The Android 12 Beta 5 Upgrade Will Officially Be Released
Our last remaining hurdle is the official release of Android 12 in a few short weeks! The final Beta update for Android is being released today to assist you with testing and development as we put the finishing touches on the new version of Android. In the case of developers, now is the time to ensure that your programs are ready for release.
You can obtain Beta 5 on your Pixel device right now, including the Pixel 5a with 5G, by registering in Google’s over-the-air upgrade program, which is available here. If you are already enrolled, you will receive the update without having to do anything. You may also test out Android 12 Beta 5 on a few chosen devices from some of our partners, including Sharp. For further information, please see the Android 12 developer site.
Keep an eye out for additional details on the official Android 12 release, which will be announced soon!
What Exactly Is In Beta 5?
This morning’s update brings with it a release candidate build of Android 12 for Pixel and other devices, as well as an updated version of the Android Emulator. We reached Platform Stability in Beta 4, which means that all app-facing surfaces, including SDK and NDK APIs, app-facing system behaviors, and limits on non-SDK interfaces, are now final, including SDK and NDK APIs, app-facing system behaviors, and restrictions on non-SDK interfaces. These, along with the most recent fixes and improvements, ensure that Beta 5 provides you with everything you need to complete your testing.
Due to the upcoming official release of Android 12, we are requesting that all app and game developers complete their final compatibility testing and upload their compatibility updates prior to the final release of the operating system. It is critical for SDK, library, tools, and game engine developers to release compatible updates as soon as feasible because your downstream app and game developers may be prevented from working until they receive your compatible upgrades from you.
Simple installation on a device running Android 12 Beta 5 and working through the app flows to look for any functional or UI issues will suffice to verify your app’s compatibility. Analyze all of the Android 12 behavior changes for all of the apps to see which areas of your app may be affected. Here are some of the most important modifications to put to the test:
When an app is using the camera or microphone, an indicator appears in the status bar of Android 12.
Clipboard read notification – When an app reads data from the clipboard unexpectedly, a toast is displayed to notify users. Quick Settings now include new toggles for microphone and camera access, allowing users to quickly turn off microphone and camera access for all apps.
Privacy dashboard – A new privacy dashboard in Settings allows users to see which apps are accessing which types of data and when they are accessing that data. Users can change permissions as needed, and they can ask your app for further information about the purpose for access.
Some deprecated BouncyCastle cryptographic algorithms have been removed from the keygen in favor of Conscrypt versions. If your app employs a 512-bit key with AES, you’ll need to use one of the standard key sizes supported by Conscrypt.
App splash screens – A new splash screen animation is used to launch apps in Android 12. More information is available here.
Flexibility in overscroll — A new stretch overscroll effect has been added to the game, which replaces the former “glow” overscroll effect systemwide.
Remember to check the compatibility of the libraries and SDKs in your application. If you encounter any SDK problems, you should first attempt updating to the most recent version of the SDK or contacting the developer for assistance.
Once you’ve published the compatible version of your existing app, you can begin the process of updating your app’s targetSdkVersion to the most recent available version. Examine the changes in behavior that have occurred in Android 12 apps, and utilize the compatibility framework to aid with the detection of issues as fast as possible.
Examine The New features & APIs Available
Android 12 introduces a slew of new capabilities that will assist you in creating excellent user experiences. Check out our Android 12 Beta 2 page for a review of the event as well as links to the Android 12 sessions that took place at Google I/O. Visit the Android 12 developer site for a comprehensive list of all of the new features and APIs.
In addition, make sure to use Android Studio Arctic Fox for your Android 12 development and testing efforts. Lint checks have been included to help you identify areas of your code that may be affected by Android 12 changes, such as custom declarations of splash screens, the use of coarse location permissions instead of fine location usage, media formats, and the use of a high sensor sampling rate permission. Downloading and setting the most recent version of Android Studio will allow you to experiment with these features.
Get Started With Android 12 Right Away
The Android 12 Beta 5 release, which was made available today, includes everything you need to try out the new features, test your apps, and provide feedback. To receive the update over-the-air, simply enroll any eligible Pixel device. Installing the Android 12 SDK is the first step in getting started with development.
Beta 5 is also available on devices from several of our partners, including Sharp. You may try Beta 5 on Android GSI images for further more extensive testing, and if you don’t have a device, you can test it on the Android Emulator. This update is also available for Android TV, allowing you to experiment with the latest TV capabilities and put your apps through their paces on the all-new Google TV interface.
What Happens Next?
Keep an eye out for the official introduction of Android 12 in the coming weeks! Until then, please continue to provide comments on platform issues, app compatibility concerns, and third-party SDK issues using our hotlists.