# Android 15

Android 15 is the fifteenth major release and the 22nd version of Android, the mobile operating system developed by the Open Handset Alliance and led by Google. The first developer preview was released on February 16, 2024, the first beta was released on April 11, 2024, and the final source code was released on September 3, 2024. Android 15 was released for Google Pixel devices on October 15, 2024.
As of March 2025, 4.51% of Android devices run Android 15.

## History

Android 15 is internally codenamed "Vanilla Ice Cream". The first developer preview (also known as DP1) for Android 15 was released on 16 February 2024, while the second developer preview (DP2) was released on 21 March 2024.
The first beta of Android 15 was released on April 11, 2024. It contained updates such as displaying apps as edge-to-edge by default, and app archiving. The second beta launched on May 15, 2024, and came with features such as private space, improved widget previews, and improved picture-in-picture. The third beta of Android 15 was released on 18 June 2024. It launched a slightly re-designed passkey and credentials manager. The fourth and final beta of Android 15 was launched on 18 July 2024. The updates included predictive back animations, as well as app screen sharing (allowing users to share or record 1 app, instead of their entire screen).
Android 15 was officially launched for Google Pixel devices on October 15, 2024.

## Features

The official DP1 release notes state that the following features will be introduced in Android 15:
* Privacy Sandbox
* Health Connect
* File integrity
* Partial screen sharing
* In-app camera controls
* Dynamic Performance
* Sensitive notifications
* Notification cooldown
However, enthusiasts have discovered the existence of other under development features that may be released in later developer preview versions, such as the reintroduction of lockscreen widgets, which were introduced in Android 4.2 but later removed in Android 5.0. Other such features include battery health determination, app archiving, voice activation, private space and app pairs and an improved multi-tasking/windowing in desktop mode.
The release of DP2 brought more new features to Android 15, including improved compatibility with satellite networks, improvements to the built-in PDF reader and support for app archiving, among many other developments.
The release of DP2.1 came with new features, such as apps being able to scale edge-to-edge and draw translucent system bars on the top and bottom of the screen, OS-level support for app archiving and unarchiving on third-party app stores, better braille support, end-to-end encryption for contact keys, and many other new developer features.
The source code brought additional improvements, including a redesigned authentication panel, improved privacy and security settings, a new volume panel, Predictive Back and Bluetooth audio fixes.
Alongside platform stability, Stable Version added a redesigned credentials manager and the deprecation of WebSQL.
Android 15 adds support for ISO 21496-1 gain map HDR image format standard, backwards compatible with SDR displays. It is encoded/decoded simultaneously with the Ultra HDR standard. ISO 21496-1 is also supported by Apple starting with iOS 18 between iOS 19... (which refers to the standard as Adaptive HDR) and therefore allows for cross-platform HDR image compatibility.
Android 15 is based on Linux kernel version 6.6, although some devices still run earlier versions underneath (including versions 5.15 and 6.1 on most Google Pixel devices).