Skip to main content

Google releases Android 11 Beta 2 with ‘Platform Stability’ for Pixel phones

Following last month’s launch of the public preview, Google today is rolling out Android 11 Beta 2. This release moves us closer to the consumer launch later this quarter by introducing “final system behaviors” and “Platform Stability” for app developers.


Here’s everything new in Android 11 Beta 2 [Gallery]


With Beta 2, developers are encouraged to start “final compatibility testing” for apps, SDKs, and libraries. Google this year introduced the concept of “Platform Stability” where “all app-facing surfaces and behaviors are now final.”

This includes not only final SDK and NDK APIs, but also final system behaviors and restrictions on non-SDK interfaces that may affect apps. So from Beta 2, you can release compatibility updates with confidence that the platform won’t change.

With no further changes impacting apps, developers can use this milestone instead of the final Q3 release to get several more weeks of work in before Android 11 starts arriving on consumer devices. Google highlights the top changes for all developers:

Apps targeting Android 11 have to be aware of Scoped Storage, more limited background location access, package visibility, compressed resource files, APK Signature Scheme v2, and heap pointer tagging. The Android engineering team is also hosting a Reddit AMA tomorrow about app compatibility.

The new OS will launch sometime in Q3 with the final release to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

Android 11 Beta 2 (RPB2.200611.009) system images are available for the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, and Pixel 4 XL, as well as the Android Emulator. If you need help, here’s our full guide on installing Android 11.

The Android Beta Program is now live to let early adopters easily install via an OTA update.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications