Android Lifecycle: End Of Life And Support Status
Last updated on October 26, 2023
Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel. It is being used on mobile phones, tablets, and many other devices that are touch-screen, since this OS was designed for such devices.
Major Android updates are released in the second half of each year that include new features and support, while minor updates are released monthly which include security patches.
Support status guide
End of life (EOL) is the end of a product’s useful life. When a product reaches the end of its life cycle, the manufacturer no longer supports it. The following table explains the different phases of a product’s lifecycle. Testing status is when the product is initially released and EOL is when product support is no longer offered. The time between these two points is the support timeframe.
Testing
The software is not yet publicly available. It is in testing phase i.e., alpha, beta, release preview etc.
Active
The software is actively supported by the vendor.
Phasing Out
The software will soon reach its end of life. You need to look for upgrade or migration options. The software will automatically go into phasing out status 2 months before end of life.
End Of Life
The software is no longer supported by the vendor. You need to make sure your system and environment are safe.
Version
Released
Security Support
(4 October 2023)
(15 August 2022)
(7 March 2022)
(4 October 2021)
(8 September 2020)
(3 September 2019)
(6 March 2023)
(6 August 2018)
(5 December 2017)
(21 August 2017)
(22 August 2016)
(5 October 2015)
(12 November 2014)
(31 October 2013)
(9 July 2012)
(18 October 2011)
(22 February 2011)
(6 December 2010)
(20 May 2010)
(26 October 2009)
(15 September 2009)
(27 April 2009)
(9 February 2009)
(23 September 2008)
Work on developing the Android operating system began in 2003 by Android Inc. However, before it could make a public appearance, Android Inc. was purchased by Google in 2005. The first beta release of Android did not come out till 2007, and a stable version of Android 1.0 was released in 2008.
Up until Android version 9, the project manager decided to name the Android versions based on confectionary items, hence the names “Cupcake” and “Eclair” were used. But later, Google switched to a numerical ordering approach to make things easier and more understandable.
Android is the dominant shareholder of the mobile phone operating system and has been since 2012, followed by iOS.
EOLs
