List of all existing versions of the Android operating system in order

You may have questions about the compatibility of the applications installed on your smartphone with the accessories you want to use. These could be headphones, fitness trackers or even smart watches. In this case, you are trying to determine whether your device has a feature that matches your version of the Android Operating System (Android OS).

And this is a fairly common phenomenon, since Android versions 4.2 and later fix quite serious flaws in the smartphone’s security system. Moreover, the upcoming Android 12 includes significantly improved multitasking capabilities.

Let's first see what versions of Android are out there. We won't list everything, but we will at least list the names of the major OS versions, starting with Android 1.0 and 1.1. In addition to the version name and number, we will add the initial release date of the operating system versions.

Table No. 1 “History of the release of mobile versions of the Android OS”

However, they are only useful if you know which version you are currently running. Luckily for you, this information isn't that hard to track down. Next, we'll describe how to find out which Android version and build number your device is running. The process of tracking your Android version doesn't really depend on the brand of Android phone you have. Almost all hardware manufacturers store information in the same place, so let's start searching.

Android 1 Apple Pie

The first version of the operating system was released on September 23, 2008. Then the developers began the habit of calling each generation of mobile OS a baked goods or a confectionery product. The first Android was called "apple pie", which is a direct reference to Apple's iPhoneOS, which was equipped with the first iPhones.

Android wanted to impose competition on the Apple OS, and in the long run it worked out. But the first generation of the system had a minimum of capabilities. Yes, the Android Market application store immediately appeared, which the owners of the first Android smartphone T-Mobile G1 could use. However, the interface was adapted only for devices with physical keyboards, and imposing serious competition on iPhoneOS was out of the question.

Android 1.5 Cupcake

Android began to compete with Apple's OS only in April 2009, when the second version of the operating system appeared. Android 1.5 finally got support for the virtual keyboard, which people still use today. Consequently, it has become possible to use Android on devices with touch screens and a minimum of physical buttons. At the same time, support for widgets appeared, as well as video recording and playback in MPEG-4 and 3GP formats. In short, the full-fledged era of Android has begun.

Android 1.6 Donut

Version 1.6 appeared in the fall. And, although not much time has passed since the previous update, “Donut” also made a breakthrough in some way. Now the operating system has begun to work on screens with different resolutions and aspect ratios, which has significantly expanded the base of Android smartphones.

The first working version of Android that was not released

The developers were guided by the success of the then popular Blackberry company. Because of this, the first working version of Android had a similar interface. It appeared in mid-May 2007 and was called M3. The operating system was designed for phones with keys and a relatively small display. The main screen had the Google search bar as its main element.

The idea of ​​​​creating a touch screen phone was adopted from Apple, which by that time had released the first iPhone. If not for this event, the first version of Android would have appeared before 2008 and would have been intended for a regular push-button phone. The company decided to postpone the release of the OS and set a course for development specifically for touch screens. In addition, Andy Rubin was actively developing maps for the navigation service and wanted to create support for GPS technology in phones.

Android 2.0 Eclair

Just a month has passed since the presentation of “Donut”, and the developers rolled out “Eclair”, assigning it a digital code of 2.1. In addition to changing the design, the operating system offered users support for voice navigation. Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine even the simplest smartphone without this option, and back then taxi drivers could only dream that one day they would be able to look for directions using an inexpensive mobile device.

Android 2.2 Froyo

Version 2.2 appeared in the spring of 2010. Its main innovation was support for Glash in the browser, which made it possible, for example, to watch streaming video. Another feature of Yogurt is the use of a smartphone as a Wi-Fi access point. But then the owners were more interested in the automatic updating of applications in the Android Market store, and the developers made sure that the user did not have to press the appropriate button to receive the update. The process has become fully automated.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread

“Gingerbread” appeared in the same 2010, but already in December. This version of Android makes it possible to support multiple cameras and NFC, without which a modern smartphone cannot be imagined today. The interface has also changed significantly. The menu began to be dominated by green colors, characteristic of Android to this day.

How to find out the Android version

To find out what version of Android is installed on your mobile device:

1. Go to the "Settings" menu.
2. Scroll down to the bottom.
3. Go to About Phone or About Device. If your phone doesn't have this option, it probably already runs Oreo. In this case, look for the "System" option.
4. Scroll to "Android Version". If your device already has the Oreo version installed, you can find information about the version in the “System Update” section.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

The era of the super-popularity of the “little green man” began in October 2021, when the fourth generation of the OS was released. Firstly, the new version of Android worked on both smartphones and tablets. Secondly, a multitasking menu and a number of other less significant changes appeared. But the main thing is that Android has crossed the bar of 200 million activations on various devices.

Android 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 Jelly Bean

The Quartet was repeatedly updated with intermediate versions. Thus, for almost two years (until 2013), representatives of the Jelly Bean series were released. The developers were able to improve the smoothness of the interface, added the ability to create multiple accounts on one device, as well as support for typing with swipes.

Android 4.4 Kitkat

This operating system, which appeared in October 2013, is still remembered by many. After all, it was then that in the post-Soviet space people began to switch en masse from push-button phones to smartphones. The update was dedicated to optimization, which made it possible to use KitKat even on ultra-low-cost devices. Support for pedometers was also integrated, and the main innovation was the voice command “OK, Google”.

Cross-platform OS

In the fall of 2011, the fourth version of Google's OS appeared, called Ice Cream Sandwich. The interface has been significantly redesigned and new functions have been added. It has already become cross-platform - it could be installed on both a tablet and a phone. With the release of this version of Android, the application store received a new name - Google Play.

In 2012-2013, the OS remained virtually unchanged. Google has focused more on producing devices running Android. This is how the Galaxy Nexus, ASUS Nexus 7, LG Nexus 4 smartphones and the Samsung Nexus 10 tablet PC appeared on the market.

In 2013, the latest version of Android 4.4 was released, called KitKat. According to the already familiar tradition, Nexus 5 was jointly released, for which LG was responsible for production. This version of the OS seemed almost perfect. The developers managed to create a convenient and attractive interface that was in no way inferior to iOS of that time. The operation of all services was debugged, support for a huge number of functions was added. But Google was not going to stop there.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow

The sixth generation of the “little green man” was released in the spring of 2015. This update revolutionized the world of contactless payments, because it was in the “six” that the Android Pay service appeared. The firmware also has support for fingerprint scanners. But, probably, the most important feature of the operating system was the improvement in battery life. Just one update - and your Android smartphone does not need to be charged several times during the day.

How to view the Android version on Samsung phones and tablets

How to reinstall Android on a phone or tablet via a computer

It does not use the cleanest version of the Android operating system, so the ways to find the necessary information often differ significantly from the base releases. In general, for Samsung Galaxy the step-by-step instructions are as follows:

1. Enable or unlock Samsung.
2. Go to its main menu and find the settings icon there, click on it.
3. Select “About device” or “Phone information”.
4. Go deeper again by clicking on “Software Information”.
5. View the "Android Version" line containing the release numbers.

People often ask whether it is possible to view this data without turning on the phone, or if it is broken. The answer is negative, since the operating system is software for working with the hardware of the phone (an object that cannot be seen with the eyes), which means that any information about it is available only after it has been completely loaded.

Finding the information you need on Samsung devices

Android 7.0 and 7.1 Nougat

In August 2016, one of the most common versions of the operating system appeared. Android 7 and 7.1 still exist on millions of devices, whose users are not even going to update to the latest firmware. The “seven” introduced a split-screen mode, which allowed you to perform two tasks at the same time (for example, watch a video on YouTube and chat on WhatsApp without closing one of the applications).

The list of running programs has also been redesigned. Now you can close applications with the click of a button. In short, a similar feature has not yet appeared on iOS, and Apple iPhone owners have to swipe to close each running process individually. The Google Now service was replaced with the familiar Google Assistant, and in version 7.1 support for virtual reality mode appeared. In a word, the “seven” with its subsequent updates still continues to remain relevant due to the presence of all the necessary functions.

History of creation

This operating system became available to users in 2008. However, its development began 5 years before the release of the first version. The founder of the project was Andy Rubin, who, together with his friends, wanted to implement the idea of ​​​​creating an open operating system for mobile phones. They created and registered a company called Android Inc.

The ideas that formed the basis of Android seemed too innovative at that time. Therefore, the project did not arouse interest among investors who did not understand its essence. The exception was Google, which saved a literally bankrupt company in time. But she also became the full owner of the Android trademark and all developments.

Due to litigation with Oracle, one of the leading search engines was then going through hard times. It was decided to create Android as an open OS, which is focused primarily on Google services.

Android 8.0 Oreo

No matter how polished the seventh version of the operating system may seem, the update, named after the popular cookie, did not take long to arrive. Android 8 was released in August 2022. G8 expanded the capabilities of multi-window mode by adding the “picture-in-picture” option.

This function made the process of separating two applications more convenient, since with the advent of “picture-in-picture” it became possible to display videos in a separate small window that did not take up half the screen.

Finally, along with the G8, a branch of Android Go was presented. Perhaps this is the most controversial version of the OS, designed for weak devices. The essence of its work is to minimize the consumption of processor resources, due to which the smartphone should potentially run smoother. But in practice, weak hardware still could not guarantee stable operation of the gadget on Android version 8.

Operating system for tablets

In 2011, Google decided to give a worthy answer to Apple for its iPad and adapted Android for tablets. Until then, this OS was only used on phones. So the version of Android 3.0 - Honeycomb - saw the light of day. Many companies such as Motorola, Samsung, Acer, Lenovo and others have started using this version of the OS for their Tablet PCs.

Due to some problems in the operation of Android 3 and its incompatibility with phones, in the future Google refuses to create versions of Android intended only for tablets.

Android 9.0 Pie

The last generation of Android, which was given the name of a famous sweet, came out exactly a year later - in the summer of 2018. The interface was made rounded; the only significant functional change was the appearance of the Android Dashboard. This is the settings menu, which displays how much time the user spends on the smartphone screen, and in which applications.

Where to find the Android version on your phone

There are many ways to find out the version of your Android operating system. They not only vary from manufacturer to manufacturer who release their shells, but also from the search method. This can be done both using standard OS tools and using third-party programs, one of the functions of which is to provide the user with all the data about his OS.

How to find out the Bluetooth version on Android - description of methods

The standard method of viewing the version can be done through the gadget settings menu. The path to information may vary depending on the developer and the version itself. For a “clean OS” the path is like this:

1. Turn on or unlock your device.
2. Go to its main menu and find the settings icon there, click on it.
3. Scroll down the list of configurations and find the “About device” item. Sometimes the version numbers can be indicated immediately in this paragraph, and sometimes it is necessary to go to it.
4. Find the line “Android version”.

Note! In addition to the release, you can also find out about the hardware status, security system update, communication module firmware and operating system kernel version, release of the system itself, build number, etc.

In all devices, the Android OS version can be found in the settings

Android 10.0 Q

In September 2022, the tenth Android appeared. This is the first version of the operating system, which was assigned not the name of the sweet, but a letter. In this case we are talking about “Q”. For many people, “ten” is the ultimate Android. He, like the seventh generation of the “little green man,” continues to be popular. This is due to the presence of all the necessary functions such as support for foldable devices, dark theme and screen recording. What else is needed for full interaction with a smartphone?

Evolution of Android – Nougat release (Android version 7.0)

Currently, this seventh version of Android is the latest. Android Oreo (presumable name) will appear in the near future. In version 7 of Android, developers added the ability to simultaneously work with two applications by splitting the display. Despite the fact that many manufacturers have already implemented multitasking in their firmware, it is now officially supported.

The increase in operating speed was achieved by switching to the new Java 8 and updating the ART virtual machine. Applications in Android 7 run much faster due to the elimination of the “optimization stage” when they are first launched.

The innovations also affected the interface: you can now add any buttons at the user’s discretion to the quick settings panel. The appearance of notifications has become better, the settings menu is more detailed and structured. The new version of Android includes full support for virtual reality. Notifications are now grouped by application and have added emoji icons.

In addition to the above, Android 7.0 surpasses all previous versions thanks to the following features:

• ability to change display resolution;
• simplified OS update procedure;
• suspending background processes when the screen is off to save battery power;
• support for the new personal assistant Google Assistant;
• function to close all running applications with one click;
• support for instant applications that do not require installation;
• night mode for less strain on the eyes when using the device in the dark;
• Internet traffic saving function.

All this makes Android Nougat one of the best operating systems for mobile devices today. Judging by the announced innovations of the subsequent version of Android, they will be more of a cosmetic nature and will not bring anything revolutionary. Google is now focusing more on the security, performance, and energy efficiency of its OS. But the developers still do not forget to please users with at least small but useful changes in the interface and functionality.

Android 11.0R

Be that as it may, the development of the operating system did not stop at “ten”. The appearance of the eleventh version was not long in coming, and Android-R was released in September 2022. Perhaps the main innovation of the firmware was support for 5G networks.

The interface for devices with flexible screens has also been redesigned, and the neural networks have become even more advanced. Outwardly, this update may seem minor, but in practice, users saw so many interesting features that it is impossible to list them in one paragraph.

Android 5 and OS versions for wearable devices

Deciding to expand the use of its OS, Google introduced a version of Android Wear designed for smart watches. But the most important event of that year was the release of the Android Lollipop version. It has completely redesigned the interface, which is called “Material Design”. In addition to external changes, significant internal modifications were made. Previously, the Dalvik virtual machine was responsible for processing application code. It was replaced by Android Runtime, thanks to which the OS performance was significantly increased and energy consumption was reduced.

Android 12.0S

Android 12 and at the same time the most current version of the operating system to date became available in October 2021. The developers updated Material Design, added new icon designs and improved machine learning.

Externally, Android began to resemble iOS, as the Google development team added a separate widget panel and also enlarged the icons in the control center. At the same time, it was decided not to move away from round shapes, and Android continues to retain its face, being the main competitor of the Apple operating system, which has noticeably surpassed it in the number of activations.

How to update to the latest version

It all depends on the manufacturer of your device. Mobile device manufacturers are responsible for processing and delivering Android updates, i.e. Samsung handles updates for Samsung devices, LG handles updates for its phone, and so on. The only updates that Google itself handles are those for Pixel and Nexus devices.

Those. You may not be able to update your device today if your device manufacturer has not yet processed the update.

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To find out if an update is available for your device, go to Settings -> About Device -> System Updates (or similar). Again, this may be in a different location depending on your phone. For example, Samsung installs the System Updates option at the root of the Settings menu.

Clicking this option will check for an update on your device. If an update is available for your phone, it will usually notify you of this fact and prompt you to download and install it right away.