Adoptable storage, introduced on Android 6.0, allows the internal storage of the device to be [[Non-RAID drive architectures#Concatenation (SPAN, BIG)|spanned]] with the SD card, treating it as an extension of the internal storage. This has the disadvantage of preventing the memory card from being used with another device unless it is [[disk formatting|reformatted]].<ref name="Ars Technica review">{{cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=October 5, 2015 |title=Android 6.0 Marshmallow, thoroughly reviewed |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/10/android-6-0-marshmallow-thoroughly-reviewed/ |access-date=March 6, 2017 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]]}}</ref>
Android 4.4 introduced the Storage Access Framework (SAF), a set of APIs for accessing files on the device's filesystem.<ref name="anandtech-sdkitkat">{{cite web |last=Ho |first=Joshua |title=Examining MicroSD changes in Android 4.4 |url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/7859/examining-microsd-changes-in-android-44 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314104428/http://www.anandtech.com/show/7859/examining-microsd-changes-in-android-44 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 14, 2014 |access-date=March 28, 2014 |work=Anandtech}}</ref> As of Android 11, Android has required apps to conform to a data privacy policy known as ''scoped storage'', under which apps may only automatically have access to certain directories (such as those for pictures, music, and video), and app-specific directories they have created themselves. Apps are required to use the SAF to access any other part of the filesystem.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |title=Behavior changes: Apps targeting Android 11 |url=https://developer.android.com/about/versions/11/behavior-changes-11 |access-date=August 18, 2020 |website=Android Developers |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Android Q Scoped Storage: Best Practices and Updates |url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2019/04/android-q-scoped-storage-best-practices.html |access-date=August 15, 2019 |website=Android Developers Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Android Q privacy change: Scoped storage |url=https://developer.android.com/preview/privacy/scoped-storage |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711073559/https://developer.android.com/preview/privacy/scoped-storage |archive-date=July 11, 2019 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |website=Android Developers}}</ref>
=== Memory management ===
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2017-06-08: The Android-x86 7.1-rc1 released (the first release candidate of nougat-x86).
--></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2152540/android-on-the-big-screen-we-chew-up-and-spit-out-three-jelly-bean-all-in-one-pcs.html|title=Three Android all-in-one PCs reviewed|author=Michael Brown|date=May 8, 2014|work=PCWorld|access-date=November 1, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028170619/http://www.pcworld.com/article/2152540/android-on-the-big-screen-we-chew-up-and-spit-out-three-jelly-bean-all-in-one-pcs.html|archive-date=October 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techspot.com/review/805-acer-ta272-hul-android-aio/|title=Acer TA272 HUL Android All-in-One Review|author=Shawn Knight|work=TechSpot|date=April 16, 2014 |access-date=November 1, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028215542/http://www.techspot.com/review/805-acer-ta272-hul-android-aio/|archive-date=October 28, 2014}}</ref> In addition to their availability on commercially available hardware, similar PC hardware-friendly versions of Android are freely available from the Android-x86 project, including customized Android 4.4.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.android-x86.org/releases/releasenote-4-4-r1|title=ReleaseNote 4.4-r1 – Android-x86 – Porting Android to x86|access-date=November 1, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028173131/http://www.android-x86.org/releases/releasenote-4-4-r1|archive-date=October 28, 2014}}</ref> Using the Android emulator that is part of the [[Android SDK]], or third-party emulators, Android can also run non-natively on x86 architectures.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.howtogeek.com/179691/4-ways-to-run-android-on-your-pc-and-make-your-own-dual-os-system/ |title=4 Ways to Run Android on Your PC and Make Your Own "Dual OS" System |publisher=Howtogeek.com |date=January 13, 2014 |access-date=April 7, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407084905/http://www.howtogeek.com/179691/4-ways-to-run-android-on-your-pc-and-make-your-own-dual-os-system/ |archive-date=April 7, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Brad Chacos |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2048220/hybrid-hijinks-how-to-install-android-on-your-pc.html |title=Hybrid hijinks: How to install Android on your PC |publisher=PCWorld |date=September 6, 2013 |access-date=April 7, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071525/http://www.pcworld.com/article/2048220/hybrid-hijinks-how-to-install-android-on-your-pc.html |archive-date=April 7, 2014 }}</ref> Chinese companies are building a PC and mobile operating system, based on Android, to "compete directly with Microsoft Windows and Google Android".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2014/08/25/technology/security/china-os/|title=China ditching Windows and Android for its own operating system|author=Jose Pagliery|date=August 25, 2014|work=CNNMoney|access-date=November 1, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028171711/https://money.cnn.com/2014/08/25/technology/security/china-os/|archive-date=October 28, 2014}}</ref> The Chinese Academy of Engineering noted that "more than a dozen" companies were customizing Android following a Chinese ban on the use of Windows 8 on government PCs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28928369|title=BBC News – China plans new PC operating system in October|work=BBC News|date=August 25, 2014|access-date=November 1, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112054354/http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28928369|archive-date=November 12, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324539404578342132324098420|title=China Criticizes Android's Dominance|author=Paul Mozur|date=March 5, 2013|work=WSJ|access-date=November 1, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-technology-idUSKBN0GO08H20140824|title=China targets own operating system to take on likes of Microsoft, Google|work=Reuters|date=August 24, 2014|access-date=November 1, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028173428/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/24/us-china-technology-idUSKBN0GO08H20140824|archive-date=October 28, 2014}}</ref>
== Devices ==
Android runs on a wide variety of devices such as smartphones, tablets, cars, computers, smart watches, and smart TVs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Android |url=https://www.android.com/what-is-android/ |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Android |language=en}}</ref> However, the vast majority of Android-powered devices are smartphones. Unlike its two main competitors in the mobile operating system space, namely iOS and HarmonyOS, Android devices are made by many different original equipment manufacturers. These OEMs include Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, iQOO, OnePlus, Honor, Google, Sony, Lenovo, Sharp, Realme, Nothing, and Tecno.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-10 |title=Android 14 features: Everything you need to know |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-14-features-3280726/ |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Android Authority |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Romero |first=Andrew |date=15 May 2024 |title=Android 15 Beta is now available for devices from Nothing, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and more |url=https://9to5google.com/2024/05/15/android-15-beta-available-for-these-devices/ |access-date=28 July 2025 |website=9 To 5 Google}}</ref>
== {{anchor|AOSP}}Development ==
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Android's variant of the Linux kernel has further architectural changes that are implemented by Google outside the typical Linux kernel development cycle, such as the inclusion of components like device trees, ashmem, ION, and different [[out of memory]] (OOM) handling.<ref>{{cite web |title=What Are The Major Changes That Android Made To The Linux Kernel? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2013/05/13/what-are-the-major-changes-that-android-made-to-the-linux-kernel/ |website=[[Forbes]] |date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=June 20, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104090354/http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2013/05/13/what-are-the-major-changes-that-android-made-to-the-linux-kernel/ |archive-date=January 4, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LMG Upstreaming |url=https://wiki.linaro.org/LMG/Kernel/Upstreaming |website=Linaro |date=December 5, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109063643/https://wiki.linaro.org/LMG/Kernel/Upstreaming |archive-date=January 9, 2018 |access-date=June 26, 2017 }}</ref> Certain features that Google contributed back to the Linux kernel, notably a power management feature called "wakelocks",<ref>{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Proffitt |title=Garrett's LinuxCon Talk Emphasizes Lessons Learned from Android/Kernel Saga |url=https://www.linux.com/news/garretts-linuxcon-talk-emphasizes-lessons-learned-androidkernel-saga |website=[[LinuxCon]] |publisher=[[Linux Foundation]] |date=August 10, 2010 |access-date=June 20, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629190535/https://www.linux.com/news/garretts-linuxcon-talk-emphasizes-lessons-learned-androidkernel-saga |archive-date=June 29, 2017 }}</ref> were initially rejected by [[Mainline Linux|mainline kernel]] developers partly because they felt that Google did not show any intent to maintain its own code.<ref>{{cite web |first=David |last=Meyer |title=Linux developer explains Android kernel code removal |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-developer-explains-android-kernel-code-removal/ |website=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=February 3, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015045139/http://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-developer-explains-android-kernel-code-removal/ |archive-date=October 15, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="hartman">{{cite web |first=Greg |last=Kroah-Hartman |author-link=Greg Kroah-Hartman |title=Android and the Linux kernel community |url=http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/android-kernel-problems.html |website=Linux kernel monkey log |date=December 9, 2010 |access-date=June 20, 2017}}</ref> Google announced in April 2010 that they would hire two employees to work with the Linux kernel community,<ref>{{cite web |first=Paula |last=Rooney |title=DiBona: Google will hire two Android coders to work with kernel.org |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/dibona-google-will-hire-two-android-coders-to-work-with-kernel-org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617005554/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/dibona-google-will-hire-two-android-coders-to-work-with-kernelorg/6274 |website=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=April 15, 2010 |archive-date=June 17, 2010 |url-status=live |access-date=March 11, 2017}}</ref> but [[Greg Kroah-Hartman]], the current Linux kernel maintainer for the stable branch, said in December 2010 that he was concerned that Google was no longer trying to get their code changes included in mainstream Linux.<ref name="hartman" /> Google engineer Patrick Brady once stated in the company's developer conference that "Android is not Linux",<ref name="ars introduction developer">{{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Paul |title=Dream(sheep++): A developer's introduction to Google Android |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/02/an-introduction-to-google-android-for-developers/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=February 24, 2009 |access-date=June 20, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704115615/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/02/an-introduction-to-google-android-for-developers/ |archive-date=July 4, 2017 }}</ref> with ''[[Computerworld]]'' adding that "Let me make it simple for you, without Linux, there is no Android".<ref>{{cite web |first=Steven J. |last=Vaughan-Nichols |title=Android/Linux kernel fight continues |url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2469087/mobile-apps/android-linux-kernel-fight-continues.html |website=[[Computerworld]] |publisher=[[International Data Group]] |date=September 7, 2010 |access-date=June 20, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214190045/http://www.computerworld.com/article/2469087/mobile-apps/android-linux-kernel-fight-continues.html |archive-date=February 14, 2017 }}</ref> ''[[Ars Technica]]'' wrote that "Although Android is built on top of the Linux kernel, the platform has very little in common with the conventional desktop Linux stack".<ref name="ars introduction developer" />
In August 2011, [[Linus Torvalds]] said that "eventually Android and Linux would come back to a common kernel, but it will probably not be for four to five years".<ref>{{cite web |first=Steven J. |last=Vaughan-Nichols |title=Linus Torvalds on Android, the Linux fork |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-on-android-the-linux-fork/ |website=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=August 18, 2011 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218053104/http://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-on-android-the-linux-fork/ |archive-date=February 18, 2017 }}</ref> In December 2011, Greg Kroah-Hartman announced the start of Android Mainlining Project, which aims to put some Android [[Device driver|drivers]], patches and features back into the Linux kernel, starting in Linux 3.3.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Android-drivers-to-be-included-in-Linux-3-3-kernel-1400996.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208130029/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Android-drivers-to-be-included-in-Linux-3-3-kernel-1400996.html|archive-date=December 8, 2013 |title=Android drivers to be included in Linux 3.3 kernel |author=Chris von Eitzen |work=h-online.com |date=December 23, 2011 |access-date=February 15, 2012}}</ref> Linux included the autosleep and wakelocks capabilities in the 3.5 kernel, after many previous attempts at a merger. The interfaces are the same but the upstream Linux implementation allows for two different suspend modes: to memory (the traditional suspend that Android uses), and to disk (hibernate, as it is known on the desktop).<ref>{{cite web|last=Jonathan|first=Corbet|title=Autosleep and wakelocks|date=February 7, 2012 |url=https://lwn.net/Articles/479841/|publisher=LWN|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826165126/http://lwn.net/Articles/479841/|archive-date=August 26, 2012}}</ref> Google maintains a public code repository that contains their experimental work to [[rebasing|re-base]] Android off the latest stable Linux versions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTMxMzc |title=Google Working On Android Based On Linux 3.8 |date=February 28, 2013 |access-date=February 28, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302004730/http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTMxMzc |archive-date=March 2, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pocketdroid.net/google-working-on-experimental-linux-kernel-3-10-for-android/ |title=Google working on experimental Linux Kernel 3.10 for Android |publisher=Pocketdroid.net |access-date=September 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827220633/http://www.pocketdroid.net/google-working-on-experimental-linux-kernel-3-10-for-android/ |archive-date=August 27, 2013 }}</ref>
Android is a [[Linux distribution]] according to the [[Linux Foundation]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxfoundation.org/news-media/blogs/browse/2012/12/what-year-linux-please-join-us-celebration |title=What a Year for Linux: Please Join us in Celebration |first=Amanda |last=McPherson |publisher=Linux Foundation |date=December 13, 2012 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417232521/http://www.linuxfoundation.org/news-media/blogs/browse/2012/12/what-year-linux-please-join-us-celebration |archive-date=April 17, 2014 }}</ref> Google's open-source chief [[Chris DiBona]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://derstandard.at/1308186313932/Interview-Google-Android-is-the-Linux-desktop-dream-come-true |title=Google: "Android is the Linux desktop dream come true" |first=Andreas |last=Proschofsky |work=derStandard.at |date=July 10, 2011 |access-date=March 14, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422021245/http://derstandard.at/1308186313932/Interview-Google-Android-is-the-Linux-desktop-dream-come-true |archive-date=April 22, 2013 }}</ref> and several journalists.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jerry |last=Hildenbrand |title=Ask AC: Is Android Linux? |url=http://www.androidcentral.com/ask-ac-android-linux |website=Android Central |publisher=Mobile Nations |date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408213437/http://www.androidcentral.com/ask-ac-android-linux |archive-date=April 8, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itworld.com/open-source/369810/android-really-linux-distribution |title=Is Android really a Linux distribution? |first=Jim |last=Lynch |work=ITworld |date=August 20, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205165359/http://www.itworld.com/open-source/369810/android-really-linux-distribution |archive-date=February 5, 2014 }}</ref> Others, such as Google engineer Patrick Brady, say that Android is not Linux in the traditional [[Unix-like]] Linux distribution sense; Android does not include the [[GNU C Library]] (it uses [[Bionic (software)|Bionic]] as an alternative C library) and some other components typically found in Linux distributions.<ref name="APIs">{{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Paul |title=Dream(sheep++): A developer's introduction to Google Android |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/02/an-introduction-to-google-android-for-developers/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=February 24, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312064709/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/02/an-introduction-to-google-android-for-developers/ |archive-date=March 12, 2017 }}</ref>
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The [[flash storage]] on Android devices is split into several partitions, such as <code>/system/</code> for the operating system itself, and <code>/data/</code> for user data and application installations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Raja |first=Haroon Q. |url=http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/android-partitions-explained-boot-system-recovery-data-cache-misc/ |title=Android Partitions Explained: boot, system, recovery, data, cache & misc |newspaper=Addictivetips |publisher=Addictivetips.com |date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922024642/http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/android-partitions-explained-boot-system-recovery-data-cache-misc/ |archive-date=September 22, 2012 }}</ref>
In contrast to typical [[desktop Linux]] distributions, Android device owners are not given [[superuser|root]] access to the operating system and sensitive partitions such as <code>/system/</code> are partially [[
=== Software stack ===
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The documents revealed a further effort by the intelligence agencies to intercept Google Maps searches and queries submitted from Android and other smartphones to collect ___location information in bulk.<ref name="angrybirdsatgchq" /> The NSA and GCHQ insist their activities comply with all relevant domestic and international laws, although the Guardian stated "the latest disclosures could also add to mounting public concern about how the technology sector collects and uses information, especially for those outside the US, who enjoy fewer privacy protections than Americans."<ref name="angrybirdsatgchq" />
Leaked documents codenamed [[Vault 7]] and dated from 2013 to 2016, detail the capabilities of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) to perform electronic surveillance and [[cyber warfare]], including the ability to compromise the operating systems of most smartphones (including Android).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/3006021/vault-7-wikileaks-reveals-details-of-cias-hacks-of-android-iphone-windows-linux-macos-and-even-samsung-tvs|title=Vault 7: Wikileaks reveals details of CIA's hacks of Android, iPhone Windows, Linux, MacOS, and even Samsung TVs|website=[[Computing (magazine)|Computing]]|date=March 7, 2017|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412212526/https://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/3006021/vault-7-wikileaks-reveals-details-of-cias-hacks-of-android-iphone-windows-linux-macos-and-even-samsung-tvs|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/2017/03/cia-can-hack-phone-pc-tv-says-wikileaks/|title=How the CIA Can Hack Your Phone, PC, and TV (Says WikiLeaks)|last=Greenberg|first=Andy|date=March 7, 2017|magazine=[[WIRED]] }}</ref>
==== Security patches ====
In August 2015, Google announced that devices in the [[Google Nexus]] series would begin to receive monthly security [[Patch (computing)|patches]]. Google also wrote that "Nexus devices will continue to receive major updates for at least two years and security patches for the longer of three years from initial availability or 18 months from last sale of the device via the [[Google Store]]."<ref>{{cite web |first1=Adrian |last1=Ludwig |first2=Venkat |last2=Rapaka |title=An Update to Nexus Devices |url=https://android.googleblog.com/2015/08/an-update-to-nexus-devices.html |website=Official Android Blog |date=August 5, 2015 |access-date=March 16, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318164542/https://android.googleblog.com/2015/08/an-update-to-nexus-devices.html |archive-date=March 18, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Whitwam |title=Google Announces New Update Policy For Nexus Devices Including Monthly Security Patches For 3 Years And Major OTAs For 2 Years From Release |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/08/05/google-announces-new-update-policy-for-nexus-devices-including-monthly-security-patches-for-3-years-and-major-otas-for-2-years-from-release/ |website=Android Police |date=August 5, 2015 |access-date=March 16, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126054028/http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/08/05/google-announces-new-update-policy-for-nexus-devices-including-monthly-security-patches-for-3-years-and-major-otas-for-2-years-from-release/ |archive-date=January 26, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Brandon |last=Chester |title=Google Commits To Monthly Security Updates For Nexus Devices |url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/9496/google-commits-to-monthly-security-updates-for-nexus-devices |website=[[AnandTech]] |publisher=[[Purch Group]] |date=August 5, 2015 |access-date=March 16, 2017 |url-status=
In a March 2017 post on Google's Security Blog, Android security leads Adrian Ludwig and Mel Miller wrote that "More than 735 million devices from 200+ manufacturers received a platform security update in 2016" and that "Our carrier and hardware partners helped expand deployment of these updates, releasing updates for over half of the top 50 devices worldwide in the last quarter of 2016". They also wrote that "About half of devices in use at the end of 2016 had not received a platform security update in the previous year", stating that their work would continue to focus on streamlining the security updates program for easier deployment by manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Adrian |last1=Ludwig |first2=Mel |last2=Miller |title=Diverse protections for a diverse ecosystem: Android Security 2016 Year in Review |url=https://security.googleblog.com/2017/03/diverse-protections-for-diverse.html |quote=<!--More than 735 million devices from 200+ manufacturers received a platform security update in 2016. [..]-->We released monthly Android security updates throughout the year for devices running Android 4.4.4 and up—that accounts for 86.3 percent of all active Android devices worldwide. |website=Google Security Blog |date=March 22, 2017 |access-date=March 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322141254/http://security.googleblog.com/2017/03/diverse-protections-for-diverse.html |archive-date=March 22, 2017 }}</ref> Furthermore, in a comment to ''[[TechCrunch]]'', Ludwig stated that the wait time for security updates had been reduced from "six to nine weeks down to just a few days", with 78% of flagship devices in North America being up-to-date on security at the end of 2016.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kate |last=Conger |title=Android plans to improve security update speed this year |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/22/security-updates-are-still-slow-for-android-users/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=March 22, 2017 |access-date=March 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322144352/https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/22/security-updates-are-still-slow-for-android-users/ |archive-date=March 22, 2017 }}</ref>
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Two years later, in 2021, [[Research|researcher]] Douglas Leith, using a sort of data interception, showed that several data are sent from Android device to [[Google]]'s servers, even when the phone is sleeping (IDLE) with no [[Google]] account registered into it.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Paul Wagenseil |date=2021-03-30 |title=New study reveals iPhones aren't as private as you think |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/news/android-ios-data-collection |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Tom's Guide |language=en}}</ref> Several [[Google]] [[Application software|applications]] send data, such as [[Google Chrome|Chrome]], [[Google Messages|Message]] or [[Google Docs|Docs]], however [[YouTube|Youtube]] is the only one to add a unique identifier data.<ref>{{Cite web |title=apple_google.pdf |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/apple_google.pdf}}</ref>
In 2022, Leith showed that an Android [[Telephone|phone]] sent various data related to communications, including [[Telephone|phone]] and [[Text messaging|text messages]] to Google. [[Timestamping (computing)|Timestamp]], sender and receiver, plus several other data, are sent to [[Google Play Services]] infrastructure, even if the "Usage and Diag" feature is disabled. Those data are marked with a Unique Identifier of an Android device, and
==== Australia ====
Google was sanctioned about [[Australian dollar|A$]]60 Million (approx
==== United States of America ====
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|author = Brian Klug
|publisher = [[AnandTech]]
|url-status =
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131119003547/http://www.anandtech.com/show/7516/android-44-factory-images-now-available-for-nexus-4-7-2012-and-2013-and-10
|archive-date = November 19, 2013
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According to a January 2015 [[Gartner]] report, "Android surpassed a billion shipments of devices in 2014, and will continue to grow at a double-digit pace in 2015, with a 26 percent increase year over year." This made it the first time that any general-purpose operating system has reached more than one billion end users within a year: by reaching close to 1.16 billion end users in 2014, Android shipped over four times more than [[iOS]] and [[OS X]] combined, and over three times more than [[Microsoft Windows]]. Gartner expected the whole mobile phone market to "reach two billion units in 2016", including Android.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2954317 |publisher=Gartner |title=Tablet Sales Continue to Be Slow in 2015: Tablet Sales to Reach 8 Percent Growth in 2015 While PC Market to Grow 1 Percent |date=January 5, 2015 |access-date=January 23, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208082554/http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2954317 |archive-date=February 8, 2015 }}</ref> Describing the statistics, Farhad Manjoo wrote in ''[[The New York Times]]'' that "About one of every two computers sold today is running Android. [It] has become Earth's dominant computing platform."<ref name="Murky road despite dominance" />
According to a [[Statistica]]'s estimate, Android smartphones had an installed base of 1.8 billion units in 2015, which was 76% of the estimated total number of smartphones worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statista.com/statistics/385001/smartphone-worldwide-installed-base-operating-systems/ |title=Installed base of smartphones by operating system in 2015 (in million units) |publisher=Statistica |access-date=November 1, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012045013/https://www.statista.com/statistics/385001/smartphone-worldwide-installed-base-operating-systems/ |archive-date=October 12, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statista.com/statistics/385022/smartphone-worldwide-installed-base-operating-systems-share/ |title=Market share of smartphone OS of total smartphone installed base in 2013 and 2014 |publisher=Statistica |access-date=February 18, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218183636/http://www.statista.com/statistics/385022/smartphone-worldwide-installed-base-operating-systems-share/ |archive-date=February 18, 2015 }}</ref>{{Efn|To put the Statistica's numbers in context: by Strategy Analytics estimates, [[Windows]], the most popular "desktop" operating system, was estimated to have an installed base of about 1.3 billion at best;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=pressreleaseviewer&a0=5608 |title=Replacement Demand to Boost PC Sales in 2015, says Strategy Analytics: More than 70 percent of Developed Market Households Will Continue to Own PCs through 2018 |publisher=Strategy Analytics |access-date=February 18, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218191002/https://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=pressreleaseviewer&a0=5608 |archive-date=February 18, 2015 }}</ref> they also estimate the overall tablet installed base to be already of comparable size to the PC market and predict tablets will have surpassed them by 2018.}} Android has the largest installed base of any [[mobile operating system]] and, since 2013, the highest-selling operating system overall<ref name="more than Windows" /><ref name="best_selling">{{cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/androids-share-of-the-computing-market-2014-3 |title=This Chart Shows Google's Incredible Domination Of The World's Computing Platforms |first=Jay |last=Yarow |date=March 28, 2014 |access-date=April 23, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425031734/http://www.businessinsider.com/androids-share-of-the-computing-market-2014-3 |archive-date=April 25, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="mahapatra1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/android-vs-ios-whats-most-popular-mobile-operating-system-your-country-1464892 |title=Android Vs. iOS: What's The Most Popular Mobile Operating System In Your Country? |first=Lisa |last=Mahapatra |website=[[International Business Times]] |date=November 11, 2013 |access-date=January 30, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222195559/http://www.ibtimes.com/android-vs-ios-whats-most-popular-mobile-operating-system-your-country-1464892 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="elmer1">{{cite news|url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2014/01/10/apple-android-kantar-comscore/ |title=Don't mistake Apple's market share for its installed base |publisher=CNN |first=Philip |last=Elmer-DeWitt |date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=January 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130052343/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2014/01/10/apple-android-kantar-comscore/ |archive-date=January 30, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="sammobile1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sammobile.com/2014/05/01/samsung-sells-more-smartphones-than-all-major-manufacturers-combined-in-q1/|title=Samsung sells more smartphones than all major manufacturers combined in Q1|date=May 2014 |access-date=May 12, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512215847/http://www.sammobile.com/2014/05/01/samsung-sells-more-smartphones-than-all-major-manufacturers-combined-in-q1/|archive-date=May 12, 2014}}</ref> with sales in 2012, 2013 and 2014<ref>{{cite news |url=http://mobithinking.com/mobile-marketing-tools/latest-mobile-stats/a |title=Global mobile statistics 2014 Part A: Mobile subscribers; handset market share; mobile operators |publisher=mobiThinking |date=May 2014 |access-date=September 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906115310/http://mobithinking.com/mobile-marketing-tools/latest-mobile-stats/a |archive-date=September 6, 2014 }}</ref><!--950.5 (2014) + 793.6 (2013) + 500.1 (2012) + 121.0 (2013 tablet) + 53.3 (2012 tablet) = 2,418.5 millions (1,468 m excluding the 2014 estimate)--> close to the installed base of all PCs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://readwrite.com/2013/12/10/smartphone-pcs-install-base-2014 |title=The Post-PC Era Begins In Earnest Next Year: In 2014, smartphones will most likely eclipse PCs in terms of the number of devices in use around the world |first=Dan |last=Rowinski |
In the second quarter of 2014, Android's share of the global smartphone shipment market was 84.7%, a new record.<ref>{{cite web |first=Juan |last=Martinez |title=84.7% of all global smartphone shipments run Android |url=http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/84-7-of-all-global-smartphone-shipments-feature-the-android-platform-1261548 |website=[[TechRadar]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=August 14, 2014 |access-date=October 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011181332/http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/84-7-of-all-global-smartphone-shipments-feature-the-android-platform-1261548 |archive-date=October 11, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=David |last=Ruddock |title=IDC: Android Now Accounts For 84.7% Of All Smartphone Shipments, Grew 33.3% Year-Over-Year This Quarter |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/08/14/idc-android-now-accounts-for-84-7-of-all-smartphone-shipments-grew-33-3-year-over-year-this-quarter/ |website=Android Police |publisher=Illogical Robot |date=August 14, 2014 |access-date=October 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011181910/http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/08/14/idc-android-now-accounts-for-84-7-of-all-smartphone-shipments-grew-33-3-year-over-year-this-quarter/ |archive-date=October 11, 2017 }}</ref> This had grown to 87.5% worldwide market share by the third quarter of 2016,<ref>{{cite web |first=Derek |last=Walter |title=Report: Nearly 90 percent of smartphones worldwide run Android |url=https://www.greenbot.com/article/3138394/android/report-nearly-90-percent-of-smartphones-worldwide-run-android.html |website=Greenbot |publisher=[[International Data Group]] |date=November 3, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011232456/https://www.greenbot.com/article/3138394/android/report-nearly-90-percent-of-smartphones-worldwide-run-android.html |archive-date=October 11, 2017 }}</ref> leaving main competitor [[iOS]] with 12.1% market share.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ananya |last=Bhattacharya |title=Android just hit a record 88% market share of all smartphones |url=https://qz.com/826672/android-goog-just-hit-a-record-88-market-share-of-all-smartphones/ |website=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]] |publisher=[[Atlantic Media]] |date=November 3, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011182249/https://qz.com/826672/android-goog-just-hit-a-record-88-market-share-of-all-smartphones/ |archive-date=October 11, 2017 }}</ref>
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=== Platform information ===
{{Main|Android version history}}
Android has 72% market share <!-- with Samsung's 0.28% --> vs Apple's iOS/iPadOS at
{{As of|2025|
On tablets, Android 14 is
{{sticky header}}
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! Kernel
! Launched with
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! [[Android 16|16]]
| {{dts|2025|06|10}}
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! [[Android 15|15]]
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| 5.x
| [[Pixel 3]], Pixel 3 XL, [[Pixel 3a]], Pixel 3a XL, [[Pixel 4]], Pixel 4 XL, [[Pixel 4a]], [[Pixel 5]], [[Pixel 5a]]
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! [[Android 12|12]]
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| [[Pixel 3]], Pixel 3 XL, [[Pixel 3a]], Pixel 3a XL, [[Pixel 4]], Pixel 4 XL, [[Pixel 5]], [[Pixel 6]], Pixel 6 Pro, [[Asus ZenFone 8]], Nokia X20, [[OnePlus 9]], OnePlus 9 Pro, [[Oppo Find X3|Oppo Find X3 Pro]], iQOO 7 Legend, Realme GT,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Realme GT gets Android 12 Beta 1 this month |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_gt_gets_android_12_beta_1_this_month-news-49172.php |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=GSMArena.com |language=en-US}}</ref> TCL 20 Pro 5G, [[Xiaomi Mi 11]], [[Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra]], [[Redmi K40|Xiaomi Mi 11i/Mi 11X Pro]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Android 12 Beta 1 is Now Available for Mi 11, Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11i/Mi 11X Pro. Download Now! – MIUI ROM – Xiaomi Community – Xiaomi |url=https://c.mi.com/thread-3708908-1-0.html |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=c.mi.com |language=en-IN}}</ref> [[Tecno Camon 17]], ZTE Axon 30 Ultra
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