Android

2026-04-08T19:21:48Z

89.240.169.46:

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{{ProductLineCargo
|ArticleType= Product
|Category= Software
|Company= Google
|Description= Android is the world's most widely used mobile operating system, with over 3.5 billion active users. Android devices collect extensive user data, often without clear opt-out options. Google's Android System SafetyCore was installed silently on all devices in 2025. Many manufacturers lock bootloaders, making it difficult for users to modify their software. Starting in 2026, third-party apps will face restrictions in several regions. Google's Chromecast protocol limits casting to Google-signed receivers. Google delayed the AOSP 16 QPR1 update without explanation.

|InProduction= Yes
|Logo= Android Logo.svg
|ReleaseYear= 2008
|Website= https://android.com/
}}
[[wikipedia:Android_(operating_system)|'''Android''']] is an operating system which started in 2003, was acquired by '''[[Google]]''' in 2005<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elgin |first=Ben |date=2005-08-17 |title=Google Buys Android for Its Mobile Arsenal |url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2005/tc20050817_0949_tc024.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227182929/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2005/tc20050817_0949_tc024.htm |archive-date=2011-02-27 |access-date=2025-07-12 |website=Bloomberg Businessweek}}</ref>, and made its first official release (Android 1.0) in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-09-23 |title=Announcing the Android 1.0 SDK, release 1 |url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2008/09/announcing-android-10-sdk-release-1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251216120521/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2008/09/announcing-android-10-sdk-release-1.html |archive-date=16 Dec 2025|access-date=2025-07-12 |website=Android Developers Blog}}</ref> It is based on a modified version of the [[wikipedia:Linux_kernel|Linux kernel]] and other open-source software, designed primarily for touchscreen-based mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, but is also used in smart TVs, cameras, in-car infotainment systems, etc.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=Why Android? |url=https://www.android.com/why-android/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221233734/https://www.android.com/why-android/ |archive-date=21 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-07-12 |website=Android}}</ref>

The original "philosophy and goals" page of Android stated that it that its aim was "to make sure that there was no central point of failure, where one industry player could restrict or control the innovations of any other".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philosophy and Goals |url=http://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111091238/http://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html |archive-date=11 Jan 2012 |website=Android Open Source Project}}</ref> This founding principle was abandoned with the [[Android Developer Verification]] plan announced in 2025 that is scheduled to come in effect in September of 2026.

==Consumer impact summary==
With over 3.5 billion active users, open-source flexibility, affordability, and extensive device ecosystems continue to shape consumer behavior, regional adoption, and technological advancements.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=G |first=Nick |date=September 4, 2024 |title=Android Market Share in 2025: Global Dominance and Key Insights|url=https://techjury.net/industry-analysis/android-market-share |website=TechJury |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250629102621/https://techjury.net/industry-analysis/android-market-share/ |archive-date=June 29, 2025 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Trend of Newly Released Android |url=https://www.accio.com/business/trend-of-newly-released-android |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215215435/https://www.accio.com/business/trend-of-newly-released-android |archive-date=15 Feb 2026 }}</ref> Android’s global reach, affordability, and device diversity make it the preferred OS for billions, particularly in emerging economies. It remains the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, but its dominance has been accompanied by controversies from security vulnerabilities and privacy concerns to accusations of anti-competitive behavior and declining open-source commitments.

===Global market share===
Android remains the world’s dominant mobile operating system (OS) as of 2025, holding a 72.23% global market share compared to iOS with 27.39%.<ref name=":0"></ref>
*Asia & Africa: Android dominates with 95.16% in India, 86.8% in Indonesia, and 80.88% in Africa due to affordability and device variety.<ref name=":0"></ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last1=Qadir |first1=Salam |last2=Shaikh |first2=Sohaib |date=April 20, 2025 |title=Android vs iOS Statistics 2025: Users, Revenue, and Global Trends |url=https://www.tekrevol.com/blogs/android-vs-ios-statistics/ |website=Tekrevol |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515022542/https://www.tekrevol.com/blogs/android-vs-ios-statistics/ |archive-date=May 15, 2025 }}</ref>
*North America: Android holds 45% market share, trailing iOS (57.68%) in the U.S.<ref name=":0"></ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Howarth |first=Josh |date=April 24, 2025 |title=iPhone vs Android User Stats (2025 Data) |url=https://explodingtopics.com/blog/iphone-android-users |website=ExplodingTopics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250709235506/https://explodingtopics.com/blog/iphone-android-users |archive-date=July 9, 2025 }}</ref>
*Europe: Android leads with 65% market share, though iOS is strong in the UK (52.29%).<ref name=":0"></ref><ref name=":3"></ref>
*Affordability: Android devices range from $100 budget phones to premium flagships, making them accessible in emerging markets.<ref name=":0"></ref><ref name=":2"></ref>
*Device Variety: Multiple manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO) offer diverse options, unlike Apple’s closed ecosystem.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Frąckiewicz |first=Marcin |date=May 16, 2025 |title=Smartphone Wars 2025: Inside the Global Market Shake-Up, Trends, and Future Tech Disruptions |url=https://ts2.tech/en/smartphone-wars-2025-inside-the-global-market-shake-up-trends-and-future-tech-disruptions/ |website=Ts2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720045846/https://ts2.tech/en/smartphone-wars-2025-inside-the-global-market-shake-up-trends-and-future-tech-disruptions/ |archive-date=July 20, 2025}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this software. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Apps cannot run writable files===
Apps targeting Android 10 aren't allowed to execute files from their "home" folder, as this is enforced by the system.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Behavior changes: apps targeting API 29+ |url=https://developer.android.com/about/versions/10/behavior-changes-10#execute-permission |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209004831/https://developer.android.com/about/versions/10/behavior-changes-10#execute-permission |archive-date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-03-02 |website=Android Developers}}</ref> While "targeting" any version is an opt-in choice, the [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Google Play Store]] policy forbids apps that target old Android versions.<ref>https://developer.android.com/google/play/requirements/target-sdk</ref><ref>[https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16561298?hl=en https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16561298]</ref><ref>https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11926878</ref> This negatively impacts apps such as [[wikipedia:Termux|Termux]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=n0n3m4 |first= |date=2019-03-18 |title=No more exec from data folder on targetAPI >= Android Q |url=https://github.com/termux/termux-app/issues/1072 |access-date=2026-03-02 |website=GitHub}}</ref> which must be "[[Sideloading|sideloaded]]" so that the policy is not applicable, otherwise they must find a way to bypass it (risks legal issues).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Jinoh |date=2021-07-03 |title=Revisit the Android W^X problem |url=https://github.com/termux/termux-app/issues/2155 |access-date=2026-03-02 |website=GitHub}}</ref>

===Blocking sideloading of unverified Android apps (2026-2027)===
{{Main|Google blocking sideloading of unverified Android apps}}
Starting September 2026, unmodified Android devices in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand will no longer be allowed to install applications outside of the Play Store unless the developer has verified their identity with Google<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitwam |first=Ryan |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/08/google-will-block-sideloading-of-unverified-android-apps-starting-next-year/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250826032858/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/08/google-will-block-sideloading-of-unverified-android-apps-starting-next-year/ |archive-date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=26 Aug 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Aug 2025 |title=Google's plan to end sideloading on Android |url=https://xdaforums.com/t/googles-plan-to-end-sideloading-on-android.4756353/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250826161809/https://xdaforums.com/t/googles-plan-to-end-sideloading-on-android.4756353/ |archive-date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=26 Aug 2025 |website=XdaForums}}</ref>. The policy is aimed to be enforced worldwide in 2027. Devices without Google Mobile Service (GMS) or running a third-party ROM will be unaffected. However it's hard for users to bypass/spoof [[Google Play Integrity API|Google Play Integrity]] to hide their ROM or [[Jailbreak|root]] status to use utility apps such as most of banking apps<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 Apr 2022 |title=[Discussion] The root-and-mod-hiding/fingerprint-spoofing/keybox-stealing cat-and-mouse game |url=https://xdaforums.com/t/discussion-the-root-and-mod-hiding-fingerprint-spoofing-keybox-stealing-cat-and-mouse-game.4425939/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823095950/https://xdaforums.com/t/discussion-the-root-and-mod-hiding-fingerprint-spoofing-keybox-stealing-cat-and-mouse-game.4425939/ |archive-date=23 Aug 2025 |access-date=26 Aug 2025 |website=XdaForums}}</ref>.

===Data collection===
{{Main|Android Data Collection}}
Android mobile devices, even when minimally configured, collect and share extensive user data with Google and provide few options for opting-out, raising privacy concerns. Settings for opting-out of sharing data with Google are generally hard to find, requiring users to search the device's settings and Google's settings to locate and toggle the settings on/off. The data shared with Google is sensitive user data including call logs, messages, data recorded from the device's microphone and camera, and more. This data is used by Google to improve the targeting of personalized advertisements and as training data for [[Google Gemini]].

===Android System Safety Core silent install===
{{Main|Android System SafetyCore}}
On January 22, 2025, Google quietly rolled out Android System SafetyCore to all Android devices. The installation of the program neither informed consumers that it was installed, nor did it request consumers to install it onto their devices.

===OEM Locked Bootloaders===
{{Main|Motorola}}
In North America, many Android devices like phones or tablets will not allow consumers to unlock and do what they want to modify the software. Therefore, it has been incredibly difficult and nearly impossible to root and install custom ROMs on the device unless an exploit has been found. Some OEMs like [[Samsung]] are now completely blocking [[bootloader unlocking]] on their phones regardless of region.

===Android Cast restricted to Google-signed receivers===
In Android, streaming over network is referred as "Casting". In Android 4.4, [[wikipedia:Miracast|Miracast]] support was introduced.

In Android 9, Miracast (an open standard) was fully replaced by the proprietary [[wikipedia:Google_Cast|Chromecast protocol]] (Google Cast). Google-Cast includes signing key verification of both the Cast source and receiver device, meaning that since Android 9 it is no longer possible to cast high quality content to receivers which aren't signed by Google. This means that unlike AirPlay on Apple devices, there's no way to stream multichannel Hi-Fi audio on Android unless the receiver has a valid vendor signature.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiske |first=Christian |date=2025-08-31 |title=Android/Lineage OS and Screen mirroring ("Cast") |url=https://p.cweiske.de/669 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250831142415/https://p.cweiske.de/669 |archive-date=2025-08-31 |access-date=2025-08-31}}</ref>

==='''Google delaying AOSP 16 QPR1 update without proper explanation'''===
Google is releasing Android 16 QPR1 update for Pixel devices on September 3, 2025, normally AOSP will get QPR1 update in 24-48 hours after Pixel devices. But until now, there still no QPR1 update for AOSP. Google later told Android Authority said they will release the source code “in the coming weeks.” But they doesn't explain why they delaying QPR1 update for AOSP 16<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mishaal |first=Rahman |date=September 10, 2025 |title=Android 16 QPR1’s source code is nowhere to be found, but Google swears it’s coming |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr1-source-code-delay-3596650/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911142548/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr1-source-code-delay-3596650/ |archive-date=September 11, 2025 |access-date=October 18, 2025 |work=Android Authority}}</ref>

Update : Google is now releasing QPR1 update for AOSP 16 after 2 months delay<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishaal |first=Rahman |date=12 Nov 2025 |title=The wait is over: Android 16 QPR1's source code is now available on AOSP |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr1-source-code-available-3614853/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251112032612/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr1-source-code-available-3614853/ |archive-date=12 Nov 2025 |access-date=12 Nov 2025 |website=Android Authority}}</ref>

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Android